Incision Healing - Did you have an infection/ reopen -- ALSO, scar tissue Question

christinbeatrice · February 2012

Did you have a problem with you incision?

When did the problem begin?

When did the OB say everything was healed well?

After reading today about incision opening after 1 year & healing doesn't do as well with stitches (that's what I've had done - I'm allergic to metal so we didn't have an option, I think they are dissolvable because the OB didn't discuss having anything removed) - I'm just getting worried.

This question would probalby be for moms that are months/years out:

How about scar tissue, I'm looking up tonight, ways to prevent it. I'm pretty active, but haven't done anything the OB said not to do, but I haven't been laying around either. Have you had a problem? How did you know you had scar tissue?

[Poll]

samm1983 · February 2012

I had my incision reopen at about 2 weeks PP with a bad infection. It was officially closed at 16 weeks PP and I will be able to lift things (heavier than my baby) again in a few more months. Just remember, it is not common to get an infection. Just take care of yourself and talk to your doctor if you are experiencing more pain or other symptoms.

marissaw5 · February 2012

I never had a single issue with my incision. Doc used internal dissolvable staples. I can't believe they aren't more commonly used, I don't think I've ever seen someone on here mention them. I had nothing external on the incision (no steri-strips, staples, stitches) .. as far as what I could see it was fully healed before I even left the hospital. At my one week check the NP who was new to the practice was shocked and asked me if I was sure that I had only had the CS a week ago.

FlashMeyer · February 2012

My incision took a long time to heal. It bled for 3.5 months postpartum. It was infected most of that time.

treble_clef · February 2012

I had absolutely no problem with my incision. When my ob took my staples out the next day, she was confident that I would heal very nicely. And I did.

C-section or not, any scar opening after a year is not normal. I wouldn't worry about it unless you have trouble healing after an injury.

nosoup4u · February 2012

I healed fine, the OBs only checked it when I was in the hospital, and since I only saw MWs when I was pg, they took out my staples and checked my incsion at my six week visit. I agree that an incision opening after a year is really rare, and you shouldn't worry about it happening (but obvs pay attention if you have problems now).

jjhp2018 · February 2012

They took my staples out at 48 hours before we got released and said things looked great. At all my pp check ups I was told it healed very nicely and then we got pregnant again 4 months pp. When my doc did my 1st appt she went to look at my scar and said it healed so well she could barely find it lol.

pepomntpat · February 2012

I have not had any problems with mine so far. I was told it was well at the 6 week appointment and it hasn't been checked since.

mben1119 · February 2012

My incision actually opened up 2x. The first was about 2 weeks PP and was due to a slight infection (I think because my doctor told me to remove my steri strips too early). After having the incision packed and cleaned every day for 2 weeks, I finally closed up. 2 weeks later, the same spots reopened. I went to the ER, and they gave me antibiotics and had me cleaning and using Neosporin 2x a day. I am now closed up at 12 weeks PP.

TamTam624 · February 2012

I had my incision open about 3 days after my c-section. It opened due to all the fluid I had in my system due to the pre-eclampsia. My incision was healed up pretty much at 8 weeks PP but I did not get cleared to return to work until 10 weeks and was told not to lift anything heavier than than the baby until 16-18 weeks PP.

BritanyV · February 2012

marissaw5:
I never had a single issue with my incision. Doc used internal dissolvable staples. I can't believe they aren't more commonly used, I don't think I've ever seen someone on here mention them. I had nothing external on the incision (no steri-strips, staples, stitches) .. as far as what I could see it was fully healed before I even left the hospital. At my one week check the NP who was new to the practice was shocked and asked me if I was sure that I had only had the CS a week ago.

My doctor used internal dissolving staples and nothing on the outside but glue. I got an infection, I noticed it about a week after the c-section. My doctor opened it up so we could pack it. It took 8 weeks to totally heal.

Pips09 · February 2012

I had staples for 5 days, then what I think were steri-strips for another week. About a week later a segment of my incision opened up. I had to have it cleaned and packed with wound gauze daily for over a week, and then it closed up. There was no infection. No problems since.

RA1109 · February 2012

I had internal dissolvable stitches and external glue. Nothing else on the outside. It healed perfectly, by 3 weeks pp you could barely see the incision line.

ILoveRunning · February 2012

I had staples that were replaced with steri-strips 48 hours PP. By the 4th morning I had a major infection and the incision had to be re-opened. I fought the infection for several weeks and the incision took ~8 weeks to close. During that time I had a homecare nurse coming in to change the dressings and to make sure it was healing properly.