Elective C section... tips to heal/prevent adhesions and scar tissue?

[VillageFete]

Hi,

I’m going in for an elective C section in March, I also had an emergency one 9 years ago. From memory I healed pretty well last time, but it’s all a bit of a blur so can’t remember the do’s/don’ts when it comes to healing.

I have fertility issues and would love one more child. We will be having my embryos frozen when my baby is 7/8 months old and so i’m conscious of healing fairly quickly and as well as I can.

I had a hysteroscopy last year which showed a little thickness around C section scar but was “fairly unremarkable” according to the Surgeon, so I assume I healed fairly well first time around.

Any tips for ensuring I heal well this time? Can C section massage prevent a build up of scar tissue/adhesions? Any homeopathic creams/tablets that could help? With needing IVF to complete my family, i’m worried an embryo won’t implant if i’m full of adhesions?

Any idea how to prevent infection setting in? I’ve read manuka honey dressings can help.

Thanks in advance...

Thank you for writing this post. First pregnancy and opting for an elective c-section.

@valafitz Best of luck! When are you due? My understanding is elective sections are a much nicer experience than emergency ones. I’m just apprehensive because I need to do IVF to complete my family, so am looking for tips to heal fairly quickly and to heal well.

@VillageFete I'm due in May. Also really interested in any tips to heal faster/better things to do/avoid .... have you talked to the ivf doctors to see what they advise?

I've had an emergency section and an elective. The elective was brilliant, and recovery was much quicker and easier. Things that helped. Take a breastfeeding pillow to hospital, it will help protect your tummy when holding/feeding the baby.
Get moving as soon as possible, and keep moving (but gently, I felt so great 3 weeks after my elective I went for a 4 mile walk with the baby in a carrier, but was in a lot of pain the next day.)
Take something to help with the first bowel movement after surgery.
I just used baby soap or fragrance free shower gel in the shower and made sure the would was really dry after showering and didn't have any problems with infection with either section.
I'm sure there's more but those are the things that I remember most.

Sorry, just realised you specifically asked for wound healing advice.

Thanks for the tips.

I’m just so keen to do all I can to promote healing well. Got to keep my uterus in good nick if I can for IVF! I think I worry that 2 previous C sections could render me completely infertile, whereby an embryo can’t implant? Looking on these boards though I see that so many people have had multiple C sections, so i’m probably hust being paranoid.

Take silica & arnica supplements

@shouldidoitspoilt Silica? Do you know if that helps with adhesions/scar tissue? I’ve heard of arnica and will be trying that.

I took silica it's supposed to help the cells knit back together

You can hardly see my scar now

No idea but when I had my second emcs, the doctor doing it told me it was mostly genetic and that given I had very little scar tissue from dc1, odds on I'd have very little after dc2.

I did do scar massage as directed by a NICU doctor after dc1. It fixed my numbness but don't know if it had effect on the scar.

Thanks for all the tips.

Anyone else?

@Dinosauratemydaffodils At what point did you start massaging the scar, and what with?

Anyone heard of medical grade honey dressings to help prevent infection?