Water alone will not cure an infection, but it can help recover from it. Most of the time, its because the mother or the babys safety is in the line. My doc said it may smell as it heals lol but i dont trust that. Congrats on the baby! GOOD LUCK!! Can diet help improve depression symptoms? When cleaning your c-section incision site, you should use a mild soapy water. I also had a clear discharge come out of it thats what made the odor. Don't use powders.). Obesity linked to 21 genes related to Alzheimers disease, study finds, Sex after a C-section: Everything you need to know, What to know about hernias after a C-section. Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). This procedure is used for many reasons, including prolonged labor, high-risk pregnancy, large babies, multiples, fetal distress, breech presentation, a previous cesarean . About 6 to 8 weeks after your baby is born, your incision should be healed and you'll want to start massaging your c-section scar. Of course, drinking lots of water and walking around as soon as you can after the c-section will greatly ease the poop situation too. Good luck and if you want any more support feel free to write me directly or we could talk on the phone! It doesnt look infected or anything? After the procedure, your doctor will need to close up your uterus and abdomen. Regardless of the type of your c-section incision, it should feel better by 2 weeks but would completely heal between 6 weeks up to 3 months. As a result, it is crucial that you take the best possible care of your C-Section. If you have a little "hang over" you can even put a little gauze in the crease or tuck your panties in there. Yeah, I'll second the blow dryer thing. I have seen this many times with Cesarean Section incisions and this is how i would treat them: 1. Is the incision itself red/warm and draining? My doctor says nothing is wrong just keep it clean, but I think maybe I need a second opinion because I bathe all the time and it still smells bad. In rare cases, a c-section incision may not heal properly. [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=B499VaXg upload-date=2022-03-22T11:12:26.000Z name=Help, my c-section incision smells!. description= player-type=collapse override-embed=false]. Good Luck! I shower daily but I also still have night sweats almost every night. Wear loose-fitted outfits on top of your wound. But i think it dried it! what do you think is it normal? I am still shivering.. The odor may not be coming directly from the site of the incinsion. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It is red and spotted actually, but its not on the actual incision site - its just below it about half an inch or so. If you can try and air dry it during the day too, this will also help the healing. What to Expect has thousands of open discussions happening each day. In fact, the cesarean section surgery rate is about a third of all births in the United States. So with this c-section my doctor just used staples to close me up. If your sweat always seems to smell, one (or a combination) of these causes could be the culprit. Always feel free to share your personal experiences and thoughts in our comment section below. In extremely rare cases, your doctor may recommend a second surgery to get rid of the infected tissue, but this will only happen if antibiotics do not work. Following the surgery, it is best to avoid exposing the wound to unsterile environments and keep it clean to avoid infections. Learn more. My yeast infection smelled "sweet", was a little splotched on one end, oozed a tiny amount of green, and itched. Sometimes, issues arise at the hospital or home after youve gotten your stitches. Note that once you confirm, this action cannot be undone. i just had my first son he weighed 5lbs 8.3oz. Therefore, please consult the doctor if there is a foul odor in the wound as infection necessitates immediate medical attention. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. They had to do an emerengcy c-section cause everytime i had a contraction his heart rate was dropping. Use warm, soapy water to wash your incision daily (usually when you shower). This is also a result of the bacteria that cause the above-mentioned abscesses, resulting in a condition called endometritis. That odor might be coming from the pus. Infection can happen either during or after the procedure. Infection can happen either during or after the procedure. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Well my thing is in the beginning I had so many problems with my incision with odor pain so I mad a few trips to the ER the first time Dr said there was nothing wrong with my incision but that it smelled like infection but no other signs of it so he had the nurse clean it up and change the steri strips. They didn't tell me to, but I used neosporin anti biotic creme on the incision cite to protect it from infection as a precaution. Group Leaders communicate with staff moderators and escalate potential violations for review, but they dont moderate discussions. Adverse reaction to anesthesia; 2. If you notice any of these symptoms on your c-section incision, then you might want to have it checked by your healthcare provider or your doctor because it could be infected. If you feel