infected c/sec wound - anyone around?

[RambleOn]

excuse typing, am bf

i had a section 4 weeks ago, and have just discovered pus coming from the end of the wound, sorry tmi. it's very sore again.

important enough to see someone tonight/tomorrow, or wait til monday?

should i stop feeding my ds?

should say, have rung nhs direct, they're very busy and not answering

If it's an infection then it needs sorting ASAP, as with all infections. It will be best if you call the post-natal ward now as they are open all the time.

There's a 4 hour wait for NHS direct for all non-urgent problems at the moment, you'r best off calling the post-natal ward, they will be able to advise you.

Oooh don't know about the bf-ing but worth getting checked sooner rather than later with a large wound like a c-section - pain means it is infected.

Get some tcp on it and call out of hours?

Ohh, no tcp. It will really sting!

I am a wound care specialist nurse

Is it red around? If so how far?
Does it smell?
Is the pain new?
Do you feel well?

can you try and clean it and make sure you're getting some air about it

I'd phone either the midwives/health visitors/maternity ward and explain that you can't get through to NHS 24

Yes it does sting like hell but it also does the job.

it's red and swollen about inch and a half around one end. there is pus, don't know if it smells, can't bear to smell it! has been painful today, was fine yesterday. feel ok otherwise

Don't stop feeding!

Any infection you have won't have an impact on your ability to feed him. Stopping breastfeeding may have a bad impact on your supply at this stage. Also, double check if you are given antibiotics and told to stop feeding because of them - the Breastfeeding Network Drug Sheets tell you lots more than most GPs or pharmacists will be able to.

I would second the advice to phone the postnatal ward.

No problem with breastfeeding - describe the area and your general health at the mo. I had an infection in cs scar at a similar period post partum - is quite common. Depending on how bad it is you may need treatment but unless it's tracking and you are feeling unwell Monday will probably be soon enough.

oh thank god for pinksancerre

can leave knowing you're in good hands now

thanks, will carry on feeding

Is the wound gaping?

With that level of redness and the deterioration over the last 24hrs, you need antibiotics. Whether that is tonight or tomorrow is really down to how you feel and how easy it would be to get them. That call is yours as I can't see or feel the wound.

In the interim I would just gently cleanse around with some cooled boiled tap water if the pus is still oozing

Agree that the maternity unit would be a good place to start, although you may struggle if you have been discharged from M/W and they may point you to gp or a and e

thanks so much for your help everyone esp pinksancerre. have called maternity ward and they gave me the same advice.

ouch though!

No worries. Hope it improves soon

Isn't mumsnet a fabby place when you have a wound care specialist on tap!

Hope you get sorted soon Rambleon.

i know, i heart mumsnet - succeeds when millions of quid thrown at nhs direct fails!