don't understand - developed infection 6 weeks after c/s

[surroundedbyboys]

just been to doctors as was starting to feel very sore internally again after feeling pretty much healed. had noticed a bit of redness around scar just this morning. how does that happen? how did an infection get in at this late stage, scar has been healed for weeks.

anyone?

sorry, no experience of this but I believe it can happen / you should see your mw / Gp or call the maternity ward

thanks miaq - have been to the doc's this morning and she diagnosed an infection - i had thought it was just my stitches pulling.

bad luck, I suppose you are on antibiotics then (bfeeding friendly ones if that's what you are doing)?

was mixed feeding. but no, have to stop to take two different sorts of antibiotic. am allergic to penicillin.

what a shame for you good luck with the recovery

surroundedbyboys - sorry to read of your infection. It can sometimes happen. There are very few antibiotics you cannot breastfeed with by the way. Do you mind telling me which ones you are on?

hi surrounded, are you sure you need to stop bf'g with ur abs?midwife told my friend they wd give her dd colic but i bf'd thru mine (got haematoma from c-section) and no probs.can get infection if uterus not cleared yuck stuff out, bacteria love blood so v.easy for infection to start up

Hi, sorry to hear this, I had an infection and bleeding from scar two weeks after cs, was such a shock I was hysterical, the antibiotics fixed it right up. Hope you get better soon.

Keep the milk up by expressing or using a breast pump I know its hard work but its worth it to keep your milk supply.

Hi, thanks everyone. Mears - I am on erythromycin and metronidazole. I just don't understand how I can develop an infection weeks after my scar healed - how did the bacteria get in there?

have such a bloody pounding headache also now. is this the infection or the antibiotics?

You can safely continue to breastfeed on both of those antibiotics. They can make you feel a bit yucky - make sure you drink plenty of fluids with them. It may be that your GP is treating you more for suspected intrauterine infection rather than wound TBH, especially since you have said you are feeling sore internally. Those antibiotics will clear any infection that may be lurking. I would suggest you also take probiotic drinks as you might get troubleb by thrush.

Mears I would check the dose of metronidazole first. Iw ould suspect that a dose of 200 would be ok , however a maximum dose is not reccommended with breast feeding.
If in doubt ask your GP about your dose.
It is possible that you have had a pocket of puss or fluid under your scar which has caused the infection or as mears has said, it could be an internal. If your GP has suspected an internal infection I would personally go some swabs after your antibiotics to ensure the infectionhas cleared.

chapsmum - metronidazole is OK. We use it frequently but most antibiotics say use with caution in BF. Here is a helpful drug link to clarify.

am going by the Brittish National Formulary reccomendations and personal experience which would suggest caution in larger doses(400mg BD). My own dose was reduced by my GP because I was b feeding.

BNF is not a good guide for use of drugs when breastfeeding. In many cases it will say not to be used - classic example is Brufen. Anti-depressants are also not advised for use. The reason being that drug companies will not risk trials in pregnancy and with breastfeeding women. That is when it is better to consult specialists in breastfeeding (GPs don't count!). Thomas Hale has the greatest information regarding drugs and breastfeeding which is accessed by specialists. This information is gathered where drugs have been used in practice as benefit outweighed theoretical risk. HTH.

Forgot to say we regularly prescribe 400mg three times a day.

more info

i am on a 400mg dose and am feeling much less sore internally now. i do think the GP suspects an internal infection which has now made its way to the skin surface as there is redness and swelling and heat there now.

have decided after much thought however to stop bfeeding - and shit, i hope you don't think i don't appreciate all your information and support mears, i really do. there have been lots of factors playing into the decision i made, not purely the medical implications of the antibiotics. i am hoping also that others may find this thread when in a similar situation and all your information will help them continue breastfeeding if they wish to.

chapsmum - where would they swab? would an infection show up with a vaginal swab?