C-Section Questions

Kristen61607

My c-section is now 2.5 weeks away (omg!) and today I talked to my dr. about how they'll "sew me back up" so to speak. She said I could choose either staples or sutures to sew up the outer layer of skin. She said that there have been some studies that suggest your scar heals up better with staples, but she has no problem doing either...it's up to me.

Honestly the thought of staples scares me more so than sutures so I think I'm leaning towards sutures....just wondering if you ladies had any preference with one over the other? 

Oh - and I just thought of something else - is PP bleeding very bad after a c/s? In my head it doesn't seem like it would be as bad as if I had a vaginal delivery, but what do I know? Is it just like a heavy period or worse? Basically I guess I'm asking if I need to stock up on super duper heavy duty pads? 

Thanks ladies! 

OrangeSmoke

You won't feel either going in.  Sutres will self dissolve but staples need to be taken out.  I had staples (because of complication during delivery) and getting my staples removed was a walk in the park.  It felt like tiny little pin pricks.

If you are also super sentimental, you can also choose to save your staples for the baby book.

PP bleeding for me was just a long heavier period.

 

2shihtzus

I had sutures (sp?) and I had no complaints. 

As far as PP bleeding, mine wasn't horrendous but I still say yes, definitely stock up on the heavy duty pads.  Mine lasted probably 4-5 weeks so I went through a lot of them.

Also, two pieces of my own personal c-section advice: 1) (sorry if this is TMI) I would get a box of gas-x for when you come home too.  The gas pain from a c-section can be pretty painful too, they'll give it to you when you're in the hospital I'm sure but I still had to take it at home for a week or two. 2) Take as many pairs of the mesh underwear that you can get your hands on.  They are sooo much more comfortable over your scar than regular pair of underwear, at least in my opinion.

ETA: I think I accidentally lied about sutures.  Now that I really think about it, I just had some type of glue, I don't think I had sutures at all.  People are not kidding when they say you really do get amnesia after everything the pregnancy/delivery!

aBa_bunches

I had staples and they didn't hurt at all coming out and my incision looks great!  My PP bleeding wasn't bad at all.  I used the hospitals pads when I was there and Always Ultra Thin Overnight with wings (the orange package) once I was home.  Just remember that it will probably last for 3-5 weeks so you'll end up going through quite a few pads. (I didn't think of that and had to make a Target run to buy more pads because I ran out.)

Good luck with everything! 

cookiemonster03

OrangeSmoke:

If you are also super sentimental, you can also choose to save your staples for the baby book.

 

  for real?

JosiePosy

I had staples. No biggie at all. Painless on and off. The PP bleeding for me lasted about a month. Take any heavy duty pads the nurses give you for sure!

OrangeSmoke

cookiemonster03:

OrangeSmoke:

If you are also super sentimental, you can also choose to save your staples for the baby book.

 

  for real?

FOR REAL - I was a little shocked when the doctor offered me back my staples.  I said, umm... no thanks.

Then I was home and telling that story and lo and behold, MIL whipped out her stapes from 35 years ago!!!!  I couldn't even look at it.

 

j&j508

I had stitches b/c staples freak me out.  NO WAY would I want to have them removed.  (I'm sure that it was no big deal for the rest of you, but I would have been a mess.) It had steri-strips over it that I wore until they fell off and they also put a dressing on it for the first 24 hours.  My scar is great, no problems at all and starting to fade already.  Yes to the pads.  My Dr. said it was less with a c-section than a vaginal delivery, but I would still have plenty on hand.  I don't normally wear pads so sending DH to the store for some would have been tricky since I was extra picky about what I could/couldn't wear after my section.

natb22

My dr did staples, she said it leaves less of a scar and said she switched from stitches to staples a while ago and never looked back.

Bleeding PP for me was really heavy for the first 4 days and then started to get a little less heavy. I used the pads at the hospital while I was there and then bought my own super pads as soon as I got out, I used those for another 2 weeks until I switched to liners.

Mrs. Alice

Someone just posted this video today on my birth month board:

https://www.stmarysmadison.com/Services/Pages/WebcastsCesareanSectionSurgery.aspx   

(Sorry I can't do a clicky in firefox)

It shows an actual live c-section, it's really informative.

At the hospital I worked at in postpartum, 99% of the incisions were closed with staples.  I would just let the Dr. make that judgement on what she feels most comfortable with.  Usually the staples are removed just prior to discharge from the hospital so they really only stay in a few days.  Like others said, taking them out is really fast and simple and nearly painless.  In my experiences, c/s moms typically have lighter PP bleeding, but it really depends on the individual.  Some are barely spotting 2-3 PP while others still have moderate period like flow.  The hospital should send you home with some supplies, but you may just need regular pads.  I wouldn't buy too much of anything yet.

AlishaMay

I was never given a choice, but I had staples.  They were taken out before I left the hospital.  I totally sweated it, but in the end it was no big deal at all.  My scar has healed great - not sure if it has anything to do with the staples though.

My PP bleeding was pretty heavy, but then again I had low platelets from HELLP syndrome, so that could have made it much worse.  I had a friend who just have a c-section (singleton), and she barely bled afterwards.  I'd still be prepared for a heavy period, and swipe some of the super duper hospital pads before you leave.  

