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Incision and moisture

tink74tink74
in C-sections

I'm six weeks PP tomorrow.  Today when I took a shower I decided to check my incision, which my husband usually does, to make sure all was well.  It was the first time I really thoroughly looked and wow...totally freaky! 

I have quite a "mother's apron" which is more like my fat PP stomach hangs down over my incision creating quite the atmosphere, let me tell you.  I noticed that there was a lot of moisture, a lot of loose moist looking skin (like when you peel from a sunburn kinda) and a faint sweaty smelling odor.  So I got back in the shower and cleaned really well with mild soap and a soft cloth, got all that dead skin off.  I put a piece of gauze kind of tucked into the area between the enormousness that is my stomach and the incision.  Oh, and the odor disappeared after the shower.

 I feel fine, and haven't had any problems but now I'm kind of freaked out because after I cleaned it, it looked really red.  I'm going to head to the doctor tomorrow but I'm wondering if anyone else had this experience? I think I might have kinda screwed myself by wearing nylon boy shorts since getting home from the hospital so I've switched to cotton. 

Wth??

 

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Re: Incision and moisture

  • snowflakemomsnowflakemom member
    I think as long as you make sure to clean the area well when you're in the shower and then make absolutely sure that it's dry afterward, you'll be good to go. I have the exact same situation and sometimes at the end of the day notice an odor (especially if I've been pretty active) but if I clean it well in the shower (I shower at night), gently wipe it dry and then use a blow dryer on the cool setting to make sure there is no moisture left, then there is no odor after that. I'm only 3wks pp right now and will often still put a piece of gauze in there and have noticed a little...I don't know what the word would be - discharge, I guess? But everything looks really normal in the incision area so I think it's probably ok.
    Mom to DD#1 December '06, DD#2 Feb '09 and DS March '12
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  • jb2rnjb2rn member
    you did the right thing by switching to cotton and using gauze - just change it frequently. Keep the area dry and you will be ok.
    b/w=FSH 15.6, AMH 0.4 surprise natural BFP on 3/12/11
    DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d

    image

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  • rosesandpeoniesrosesandpeonies member

    To be honest, I have never had that happen, and I probably wouldn't cover it with anything and call my dr.  It might be normal but the smell is what isn't normal...it really shouldn't smell, that sweaty smell could be the sign of infection.  Which can treated.  Who knows though. 

    I would let it air out.  This is me though. 

    DD (8/12/09), DD (2/8/11)
    BFP 12/16/14| EDD 8/19/15 |MMC 1/15/15 (9 weeks 1 day)
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  • soveryexcitedsoveryexcited member
    I noticed a 'smell' but I think it was just because my incision in one or two places hasn't healed totally yet and is still oozing a little discharge. I've been washing it with hydrogen peroxide once a day and putting gauze up against it and wearing cotton underwear. Seems to be working...
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  • tink74tink74

    well i'm happy to report there is no infection!  most of the redness is being caused by ingrown hair follicles.  fun. not. 

    he did put me in diflucan and told me to get an athlete's foot powder at the drugstore and use that after showering and drying with a blow dryer.  basically you can get a yeast infection there just like....well elsewhere. 

    being a woman is just such a blast.

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  • RoxBrideRoxBride member
    I'd just stick with cotton and avoid irritation, and wash gently but with a washcloth. Dry with a cool hairdryer.
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