personal hygiene after C section

[NAR4]

Prob a daft question but I may need a C section if my placenta doesn't move and wondered if you can bath after a C section or you have to keep the wound dry? If not, can you shower or does it have to be a strip wash until the incision heals over?

Hi there, I had an EMCS with dd and they made me have a shower and remove the dressing the next day in hospital. It was quite scary at the time taking the bandage off so soon but it was all fine.

I didn't have a bath so you may want to check that but did have a shower daily with no problems. You will def want to shower regularly with the post birth bleeding,night sweats etc!

I used to dry the rest of my body and then press some dry kitchen roll over the scar to dry that. Then I would just lie down naked for a few minutes after to ensure it was fully dry.

Sounds wierd but if you end up breast feeding then the breast milk is amazingly healing (they recommend it for loads of bizarre things!). So once dry I used to put a few drops of BM gently on the scar and then let that dry too.

No need to then apply a dressing or anything. You will definitely want big pants that pull up over the scar so don't rub it. But actually you might be in disposable pants for a few days and they tend to come up to your belt button anyway. Also things like really soft,high waisted yoga style trousers are great as they have no hard waistband to dig in.

Good luck either way. Don't be worried about the CS if you have to have one, mine was a very positive experience.

Ps some people recommend rubbing in things like vitamin e oil or bio oil to reduce the appearance of the scar. I never bothered but I think if you do that you need to wait until its fully healed first.

When I had a section the midwife helped me to have a bath the next day.

I was encouraged to have a shower about 12 hours after my ELCS (I do hope this was standard practice, and not because I was unusually stinky!).

Then showers as usual. I used a medical antiseptic shower gel for a while - nothing fancy or very scented, and made sure the scar was dry properly afterwards.

Yes can shower straightaway, I was recommended to use an antiseptic soap

I would suggest drying the scar with a hair dryer on a warm setting. Much less sore than dabbing with a towel. Works with episiotomy stitches too. Also very hygienic!

Don't have a shower fitted at home so was slightly concerned.

Remember using the hairdryer to dry episiotomy stitches.

Thanks everyone.

My dressing was a plastic type honeycomb one - it stayed on for about a week so showered with that on.

mw said best not to use an soaps etc on wound - am sure you can but i would avoid - had shower next day after section.

they said where wound is - ie in a crevis best to keep it aired as long as frequent as possible

I really struggled getting out the bath after my c-section & much preferred showers. I had a wire in rather than stitches, it came out after a week. I think I just used unscented Simple shower gel.

Good luck!

I have had 3 sections and after each one I had a shower within about 12ish hours. I patted dry the wound and when they took the dressing off a day or so later then I used to use big sanitary towels to pad the wound so my knickers didnt touch off it and hurt (mw suggestion!) . Just be careful not to get soap on the wound until its healed, simply rinse it with warm, clean water in the shower and carefully dry (you can use soap/showergel everywhere else btw just not wound)

If you don't have a shower maybe just enough water in the bath to wash your lady bits sort of kneeling. Wash the rest of your bod with shower gel. Before you get in the bath fill the washbasin (which is hopefully within easy reach of the bath) and use a jug to rinse yourself off. It's quite hygienic as you stand up out of the mucky bath water and rinse with clean water.

I don't think fresh wounds do so well if they get soggy as this is a good place for bacteria to grow. The hair dryer also ensures zero sogginess!

I had baths with a couple of drops of tea tree oil & lavender oil as recommended by mw, smelt lovely!!

But doesn't the hair dryer suck in all the dirty air and blast it out again, dirt and all? Not great for a wound.

I don't remember doing anything specific for the scar, just gave it the once over in the shower.

I had a section 2 weeks ago. I was helped to the shower the day after and told to take the dressing off after 5 days (unless it had come off before) but mine seemed to be stuck on well. Was told to shower only for first 5 days and then could have baths.

I have also heard not to use a hairdryer, because it blows fluff/dirt directly into the wound. Just patting it dry with a clean towel/I used toilet roll is fine.

Never heard of a hair dryer blowing dirt and fluff anywhere! Certainly doesn't do that to my hair . It is recommended for episiotomies by the mw and that's a wound too.

Have you ever had a hair dryer with a filter? It's not nice what gets caught in there.

I just let my scar air dry. By the time I'd faffed around with moisturiser (not on scar!), teeth brushing and hair products in the bathroom, I was as dry as a bone anyway.

Easier to dry a c section scar than an episiotomy wound, tbh. I had my c section in a hot summer and the thought of having a hot moist maternity towel in my pants next to stitches, which I'd also be having to sit on, was vile.

Same for me. Shower about 12 hours afterwards. I was encouraged to remove dressing then. Just nice hot water in shower. Patted dry wound and put on BIG cotton pants.

Good idea sneeze about soaping up and then rinsing with a jug while kneeling in the bath. I imagine this will make getting in and out of the bath a lot easier. If it is only for a week or two, my hubby will be at home to help anyway.

Elah will try to remember the sanitary towel tip as this sounds like it will make things a lot more comfortable.

I'm just worrying in advance as I'm sure the midwife will advise me, if I do need a C section. Just nice to ask other mums what they did and prepare myself mentally.

Or u could get this installed with your toilet : www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0074FQT5Y/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1355739298&sr=8-3-spell&pi=SL75

Wash ur bits from the comfort of sitting down on a toilet seat.

My husband installed it in 10 min and it was dead easy to do.

I'm not keen on the idea of stepping in and out of a bath right after a c section.
And i personally prefer washing in running water ; I don't like the idea of washing in stagnant bath water where you would probably end up consuming more water having a bath than when you have a shower.
That biddet shower is also great for everyday use after doing number one or two so I think it's a winner.