The rate of C-sections or cesarean sections is increasing globally. Likewise, the percentage of C-sections is radically increasing among plus-size women as well. The risks and challenges of recovery from cesarean birth increase with the increasing severity of obesity. When you’re overweight, the first challenge is keeping the C-section incision dry.
This article covers how to keep the C-section incision dry to prevent infection and some typical questions that overweight people have.
Why Does Overweight Have Difficulty Healing C-Section Wounds?
There are many reasons of overweight people, especially women, face challenges in healing C-section wounds below:
C-section wound contracts complications easily
One of the most common consequences of cesarean section in obese women is wound problems. According to research, about 10% of overweight women who have a C-section contract wound complications like separation of the wound and infection.
Difficulty in healing C-section wounds
One of the biggest challenges for obese women who underwent cesarean delivery is difficulty healing their wounds. The worst thing about being overweight is that you have a higher chance of having skin problems, including skin irritation and rashes. That’s why Obese women face the highest risk of getting a C-section wound infection.
Because an overweight woman’s belly is more expansive, the incision will be deeper, causing more blood vessels to burst; nevertheless, this has nothing to do with an overweight women’s greater risk of SSI (Surgery Site Infection).
C-section wounds prone to infection
Obese women are more prone to infection due to the influence of obesity on the immune system and skin barrier. As a result, they have a higher risk of infection in cesarean section incisions and a higher chance of the wound rupturing, especially if they are overweight in the middle.
Besides that, because of excessive fluid leaking from the adipose tissue in and around the incision. The clear, odorless fluid that flows from the fatty tissues is usually safe. When the moisture collects, however, it produces a wet environment ideal for infection-causing microorganisms to grow.
Ways to Keep The C-section Incision Dry When Overweight
After birth, the belly of obese women will overhang the surgery site. One of the primary concerns is preventing the wound from drying. This location must remain dry. The best strategies for keeping it dry are as follows:
Keep drying when taking a bath
– Avoid having a bath too early after delivery as bathing will loosen your wound dressing, allowing the wound to become wet. You need to know when you are allowed to take a bath
– Before taking a bath, rinse the wound with saline solution or antiseptic through a syringe or needle. Then put on a dry bandage.
– If you are overweight, you can use a waterproof tub for bathing to avoid getting water into your incision.
– When you have a bath, you can wash your skin around the incision with mild soap and water every time you bathe (other than when having a shower or bath). But, again, be gentle with the area.
– After you take your bath, dry your belly carefully to make sure it is scorched.
– Cover it with a dry towel or sheet, or wear a waterproof bandage on your stomach after showering. This will help keep your skin dry by reducing the amount of sweat that comes out of you when you shower.
Cover the wound
– Cover the wound with a towel and check to make sure it stays dry. The incision may have been higher on your abdomen, so you may need to keep the towel from touching from top to bottom. Next, wrap other towels or clothing around your stomach and upper thighs, and then place a waterproof sheet or waterproof dressing (like Opsite Flexifix) over the padding.
– Also, you can cover the wound under the abdomen with a sanitary napkin. Stick the adhesive side on the inside side of the panties while the soft side is down. You can also use sterile, clean cloth diapers.
– Before the pad becomes moist, change it frequently.
– When you use the toilet, pull down your underwear and pants enough for comfortable access without overexposing yourself to potential contamination; use a separate piece of tissue paper if necessary.
Always keep the C-section incision dry
– Always keep a towel over the cut if a fold of skin conceals the wound and the mother sweats a lot. This should also be adjusted regularly. Keeping a towel in the fold of your skin can assist prevent sweat from collecting. After a C-section, however, it is critical to get lots of rest and avoid doing any hard lifting. This aids in the prevention of excessive perspiration.
– Hold or tape the belly up and encourage your caretaker to air-dry the region using a hairdryer set to the cold setting. It performs admirably. It is not required to tape up the belly button away from the incision since this might result in severe skin injury. Instead, holding your breath is the appropriate method to do it.
– Allow time for the C-section incision to heal. When it comes to skin injuries, air stimulates healing, therefore exposing the C-section incision to it as much as possible. At night, wearing a flowing gown helps to increase air circulation.
– If you are having trouble keeping the area dry due to the shelf of skin that can sometimes hang over the incision, you can use gauze or cotton once the site is completely healed. Tuck sterile gauze pads over the incision to help prevent infection.
