question for c-section mamas

[NCjen]

Hey everyone, hope you are enjoying your new babes. I am enjoying mine, although recovery is not going as well as I would like. I am wondering how all the other c-section mamas are doing. My little one is almost 2 weeks old and I am still hurtin'. I lost half my blood after the surgery. They didnt give me any more, just sent me home with some iron pills. I dont know if that has much to do with it. But I am really ready to feel better!!!Anyone else ever have infected stitches? I am on antibiotics but didnt know if there was something else I could do. If it doesnt get better I have to be cut back open and that is just not an option. What did everyone else's Dr say to do to care for incision? Mine just said wash with Dial. I think if I could kick this infection it would help a lot. Just wondering......

[AugustineM]

Oh gosh, mama -- ouch!! My incision was basically totally healed by 2 weeks PP. The doctor just said to let soap run over it in the shower. They took the staples out in the hospital at 2 days pp, then put steri-strips over the incision. At my 2 wk appointment they took them off and it looks fine. With my first c-sec it went basically exactly the same way.

Why would they want to cut you back open?? I don't see how that would help with the infection... how did they explain it? A good friend of mine had a bad infection in her incision and she had to pack it and have a drain type thing. She took a good 2 months to heal.

Since your on abx, make sure you're watching for thrush... eat lots of yogurt, take acidophilus, etc.

Keep us updated.

[Selesai]

Wow, it sounds like you had it rough (and complicated). All I have to add is that I was told just to let water run down my incision (although I think it's ok for me to use soap?). I don't know how they closed you-- for me they stapled me then took out the staples before I left the hospital and put on these strips called sterry strips (which are like pieces of tape) and once the strips come off, on their own, I'm good. In the meantime, if they didn't tell you, remember you can't submerge yourself (like in a bath or pool) until your incision is healed.
As far as pain, I'm 2 wks out and I have itching but not really anymore pain.
That sounds a little sketchy to me about your loss of blood-- if I were you I'd call your dr.

[The4OfUs]

Another chiming in here that I'd call your doctor if I were you. I'm 1 week 3 days out, had my staples out on Thursday. My incision is fine, and they also told me to just let the soapy water from the shower run over it and pat dry, and try to let as much air get to it as possible...

I'm still having some pain, but I'm goign to try today without any more of the Percs or Motrin...O, maybe just the Motrin...this one has been rougher than my first; my first section, I was bounding up the stairs to get a fax at the house 2 days after we got home. This time around, they were pretty rough with me due to getting DD out ASAP, so I think that's why I'm a little more sore.

The one thing that still gets me is lying down....i can sit and recline, but if I lay down on my back or side for more than about 30 min, it HURTS when I get up for about 10 min until I'm moving around again.

Oh well...I'd rather me have the discomfort than her, so I figure this is OK.

Big to you, I'm so sorry you're having problems. Mamas above gave good advice re: the antibiotics and watching yeast, but I'd still call your doc office and find out why things are not healing up better - a scar resection with a more careful closure (maybe even an "open" closure for drainage) might do the trick, but I'm not sure if I'd want the same guy (or girl) who did it the first time to do it the second time, you know?...maybe there is someone else that could do the scar revision?

[sarahlynn83]

I had my son 10 days ago and I pretty much feel fin. It hurts when I stand up or get up from laying down but other than that I feel pretty good. I erally didn;t have that much pain to begin with. I only took pain medicine once and that was the second night I was in the hospital. My son kicked my incision and I couldn't get it to stop hurting and I wanted to go back to sleep. About cleaning, my doctor said to just use unsented soap to wash the incision with and pat it dry. I have disolvoable stiches and he said really not to worry too much about them.

[hlivengo]

I had a c-section last baby(#9), and it also got infected. The nurse gave me great advice. She said to blow-dry the area, and then put a pantiliner on my underwear(stuck to the inside) to absorb any moisture. Just make sure they aren't deodorant ones. It worked well, and I healed nicely after that.

Hope this helps!
Heather, enjoying life with dh, the first 9, and now#10!(6/19/06)

[chiromama]

I haven't taken anything stronger than Ibuprofen since the day after the surgery. I really havent' needed much of that either. I am trying ot take it easy, and occasionally I can tell i've done too much if my abdomen is sore.. but over all i'm feeling pretty good at 18 days past surgery. I had staples also, that were removed at 3 days pp, and then the steristrips came off within two weeks. I just had my 2 week post op appt, and all is well.
If your incision is red or infected, you need to get back to the doc immediately. Or get a second opinion if your doc isn't doing enough.
I was told i could shower, and just not to rub the incision till the steristrips came off. It's still numb so I have no clue if I'm rubbing it at all. Dial seems like a harsh soap to clean with. I am sure there are other things, but I'd talk to a doc/ ND to get an opinion.

[*guest]

I think the blood loss has a ton to do with it... I was wrecked for the first two weeks just from that.

My incision was done with internal layers of stitches only, sort of plastic surgery style. The surgeon was south american and went on about how everyone gets c-sections there : So no staples or stitches to remove. They took the dressing off on the 2nd day, and said just let water run over it in the shower. I have done nothing special to it at all. Dial seems like it might be harsh and drying. What about neosporin or something specifically for healing wounds? I'd ask the doctor or even get a second opinion if you can. I hope you feel better!

[jr'smom]

I had a rough time with my first c-section too. I had recurring infections for 6 months. Throughout the whole time and for months after, the baby and I would get thrush because the antibiotics let the yeast overgrow. Keeping that at bay was the most difficult in the long run. Having gone through the recurring thrush--leading to painful nipples and very painful breastfeeding--I just wanted to be sure you know to take lots of probiotics, rub vinegar on your nipples several times a day, and wash towels and bras in hot water and only use once. I know you just want your incision to heal and to feel better now, but soon you could be blind-sided by thrush if you're not proactive. I just had my second c-section (much to my dismay--I really wanted a homebirth) but fortunately am healing more quickly this time and started with the probiotics right away to avoid the thrush outbreaks. So far I've had mild signs, but have kept from a severe outbreak with the precautions I mentioned. I know this was a bit off topic, but I wish someone had warned me the first time! I hope you're doing better soon!

[NCjen]

thanks for all the advice. still no signs of looking better even with the abx. my friend gave me some bee propolis to rub on it which is supposed to be highly antibiotic and natural which i always prefer! but I am gonna call the dr tomorrow because it doesnt look better at all. i really hope i dont have to have drainage tubes put in and all that. thanks for the warning on thrush as well. I will do my best. what does the bras in hot water and only wear once have to do with it? bacteria growth?
i will keep you all posted. glad to hear most of you feel fine. hopefully i will join you soon. i am ready to get my inlaws out of here and take care of my family on my own!

[jr'smom]

Using towels and bras only once then washing in hot water is to kill the yeast.