C section: preventing infections

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What can I do to minimise the risk of infection after an ELCS? I had huge problems with infection and needed loads of antibiotics after a tear with my first baby and I don't want a c Section scar to become infected.
Also, how big and sticky is the dressing they use and how long do they leave it in place? Just don't fancy giving myself a wax in the process of removing it!

I too had a bad infection from a tear with number 1, and no issues with c section scar with number 2. Much easier to keep clean - my dressing stayed on for around 5 days I think, they removed it at the hospital at my post natal check. I wore giant primark pants.

I used hair removal cream before my cs, also big knickers for afterwards.

The advice I was given by the hospital (Scandinavian not uk, but very low post op infection rates) was:

Do not wax or shave - if they need to they will.
Day before, you and partner to wash thoroughly including hair. Sleep on fresh bedsheets that have had a hot wash. Use bath towel that's fresh from a hot wash. Morning of wash thoroughly again. Wear totally clean clothes.

Dressing was on for 48 hours. I was in hospital for 4 days (complex section.) at home, shower daily, don't scrub the area, just wash slightly above it with mild soap and let the water run over it. Keep bath towels clean. Wear big pants made of cotton. Air dry the wound after the shower. I was told I could leave it uncovered but mine was BIG and I found it more comfy to cover it with a big stick on dressing. I changed that daily, removed it before shower, wash, air dry, replace.

Do NOT bath until it's totally sealed. Do NOT use anything other than mild soap and water on it. Keep an eye on it and if anything looks dodgy or you run a temperature get seen immediately

For what it's worth, my huge hip to hip incision was sealed within a couple of days and is barely visible a year or so on, which amazes me because when I first saw it it was pretty 😱

And of course the biggie hand hygiene

Wash your hands before going near it!

I have had two and no infection. After the second one I started to smell a little fishy down there Midwife said to air the area for as long as tolerable to let it dry out (after a wash). Think it wa because of the overhang second time around

I did that and there was no infection. On the other hand I was allergic to the dressing they used and got a horrible skin rash which then became infected and spread over my whole body. Doh! Good luck. My two scars are hardly visible now.

Anatidae I can only imagine how much laundry you must have done, although the idea from a previous poster re clean flannels daily to dry the area might be achievable (considering I'll be limited with doing laundry myself for a while).
I'm sure DH and I will be able to wear clean clothes for the journey to the hospital.
Much of this sounds like very sensible advice. Of course, it's. It hygiene from my end but the goodness knows what you might pick up in hospital that worries me more!

It was really just clean bedding the night before and arrival home and clean towels daily for a week or so :) and dh did it all ;)

Good luck! Hand hygiene is vital - then just keep ot clean and aired at home. No baths, no products. Just soap and water. No waxing or hair removal of any method - it does increase the chance of infection. The wound seals faster than you think.

My other top tips are take plenty of tea bags, a stretchy sling, a breastfeeding pillow, a big cup for water and TAKE ALL THE DRUGS. get up and walk as soon as you can, even if it's a little shuffle to the sink. And good luck! Very exciting

I'll be having a c-section if the little blob doesn't move and I'm so scared. I've had 4 normal deliveries and only had a tear with one of my son's but the thought of being cut open scares the crap out of me and then the healing process afterwards makes me cringe. Thank you for all the advice

I didn't get an infection and had a pretty simple routine.
-take dressing off as soon as you get out of the hospital (in the shower or be a wuss like me and get DP to take it off). As latest research is that air circulation is actually better as avoid hot, moist environment

B) use cold hairdryer Sebring to dry your wound

C) Rest! Rest! Rest! Don't do anything that might cause the wound to open.

D) eat lots of fruit & veg (probably won't make a big difference but can't hurt!)

I found the sanitary towel inside pants as wound protection was the biggest most helpful thing for me. I don't know if it's recommended but it helped stop everything rubbing etc. my wound was so neat and didn't weep or anything. I was amazed about how quickly it healed considering they pulled (a tiny) baby out of it!

I just washed with sanex and water, kept it dry and didn't fiddle with it. Big incision (9.5lb baby) almost invisible within the year. Good luck! X

It's truly amazing how neat they are, mine is a faint white line. If I put on weight I do get a slightly square shelf look to my belly but it just encourages me to drop a few pounds so it's a good and bad thing!

Hi Pointless, I'm scared, too. Although, I had a terrible tear and I would much prefer a planned surgical procedure over going through the horrors I experienced with my precious delivery. It's not a minor procedure, either, but I hope the team are able to do a good job and the aftercare in hospital isn't awful. That's the part that worries me a lot and I've had nightmares about it!