– Encourage all movement to be away from the wound location. The movement must be to the side away from the incision because a tight abdominal wall can pull on a healing incision at a level many inches above it
– Consider wearing a diaper as you heal from a C-section to help keep the skin around the incision opening from getting wet or dirty.
Choose casual wear clothes suitable
– Wear high-waist underwear and loose-fitting clothes for the first several weeks. The cloth will not brush up against the wound as a result of this.
Wearing a shirt with an open abdomen can help you preserve the moisture around your wound site.
– You can also dress the abdomen with a C-section belly band.
– Avoid wearing tight-fitting regular underwear underneath waterproof panties if you are overweight and have had a C-section. The extra layer of fat, along with tight-fitting underwear, can make it harder to keep your incision from getting wetter than necessary
One of the best solutions for overweight is a C-section plus shirt that will cover the incision site and can be worn daily after delivery. These shirts are designed for post-cesarean incision care, and they are available in many sizes. These shirts are available at maternity stores and online retailers. A C-section plus shirt is made of breathable fabric that will keep your incision dry without limiting your movements. With these shirts, healing can be faster, and you can live more comfortably during this period.
– Have someone else help you dress so that they can hold your skin away from your incision.
Take care of your daily diet
– Eat varieties of foods that are high in fiber, like green veggies, to help with constipation.
– Keep a water bottle near you at all times and drink it.
– Have someone with you for a least two weeks to help with shower breaks, cooking, other children, pets, household chores, etc.
– Stay on top of your pain medication. Abdominal soreness is joint for quite some time following a C-section – remember you went through major surgery!
Take care resting mode
– If possible, make your bed as high as possible, so it’s easier for you to get in and out of it. Some women even prefer sleeping in a recliner since laying flat will be highly uncomfortable for quite some time.
– Do your best to sleep when the baby sleeps or rest when your baby is sleeping.
– Choose the comfortable sleeping position after a C-section as sleeping on your side, keep a pillow between your knees and a pillow behind you to keep upright.
– You can also Sleep in a semi-reclined position with the head of the bed elevated.
– Do not sleep on your back.
Cleaning C-section incision
You’ll be told not to lift anything heavier than your infant. At the same time, your vehicle is still new usually for the first two weeks to prevent disrupting the healing process and causing tailbone discomfort following a C-section birth.
Cleaning a C-section incision is difficult for many women. The measures below will assist you in cleaning the C-section incision and preventing infections:
– If your skin was closed with stitches, staples, or glue, remove the wound dressing and shower. Instead of using soap, simply run water over the wound for the first several days to clean it.
– You can wash your incision with warm, soapy water daily (usually when you shower).
– Pat, the affected area, dry thoroughly after washing
– Until your doctor gives you the all-clear, don’t take a bath, soak in a hot tub, or go swimming. These activities are usually not permitted until three weeks after the procedure.
– Never try to forcefully remove anything in the incision area, let it fall off on its own, or if you feel so, you can seek the help of the doctor.
– Do not use any kind of creams or cleansers in the incision area because it can slow wound healing or may increase the chance of an infection.
Avoid things
– Avoid rubbing, soaking, or rinsing the wound is permitted.
– Avoid squeezing the wound to clean. Squeezing the wound may cause infection and delay healing.
– Avoid getting the wound wet.
– Avoid cold items such as cold packs or ice until the wound has healed.
– Avoid sucking, blowing, chewing food, smoking anything, and drinking any liquids such as coffee or tea near the wound.
– Avoid sitting on the wound for an extended period.
– consume a lot of water and fibrous foods that can help to hydrate and cleanse the tissue.
– Avoid long periods of sitting on your buttocks or a hard surface.
– Avoid wearing tight clothing near the incision area for extended periods.
– After two weeks, the C-section wound should look and feel substantially better. However, if overweight people follow the do’s and don’ts, it can take anywhere from six weeks to three months for them to fully recover following a C-section birth.
How Long Does It Take For The C-section To Dry?
It takes about six weeks for the C section to dry. It is usual for the wound to look like it is leaking or that it looks wet. This is because the wound is, in fact, healing, and it is leaking clear fluid which comes out naturally. The healing process after the C section is generally very slow.
Temperature and humidity can affect how quickly and how well a wound dries. For example, keeping the body’s temperature at 98 degrees F, plus or minus two degrees, can help slow down the healing process.
Sunlight can also speed up the healing process. Keep the skin sterile at all times by avoiding any contact with bacteria and try not to expose it to direct sunlight.
Is it normal for C-Section scars to itch?
