C Section hole

[Shell92]

Hey all,

Just wondered if anyone else is in a similar situation. I had a C Section 5 weeks ago, and I have a small hole where my incision hasn't healed in one area.
I've had 2 courses of antibiotics for an infection and it's finally looking clear now; but I obviously still have the hole.
My GP said nothing can be done, and that it'll just take longer to heal in that one area.
So does anyone know what that means for my recovery? Can I still drive when I get to 6 weeks postpartum? Start to lift my baby in the car seat and other things?
I feel absolutely fine, but obviously don't want to make the hole any bigger.
But on the other hand, I can't wait forever for it to fully heal. I need to start driving and being normal.
Has anyone else had this happen and still start living their normal life 6 weeks postpartum and it still healed fine?

Thanks in advance

Me, I had this! It really freaked me out. There was a small area in my c section scar that didnt heal, there was an internal stitch that was poking through that I think was preventing it from closing up. My gp gave me antibiotics and antiseptic cream, I went back to the hospital to ask them to remove the stitch but they wouldnt. The day after I went to the hospital the stitch fell out in the shower🤣 the scar then healed up really quickly, i think that was about 5 weeks postpartem. I went back to driving and everything fine.

It felt quite wierd walking around knowing there was a hole in my scar, but i think the wound heals from the inside out, so all the inner layers are probably healing up with the surface being the last to seal up. Unless you see signs of infection, I wouldnt worry!

Hey, yes I had the same. I was really worried but it did knit together by about 10 weeks. I tried to avoid using stairs often as I found that movement opened it, but I did do everything else as normal.
Things that helped, salts in the bath and literally holding my tummy up to air dry in the fold, it needs to remain dry.
Enjoy your new bundle.

I had the same although mine was very bad. They did use a special dressing (seaweed based) which helped but it took months to close. Sorry.

Hi, mine opened up in three places! It was weeping for weeks, midwife and HV kept saying just leave it. But I was so sore, and so fed up of it not getting any better, I rang my GP in tears. The practice nurse cleaned and dressed it, then showed me how to do it myself. I did it every day and it made such a difference, it closed up within about a week. I definitely didn't feel able to do normal things with the open holes, but with the dressing on I could start to get back to normal. Hope you get sorted.

Thank you for the response!
Yeah I feel completely normal, but like you said, weird walking around knowing there's a hole! I'll keep my eye on if it gets infected again because they said that can delay it even further from closing.
But I can't wait forever to start being normal and driving again. So just going to have to bite the bullet and hope for the best.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

Thank you for your response!
Hopefully I'll be the same and by 10 weeks it will all be sorted. I'm just sick of it not healing now when I feel normal in everything else.
But good to know you did everything else as pretty much normal except for the stairs.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

Thank you for the response!
Sorry to hear you had a bad time with it.
It's just so annoying when I'm otherwise feeling alright. Fingers crossed for me.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

Thank you for your response!
Sounds awful 😞. Mine been infected twice now. I do everything to keep it clean, it seems impossible. I've been keeping it covered with a sanitary towel and the Dr said that was a good idea but maybe I need to see the nurse too. I'll keep on at them to do something because I'm getting really fed up. So annoying when I'm feeling alright. I just want to do normal things now.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

I had exactly the same, just the very end of the scar had a hole that wouldn't close.

The thing that finally sorted it was manuka honey - I got the highest grade available on Amazon, and just spread it over the hole with a cotton bud and stuck a dressing over the top. Closed it up within a few days, no further issues. It's a natural antibiotic and really promotes wound healing.

Hope yours is sorted soon, I remember feeling so anxious I'd tear it and make the hole bigger 😓

keep the wound as dry as you can - I sometimes used a hairdryer on a cool, gentle setting

It’s only the skin OP - the underlying layers of tissue will be stitched up securely. Think of it as just like any cut you might get elsewhere on your body.

Yes it's very common, it will heal up eventually. You don't have to wait 6 weeks before you drive by the way, as soon as you are comfortable doing an emergency stop you can crack on. I was driving well within 2 weeks of both my sections.

Just wanted to add to this for solidarity as I'm 4 weeks pp and in exactly the same boat - had two holes for two weeks in my incision and it just doesn't seem to be healing 😫

I've been drs twice and they just keep giving me dressings to keep re-applying. I've ordered a box of 50 more from Amazon (called 'softpore') and praying it's healed by the time I'm at least halfway through the box! I've managed to avoid infection at least but it's still frustrating me by not going away.

My nurse friend suggested earlier that it's probably not healing as I'm getting the wound wet in the shower. Not sure how I can avoid this though without just not showering for a week!!

I was told to dab mine with salt water (boiled water and salt, dissolve then cool) twice a day.

The cut will heal from the deepest part up towards the skin, like a zipper sort of thing - it might look the same but a lot is going on under the surface.

I also pulled out some of my stitches but it was one of the most disgusting things I've ever done! It was weeks after cs, thought it was a flake of dry skin and then had this bizarre feeling of thread pulling through my flesh 😱

I also had this. Eventually closed with antibiotics. You can drive as long as you feel you can move fully if needed to turn to reverse etc. Hope it heals quickly for you x

Thank you for your response!
Oh wow Manuka Honey, that's interesting. Definitely worth a try if it worked for you.
Thank you, I would have never thought about that.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

Thank you for your response!
It does make me feel better that I'm not the only person struggling with this.
My doctors don't even give me dressings! I've been using a sanitary towel over it. It's really good you've avoided infection. I'm going to order me some dressings definitely.

Surely can't be the shower thing. I've read over and over that water running over it in the shower is absolutely fine. The last time I saw a GP, she just said that the part with a hole in will just 'take longer to heal' and there nothing they can do about it. It's so frustrating! She said to keep covering it and keep cleaning it. That's literally it.

Praying it heals for us both soon!