C section wound infection - handhold

[newmumFeb17]

Just wondering if anyone can share anything positive about healing from a c section wound infection please..

2.5 weeks post partum, emergency c section.
All was going well until a few days ago when the wound started to leak slightly. Saw GP on Tuesday who said there's a superficial tear/gap of about 1cm and an infection. Prescribed antibiotics and emphasised the need to keep the area clean and dry.

I'm already washing the area in the shower twice a day with warm water and patting dry with a towel quite thoroughly and have done so since the surgery. I have an overhang which just seems to make it impossible to keep fully dry and aired.
I've also got a toddler which means I don't have the luxury of lots of rest or time to lie down and air the area.

48 hours in with antibiotics and it just seems worse to be honest. My whole bikini line area (so not the wound but below it) is covered in an angry red rash which seems to be being caused by the fluid that's still leaking from the wound. I've been in tears all day as I feel so stressed about it! I had a really traumatic birth with a huge PPH and I am desperate to be able to get back to normal.

I am going back to the GP tomorrow as they are going to swab it. But just hoping someone may have had a similar experience and could offer some hope that I may start to heal soon?

Do you have a bath? When my wound started to get a bit inflamed the midwife suggested a warm bath with drops of tea tree oil and lavender essential oils (put a small amount of milk in a cup, add the oils to it, mix it up then add it to the bathwater as it helps the oils to spread out or something)
That did the trick for me, I have a toddler too so couldn't do more than 5 or so minutes before being needed but it made a huge difference and stopped it getting infected

Hi, thanks for your reply. I'll definitely give that a try this evening, thank you ❤️

This happened to me (also I think because of overhang). It took forever to heal (14 weeks) but only because I had a very nasty strain that antibiotics didn't seem to want to work on. Really try to find some time to lay down and air it, you might need to keep going back to get it re dressed which is a bit of a pain but will help it heal. There are special dressings that draw the fluid away to keep it dry so ask for one of those. Hope you are on the mend soon x

I've not had my section yet but have been told to use a maternity pad on the incision to keep it clean and dry. Just stick it to the inside of your pants, and it's supposed to stop any rubbing too.

@Absoluteunit thanks for replying, it's really helping, thank you. Will mention some dressings tomorrow as it does feel like it needs something covering it.

If you can OP, lay down on your bed and lift your overhang up to allow some air into the wound. Midwife suggested this with both my two.

I had a gap in my wound from having DS2. It was just the way it was stitched up and it didn't get infected. But I went straight to the labour ward with it when I felt it. If you're not getting anywhere with the GP perhaps give the hospital a ring?

Once clean and patted dry, air dry with cool or lukewarm hairdryer. Put a thin layer of Sudocrem on the bikini line skin to stop it being scalded by anything exuding from the wound.

I had this when my wound exploded a couple of times and leaked fluid for a good few weeks after my section. I folded a muslin and kept it against my wound (under my pants) as a way to soak up any leakage. Keep changing it. And keep it as dry as possible. It will heal I promise. Don’t overdo it, that skin is very fragile. Easier said than done I know.

Actually I don’t think it is advised to blow dry it as you can blow dust and bacteria into it from hairdryer. Just parting with clean dry towel, and air where possible. I would call maternity ward and ask them to have a look. You might need different or extra antibiotics.

Mine got infected as it split open at the edge due to me being ridiculous and doing too much. I basically took to my bed for a few days and my DM bathed it in salt water several times a day. I took the antibiotics and rested and it started to heal after about 5 days. I remember feeling horrid about the whole thing, sorry it's happening to you

Yes maybe hairdryer is not ideal then but dry and once really dry, try to shield the intact skin. Seeping fluid really burns skin.

Thanks for all the replies.
I have bathed it with cooled boiled water on cotton pads and then dried with more clean cotton pads and it's looking much better this morning.
Yesterday was a really bad day so really hoping it starts to heal up now. Thanks so much for all the advice!