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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

C section scar (picture)

33 replies

babyfeeding · 13/10/2022 16:26

Does this look funny? Doesn't particularly hurt apart from the odd stinging sensation.
Can't tell if it looks like it's opening or not
The second pic is what it looks like the other side

OP posts:
DoItAfraid · 13/10/2022 16:28

I think it is still healing.

if it is re-opening you will know about it - speaking from experience.

Any signs of fever etc?

SBAM · 13/10/2022 16:41

How old is it and did you have the ‘dissolving’ stitches and have they all come out?

Mine had a redder bit at one end, then the knot of stitch stuff came out. If I remember right that was a week or so after the rest of the threads came off.

Original poster
babyfeeding · 13/10/2022 17:55

No, no signs of fever or anything like that.
And I'm guessing I had dissolvable stitches because nothing was mentioned otherwise...
It's been 2 weeks now

OP posts:
VariationsonaTheme · 13/10/2022 18:02

It looks like it’s healing beautifully, just keep it clean and leave it to do it’s thing.

sjxoxo · 13/10/2022 18:05

Looks good to me! Mine still has some redness at one end after 8 months. Could the irritation be an in growing hair? x

JudgementalCentipede · 13/10/2022 18:12

Wow, I'd be happy with that at just 2 weeks post-op - looks like it's healing beautifully!

Blessedbethefruitz · 13/10/2022 18:38

Looks good! I had an area like that one one end. I asked the midwife and she said it tends to heal a bit slower from the end they start the incision, especially if they have to go back and extend it a bit more (dont know if they did). Mine looked exactly the same, like they had done an extra slice at one end! It's pretty invisible now at 3.5 years later, it's just been a tiny pale line for a couple of years now :)

Dissolving stitches take a couple of months for some people btw. Mine worked their way to poke out of my skin (not the incision) in little batches but then seemed to get no further. I did a little tug in the bath after a while and they melted off.

Albgo · 13/10/2022 18:57

It looks beautiful for 2 weeks!

Original poster
babyfeeding · 13/10/2022 20:05

Oh thanks everyone it's made me feel much better ! First section so didn't know what was normal and what isn't, how long does it stay numb for ?

OP posts:
JudgementalCentipede · 13/10/2022 20:16

I only got some feeling back when my first DS was 5, and then had another C-section 2 years after that, 20 months ago so it's numb again now!!

polkadotpixie · 13/10/2022 20:17

Mine is still about 70% numb 4 years later, I don't think I'm going to get any more feeling back now

Blessedbethefruitz · 13/10/2022 20:32

Mine is still numb 3.5 years later.

Original poster
babyfeeding · 14/10/2022 21:20

Hi everyone - just a quick one, getting undressed tonight I've noticed that red area on my scar I was concerned about has a cheesy smell to it Blush it also has some wetness around it, like weeping, should I be calling the doctors Monday ?

OP posts:
therealpumpkinbumpkin · 14/10/2022 21:52

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

vipersnest1 · 14/10/2022 21:58

@babyfeeding, get it swabbed for infection. It shouldn't smell and the wetness suggests it is. If it is, it would be best if you got antibiotics ASAP.

thegruffalosbum · 14/10/2022 22:02

I'm not sure I'm in agreement with everyone else. I'm not a medic. Just someone whose had various operations and scars over the years. That red patch looks like it didn't close properly. Which is fine if it just closes up nicely a bit later. But if it's weeping and smelling them you DEFINITELY need to talk to your GP or midwife. It was my amazing midwife who spotted my scar infection a few days and sent me straight to the GP for swabs.
Congrats on your new baby, btw Flowers

Everydaywheniwakeup · 14/10/2022 22:03

If it's gone a bit gammy, best get it checked out. Re numbness - I'm about 25% numb and my section was 17 years ago, I never got total feeling back.

thegruffalosbum · 14/10/2022 22:04

And I agree with PP, numbness is normal and can last for years. I had an op 40 years ago and still can't feel around there.

Original poster
babyfeeding · 14/10/2022 22:25

Won't let me upload a pic for some reason but my dh explained it to me, you know when you have a scab and it gets wet and that creamy white stuff is underneath 🤢 it's like that

OP posts:
ContadoraExplorer · 14/10/2022 22:57

I saw the nurse for ages with my first scar as it just kept opening at a certain point and became infected, so with my second I was paranoid and had a bit like this that was a wee bit wet and had a slight smell. I called 111 because of my previous experience, was referred to out of hours and the doc said it actually looked fine but gave me some antibiotics just in case there was a low level infection starting.

If yours is smelling a bit it might genuinely be OK and just needing a bit more airing but be worth getting it checked just in case cause you don't want what I had first time.

Re numbness, I don't think it stopped being numb after my first at all but since I've bad number 2 and have no intentions of having any more children I've been seeing a massage therapist who specialises in scar work. She has been slowly focusing on the scar and surrounding tissues and the feeling is definitely coming back.

Scar itself feels stronger/more robust and the area above it is softer as she helps the tissues to heal and enables the blood flow to the wound. I would recommend the treatment to anyone (as a bonus she also works on whatever areas I'm feeling a bit sore with from lifting and carrying my not so wee baby!)

Original poster
babyfeeding · 15/10/2022 06:58

@ContadoraExplorer thank you for replying.

The rest of the scar is really clean and completely 'sealed' it's just the one end... the smell is new though and I only noticed it because I noticed the wetness and decided to run my finger across it then realised it stinks lol

Only option today would be calling 111, I just don't fancy sitting in a&e for hours is that where I would get sent ?

OP posts:
ContadoraExplorer · 15/10/2022 07:32

@babyfeeding my 111 call was back in March and in Scotland so it might be different depending where you are and how things are now, but I sat for about an hour in the call queue then the person I spoke to triaged me and said I'd get a call back. The person who called back booked me in for a set time at the out of hours surgery that evening and I just went down at that time and was seen within 10 mins. In between I sat about feeding bubs and eating cake 😘

thegruffalosbum · 15/10/2022 07:57

ContadoraExplorer · 15/10/2022 07:32

@babyfeeding my 111 call was back in March and in Scotland so it might be different depending where you are and how things are now, but I sat for about an hour in the call queue then the person I spoke to triaged me and said I'd get a call back. The person who called back booked me in for a set time at the out of hours surgery that evening and I just went down at that time and was seen within 10 mins. In between I sat about feeding bubs and eating cake 😘

I'm in England and it's the same here. If 111 think you need to be seen they can make an out of hours appointment to avoid sitting for hours in A&E.

Beachsidesunset · 15/10/2022 08:05

Please dont go to A&E unless you feel seriously ill with a temperature. You need a course of antibiotics. Call your GP out-of-hours service for a prescription.

TheTeddyBears · 15/10/2022 10:49

2 weeks! It looks amazing for 2weeks believe me. Mine was also still a bit sore for a year.

I had a little bit stick out at one end for a few months eventually went away maybe the last stitch or something 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm 3yrs after second section and it doesn't look much better than urs!

Stays numb forever I hate anything touching it 🤢

You can get swab kit from gp so they can send away to check for infection.