C Section Wound

[belle365]

Hi

It’s been almost 3 weeks since my c section and i thought i was recovering well. I’m not in any pain so have managed to look after my baby, do some household chores (nothing strenuous just the dishes and laundry etc) and have been going for a 2.5 mile walk with the baby every couple of days.

I noticed an unpleasant smell yesterday so i called my GP and they have prescribed antibiotics. My wound looked fine yesterday but today there is 3 little openings. I’ve been keeping it clean with just water and drying it with the hairdryer as the midwife recommended. My would is right under my stomach so it’s difficult to get any air to it. Is there anything else i should be doing to keep it clean and dry? I’ve used folded breast pads tonight to see if this helps.

I feel great so really upset that its now opened up. Could i have been overdoing it with the walks? I’m overweight so trying not to sit around too much and its been nice to get out of the house.

Thanks

@belle365 hi!

I had the same a few years ago when I had my baby, my doctor recommended washing with water and using kitchen roll to dab dry. She also recommended a detachable shower head and gently lifting pouch and hold the running water over the actual scar to clean - not just water running over from the shower etc. Tissues etc actually stick to the would and could make it more infected, good kitchen roll doesn’t really do this. If you don’t have a detachable shower head try a spray bottle with fresh water, lie on bed and pull skin up spray and wipe clean with kitchen roll or clean T-shirt (towels are too rough).

Even though you feel up to it, it is really important to rest so your scar can heal. I was the same as you, felt fine was up and about but just because you feel you can, doesn’t mean you should. 6 weeks rest and recovery. A few shorter walks would do you better!

I think the best thing you can do is make sure you lie on the bed and lift your tummy flap bit that's covering your scar to air it out after every shower and before bed / when you get a chance in the day. That's what I did when o had a tiny opening.

My midwife said not to use a hairdryer as it can dissolve the stitches.

Oh and second above poster, I know you feel fine and I was the same, but you really do need to rest more. Walks a bit shorter for a while x

I second the advice above but also add that my midwife said after I let the wound air dry like the previous poster recommended, to put a clean muslin cloth under my tummy and over the wound to absorb any extra moisture. It worked very well, especially with night sweats to contend with.

I advised someone to use a hairdryer on a c sec wound on here once (my doctor told me to and I had no problems) but someone came back and said absolutely don’t do it as it can spread infection...

Don’t have a bath either (my doc said) just a quick shower and pat dry. Keep an eye on it and take your temperature.
Hope you feel better soon.

Mine was the same. No pain at all but funky smelling, very red and angry with part reopening. I went to hospital with mine and they found a non-disolvable stitch had been put in which allowed bacteria to get in, some of the dissolvable stitches didn't disolve where the infection took root. I had 2 types of antibiotics at the same time and at home pulled out 2.5 inch of undisolved stitches. Took about a week to heal after treatment started and now the scar is barely noticeable, it can be tender at af and after heavy deadlifts.

My cousin wiped hers with liquid disinfectant frequently and hers healed up well.

The antibiotics will sort it out, don’t worry!

Do not use a hairdryer. You could end up blowing bacteria into your wound from within the hairdryer.

Run the water from the shower over your wound each day. I bought a box of sterile gauze dressings from Amazon and used one to pat dry my wound after a shower. You could also put a clean dressing against your wound each day and hold it in place with big knickers if you feel you need something against it to absorb moisture, but you should also air your wound as much as possible. I often sat on the sofa with my leggings and big knickers half way down my hips in order to do so! During COVID times so no chance of visitors popping by thankfully!

2.5 miles each day sounds like a lot so soon afterwards. I don’t think I walked that far until 12 weeks. You need to stay mobile but make sure you rest lots and don’t over do it.

Yes, don’t overdo it too much! You may feel OK but there is a reason that they say 6 weeks’ recovery. I had a pretty nice heal for the first couple of weeks but my wound opened a bit on one side. I did:

• cool shower, lay down and air out afterwards (I was told to not wash the wound at all but let the water run over and pay dry)
• wound wipe - can get them from Boots
• high waist cotton pants with no dressing.
• don’t touch/poke (sounds obvious but I was obsessed with trying to see where the wound was open 🤦‍♀️)

Four years ago I was advised to boil water, dissolve salt in it, cool and dab on with clean cotton wool. But I'd check with your midwife first, I'm just a random on the internet!

The antibiotics will sort it out.
I had the same happen ( wound opening and infection) probably from picking up my 18 month old and generally doing too much too soon - so rest!

I had the same - wound reopened after two weeks and became infected. I was told not to use a hairdryer for same reasons as PPs. Instead, I had a course of antibiotics, let water run over the wound, air dried it after a shower and used gauze to pat dry excess moisture and sometimes tucked into my massive granny knickers. It took time to heal because I had done too much too soon because I felt so well after the op. Won't make that mistake again!

Thank you everyone. I’ll stop using the hair dryer and going to take it easy.

I feel a bit silly thought i was doing good by keeping active 🙈

I wouldn't use the hair dryer I would let it air dry. You have overdone it with the walks but don't beat yourself up about it. A c section is major abdominal surgery, just think how many layers they cut through to reach baby. It takes time for you to heal internally and I would always give yourself a good 6 weeks before doing longer walks. At the moment I would be trying to get out for a walk around the block but nothing more strenuous. We all heal at different rates but I really think not pushing yourself in those early weeks aids longterm recovery. Congratulations on your baby x

OP you can still do walks but just do much shorter ones and less often until your wound has closed up, then you can slowly increase the distance and frequency.
I know how hard it is to avoid exercise and rest. I'm a powerlifter and I hate rest weeks but my body needs them occasionally. I'm in the gym doing deadlifts atm after having last week off. May have a cesarean again with this one so a minimum of 6 weeks out of the gym to come, most time I've had off in over 3.5 years is 3 weeks after a foot operation. Ours is a home gym too so I may go and just sit in there when I'm missing it lol.