4 Weeks Postpartum C Section Incision Not Completely Closed Up

Updated on January 26, 2011
T.S. asks from Langhorne, PA
13 answers

Had a c section on December 27th. My incision looks ok except for a small area at the end of the incision (it's a size of about 1/4") and it's not closed up. The area is clotting a bit, but not enough that it's closing and it will still bleed a bit if I'm not careful washing/drying the area. Was supposed to have an OB appt tomorrow but they called and rescheduled it for Friday. I'm wondering what, if anything the doctor will do. Will they tell me it will heal on it's own or will they but a stitch or something in it. Has this happened to anyone before?

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A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

I had this at one end of my scar too for a couple of months-I forget how long exactly. The doctor did not add any stitches to mine and insisted if it wasn't infected it would heal, which it has. Although, mine was not bleeding, it was just popped "open" for about 1/4 inch.

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

I've had 3 c-sections and never experienced what you described. This does not sound normal. I would call your OB tomorrow morning and tell them you are very concerned that something is wrong and that you would like to see your doctor before Friday. I would not have waited so long. Did you have staples or did you have strips of tape over your incision? All of my c-sections had tape over it which I was allowed to remove myself after about 5-7 days post birth. It by not means should be bleeding out at this time.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Because it is about 1/4 inch and it bleeds, I would ask to get in at least to see a nurse sooner. When I had my c, I had this tiny little spot--looks like you could poke with a dull pencil point. But it did not bleed and really only at the surface. They did offer to "glue" it but since it was not bleeding or anything, they said it would heal on its own.

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A.G.

answers from Las Vegas on

my incision did the same thing after my second c section. The dr just reapplied steri strips, and told me to be careful around it. It did heal but my scar is a bit wider in that area.

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi:

I am glad that you are seeing your doctor soon. I have had three c-sections; two of them opened up a week into my recovery. With each incision it took four months for my wound to close and heal. I had a home nurse visit me every day during those four months to dress and pack the area, take my temperature and make sure that I wasn't getting an infection. I had to visit the doctor who cleaned the wound more thoughly than the nurse could ever so often.

The doctor will definitely check that area out closely. Point it out to him just in case he doesn't take a close look. It should heal on it's own but you want to make sure that it does not heal from the top and then in. It needs to heal from the inside out. If the skin closes first, you may develop an infection from the fluid build up.

I know I must be scaring you. Not my intentions and for me, I went on to have a third c-section that healed very quickly, without any issue. If you have any additional questions, feel free to private message me. And congratulations on the birth of your baby!

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K.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

This happened to me after my 2nd c-sect. It just took longer to heal un one small area.

H.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've had two c-sections and this does not seem normal.

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

I had my incision reopen and they can't restitch it cause that can make a pocket for infection. It has to heal from the bottom up. I had to leave it open and have my hubby clean it 4 times a day to keep it from getting infected. It was a major pain but it finally healed and it looked like the rest of the scare....you couldn't even tell it had been there. So you'll be ok but I'm sure they're going to make you start cleaning it regularly.

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi, T.:
The surgeon may have put a drain in that area to allow for the fluid to
come out so the incision could heal from inside first to the outside.
The fluid needs to come out. In time the incision will heal and the fluid will be reabsorbed by the healing process.
Hope this helps.
D.

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Yes, I had this happen to me although it was worse. I had a hematoma where a blood vessel is either cut or bursts. It happened during or a day after the csection. About a day later I noticed my entire abdomen was alarge black bruise and the coagulated blood kept my incision open. I had to go to the doctor daily for a while to get it cleaned out and packed with gauze so that it could heal properly. Then they taught my husband how to do this so we could do it at home. It was AWFUL. It took 3 months to finally heal. It sounds like yours is a small opening and they will probably tell you to keep it clean and that it will heal on it's own. They might have you keep some gauze in it for a little while so it heals from the inside out. If it heals from the outside first creating a little pocket of air you can get an infection.

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

Many women have complications or infections of their incision site... They may use sticky 'stitches' to close that up, or if they see an infection, they may pack the would with treated gauze and teach you to clean and change it 2 times a day.

That really sucks they re-scheduled!!

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I had 2 c-sections... that never happened to me.
That does not sound normal.

Tell your Doctor... and have them see you earlier....
an infection is the other concern... as well.

I had steri-strips over my incision... which by itself... came off.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

This happened to me and they would pack the little area (or I would) with special packing stuff and healed it from the inside out. It took a couple of weeks of this. At first a nurse would come show me and then I did it myself. They said if it didn't work, they would have to do surgery again but it worked. Unfortunately, I developed a hernia because of this and needed a repair when my baby was 5 months old. But all in all, it all worked out okay. It just needed extra attention. I even had another baby since this all happened. Good luck to you.

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