It is possible that you will suffer irritation as your wound heals. This is a perfectly typical and regular occurrence. Itching of the wound is, in reality, a normal aspect of the healing process. This will go away after the wound has healed completely. However, do not scrape the wound to avoid infection. Many women suffer from itching or a prickling sensation just under the skin after a c-section. The sensations can be different from one woman to another, and they include an itchy scar, prickling sensation, burning sensation, and even shooting pains.
Instead of sedatives or painkillers, doctors usually recommend using one of the following remedies to relieve itching C-section scar:
– Drink plenty of water (8 glasses)
– Apply ice packs on the affected area to help reduce itching and swelling.
– Apply topical ointments like calamine lotion or aloe vera gel to soothe the pain.
– Put on soft, cotton undergarments to help reduce the itching sensation.
– Wearing loose-fitting clothing can minimize irritation
– Use skin moisturizing lotions after bathing
– Itching C section scar may also be relieved by applying a warm compress for around five minutes followed by an ice pack. Rep this procedure numerous times a day till the itching subsides.
It’s widespread to have numbness or to tingle in the incision region, just like itching. This, too, generally fades with time. However, if you have significant itching in the incision region, tell your doctor. The doctor will prescribe a topical cream to help ease the itching. Get urgent medical care if there’s any sign that your C-section incision is opening or infected after going home.
What Causes The Smell of My C-Section Scar?
The smell arising from the C-section incision region is a sure symptom of infection. It should not stink as long as it is kept clean and dry. Please see a doctor right away if the wound has a foul odor since infection demands prompt medical assistance.
Before beginning any drying procedures, it is critical to properly clean the wound. The wound must be maintained clean and dry to avoid infection.
Is It normal to Experience Inside Pain After A C-section?
Internal discomfort is joint following a C-section. After all, a C-section is a significant abdominal procedure that will take time for your body to heal. However, in the usual order of things, abdominal discomfort goes away as the scars heal.
Incisional endometriosis, or endometriosis induced by cesarean section scars, can cause stomach pain in rare circumstances.
After a cesarean section, endometrial tissue will gather around the scar, producing severe adhesions and internal agony. In addition, many researchers suggest that the incidence of cesarean section-related endometriosis increases with the number of cesarean sections.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue from outside the uterus develops in the abdominal wall due to a C-section. On the other hand, Adenomyosis occurs when it develops in the uterine wall near the cesarean section scar. Severe stomach discomfort will develop in both circumstances.
FAQs
Can a C-section scar reopen after years?
External cesarean sections can be closed in various ways, including sutures, absorbable stitches, staples, absorbable staples, skin adhesive (glue), and other methods. At the same time, absorbable sutures are used to seal the intrauterine incision, which will dissolve after the region has healed.
When asked if the scar from a cesarean section would resurface several years later, the quick answer is yes. The scar from a cesarean section can resurface several years after the procedure; however, this is uncommon.
After a few years, a Caesarean section wound might be stratified for a variety of reasons, including:
– Need for another abdominal operation
– Vaginal delivery after a cesarean section
– Excessive pressure on your stomach (as in accidents) may cause stitches to loosen or tear
– Lifting a heavy object that puts more pressure on the area
Can I put baby powder on my c section incision?
If you wonder whether you can use baby powder on your C-section incision, the answer is no. Sterile powder or baby powder can make the wound stickier and also irritate.
How much walking is too much after C-section?
After a cesarean section, some women may feel more “swelling” than before delivery. This is normal and should not cause any trouble for you. Some people, however, may feel that they can’t walk as far as they used to do before delivery, and some give up their hobbies and exercise routines ultimately.
Walking is advised to be limited after a cesarean section unless necessary and only when your doctor says so.
Which sleeping position is best after C-section?
There is no perfect sleeping position after a C-section, but you can try the following:
– Lie on your side with your knees raised slightly (about 15 degrees)
– Lie on your back with one pillow under your head and another between your legs
– Lie on the side with the knee of the leg that has been delivered closer to the chest
– Lie on your side with your knees tucked up close to your body
– Lie on your back with one pillow under the abdomen and another between the legs
The choice of the sleeping position depends on how comfortable you are.
The general rule is that you should not place anything between your cesarean section incision and back while sleeping to avoid any complications.
Can I touch my c-section scar?
Surgical scars, including C-section scars, should not be touched. When you feel like touching your C-section scar, wash your hands and use clean gloves to touch the scar. If you insist on touching the surgical sites anyway, make sure they are clean and free of any infections.
