How to help infected c-section?

[GAW19]

5 weeks ago I had a c-section, (second c-section) was healing absolutely fine. All midwives were happy, got discharged. Around week 3 i realised the incision started to feel a little wet, when I looked I noticed it was red and a little gooey. Rang Gp who asked for pictures and prescribed antibiotics. Took for a week. Hadn't improved, by then I could start to see some stitches too, which I couldn't originally.
Rang Gp back who asked me to go in, they put butterfly stitches on and gave different antibiotics.
Antibiotics finished and still no improvement, belly is quite sore too and it is still gooey with a little bit of bleeding.
Going to ring Gp again tomorrow but was wondering if anyone had any tips on what could help or what else I could try?

Anyone?

Hi, I had this! Don't worry, I think it always looks worse than it is and there are layers and layers of scar tissue all healing. My gp surgery's nurse dressed my incision and gave me dressings and sterile equipment and some cream and antiseptic wash for it. I went back a week later and they did the same, then a week later they were happy with it. I thought it would go on forever (I did two courses of antibiotics) but it is fine now. Apparently they heal from inside out. Did they swab it to determine the bacteria? It sounds like your gp or nurse needs to give you continued care til it stops being 'wet'. And do take painkillers! Hope it clears soon x

I had something similar..apparently the inside was healing quicker than the outside, causing the exterior of the wound to come apart slightly.

I was advised under no circumstances to out Dettol or similar in the bath, but Epsom salts and lavender or tea trea oil ok.

After a bath/shower I dried the area with a hairdryer on a low setting.

Both really seemed to help.

Thank you so much @oliveroses @MintyCedric

No they didn't take any swabs. She just cleaned it, put stitches on, sent prescription and that was that.
I've been trying to just have showers where I can, when I do have a bath I don't usually put anything in it but my Nan is insistent I put salt in it haha ouch
I've just called the GP and have an appointment to see the nurse at 11:35 so hopefully will get this sorted. It is so sore this morning.

Hope it goes well! I'd been avoiding baths but the nurse said it was fine, to my surprise! Salt sounds extreme 
@MintyCedric's post reminded me about keeping it dry. They were very keen on that! And airing it if possible too but I didn't find a good way of incorporating that into my days with a very young newborn!

I had a v similar situation to you after my c section - keeping it dry helps. I kept a supply of wound dressings from Boots in the bathroom and used those to gently pat the wound dry after a shower and then left it to air before getting dressed. Would also tuck a breathable dressing over the wound under my knickers and changed frequently which seemed to help with absorbing the wetness.

I was told not to use a hairdryer under any circumstances as it blows dust and bacteria into the wound and makes it worse.

Mine took 6 months to completely close but the infection did go after 2 rounds of antibiotics and lots of TLC - all v time consuming when you have a newborn I know! And all the usual things like eating and drinking well will help.

It is so much hard work with a 22 month old and a 5 week old haha.
The nurse cleaned it and has put some inadine squares on with a dressing over the top, she has given me some spare dressings and booked me an appointment for Monday to redress it she said to not have a bath or shower for now and that I may end up needing more antibiotics.
It's not nice that we get all these horrid infections but it's nice knowing I'm not the only one haha

Sounds like you are in good hands! Hope it clears up soon x

I had this too. TMI but I used to lie on the bed naked (at least from there down) and gently hold my tummy so the air could properly get to it. For maybe half an hour or so. I also had 3 consecutive courses of antibiotics before it went away but I'm sure giving it air to dry it out helped a lot.

@lifeinlimbo2020 that's exactly what I used to do!!

@MyBabyBoyBlue haha. Great minds. Pretty sure just leaving alone as much as possible helped too. As long as it was clean obvs.

@lifeinlimbo2020, I was just about yo wrote that until I read yours. I definately did that too

To write that.. Wtf

Once it’s healed a little get a medicated talc powder from chemist and use it after u “ air it” like others said above - this was the changing point for me- the talc kept it dry! But ensure it’s closed enough for that first !

I used badidas shower gel and bath gelee after my section I did wait a good few weeks though and I swear by it!
It’s a green bottle you can get from boots, my scar seemed to heal better after it and I stopped getting infections. Also make sure you are drying the area properly and wipe it over every morning and night and lie naked to air it out a bit x

This is it x

You need to keep a dressing on it, or tuck gauze pads under the overhang, to absorb moisture. It's a myth about letting air get to wounds by leaving them open. Dressings keep them warm and wick away moisture while not letting the wound get too dry (which prevents it healing well).
Also, no baths, if possible. Showers are better for wounds (ideally neither or use a waterproof dressing in the shower) and dry it well afterwards but not with a hairdryer.
Your GP should have sent you to their practice nurse to have dressings put on it at the time, I'm glad they have now.

I see loads of these though (practice nurse), it's really common and I wish the hospitals would give better aftercare advice!

Hi I'm a nurse and was thinking it sounds like you could do with some inadine on it! Glad that's happened, if you're not already take a decent multivitamin as healing wounds needs lots of nutrients and eat plenty of protein.

I had this the dr prescribed metronidazole gel

@RagzReturnsRebooted my dressing was taken off the same week when a midwife visited me at home also been told baths are fine after a few weeks

@Inthesameboatatmo

I had this the dr prescribed metronidazole gel

Oh God that's really not the right thing for an infected c.section wound.

@girliefriend it was the inky thing that worked actually after weeks and months of hospital grade manuka honey and colloidal silver strips .
The wound nurse at the hospital suggested it and it cleared up as the skin was turning necrotic

I just wanted to add to this. Currently 16 days since my c section and had been experiencing a fair amount of pain, Tuesday just gone I had a fair amount of discharge from my scar area phoned my hospital triage and was told to go straight in. They took one look and I was admitted with iv antibiotics, I’ve only just come home today and was told I was borderline septic. I just wanted to raise this as I really had no idea, the scar is difficult to see but it was bright red. I would say if anyone experiences anything unusual go get it checked out ASAP mine escalated very quickly.