How to use pads for c section wound

[Lemonyfire]

Hello,
possibly a very stupid question but very sleep deprived and battling infections!

Third c section, 19days pp and have a horrible wound infection ( on antibiotics) as well as now a fungal infection ( have a cream) in my wound. It’s also gaping at one side. I’m air drying it when I can and trying to keep it dry but I’m a busy mum of three and with a cluster feeding newborn not so easy to keep laying down!

I’ve read using a sanitary pad can help wick the moisture but just cannot work out how to do it, it just seems to fold in and doesn’t do anything. Do I fold one in half and slot it in? Or is there some tip/ trick.

Order mediplex border dressings, saving grace when my wound was gaping! Kept it dry but breathable

Oh, you have my sympathy! I have no experience but would think you stick it to your pants/ underwear, so the pad surface is held against the wound. (I've had 2 sections and an abdominal hysterectomy. Once healed, silicone scar strips are amazing for the scarring. )

Thank you both so much! I will order the mediplex for now and the silicone strips for after!

I went through the same thing last year. I found regular, cheap maternity pads worked quite well (not like the li-lets ones with wings, but just the basic, thick, long , slightly padded ones). I just stuck the sticky side horizontally across my massive maternity knickers, and that seemed to hold it in place against the wound. Good luck! It’ll make such a difference when the antibiotics kick in!

@FieldViewthank you I will try this with the pad! I’m on day 4 of antibiotics and it’s not kicked in yet, the worst thing is the smell it’s just absolutely grim 😭

How is it today @Lemonyfire ?

I'd be concerned if the AB's aren't having an effect yet that they might not be the right type, and you might want to get some further advice before the weekend.

I know it's hard to prioritise yourself after a birth. I had an infection in my deep tearing after my first, a vaginal birth. I didn't know it was a problem, just thought it was slow healing.

It wasn't picked up on until my 6 week check. I had 2 x 1 week of amoxicillin from GP that didn't work. I then saw a consultant privately who prescribed a month of different, stronger AB's which finally helped.

(Thankfully my later c-sections healed well and without infection.)

@Twasasurprisethanks for asking, yesterday it looked a bit better. Today looks worse but feels fine, just very red on surrounding skin! I do think this could be caused by the fungal infection/ thrush now though as well as the ( yuk) smell. I’ve not had a chance to air it all day as been on the go.
it was swabbed when I was prescribed the antibiotics to check if they were the right ones and it didn’t come back as anything so GP said to continue. I’m on cephalexin. I was on co- amoxiclav the previous week for a UTI and they said if it doesn’t clear they’ll put me back on that again. The bit that was gaping and infected seems to be closing/ not weeping. It’s just the skin surrounding the whole wound that’s now really red and irritated, hence me thinking sweat type rash. I’ve got an anti fungal cream so trying that

Update- went back to triage today as it was so much more painful and red this morning. Dr said it’s not infected now and incision is healing nicely but it’s a nasty yeast infection so gave me dressings and a plan to continue with cream and use cool salted boiled water to clean it. She was optimistic in a week it would be better so fingers crossed!

Some really good news there about the infection. I hope you manage to get the fungal infection under control quickly as it sounds so sore.

Absolutely not medical advice as I'm not a medic and it possibly doesn't work, but I've found that taking an oral fluconazole capsule - for vaginal thrush - can really help with other fungal infections too. I'm not sure if safe during breastfeeding though. (My teenage son had ringworm that kept returning, a different son had athletes foot, and even my dog diagnosed with thrush in his anus due to allergies have responded well to the capsule in addition or instead of the topical canesten cream.)

Glad to hear its getting slightly better. My cousin was recommended the Side sitting for breastfeeding so the baby wasn't lying on top of her C-section wound. The babies legs were facing backwards next to hip and then just the head coming around the front to feed.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Positioning-Your-Baby-For-Breastfeeding.aspx?userguid=unk-1636689303753&condition=other&clientId=&entityId=203&clientSiteId=default&groupId=&tp=WEB_PORTAL&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=69654055&gbraid=0AAAAADyMpZHq7IcvPYp50ty9YdS3i8Fb3&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuvTJBhCwARIsAL6DemhPqm4Tg-lg22SNc_G0eh87mMQ2JN2ifhURVg_VwX5_ptdefiy0hi8aAvquEALw_wcB

As a side note, there are also silicone gel for scars, not just the strips. You can buy online/larger pharmacies. The gel is applied sparingly, but IMO is better for any area like the stomach which moves around alot. It does need to be applied for months though to see effects. Wishing you all the best x

I can't edit my post above, but would be worried that sanitary type pads might stick if the wound is still seeping/oozing. I'd buy a non-stick type wound dressing or speak to a pharmacist or health visitor/midwife for advice on something which won't dry up and pull your healing skin off x