C section and baths

[Honeyblossom]

Hello, im 9 days post c section and id really like a bath( as opposed to a shower) can anyone tell me what they were advised about bathing?? MyOB didnt mention not bathing but my comunity midwife said not for six weeks!!! Our comunity midwives are pretty rubbish so I just wondered if thatbwas true or if she was just reeling off the " dont do anything til your six week check, stop asking questions" standard response.
Id really appreciate hearing what you were told or what you did

 

[chuck]

I was told to have a soak in the bath when i got home to get the sticky wound dressing off then having a bath was fine as long as the wound was healing i.e. not open or weeping and to be careful drying it so not to pull any scabs odd while there still were any.


Just be careful getting in and out! Make sure you have a bath mat in case you slip and someone to maybe help you get out if the bath doesnt have handles on the side.

 

[megangrohl]

I was told not to submerge the incision in water so it's different what your own doctor says. I'd call and ask just to be safe. I have had a bath but only up to just below my incision. I was told I could have a bath once the incision itself heals fully

 

[1948LC]

Hi

I couldn't even get in the bath until around 3 to 4 weeks after my section, and even then found it hard getting in and especially getting out.

All I wanted was a bath when I got home! x

 

[tristansmum]

After 3 weeks your incision should be healed at the surface so its fine. If you have any open areas along the incision then best to avoid. Just be careful getting in and out as you can really pull yourself if not careful. x

 

[mojobear]

I had my first bath within a week of both sections, the first time I was just told to make sure I dried the wound properly with a hair dryer afterwards and this time it was recommended that I had a soak by the midwife as I had a reaction to the iodine and even after 4 showers was still red and scratching and luckily it worked.... xx

 

[Liesje]

I wouldn't.... You also have an incision on your uterus and your cervix remains open until you stop bleeding... So bacteria could get in that way. I was also told no tampons for 8 weeks because of that.

 

[babyblog]

Weird there is so much conflicting advice out there, with both sections I have had a bath the next day on the maternity ward, as allowed by the staff. As long as your dressing is on then nothing can get infected, I would have hated not to have bathed, I had 2-3 a day n the weeks after bith births as I was so annoyed by the bleeding and leaking boobs, it was the only time of day I could be naked and relax!!

 

[alaricsmom]

I wouldn't.... You also have an incision on your uterus and your cervix remains open until you stop bleeding... So bacteria could get in that way. I was also told no tampons for 8 weeks because of that.

This is exactly what my dr told me. I wanted a bath, but I waited because I did not want to risk infection.

 

[tkeith8109]

I was told not to at all for at least 6 weeks. I'm assuming it will make the incision too soft from soaking, and trying to get out of a bath tub was not something I felt like I could do for a while anyway.

 

[babyblog]

I wouldn't.... You also have an incision on your uterus and your cervix remains open until you stop bleeding... So bacteria could get in that way. I was also told no tampons for 8 weeks because of that.

This is exactly what my dr told me. I wanted a bath, but I waited because I did not want to risk infection.

That doesn't make sense though ad people who have vaginal births have baths and their cervix is in the same situation!! Your scar can't get infected as it's covered for around 5 days and then it's healed . I agree with the no tampons rule though

 

[momto4girls]

I wouldn't.... You also have an incision on your uterus and your cervix remains open until you stop bleeding... So bacteria could get in that way. I was also told no tampons for 8 weeks because of that.

This is exactly what my dr told me. I wanted a bath, but I waited because I did not want to risk infection.

That doesn't make sense though ad people who have vaginal births have baths and their cervix is in the same situation!! Your scar can't get infected as it's covered for around 5 days and then it's healed . I agree with the no tampons rule though

all 4 of my vaginal deliveries I was told "no baths and nothing in the vagina for 6 weeks" I was told the same thing after my c-section. Strange how it varies from doctor to doctor in various parts of the world.

 

[jess77]

I had my section on the 15th jan 2012, I thought i couldnt have a bath, but as my wound caught and infection after a course of antibiotics I was encouraged to have a salt bath every other day and to stay in there for 5-10 mins and change the dressing on my wound. This was around 3 weeks after section. I did enjoy the baths I must admit, and it didnt even sting!!!.

 

[DJ987]

I was told not to for 6 weeks afterwards. I got an infection in my wound and it reopened so I had to wait longer.

 

[DJ987]

I wouldn't.... You also have an incision on your uterus and your cervix remains open until you stop bleeding... So bacteria could get in that way. I was also told no tampons for 8 weeks because of that.

This is exactly what my dr told me. I wanted a bath, but I waited because I did not want to risk infection.

That doesn't make sense though ad people who have vaginal births have baths and their cervix is in the same situation!! Your scar can't get infected as it's covered for around 5 days and then it's healed . I agree with the no tampons rule though

People who have a vaginal birth don't have a wound in their uterus though this is the point Liesje was trying to make

 

[SmartieMeUp]

I bathed 4 days post section (well just under as it was just before midnight I came out) and it literally let my body relax. Could move around a lot more loosely as the wound didn't feel so tight. x

 

[littleANDlost]

I was told by the midwife i nthe hospital and my midwife that it was fine to as all stitching was internal. I had a bath the day after i got home so 5 days after i had it done.