I honestly can't remember any after care in regards to the scar, I remember the catheter and the tube going into the wound, that was a bit painful on removal but nothing to write home about! I had my pot for the blood to go into and the nurses joked it was my red handbag! I loved my nurse as she said I had a lovely flat muscly tummy (I didn't) and lovely thin legs! She knew how to win me over! I would honestly try not to worry, I barely gave my scar a second thought. I even discharged myself early from hospital as I couldn't bear the crying babies when mine was in the nicu, it felt too raw!

I remember having a giant cannula that didn't sit right and eventually fell out! They also left my catheter in too long and it leaked. Did you have to have a drain from your wound then Busted?

I just hope the staff aren't horrible after the c section. Not expecting first class service but I did have an awful time with my first.

A couple of people mentioned a stretchy sling. I tried a ring sling with my first and it wasn't right for us. I gather stretchy slings sit higher up and are good for newborns?
Any recommendations for brand or type? When did you start using them and how long did you use them?

I used a close caboo and a moby wrap with my babies.
I've had two sections, best advice is to leave your scar alone! Let water run over it in the shower and pat it dry but that's it. Don't poke it!
I wore yoga pants type trousers at home as much as possible and both scars healed fine.
Both my sections were great. ELCS was lovely, I just wanted to do it all again afterwards!

You could ask about the new glue they are using , no external stitches and no bandage and apparently so far zero infections. You have to have the right kind of skin for it apparently (which I did, wing a. It Mediterranean!)

Baby Ktan sling good. Sits up high, and no buckles. I found the rings on caboo dug in. Only issue is they are sized so you and Dh might need different sizes. But your Dh could use a regular buckle soft structured sling like boba 4g from the beginning as you will use later anyway

I had dissolvable stitches and a "honeycomb" dressing on for 5 days. Then they just took it off.
They didn't shave me (and I didn't do it either).
I washed and air dried my scar every day, and that was it. I didn't put anything else on it. Just wore huge granny pants!

I had dry razor with my first ELCS and the itching when it grew back was horrendous...So for no.2 I got DH to use hair removing cream the night before to save the nurses a job. Much more comfortable regrowth.

Other best advice I had was to take everything offered. Especially the peppermint and something else for your stomach. I got awful trapped wind which hurt but the peppermint really helped.

I had an EMCS last October:

They shaved me with an electric shaver (had it been an ELCS I'd have sorted myself out).

The stitches were dissolvable and most dissolved with no issue, a couple came out a few weeks later in he shower.

The dressing was removed before I left hosp (after 24 hours) after a shower, it didn't hurt at all (I too was dreading it).

The wound healed well, I washed it with water only every day in the shower, each night I sprayed it with diluted tea tree oil and dabbed it dry with kitchen roll.

Like several pps I have had overhang, so I was careful to keep it dry (lying down and airing it at every opportunity).

I showed it to every medical professional I saw, all midwives, at every doc appt, just to make sure they were happy with healing.

I had a very minor infection (staphylococcus which grows all over your body anyway, it was just a by more prevalent around the wound), it leaked a little at one end (transparent or slightly bloody, but only ever a few drops). Antibiotics cleared that up.

Now at 12 weeks the wound is healed, I wash it as normal, it doesn't hurt - just sometimes feels tight on the outside and still slightly tender on the inside.

Good luck!

Ps should I have baby II I'll absolutely have an ELCS

Oh and - if you've never had a c section before: the more you do, the worse you will feel! I felt quite okay quite soon after the op, but every time I pushed myself a bit too hard I really felt it the next day. So take it as easy as you can (I know taking it easy is HARD!).

Remember a C section cut is different from a tear and will heal differently. Keep the area clean and REST. I wore mesh knickers and then granny knickers over it. And a pad over the wound. Nothing else. I just rested. On Day 20 I was fighting fit. Not even a twinge.
Take all the painkillers you are given. No prizes for martyrdom.
The anaesthetist will look after your cannula.
My c section was fun. Everyone was relaxed and joking. Very friendly. My own advice is to enjoy it and remember all the tiny details. If you are not having a C section for medical reasons (I will be having one this year and mine will be a high high risk one with a vascular surgeon in theatre and a NICU team) per se then it should be a really relaxed procedure. Chat to the anaesthetist if you have any questions.

Yes Op I had a drain in my wound leading to a bottle of blood! Nice!

Is a drain unusual?

I don't know if a drain is unusual; I know they are used after major operations (my area is more head and neck!) so it is probably not unreasonable. Part of the problem is I don't think I'll be a good patient when I'm more used to being part of the clinical team!