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Original poster

Has anyone had an infected or sore caesaren scar?

37 replies

zephyrcat · 18/04/2006 10:08

I had my 3rd CS two weeks ago. It has been healing really well and the midwives have all it said it looks really good. However, the last couple of days there's been a little bit where it was weeping and is quite itchy. I've cleaned it and put a little bit of sudocreme on it but it's looking a bit red which is making me wonder if it's maybe infected now??
Do I go to the doc or will it just heal over again?

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welshboris · 18/04/2006 10:13

Id go to the doctors, my friend and I had a c-section on the same day.

Mine was fine, but hers got infected and she was in agony.

Best to check it out

jellyjelly · 18/04/2006 12:55

I got an infection in my section scar which was very painful and i had pus which they collected to be tested.

bundle · 18/04/2006 12:57

i had an infection (midwife took swab at home it looked reddish and a bit leaky but nothing stinky Wink) and when results came back had ab's. do get it looked at.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 18/04/2006 13:04

Sounds like it's a trip to the docs then :( I thought I was all done and dusted!

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Original poster
zephyrcat · 18/04/2006 13:06

Is sudocremem a good or bad idea for the time being??

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bundle · 18/04/2006 13:09

i wouldn't partly because sudocrem is in an open tub therefore could have bugs in it (tubes much better imo) and i would simply bathe with boiled water

Squarer · 18/04/2006 13:28

I'd get yourself to the doctors ZC, but when my partner had an infected wound (obviously nothing to do with a c-section!) it was salt baths every day.

Squarer · 18/04/2006 13:28

when I say wound I mean surgical cut btw.

chipmonkey · 18/04/2006 13:55

I was told not to use salt on mine. Apparently salt breaks down the wound????

MrsStrutsHerStuff · 18/04/2006 14:03

i would visit pharmacy and get some iodine patches or betadine spray and use just as a precaution

CarolinaMooncup · 18/04/2006 14:06

I wouldn't use anything non-sterile on it ideally, but failing that clean water would be best.

I used a savlon wound-cleaning spray on mine when I first noticed it and it didn't get worse at that point, but it was a total bugger to heal - took 3 months even though I had 2 courses of antibiotics and went to the GP's surgery twice a week for the nurse to clean and dress it (they came out to do it at my house before I was able to drive, which was a real help).

It is v difficult to give it the fresh air it needs unless you lose weight super-fast (which I didn't).

CarolinaMooncup · 18/04/2006 14:07

iodine squares are really good if you can get hold of them.

Squarer · 18/04/2006 14:10

Thats could have been the idea CM - to keep the wound open so the infection clears. Don't know though (hence coming with my "go and see doctor" disclaimer!!)

MrsStrutsHerStuff · 18/04/2006 14:26

just 6weeks ago i had an abdominoplasty and my scar healed within 2 weeks because i used the betadine(iodine) spray(£5.00), the patches are much cheaper only about 50p a patch from pharmacy

Original poster
zephyrcat · 18/04/2006 21:41

Thanks for that..I'll have to try and get to the chemist tomorrow somehow.... I've been discharged from midwife care as they all said it was healing wonderfully!! I've just had a bath and had a look and it looks ever so slightly open at one end (only a few mm long) and is red all around that bit. I have the lack of fresh air problem too as it is well and truly hidden under lots of belly!!
The HV is coming out tomorrow - I might mention it to her maybe.

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hockeymum · 19/04/2006 09:46

zephyrcat - I had this problem with my section too. It was a small area but the redness around it does indicate it is developing an infection. You need to get it swabbed and they take couple of days to see what grows on the swab to know what antibiotics treats it (Metronidazole for me) but I did need two courses because I had the lower dose due to breastfeeding. I did ask the HV who was much more useful that my stroppy midwife and she recommended an antibiotic powder that is quite old fashioned (sikitrin) they used to use it on cord stumps that wouldn't dry up. I used it and it dried up so quickly after that. I have an overhang too so it was inevitable I would get an infection. This time around (Friday!) I'm going to use boiled water and tea tree oil over the wound to clean it, and then air it a lot whenever I can (lots of lolling on the sofa holding my tummy up! - that'll be the curtains closed then!) as the biggest key in keeping wound uninfected is letting it dry well. I would also ask your docs/nurse to give you some sterile gauze to lay over the area when you are not airing it If it is not getting air anyway the gauze wont make a difference but it will stop the sides sticking together and opening again and help take out any moisture that is there too.

Let us know how you get on. I still need tips for my imminent recovery too.!

puff · 19/04/2006 09:51

It's important to get to the gp - I needed antibiotics for a wound infection after my first cs.

I started to burn up and run a high temperature very suddenly.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 19/04/2006 09:52

Thanks Hockeymum :) And good luck for Friday!! I've come to the conclusion that I haven't got a hope in Hell of getting to the docs or the chemist today (dd is back to pre-school today and that alone is going to kill me!!) so I'm going to ask the HV when she comes this afternoon. I've been lying on the bed after baths to try and get it dry and get some air to it but I don't think it's made much difference as it's covered for the rest of the day.
Will let you know what HV suggests.... hope she's a nice one!!

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Original poster
zephyrcat · 19/04/2006 09:54

What did it feel like Puff? So far the area around it is a bit tender/feels bruised but I wasn't sure if that's just from the CS.... It's a little red around one part where it looks like it's opened a tiny bit and quite itchy

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Jackstini · 19/04/2006 09:58

Hi Zeph - my scar is about a week older than yours and one end is still a bit red and itchy, although the midwives also said it is fine.
I have found laying flat on the bed after my bath/shower helps - so I can get some air to the bit 'under the fold of skin' iykmim
Doc did advise against putting anything on it so would lay of the sudo though

Original poster
zephyrcat · 19/04/2006 10:01

Is yours still sore at all?

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Jackstini · 19/04/2006 10:04

A bit - just on the bit under the fold (mine ended up a bit uneven - half is flat. half is folded over!) I also still have some numbness above it but have been told this is to be expected and may last upto a year?!

CarolinaMooncup · 19/04/2006 11:45

if it is open, it will prob get infected and redness on the skin around it indicates infection. If it gets worse it can track along the scar, opening it all up again.

I don't know what your GP's surgery is like, but I rang up and they sent a nurse out the next day who took a swab and the GP prescribed antibiotics, which dp picked up from the surgery (I couldn't get to the surgery as it's about 4 miles away and I wasn't able to drive at that point).

puff · 19/04/2006 11:58

Mine felt a bit uncomfortable in one area, there was a bit of redness, but not much.

When I started to feel pretty unwell it happened quite fast. I'm sure your HV will advise if she is coming today.

Original poster
zephyrcat · 19/04/2006 20:06

HV had a look at it and said "Ooooh looks sore!" and looks like a stitch or two has come open so I'm off to the docs tomorrow :(

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