It has been 11 weeks since my c-section and I still have a gaping wound. I had my staples removed the day I left the hospital, and a week later the wound was still open and bleeding. I went to the doctor had silver nitrate applied to the wound and was told to have it checked every 7-10 days. I have been getting it checked and I am still concerned that after 11 weeks I still have an open incision. It's not as big as the full incision but it's still bleeding. All the doctors and nurses tell me that it's fine and should be healed soon. The disability is over after 8 weeks. Now PFL is coming in to help out. My question is how long did it take you to recover from your c-section? I don't think that this is normal and I am concerned, they expect me to work with an incision that is still not healed? Thank you Moms really love the site and first time asking a question, I have given a few answers though.
Today I went to the walk in wound clinc near my house and had a doctor check out my "wound". They said that it does look a little bit too wet with the blood, so they put some calicare dressing on it and said that it should help it to heal faster. They said to keep it dry use a hair dryer on it after showers. I had an incision in that same spot (primary incision) 12 years ago due to an ectopic pregnancy and never had the probelm that I am having now. I heal pretty fast and well when it comes to this sort of thing. So when they did the c-section they used the same incision site. During the healing process the skin overlapped and opened up the wound again. To make a long story short hopefully with the stuff that they gave me to help it heal faster. Thank you moms really appreciate all the help.
No, this is not normal. I had what I considered a difficult recovery from my c-section, but my wound never gaped and never bled. The wound should never have reopened in the first place.
Also, I feel like I was paid at least 12 months for PFL and then a couple extra weeks because of the c-section. 8 weeks seems low.
2 c-sections with a very quick recovery times.
1st I would say moving around good by 2 weeks with no bleeding and no open scar.
2nd getting out by day 5 and playing baseball by day 10
sounds painful, sorry you are going through this but it does not seem normal at all.
umm..yes, something is majorly wrong! I have had 2 c-sections and after just a week I was up and at um and doing everything I normally do with a closed incision. It should have stopped bleeding as soon as you left the hospital! After 2 months, this is not healing and something is majorly wrong...i would check with another doctor right away...something is not right here....
standards recovery for c section is 8 weeks hence the standard 8 weeks of disability. If you are not healed and therefore unable to work due to complications resulting from childbirth (incesion not healed) then you are still condisered disabled and the doctor can certify your extension. If you are worried about additional payment for additional time off (AFTER the doc clears you to work again) ask your HR if you qualify for CFRA in addition to FMLA. If there is even a slight chance you qualify for either your employer was required BY CALIFORNIA LAW to provide you this within 24 hours of your expression/notification to take a leave. Hope you feel better soon!
When I had my c-section my staples were not removed for over a week later. Your incision did not have time to heal properly! I would suggest seeing someone else or go to the hospital and see what they sa y.
I honestly don't recall exactly how long it took to heal, but it def. couldn't have been as long as 11 weeks. 2 weeks after my c-section I had to have laproscopic surgery and I'm pretty sure my c-section incision was already closed up by then. As others have said, the numbness will continue for quite awhile and may never go away. Some questions to ask yourself (some of which have already been asked): are you being overly active? are you taking anything that could cause your blood to thin? how do you normally heal from wounds - quickly/slowly? A 2nd opinion is never a bad idea.
Im sorry, but you only get 8 weeks off? Total? Thats horrible. Its a slow healing process, but after 11 weeks, I dont think you should have an open wound. Dont you get maternity and parental leave? I got 60 weeks paid leave! I took medical leave at 6 1/2 months pregnant, the that switches to maternity, then to parental leave. For a total of 60 weeks. And that doesnt seem long enough! ( Mine kept opening too, they put something on it to dry it out & that helped, but the Dr told me up to 100 days to heal. Unbelievable)
I had an emergency c-section in 2008 & a repeat c-section in 2009. My first scar was sealed with glue & was no longer than six inches. My second was a little longer, but still used glue. I was out & about in a week, but to fully recover about 2 weeks. Your story sounds horrible!
I agree with the others who say this does not sound right. I had my staples removed the morning after my c-section and, though it was 14 years ago, I remember feeling pretty much "normal" within 2 weeks, though the numbness remained for 2 or 3 years after. I would certainly encourage you to go see another doctor asap. Good luck!
It should be healed by now... well at least it should not be bleeding at all.
My c-section was healed with-in 3 weeks, at least from the outside. It took a good 8-10 weeks for me to feel really healed to my core... but I did not bleed a drop of blood from the c-section 3 days after I had it, on the 4th day the staples were removed.
Maybe get another doctor's opinion, insist that this needs to be taken care of now, it is not good to hae an open wound this long. It really sounds like the staples were removed too soon because the skin did not have a chance to form a proper rebound to each other.
It's better to be safe than sorry. Try to get another doctor to look at it. In the meantime pore peroxide over it and put a warm compress on 4 times a day. My incision opened a month out by doing too much. I had to force myself to rest more while taking extra care, then it healed up fine.
