Csection when overweight

[lcsx]

Hi has anybody had a section that is overweight so they have an apron? I had 1 last week everything is looking fine but it keeps getting sweaty down there so I have to lay on my back and lift my belly up for it to go away. Anyone with advice on how long it will be untill it stops? Thanks :)

Have no experience of this yet but am following as I have loose skin from weight loss and am due in 3 weeks !

I had a section and I’m overweight, not sure I understand the problem you’re having op? Is it keeping the area dry?

It's always going to be sweaty if you have folds of skin.

My concern would be the wound getting infected or breaking down as it's always moist.

@Icsx I used to pop a sanitary towel on mine to absorb whatever was there. I used the hairdryer to gently Blowdry the area after showering then popped the sanitary towel on the would and that kept it pretty dry, once it had healed enough I put some powder on it too and that was a huge help. Mine was fine after about 6 months

@LorelaiRoryEmily Hia yeah sorry I didn't know how to word it properly. It's trying to keep it dry as it keeps getting a bit wet down there so I try to air it as much as I can

@LorelaiRoryEmily okay Thankyou for the sanitary towel idea. I keep coming to lay on my bed so I don't have any folds covering it to get sweaty

Watch for fungal infection in crease. Majority of people have an apron after a cesarean regardless of size.

@Icsx I used to do the same, I was so worried about it until I thought of the sanitary towel. It really helped, though letting the air at it is the best thing it’s just not practical all day for anyone after a c section. The cool air blowdrying really helps too so it’s nice and try before you put the pad there.

Midwife warned me not to use a hairdryer as apparently they blow a load of dirt onto the wound. I did use a maternity towel stuck to the inside of my giant hospital knickers though to keep things dry after the dressing came off.

Sounds like it's been fine for others though so she might have just been over cautious

I used to keep a maternity towel on it too. I hated that moist feeling in the fold and worried about it getting infected but that did the job. also, when I could I would lift the skin up and fan the area1

@FallenSkies @Stormblessed @LorelaiRoryEmily I've just put a sanitary towel on it so it can absorb everything. Thankyou all so much for the advice. I'm constantly going to lay on my bed and lift my tummy up so air is getting to it so hopefully with this aswell I should be fine🤞🏼

I know what you mean. My incision wasn't exactly on the crease, but about a centimetre above. I definitely have skin touching skin and it does get moist (and ever so slightly smelly sometimes ). Don't underestimate how much your tummy will still shrink. I think I gained a lot of weight in the first three months of DS's life (didn't weigh myself, so it might have been pregnancy weight, but I doubt it), and I have lost most of that now, which does seem to make a difference. I am still obese, but I think the skin touching skin has got less.

It wasn't an issue for me in terms of wound healing btw!

My CS wound went slightly manky but not infected, HV told me to db with salt water (boiled water mixed with salt then cooled) using a cotton wool swab a couple of times a day to prevent infection developing.

Ask your HV if you should do the same?

I remember thinking it was ridiculous to think I could lie around airing myself with a newborn, especially when it was bloody cold.

dab not db

Also you sweat tons after a baby as your fluid levels get back to normal, should be less sweaty soon...

Thanks for the help everyone. I think it's now infected so on my way to get it checked out

Oh no! How did you get on?

@NCBabyBoy they gave me antibiotics and drained all they could from it which was a lot. Its now looking a lot better already, I have to go back tomorrow for them to have another look

Yes iv had two when i was at my heaviest and have the apron. I used a hair drier to keep it dry. Due number 3 soon another section and apron will be worse due to 8 stone weightloss pre pegnancy. But will use hair drier frequently and talc to keeo dry x

@Disneymum1993 well done on your amazing loss! I lost 11 stone to get pregnant ended up putting a lot of it back on during pregnancy but it's coming off again now. I've had my staples out now would it be okay to start using talc? I'm 10 days pp or should I wait a bit longer x