C-section incision question

My c-section this time around was a much different experience. I was in ALOT of pain the first few days and then a week postpartum and I was still bleeding bright red blood from the incision. I went to the doctor and she wasn't too concerend, said I she thought I pulled a stitch. Eventually the bleeding stopped but then I started noticing that my incision (outer skin) was starting to open up and ooze (I know, so gross)!! So I went in to be checked and sure enough the incision was infected. They put me on antibiotics and told me as my body started getting the infection out that my skin would start to close back up on it's own.

It's been 5 days now on the meds and the incision is looking alot better but the skin looks as though it still doesn't want to close up very well. Have any of you had this happen. Do I just need to give it more time or should I call the doctor? I'm not in ANY pain at all it's just that it seems to not be healing so well. Maybe I am still rushing things??!! Opinions??

 

I'd check with the doctor and ask how long you should expect it to look like that. Do you still have steri strips on? I think my steri strips were still on 3 weeks pp. GL!

 

I second calling your dr. if you have questions. But when mine was healing, it didn't look like it was going to close up, to me at least, and was oozing some. I barely have any scarring now, so it did heal up really well.

 

I contracted a MRSA staph infection in the right side of my incision less than a week after discharge. That part of the incision looked the same as you're describing, sort of like the seams weren't going to join. That side definitely healed slower than the rest but after the infection cleared up, it healed just fine. A call to your dr's office can't hurt though esp with the w/e coming up.

Good luck and congrats on your girls!

Christy

 

Call your doctor and have them look at it. My incision opened up because I had a huge blood clot behind it (the size of my fist) and I ended up needing a second surgery to clean out the clot and reclose the incision. Best to get it checked as soon as possible.

Hope everything is okay.

 

Incisions can be slow to heal sometimes. If you're worried, it never hurts to call the doc.

I also had clotty blood behind mine (it's called a hematoma), and they had to remove about half of my stitches to let the blood drain out. It stayed open to heal. I had it packed with gauze twice a day for about 6 weeks. It took that long to close up. It was open about an inch deep though. If yours is just separated a little, it might heal in just a week or two. The doctors told me that it'll heal from the inside out. So it'll get shallower and shallower, until it eventually closes all the way up.

I also had an infection too. I was on antibiotics for 6 weeks! I'm sorry you're having to deal with these issues when you just want to be a mom to your new babies.

 

I'm sure since its infected its just going to take a little bit longer to heal but I would definitely keep getting it checked by the Dr. My staples were removed after 2 days because I had an infection. They decided not to stitch me back up because they were afraid that the infection would get trapped in there. It had to heal from the outside in and be packed by my DH and mom with guaze for 6 weeks. I never thought it was going to heal properly--it did but took longer. I was monitored once a week by the Dr to check its progress. An infection is not something I would mess around with so it doesn't hurt to call.

 

QUOTE(JessiePlus2 @ Jul 24 2008, 02:20 PM) [snapback]894028[/snapback]
Incisions can be slow to heal sometimes. If you're worried, it never hurts to call the doc.

I also had clotty blood behind mine (it's called a hematoma), and they had to remove about half of my stitches to let the blood drain out. It stayed open to heal. I had it packed with gauze twice a day for about 6 weeks. It took that long to close up. It was open about an inch deep though. If yours is just separated a little, it might heal in just a week or two. The doctors told me that it'll heal from the inside out. So it'll get shallower and shallower, until it eventually closes all the way up.

I also had an infection too. I was on antibiotics for 6 weeks! I'm sorry you're having to deal with these issues when you just want to be a mom to your new babies.


QUOTE(twinboys426 @ Jul 24 2008, 08:31 PM) [snapback]894733[/snapback]
I'm sure since its infected its just going to take a little bit longer to heal but I would definitely keep getting it checked by the Dr. My staples were removed after 2 days because I had an infection. They decided not to stitch me back up because they were afraid that the infection would get trapped in there. It had to heal from the outside in and be packed by my DH and mom with guaze for 6 weeks. I never thought it was going to heal properly--it did but took longer. I was monitored once a week by the Dr to check its progress. An infection is not something I would mess around with so it doesn't hurt to call.


I'd give the doc a call too. I didn't have an infection, but long story short, had to have the incision reopened and like the two pp had packing and dressing changes for what seemed like forever. It did eventually close up, but the OB on one of my follow up visits ended up using silver nitrate sticks on it to help close it up. He said I had granulation tissue that just wasn't going to go away, and the silver nitrate should help the skin get back to normal. And hooray, it did! Seems like within days of him doing that, it finally closed up!

It's always worth a call and a follow up visit if you're concerned!

 

The previous post reminded me that I also went back weekly for the doc to check my incision. I also had nurses come twice a day to do the gauze dressings. Maybe you can see if you can do a weekly check with the doc to ensure the incision is healing ok?

 

I agree with calling and checking on how long it should look that way. My OB gave me some spray to apply. I think it was called Gentle Mist. It is sold at Walgreens and can be used on diaper rashes as well. It really helped me with healing. Also, you can use a hairdryer to help dry the incision after you shower or bathe. It really helps drying it when it is tender. You may want to ask if you can put some baby powder or bath powder on it (as long as it's not infected) to help keep it dry, so it will heal faster, (maybe some baking soda?). If I find the bottle and that is not the name, I will pm the name to you if you would like. HTH!

 

i had a hematoma at my incision and it didn't fully close for 8 weeks.... is that what you have?

 

Thanks ladies for all of the replies. I will definitely have to keep an eye on it. I'll take another look at it in the morning and see how it is and then try to give my doc a call. I'm a little over 3/4 of the way done with the meds that were prescribed for me. Hopefully it won't end up being more of a big deal than it already has been.

 

QUOTE(Flutterbymama @ Jul 24 2008, 04:43 PM) [snapback]893823[/snapback]
I contracted a MRSA staph infection in the right side of my incision less than a week after discharge. That part of the incision looked the same as you're describing, sort of like the seams weren't going to join. That side definitely healed slower than the rest but after the infection cleared up, it healed just fine. A call to your dr's office can't hurt though esp with the w/e coming up.

Good luck and congrats on your girls!

Christy


I'd call the dr. also. I had a friend that also contracted MRSA in her incision and it took almost her full 3months of maternity leave of packing/cleaning/repacking her incision before it finally healed. She was also on antibiotics and stuff.

 

I had a hematoma and an infection and my incision still isn't healed. It's been almost 9 weeks. I'm almost there. I had to go to the wound clinic and have visiting nurses come daily and now weekly. It's at the point where I can do it myself. It's worth going to the doctors to have them check it out.