Infected C section wound

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Hi

Had ELCS 3 weeks ago. Wound was a little sore and red so went to see nurse today. She squeezed some pus out - ouch and said it is slightly infected.

She put an iodine dressing on and said she could not give me antibiotics as I am breastfeeding.

I was hoping to see GP to ask if I could drive again now but am worried this will prevent that.

Nurse said to leave dressing on for 3 days and that I could ask for advice on antibiotics I can take that wont interfere with breastfeeding.

HAs anyone else had a slight infection and how long did it take to clear up? Also did it stop you from driving? I feel fine and really want to get back to taking elder child to nursery but obviously don't want the wound to get worse.

Thanks

What sort of stitches do/did you have?

Is it around a stitch or the actual scar?

Is it just a "surface" thing?

I had "dissolvable" stitches but some of them didn't dissolve and got infected. My dad said it was "surface infection" and nothing to worry about, to take the stitches out and it'd be fine and bingo it was. (he is a doc BTW )

Stitches were dissolvable ones. It seems to be along the line of the scar with some redness just underneath and weeping along the scar line. Nurse said she managed to squeeze out all of pus pocket and that there was no abcess and infection was just local to incision.

The iodine dressing is to kill off any bacteria apparently.

Just wonder if doing too much has caused this infection or maybe my cothes rubbing on scar?

Well I'm not HCP and I think you should see your doc but it sounds like a minor surface thing like I had. Painful, yucky and stinky but not dangerous or long-term.

Follow the nurses instructions about wound care. it may be from overdoing it - it was only 3 weeks ago - have you been overdoing it?

BTW with the driving, I rang my insurance company they said it was up to me to decide whether I was fit to drive - I don't know that the doc would have "certified" me as fit to drive or anything like that - wil yours? I mean, have they said they will?

Personallly I don't think a surface infection will affect fitness to drive, its the deep abdominal wound that causes problems if you have to do emergency stop etc.

I had same thing and Doc gave me antibiotics. The infection wouldn't clear without them.
I had to get it dressed for two weeks. It's not the infection that interferes with driving it's the fact you have had all your internal muscles cut and they really do need time to heal properly.
Please don't try to do too much now, or you'll regret it later!

Thanks

Hmm nurse didn't really give me any advice about wound care and I've just had a shower, tried to keep dressing dry as poss but it's now starting to come off so that probably wasn't very clever of me on a bank holiday.

I probably have been overdoing it but with a toddler around as well as new baby and no family nearby I haven't had much choice.

Not even sure how I'll get to docs tomorrow as it's a half hour walk and I imagine that's not wise either! Aaargh!

I think driving short distances to get toddler to pre school is safer than me walking her there with pram and buggy board like I did last week. Hospital didn't give me any advice on recovery from C section.

If you do need antibiotics, it shouldn't stop you bfing. I had quite a serious CS wound infection, diagnosed when dd was 6 days old, I was on intravenous antibiotics for 3 days and then oral abs for about a month. I bf fine throughout.

I started driving about 4 wks post CS with no problems, GP said it was fine if insurance co were happy, insurance co said it was fine if GP was happy!

I would agree you should get it checked out by dr, my infection was missed for a couple of days which made it more serious than it needed to be.

And yes, I think driving short distances far safer and easier on your body than pushing the pram with the buggy board on

Agree you shouldn't be pushing pram with buggy board that's too much.

Talk to doc and insurance co about driving.

Is there no bus?

Or any people at preschool who live nearby who would take/pick up for you - if not as a favour for a couple of weeks then for a few quid?

I had an internal infection (not scar) was driving after two weeks and doctor OKd me to drive even though I told her about the internal infection when I went to ask her. I also had antibiotics to clear it whilst BFing.