advice from anyone who had c section

[shellie82]

i ended up having an emergency c section ast week and have just built up the courage to take off the dressing (they said after 7 days but ive left it 8)

im worried now though about not having it dressed, will i be ok in the shower? is there anything i can use to get rid of stickiness? how long does it take for stitched to dissolve??

its stressing me out so much

thanks in advance x

 

[WW1]

To be honest I don't think I had a dressing over mine! I certainly don't remember one!

I'm sure it'll be fine but if in doubt have a chat with your mw.

 

[beanzean]

I wouldn't worry about it not being dressed as the hospital removed my dressing the day I came out of hospital (3 days after op) and told me to just place a maternity pad over it and hold it in place with big knickers for a couple of weeks (I wore hubbys boxers). I was also told to give it a good gentle rinse with the shower each day and gently pat dry. I did end up with a raging infection needing 6 weeks of anti-biotics but that came from internally and not from external care.

As regards to the stickiness, baby oil is the best I found to gently remove it. It does take a few day as you can't rub too much but it quickens things up.

Not sure about the stitches disolving as I had beads and the MW removed mine on day 9.

 

[fluffpuffin]

you're fine to shower hun. mine was the same.

 

[Jolinar]

I took mine off after 12 hours it was driving me nuts.

You're ok to have a bath or shower, bath is good as it eases some of the pain. Just don't use any soaps or chemicals on the wound until its fully healed. I'm presuming the stickiness is around the wound from the dressing, try a little olive oil or baby oil on cotton wool to remove it, you shouldn't need to "scrub" if you use oil.

I think the stitches took a couple of weeks to dissolve, I can't really remember it was all a blur!

 

[jayne191284]

I had a dressing on until the day I came out of hospital, so 3 days after the birth. I had stitches that needed removing (the kind that are internal and have a bead on either end, so the bead is cut and stitches are pulled through) I was advised to give it a good wash and pat it dry and to let it 'air' as much as possible. It was healed within no time and the scar is barely visable now
xx

 

[lousielou]

They took my dressing off about 12 hours after my son was born. I'm sure once it's out and airing, it'll heal much quicker now hun

Like the others have said, you're fine to have a shower or bath. I was really worried about catching my scar on my clothes, so made sure I wore great big granny pants that I could pull right up - either that, or teeny pants that the elastic's so low it won't/can't rub against the scar. Your stitches will already have started to dissolve by now I think - mine took about 2 weeks to go completely xx

 

[katy1310]

I had my emergency section on the Sunday and got told to take the dressing off in the shower on the Tuesday morning. They told me to let the water run on it but not to get any soap, shampoo etc near it.

I didn't have stitches, I had a long thing with a bead at each end (no idea what it was called) and the midwife took it out after a few days xx

 

[aob1013]

Hi hun, i had an EMCS but had my beady type things removed on Day 5. I showered everyday since i had got discharged from hospital which was 2 days post section. I had a shower one day after the section. It's normal to feel a bit apprehensive. I didn't have a bath for near 8 weeks as i was scared there would be a gap in the scar where water could get in

 

[littleblonde]

mine was off within 12 hours and i showered within 24 hours. I think stitches where 2 or 3 weeks

 

[ellie27]

I had an elective section with Anna (breech)

I was in the shower within 12 hours of her birth - not sure if the dressing was still on then though??

Dressing was certainly not on by the time I got home which was 48hrs after she was born.

I dont know how long it takes for the stitches to dissolve but you wont know and it wont make it feel any different.

Dont let anything rub against the stitches. I got an infection in the wound from trousers/pants rubbing against it - and the pain that caused was way more than the c-section pain itself!!

 

[WW1]

I would certainly recommend some enormous granny knickers - so comfy!

 

[anna matronic]

I took my dressing off on day 7. I had the sticky stuff on it till the other day when my mum used clinique clenser to get it off, it worked!! It still feels numb and tender there though!

I took it off in the bath, but have showered everyday. I plucked up the courage to look at it thinking it would be a red scabby wound and it wasn't it was just a line of raised skin. Couldn't see any stitches at all, which I think are inside but they were dissolvable ones x x

I am still wearing the granny knickers!!! They hold my belly in and protect my scar fom my clothes and are soooo comfy

 

[XfairyhopesX]

Hi angel

Mine was off the day after, had a shower (just let it run down me) then once home had plain luke warm bath until i felt ready - even having stapled out 5 days after wasnt bad either honestly i thought it would be xx

 

[lea28]

Hi I had my pad removed by a mw before I left hosp 4 days after having lo. I just soaked it in the shower and it didn't hurt. I had staples so can't help there.

 

[discoclare]

I'm surprised they wanted you to keep the dressing on for 8 days. That seems awfully long, mine came off within 48 hours. You are fine to shower without dressing.

Don't know about the stitches I'm afraid but skin repair is pretty amazing: I had to have staples (18 of em) due to complications and they were removed on day 5 post op.

 

[Bluetomato]

Ive had 2 sections, one used disovable stitches, the other had a long stitch in with beads at the end. With both of them, I had my dressings removed the following morning after my section (it was suggested I do it while in the shower to help get them off), so im sure its ok to shower. I think I had a bit of sticky stuff left on my skin, but I just left it and it came off on its own x

 

[shellie82]

thanks everyone, im just so nervous about it all!!

i was discharged on the monday and told the midwife would change dressing and then on tuesday when she came she said i should take it off on 7th day but then i waited until today to pluck up the courage

i still am wearing granny knickers lol, was more worried about keeping it clean or getting it infected!! still wearing dresses as scared of pants rubbing on it haha!!!

thanks for all your advice, ill probably be needing a lot of it with this little man x

 

[cleckner04]

Mine was never dressed but I showered a few days after the section with no problems. I had staples so can't help with the stitches question.

 

[WW1]

It's interesting how different hospitals do it! I had my section at 10.47 and was made to go in the shower at about 6pm. Basically, as soon as the spinal wore off, I was told to get out of bed!