Requesting Stitches vs Staples vs Dermabond?

[texmati]

I am hoping for a vbac, and just switched to a vbac friendly provider. (I've seen him twice). Apparently, for the sections that he does do, he uses staples and not stitches. I talked to his nurse, and she mentioned that he has done stitches or glue in the past, but that's not his usual.

Would you request that he use stitches instead of stapes in case I do need a section? I think i had glue with my first, and that's what I would much prefer. At the same time, I worry about asking him to do somehting not in his norm.

Edited by texmati - 12/27/10 at 1:25pm

[TiffanyToo]

I think I would want my surgeon to use the technique s/he is most comfortable with. 

I would not want them to screw it up, by using a technique they have not had a lot of exposure to.

For me surgical skills are not nearly as important as the support and encouragement for VBAC.

[texmati]

I know... this is what I lean towards as well.

That being said, I'm not feeling very confident in my vbac at all... I see confidence all over my local ICAN group, but I just feel sort of defeated. I'll be happy with any outcome that will get my baby out healthy; and it's just a bonus if I can be present for it, and even more of a bonus if my recovery is ok.

I like my scar (which I think was done with dermabond.) I've seen some c-section scars that just look scary, and I think I would be very upset about that. I never thought I would care, but my friend has a scar that looks like someone sewed her together with a sewing machine; and it just seems like an insult to injury.

[TiffanyToo]

Originally Posted by texmati 

That being said, I'm not feeling very confident in my vbac at all... I see confidence all over my local ICAN group, but I just feel sort of defeated.

Can we have a dialogue about your lack of confidence and feeling of defeat? IMO the suture issue is not really the issue?

[CookAMH]

Not sure if this helps, but my scar from staples is hardly visible and not at all bothersome.

[jshannyn519]

Staples actually heal faster than stitches do and with less scarring in most cases. The staples are pulled out usually 4 days after the surgery and then steri strips are put on. That allows your skin to heal itself without dealing with the foreign objects of stitches, which usually stay in for 7-14 days depending on the person. I had staples with my c/s and I would go for them over stitches any day of the week. Except that I'm not having another c/s so it's not an issue.

[nononose]

They used staples on me too, and my scar (so I'm told) is very neat and hardly visible.  They removed the staples after less than 2 days.  I think the problems with staples are when they are left in too long.  Now ... it wasn't fun getting them out.  I actually asked the nurse to stop at one point.  No problem handling labour, but I couldn't get through all the staples being taken out at once without a break.  It wasn't painful, just stingy!  But very short lived!

[Montana Mom]

I think I'd be more worried about the location of the incision, like reusing the existing scar instead of cutting at a new site.  I've had dissolvable stitches and staples, both healed fine.

[Chamomile Girl]

I think most nasty section scars are the result of people's natural propensity towards nasty scars. I think people more prone to hypertrophic scarring will have section scars that look mighty scary, but it is genetic and not necessarily a result of the method used to close the incision. Since you have already healed fine from your first section there is no reason to assume (outside of infection) you might scar heavily if you undergo a second.

I have read that staples give a cleaner scar, but I'm one of those prone to hypertrophic scars (and boy oh boy is my section scar nasty) so I'm not a good test case there.

Good luck to you with your VBAC!

[amma_mama]

I had stiches with my c-section and then staples for subsequent surgery for a fibroid, using the same incision location. I only have a very light pink scar, nothing scary at all...I agree with Chamomile Girl, you are either prone to nasty scarring or not (in absence of an infection). I was worried about the removal of both (I am basically a chicken) and both the stiches and staples were no big deal to remove. I apparently heal relatively quickly and had them both taken out earlier than average. My staples were removed within two days of surgery, while I was still in the hospital. It did not really hurt at all, though I was sufficiently doped up so that probably helped...

That said, keeping fingers crossed that you get your VBAC!

[JTA Mom]

In terms of healing, no difference. Both with staples and with the stitches, my scar is pretty faint.

However, in terms of moving around/feeling, I much preferred the stitches. He used dissolvable ones. MUCH MUCH nicer. Honestly, an amazing difference between the 2 post-op. At 6 weeks with the staples, I could barely walk 1 mile without bad ab pain/issues. This time around, with stitches, I could easily walk a mile by 2 weeks pp.

That said, go with what you want. It might not be your surgeons first choice (glue and stitches takes longer than staples), but he is most likely well trained in them.

Also, I had a similar crisis of confidence when going for my VBAC. Looking back on it, it was a reaction to feeling out of control and fear of going through the first c/s experience, which I hated. I also thought if I didn't 'get my hopes up' if I had another c/s I wouldn't be so bummed. It turned out that I needed another c/s (heart decels between contractions), and I was still really bummed. There were a lot of unresolved issues from my first two births that, I believe, got in the way of having a VBAC. There was also a bad experience during this past birth that contributed a lot too. It's complicated. Just wanted to mention that feeling this way is normal, but that it's very important you talk about this and explore why you feel this way, either here or with people you really trust.

Ami