Any C-section Mommas That Had Trouble??? Rip Incision Open a Little????

Updated on September 30, 2010
M.W. asks from Saint Cloud, MN
9 answers

I had a c-section 3 weeks ago today. I've been having my hubby check the incision every couple days. Well, on Sunday I turned over in bed and felt a really sharp pain like I ripped part of my incision open.... Had hubby look at it and he thought it was okay. I DID call the doc on Monday and they said if the "line" looked sealed then not to worry.

I looked in a mirror today and am not entirely sure that it's nicely sealed. It looks different in the area that I felt ripped open. So I told my friend today and she looked at it. She said that's what hers looked like when it opened. They never did anything about it but now I'm wondering if I should (or need) to go in to the doc???? I'll probably call them tomorrow but I feel like all I do is call them! LOL> (First I had sharp pains which turned out to be a blood clot in my stomach. Then I forgot to ask a couple questions at our 2 week. Then this.)

Have any of you had this? Did you go in? What did they do???

PS> It looks ok. NOT infected or leaking or anything....... Just a little pulled apart on the one side......

What can I do next?

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C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

I had my incision stay open due to a hemotoma and it was awful. We had to clean it out every day (my husband) and repack it with gauze so it would heal from the inside out. It took 3 months! I really really hope this does not happen to you.

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E.E.

answers from New York on

Yep, it's not worth possible problems. So call and see what they say.

Do you have a thermometer so you can monitor your temperature? A fever can sometimes be the first sign of infection.

I'm another one who had mine open, luckily I was still in the hospital. I had a nice vacuum hooked up to me to suction the wound closed from the inside (Thank you good insurance 'cause that sucker was $$$). Then another month or two of my husband doing dry dressings twice a day.

Try to keep a little bit of pressure on it, it'll keep it from moving too much and possibly ripping (more). I second the maxipad idea, though I taped it down kind of tight.

Good luck!

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Go into the doctor's office as soon as you can! I have had three c-sections. The first one opened up a week after coming home from the hospital. It took four months to properly heal and a home nurse had to come every day to pack the wound.

The second c-section's wound opened about three days after I left the hospital. It too took four months to heal with a home nurse. My uterus then decided to attach itself to my abdomin wall and bladder which required another surgery. The doctor was unable to detach my uterus from my bladder because he did not want to damage my bladder. But at least I am not in pain like I was when it was attached to my abdomin wall.

It is important that you go to the doctor's office so they can evaluate your situation. They cannot sew you up because if any fluid is building in there it will become infected. So they will have to 'pack' the wound so it heals from the inside out. Also, you really do want your incision scar to heal well so that it is even on either side.

My third c-section went well! But I asked my doctor to sew instead of staple so I think that that helped.

Don't feel bad about calling them. That is what they are there for. As mothers we forget to take care of ourselves and that is not good for your baby either.

Good luck!

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K.O.

answers from Columbus on

I had an emergency c-section with my daughter. I had a lot of pain that lasted for a LONG time. It takes months for you start to feel normal. I didn't feel close to 100% until about 8 months or so after. Take it easy and love on your baby for as long as you can.
ps. Keep it dry. Mine kept getting a yeast infection and I found that Gold Bond Powder or the generic version works wonders to get rid of it very quickly. Hope you feel better soon.

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Mine did that. It looked kind of open. They told me as long as it wasn't seeping, full of puss or red and hot to not worry about it. I wore a maxi pad (sticky side toward my pants) to keep it from rubbing on my pants. With things like surgery, it's always better safe than sorry. You just don't know until you ask.

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E.H.

answers from Kokomo on

With mine the right end began to open a bit after a couple days home. It was no more than about a half an inch. However they said they will not do anything about it like restitch, staple ect. because it causes a greater risk of infection.
However the body heals extremely quickly and I would be surprised if it actually did completely rip open 3 week post.
IMO if it had, it would be something pretty major at this point and you would probably have more severe symptoms or pain.
Call your Dr. office and see what they say to make yourself feel better.

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B.B.

answers from Dallas on

This happened to my sister. One side of her incision started to open. They left surgical gauze inside her and she had to get it removed. I would definitely call and be seen tomorrow.

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C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had it happen about 6 days after my c-section. I felt my incision get hot on the right side but I didn't think anything of it. That night after i got out of the shower, i was looking at my incision in the mirror and noticed a 1/2 inch opening right where I felt the heat earlier. i called my OB and he said as long as it wasn't red, swollen, or with pus then I could wait until the morning to see him. I went in the next morning and he steri-stripped it again and said it had opened but it wasn't deep at all. It took a good 5-6 weeks before it completely healed shut. My scar looks nice except it's a little wider where it opened.

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A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

um yes. With my first c-section at about 2 weeks it opened back up. pretty upsetting and gross. When I went into the doc he dug around in the opening and pulled out a huge blood clot! Then he said that they can't just sew it back up cause it could get an infection. So we just had to let it heel from the inside out. And I had to have my hubby clean it about 4 times a day. I think it took about 2 to 3 more weeks and then it was all heeled up. So yes go to your doc. and have it looked at cause if it is open you need to start cleaning it.

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