Yes, that is too long. My second c-section got infected and I went back into the hospital when the baby was about 2 weeks old. They reopened the wound because of the infection and I was still healed on the surface by about 6 or 7 weeks. Of course I was sore and still recovering but not with an open wound. Talk to your doctor and if you don't get some kind of treatment go to another doctor. I had a midwife who missed the signs of my infection for almost a week. I had to see another doctor and then go into the hospital. I would have been spared a lot of pain if it was caught sooner.
Also, my c-section was in a fold because of the flabby post pregnancy belly. I was told to clean the incision 2x a day and apply antiseptic (rubbing alcohol) and allow to dry fully before getting dressed (I had to lie down to do this). I would try that if the incision is still open. Signs of infection include redness, heat, swelling, foul odor, fever.
Why were the staples removed the day you left the hospital???? You need a 2nd opinion....now! Make the other doc pay for the proper fixing of this AND plastic surgery to repair what hasn't healed right.
Ask for your records, including chart notes "just to have in your filing cabinet for yourself". so, if there is a lawsuit or arbitration, you have original notes, not "corrected" notes.
yeah mine was fine after about 2 weeks. i don't think this is normal--but I'm not a doctor, and apparently they are saying it's normal.
there is no way you can work like that--they are going to have to work with you.
mine took about 2 months. I an emergency c-section. I ha to go back in cuz it reopened and then I had a blood clot. It would ooze some to. It took a while but finally healed. My dr told me for c-sec you get more time off, maybe there is someone you can check with about that, and also see if your dr is willing to approve some disability time for you in addition to help you heal. If youre not doing well and go back to work, it might cause more problems, leading to more time off in the end.
I would go see another Dr as soon as you can. My staples were removed at my 10 day follow-up. My would was closed and fine, but I still bled vaginally for 6 or 7 weeks, especially when I over did it. I was surprised with how long it took my body to recover from my c-section, and I'm still numb at the insision site.
Good Luck and PLEASE let us know how you're doing.
Stephanie
The wound should have healed in 4-6 weeks... numbness/tingling/pain - sometimes that never goes away. My child is 5 y/o and I still cannot feel the flesh below my belly button down to the incision and I have painful cramping when I have to have a bm due to scar tissue.
Go to another Dr or a General ARNP - ASAP!
I'm concerned that they took your staples out the day you left the hospital. I've had 4 sections, and have never had them removed earlier than one week after delivery, and my last one was even 10 days post-op. I would call the doctor and insist that something be done about this.
This doesn't sound right. I had a c-section and was up and around after 7 days. I would definitely get a second opinion.
I had the same thing happen with my second c-section, but they believe it was due to my being on blood thinners because of a blood clotting issue I have. It is generally NOT normal for the incision to reopen. Mine reopened (and I mean REALLY reopened) exactly a week after the c-section and I had to go back every single week to have the doctor re-check it. Since it was now healing from the inside out, my doctor "packed" it with gauze soaked in hydrogen peroxide and something else to prevent infection. She checked for infection and repacked it each week. It FINALLY closed up around 12 weeks after. Is your doctor doing anything special to prevent infection? I'm surprised that all the nurses just say this is fine... although, I don't know how big or deep your opening is. And, although it was open, my incision wasn't really bleeding. It was seeping a bit (gross, I know) and it was a pain to keep it covered for so many weeks. Luckily, it never became infected.
Your doctor should be able to extend your maternity leave. Mine was extended to 12 weeks - when I was finally fully closed up. Give your doctor extension paperwork to fill out and sign. You should not have to work with an open wound. Check with your doctor.
Good luck, and I hope it all heals soon!
Hey A.,
I had a c-section and from what I remember your wound should be mostly healed up by now. I think it took about 6 weeks and my incision was fully closed. The incision site was still protruding/distended slightly at 12 weeks, but there was no blood.
Although I do know people heal at different rates so this may be a factor.
Also, are you taking any supplements that could act as a blood thinner (baby aspirin, fish oil, etc)? If so, this could definitely pose a problem.
I would suggest that you continue to talk to your doctor. Something just does not sound right.
I have had 2 C- Sections. The first healed in about 6 weeks, the second had a small opening that worried me a bit (bled a little etc.) my doctor checked me and said it was OK but to keep it clean and dry so it didnt get infected.
I would be worried too after 11 weeks, depending on how bad it really is. Does it hurt? is it warm? are you cleaning it out? Perhaps you can go see another doctor (your primary care doctor?) and get a second opinion.
Some incisions just take longer to heal, as long as it is healing (making progress) I would not be overly worried.
Good luck to you...
That sounds bad. I think you should see a new doctor. I had two c sections. Staples were never used. Stiches were removed on the outer incision two weeks later, and the inner stiches dissolved. I never bled, and the incision was never open. I hurt for a good two months, but the tissue was healed. You may need to visit a wound center. Look into long term disability if you can't get anymore leave. I don't think you will be able to heal with the physical stress of going back to work with a new baby and sleepless nights if you haven't been able to heal now!