PaprikaBug

Last July I had a tumor and my lt ovary removed and they had to do a 7 1/2" vertical incision which they closed with staples. About 2 weeks afterwards they took half of the staples out and a week later they took the rest out. After they were out the top of my incision reopened, but all they could do was literally tape it shut. I have a terrible scar from that... However for my c-section it was a very small bikini incision(same doctor) and they did internal dissolving sutures and glued the top layer. So far I haven't had any scarring!*crosses fingers* and it was so much easier to recover from.

As far as bleeding goes... It was fairly light(after 3 days I only needed light pads), but it did last until 6 weeks PP. Part of that was due to moving after 4 weeks, so I think I was constantly overdoing it with packing ect...

 

  

Torri106

I had staples and dont even remember them being taken out lol.

Im a postpartum nurse so all i do is help pts after delivery. C-section bleeding is usually lighter...but its usually heavier because your having twins. You bleed bc where the plkacenta was is now a big wound..you have 2 wounds. After a few days it will be like a period but the first couple days its like a heavy period. If you are going through a pad anhour or passing large clots you need to call your doctor. Everyone bleeds for a different amount of time, average is about 6 weeks. I bleed for 9! It was very light and annoying but it was there.

2.5 weeks!! so exciting!!! Good Luck!!

Rangergal9

OrangeSmoke:

You won't feel either going in.  Sutres will self dissolve but staples need to be taken out.  I had staples (because of complication during delivery) and getting my staples removed was a walk in the park.  It felt like tiny little pin pricks.

If you are also super sentimental, you can also choose to save your staples for the baby book.

PP bleeding for me was just a long heavier period.

 

Ditto this, except for the complications.  The staples were no problem..  You are obviously numb when they put them in and it doesn't hurt when they take them out.  I didn't have any issues with them while they were in either.   

EmilieP311

Mrs. Alice:

Someone just posted this video today on my birth month board:

https://www.stmarysmadison.com/Services/Pages/WebcastsCesareanSectionSurgery.aspx   

(Sorry I can't do a clicky in firefox)

It shows an actual live c-section, it's really informative.

At the hospital I worked at in postpartum, 99% of the incisions were closed with staples.  I would just let the Dr. make that judgement on what she feels most comfortable with.  Usually the staples are removed just prior to discharge from the hospital so they really only stay in a few days.  Like others said, taking them out is really fast and simple and nearly painless.  In my experiences, c/s moms typically have lighter PP bleeding, but it really depends on the individual.  Some are barely spotting 2-3 PP while others still have moderate period like flow.  The hospital should send you home with some supplies, but you may just need regular pads.  I wouldn't buy too much of anything yet.

I actually had my c-section at that hospital!  Anyway, I wasn't given a choice.  They used dissolvable stitches with steri-strips over.  I didn't have any issues and it seems to be healing nicely.

 The bleeding was worst within the first 24 hours, but was just like a heavy period for me the next week. 

Sharra711

I had staples and they didn't give me any issues. I had them removed about a week PP and it didn't bother me at all.

Friend of mine had staples for #1 and stiches for #2 and said that she would never do staples again but I can't remember why.

The only issue I had with the PP bleeding was my first time getting out of bed and walking. I passed out because I lost so much blood. The rest of the bleeding I didn't even notice.

iluvadam

I didn't have stiches or staples.  My doctor used glue (I'm sure it isn't just called glue but that is basically what it is).  It was awesome!  I obviously had self-dissolving stitches under the surface and glue on the actual incision.  Over top of that, he put some steri strips that I had to remove a week later myself in the shower.  It was cake! 

As for the bleeding...I had a ton with my vaginal delivery with DS but barely any with my babies after my c/s. 

Good luck!

Fancy3Face

I had staples with my first abdominal surgery and I couldn't feel them and the removal was painless.  With my c-section I had internal sutures and steri strips on the outside.  They just fell off in the shower.

Post c-section bleeding was just like a period for me.  Started heavy after birth and then slowed after about a week to heavy spotting for a couple weeks.  My first pp period was WAY worse.  I bled a LOT, I almost went to the ER I was soaking through pads like crazy.  

The hospital will give you as many as you want while you're there and mine stocked me up for the first week or two when I left.  The mesh panties are great too.  I would get heavy flow pads, but the heavy bleeding slows so you may not need the heaviest once you leave the hospital.  

Congrats, you're so close!!! 

ougrad1

I had staples with my first section and sutures with my second.  My OB was OOT when I delivered the twins.

I really much preferred the staples.  Before I left the hospital she came in cut each of the staples in the center and lifted them out.  It didn't hurt a bit!  

I felt like the staples helped it heal better than the sutures.

GL!  Getting yourself worked up before you section is the worst part!  GL! 

tinkerbelle

OrangeSmoke:

You won't feel either going in.  Sutres will self dissolve but staples need to be taken out.  I had staples (because of complication during delivery) and getting my staples removed was a walk in the park.  It felt like tiny little pin pricks.

If you are also super sentimental, you can also choose to save your staples for the baby book.

PP bleeding for me was just a long heavier period.

 

   This

 

LilCarciofo

i didn't know they were doing staples until after and i was scared of when they removed them, but honestly, i felt nothing! and i bled for nearly 12 wks, i also had my tubes tied at the same time so maybe thats why it lasted so long? my dr said it was normal.  it was like a heavy period ( i'm used to heavy periods) and yes i had plenty of large overnight pads on hand and used every one of them