Csection incision

New2020 · 2025-09-17T21:52:20+00:00

I had my caection 5 days ago and I have been feeling slightly better than I thought I would. My last csection was an absolute nightmare. My husband checked my scar after the shower and noticed oneside had a small line about 1cm and red...I'm hugely panicking that the wound is opening?! Can anyone share their experience? Is this normal for 5 days? The other side has a tiny hole like 1mm..and also wondered the same The fear has kicked in and I'm really anxious and worried

KawasakiBabe · 17/09/2025 23:01

I’ve had 2 sections. I had a terrible infection in my first. Ds peed all over me when he was born, so I had newborn urine all over the open wound. My wound opened and pus and blood was all over the floor. Sorry to be so graphic, but what I want to demonstrate is, even with all that, the opening was tiny which didn’t even warrant a stitch, just a plaster. I think you’ll be ok, if it’s just red. Talk to your health visitor to put your mind at rest.

Raining12345 · 17/09/2025 23:06

I'd speak to your midwife or GP. Monitor it, maybe the photos, but speak to them and don't panic. If you're feverish etc tonight call 111 or the maternity ward, or go to A&E but if it's just red it may just be that one side is a bit swollen and sensitive - which is to be expected. Have you been cuddling your baby on one side more than the other perhaps? If the wound site isn't weeping or hot and you don't have a temperature then I wouldn't worry too much and get it checked tomorrow, but if you're feeling unwell, temp etc. then take some action.

Raining12345 · 17/09/2025 23:12

Also is it a hole or just uneven stitches? I'm not negating your worries at all - if you feel that something isn't right then absolutely get it checked out - better to ask the question than end up worse off, but I also don't want you to be unnecessarily anxious or spend time at A&E if not needed, bearing in mind that your hormones will be all over the place by this point plus sleep deprivation so hard to think straight. Are you EBF or is there any chance of you getting some uninterrupted sleep to allow your body the chance to recover a bit?

tinybeautiful · 17/09/2025 23:14

You're 5 days postnatal, just go to triage. Not A&E!

Sounds fine to me though, you'd know if it wasn't IME....

river29 · 17/09/2025 23:16

I had a small opening in my second section wound, midwife noticed when the plaster first came off on day 6. I did end up with an infection but only needed a course of oral antibiotics. Kept going with the cleaning/drying of it too and in time it just came back together. I would ask midwife to look at it or contact GP unless of course you have any further concerning symptoms.

MumoftwoNC · 17/09/2025 23:17

I'd call the midwife line and ask them to come look at it in the morning. I think it's better to be safe with such a big operation.

To answer your q I didn't get that, no, though I did get a very keloid scar which did look quite ugly by the time I had my second (they cut it away and did it again and the keloid is less bad now). I wonder if the redness is a keloid forming? But the 1mm hole doesn't sound ideal so might be best getting it checked

Original poster

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:36

KawasakiBabe · 17/09/2025 23:01

I’ve had 2 sections. I had a terrible infection in my first. Ds peed all over me when he was born, so I had newborn urine all over the open wound. My wound opened and pus and blood was all over the floor. Sorry to be so graphic, but what I want to demonstrate is, even with all that, the opening was tiny which didn’t even warrant a stitch, just a plaster. I think you’ll be ok, if it’s just red. Talk to your health visitor to put your mind at rest.

Thanks for replying. I think my hormones are all over the place and I just feel so defeated by it, plus my last csection took so long to recover from and was a real shock to my system.

I'm hoping it's just red and not opening, as that's sent me in a bit of a spiral

OP posts:

Original poster

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:45

Raining12345 · 17/09/2025 23:06

I'd speak to your midwife or GP. Monitor it, maybe the photos, but speak to them and don't panic. If you're feverish etc tonight call 111 or the maternity ward, or go to A&E but if it's just red it may just be that one side is a bit swollen and sensitive - which is to be expected. Have you been cuddling your baby on one side more than the other perhaps? If the wound site isn't weeping or hot and you don't have a temperature then I wouldn't worry too much and get it checked tomorrow, but if you're feeling unwell, temp etc. then take some action.