a message or content violates these standards and would like to request its removal please submit the following information and our moderating team will respond shortly. Leaky incision or the presence of pus around the same area. Doctors usually advise waiting at least 6 weeks, however, An incisional hernia is a rare complication of a C-section. Or you could have had an allery to the medi strips which is causing the odor. The infection can be incisional, or it can be an organ or space infection. Cesarean parents are also 16% more likely to have post-operative complications like bleeding and infection. Good luck. I shower every day! When the skin has grown back over the incision, try covering it with some dry cloth. In, Cesarean wound infections occur when bacteria enter the incision. This can lead to the scar tissue becoming infected years down the line. Too much force on your body can force your wound to re-open. Anonymous. It was updated on January 24, 2021 by Ashley Wehrli. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I have some extra skin hanging over it. Just keep up with it, it will get better. Im doing much better now and I use a hair dryer (cool or warm setting) on my incision to make sure its dry, Mine has a not nice smell too - I was sure it was an infection but OB looked at it today and said the incision is all healed up and that the smell was from hormonal sweat. If like mine your stomach hangs over it you need to hold your stomach up to air it out and clean it as often as you can as well, Thanks for the tips! By Jennifer Aline. Am I Feeling Flutters at 9 Weeks Pregnant? So I think maybe cornstarch on the incision might help, It sounds like it could be a yeast infection.. It is, however, possible to reduce the risk of infection by maintaining a healthful lifestyle before the surgery. The incision won't take much longer to heal and you will be back to your regular, odor-free self shortly :). Learn more about the connection between C-sections and endometriosis, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. I have like a second stomach and when I lift it to clean it makes it bleed so I can't see if it's fully closed without making it bleed. Signs of an infected C-section incision include: Redness around the incision. Swimming After C-Section: When and How to Start. It can either be administered through IV or taken orally. This could be a sign that the infection is spreading. Sometimes it smells a bit or looks more whitey discharge colour. If in doubt, dont hesitate to call your doctor to get professional advice. They do not go beyond the wound margin. 4. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. This care should include: Do: Keeping the area dry and clean. I have had 3 c sections my last one being 18 years ago. Now that you know the ways to help prevent c-section infections in the weeks and months following your surgery, you might be wondering about the implications of your c-section scar a few years later. think twice before sharing personal details, foster a friendly and supportive environment, remove fake accounts, spam and misinformation, delete posts that violate our community guidelines, reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts. Scar after 3 years, and i have been told by a nurse to try sudocreme as it is antiseptic and a good healing cream. In babies and adults with incontinence, intertrigo can show up as diaper rash. Personal Hygiene. If it is fungus it might just provide a great medium to grow in. Now all thats left to do is focus on your new job as a mom! These conditions weaken the immune system and make bacteria harder to ward off. Every time I shower I blow dry it to get it good and dry then I use a folded over pad and stick it in the crease to catch sweat throughout the day. 20062023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. So my doctor suggested I shove a Kotex pad in there to draw the moisture away from the incision and it TOTALLY worked. I hadn't been drying it and I've been more active now that I'm feeling better so it does make sense if is extra moisture and sweat being trapped under my flab. Why do moms choose a C-section? Trust yourself and don't be intimidated by any docs. Group Leaders communicate with staff moderators and escalate potential violations for review, but they dont moderate discussions. ViaL Shutterstock, custom image by Adam Jeffers for Moms.com. A cesarean will make you feel uncomfortable for the first few days. In your case, it is uncommon for it to itch so many years after . Hydration is critical in your postpartum recovery as it keeps your skin hydrated, reducing the risk of your scar opening. In the US, 1 out of 3 mothers delivers their babies through cesarean. Dont rush back into everyday life before your body has appropriately healed just because other mothers around you may have healed faster. Bleeding can occur from the uterine or skin incision, from the placental attachment site, or from a nicked or damaged blood vessel. There are several factors that can help reduce the risk of a C-section wound infection. Breastfeeding positions that work well during C-section recovery include: Football hold. It can take up to 30 days for symptoms to develop. 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