C section closure types - does it matter?

[pinkteapots]

Hi, I've had vaginal births before, all straightforward, but this little monkey is an unstable lie. Was admitted straight from mw appointment so my labour bag at home is packed for labour not cs - hoping it'll do! Having never had a cs I'm a bit in the dark. All advice welcome. I suppose I'm a little afraid of so much longer recovering, and (vanity) the scarring and overhang that seems common / inevitable. And one specific question - the surgeon can use glue, stitches or staples. Is one better than another at minimising scarring?

I'm waffling. This is so new to me!

I had dissolvable stitches inside, glue on the outside. 10 years on I have no scar at all.

My appendix scar on the other hand is very visible.

@MyGrassIsBrowner thank you! I'd rather labour but I'll choose the safest option really. The risk of cord prolspse is remote but so serious its not really worth it. My phone is going to die and my charger isnt working and i'm not due visitors do I'll prob be off radar for a day or two. But i will update! We'll just aim for safe baby safe birth.

Will check re closure types but i know i'm being petty too... the hidden stitching and glue sounds great.

I also had a section due to unstable lie.
It was dissolvable stitches & glue for me and it healed beautifully.

In terms of the section itself you can ask for a 'natural section'.
My DH cut the cord and they placed DS onto me for skin to skin while I was stitched up. I was supported to put him straight to the breast in the recovery room.
My milk came in pretty quickly (he was my second so that might have been why) and with cushions for support I didn't feel the section hindered me at all.
Good luck!

I had stitches both times and I didn't have an overhang after dd1 ... so if you only have one Cs you might be okay and I was fine feeding etc. I have pretty good upper arm strength so never had any problems pulling myself up, if you've already got small children I'm sure you are similarly strong!

I had thread with beads the first time and my scar was really neat. The second time was a mess sadly, if only it had been the other way round. I had dissolving stitches, right from the beginning the scar somehow rolled under and I have a horrible shelf that I hate. The shelf is not helped by being a bit tubbier than before but the scar is thick, jagged and just very badly done. 😢

I've had an emergency and a planned c-section both had dissolvable stitches and were fantastically neat.
I managed to breastfeed after both of mine
The emergency one I was lying down flat for the first feed as I was exhausted and could barely hold him so my midwife helped me (she was awesome and I would have named my child after her if I'd had a girl)
The planned one I was sat up.
The planned section was a much much better experience than the emergency one.
I hope it all goes ok for you.

I've had stitches and staples. If I could choose I would have stitches. Staples were really itchy.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

I had a long thread with bead and my scar is so neat it's barely visible,like a line on the palm of your hand. I'm sure this is down to having two female surgeons

Me too. Also two female surgeons.

I've been offered a very managed trial of labour on thurs (ECV, ROM, drip)... but if at any stage there is an issue its straight across for section. Fair enough really. I think they stitch here usually so we'll see... i feel a bit silly for minding about a scar really, maybe its a mid life crisis Many thanks for all replies... so many different stories, just reminds me women are kick ass.

They do the scar so low down unless you shave everything off you won't be able to see it, it's exactly on your natural crease so unless you are lucky enough to have a completely flat stomach it shouldn't show. I think you'll be surprised at how neat they are.

Good luck, hope it goes well and update when you can

I am definitely not the washboard stomach type, so yes it'll prob just sit so far down it wont matter. Thats if the turn & induction fails i guess....

I'll update i promise.

I was really worried about what mine would look like as well, my mum had a c section with me and her scar was hip to hip but now it's done on the natural crease where you underwear sits. Honestly it's hardly noticeable.

Mine were both long line with beads, at different hospitals. Second scar exactly over first, but longer because second child was nearly two pounds heavier! Both healed very neatly and it's barely visible now.

@pinkteapots I had dissolvable stitches and my body ‘rejected’ them and pushed them back out which re opened my wound and caused an infection. Had to go the nurse every 2 days for a few weeks to have stitches pulled out and wound treated and dressed. I didn’t realise this was possible so wanted to share!

The nurse said she wishes they would do traditional stitches rather than dissolvable as she’s seen this happen a lot. Might be worth asking what type of stitches they are! Obviously you’d need traditional ones taken out but I’d take that over having to go to the DRs every couple of days and getting the infection.

Hope all goes well OP!