Thanks @Raining12345 that has calmed me down a bit. I do feel all over the place with hormones and haven't slept for days as my baby has been really fussy

I dont have any other symptoms and was thinking I felt quite good considering until I spotted those things and I've been in a panic all day. I called triage and have a midwife home visit tomorrow and they said to get the midwife to check tomorrow and go in depending on what she says.

I'm a bit worried as she said the wait is hours to be seen, and I'm not sure I can sit there for so long after a csection and anxious about leaving my baby

I haven't stayed in bed the past couple of days, just sitting on the side of the bed rather than sleeping in bed so I'm going to try do that

OP posts:

Original poster

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:47

river29 · 17/09/2025 23:16

I had a small opening in my second section wound, midwife noticed when the plaster first came off on day 6. I did end up with an infection but only needed a course of oral antibiotics. Kept going with the cleaning/drying of it too and in time it just came back together. I would ask midwife to look at it or contact GP unless of course you have any further concerning symptoms.

Edited

Thanks @river29 I got in touch with GP as was hoping it could be a quick check and antibiotics. But I called triage and they said to go in there rather than GP..maybe as only day 5? Feels frustrating as they also said the wait to be seen is hours and I'm still recovering

OP posts:

Original poster

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:49

MumoftwoNC · 17/09/2025 23:17

I'd call the midwife line and ask them to come look at it in the morning. I think it's better to be safe with such a big operation.

To answer your q I didn't get that, no, though I did get a very keloid scar which did look quite ugly by the time I had my second (they cut it away and did it again and the keloid is less bad now). I wonder if the redness is a keloid forming? But the 1mm hole doesn't sound ideal so might be best getting it checked

Did your hospital come out to visit you? Mine has said I have to go in and wait which has stressed me out as I'm recovering and have to leave my baby

OP posts:

KawasakiBabe · 18/09/2025 02:49

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:36

Thanks for replying. I think my hormones are all over the place and I just feel so defeated by it, plus my last csection took so long to recover from and was a real shock to my system.

I'm hoping it's just red and not opening, as that's sent me in a bit of a spiral

Show quote history

I completely understand. I was in a state of shock after my first one, both were emergency sections and I was completely unprepared.

Enjoy your baby.

Raining12345 · 18/09/2025 06:05

My c-section incision got infected. The midwife spotted it and told me to make a GP appointment straight away. I did and was given antibiotics so no major wait anywhere. Fingers crossed that if you do need to go anywhere it will be quick.
My first c-section was a breeze, second one - when I got the infection - was not so great. I remember just feeling really rubbish for ages. It did pass though. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Try to rest. X

MumoftwoNC · 18/09/2025 06:41

New2020 · 18/09/2025 02:49

Did your hospital come out to visit you? Mine has said I have to go in and wait which has stressed me out as I'm recovering and have to leave my baby

Show quote history

Maybe it depends on area but for both mine, we got a midwife visit at 7 days and 14 days, I think it was. But if I called them I could rearrange them, so like ask them to come a day earlier instead.

Definitely don't leave your baby - you could take them to hospital with if you need to go in and wait

Original poster

New2020 · 20/09/2025 13:02

Thanks everyone for your replies and support.

I suddenly had swollen legs and feet, and chills that night so I ended up getting an uber to triage at 7am

Luckily got seen straight away as it was so quiet and they checked me over. All seems OK thank god. I was in a real state and panicked as I have health anxiety already

Now my massive challenge is constipation!!!! Im really struggling. Any tips? How long did it take you to go?

OP posts:

EarlGreywithLemon · 20/09/2025 13:09

I’m so sorry, constipation is awful. I had it badly after the first, vaginal, birth. For the two subsequent sections I had a senna based laxative as well as lactulose, and made sure I ate a lot of prunes and drank a lot of water. That worked really well.

For the vaginal birth I ended up with glycerin suppositories when nothing else did the trick, so that’s an option too. Hope it clears for you before it gets to that point though.