The upcoming meeting with the child brings a lot of excitement to every woman. Most expectant mothers are worried about the delivery process. Sometimes, for medical reasons, the doctor prescribes a cesarean section. After this operation, a seam remains on the body. Therefore, some women are interested in the question of how to properly handle it. Others worry about possible postoperative complications. Such excitement is understandable, but most of the fears are far-fetched.
Medical certificate
Caesarean section is a delivery procedure in which the baby is removed through an incision in the uterine cavity. The reasons why the doctor prescribes the operation can be different. For example, the wrong position of the fetus, a threat to the health of the mother or entwining the baby with an umbilical cord. Depending on the delivery process itself and the complications that accompany it, the incisions are performed by several techniques. The result is various seams that require some care. About it will be described in more detail below.
What sutures after cesarean section are possible?
There are 3 of their varieties.
- Vertical seam. If the fetus has acute hypoxia, and the woman in labor has started bleeding, a corporal version of cesarean section is performed. The result of this operation is a vertical suture extending from the navel and ending in the pubic region. He is no different in beauty. In the future, scars become noticeable against the background of the abdomen, often show a tendency to densify. This type of operation is performed only in emergency cases.
- Horizontal seam. With a planned operation, a laparotomy is performed according to Pfannenstiel. The incision is performed transversely in the pubic region. It is located in the skin fold, so the abdominal cavity is not opened. The abdominal muscles just move apart. It turns out a neat seam after cesarean section. Thanks to a special overlay technique, it does not interrupt and is almost invisible.
- Inseam. In both cases, the internal seams may differ in the method of application. The doctor selects an option for quick healing of the wound and reduce blood loss during the procedure. Mistakes should not be made here, since subsequent pregnancies depend on the correctly chosen technique. In corporal surgery, a longitudinal suture is performed, and in the case of laparotomy according to Pfannenstiel, the transverse:
- the uterus is stitched with a single-row suture from a durable synthetic material;
- the peritoneum is sutured with catgut stitches;
- self-absorbable sutures are used for the connective tissue of muscles.
How many sutures after a cesarean section will heal, how to properly care for them - these moments directly depend on the incision of the uterine cavity. After childbirth, doctors must answer patients all questions that raise doubts about them.
Stitch removal
The first question that most women after childbirth asks is: what day does the suture after cesarean section take off? Unambiguous answer to it is not possible. It all depends on the technique of the cut.
If it is a cosmetic seam when self-absorbable sutures are applied, they do not need to be removed. They disappear on their own about 70-80 days after surgery.
The nodal suture, which is used for corporate technology, is removed on the fifth day. Specialist from one edge with a special tool plucks a knot holding back the threads. Then he picks them up with tweezers and gently pulls them out. Does it hurt to remove stitches? It all depends on the threshold of sensitivity. A correctly performed procedure should not be accompanied by unpleasant sensations.
Seam care in the hospital
Care for the woman, while she remains in the hospital, lies with the medical staff. Immediately after cesarean section, the scar from the operation is closed with a sterile dressing. It prevents infection and damage. The nurse replaces the dressing. If the healing process goes without complications, the treatment of sutures after surgery continues for 6-7 days. Of the antiseptic drugs, Chlorhexidine, Fucorcin and a solution of brilliant green are usually used.
The woman's task is to perfectly comply with all the doctor's recommendations. An unhealed scar is “afraid” of water. Therefore, on the first day it is strictly forbidden to wet it. Water is dangerous for inflammation. Already in the hospital, you can begin to wear a bandage after cesarean section. It provides additional protection for the suture from mechanical damage and at the same time allows the stomach to return to its pre-pregnant appearance.
Before being discharged home, the woman receives a detailed consultation about the recommendations during the healing period of the suture and the necessary measures to prevent complications.
Home care
After discharge, a woman should independently take care of restoring the body. After about a week, as a rule, there is no need for special care for the seam. However, to avoid undesirable consequences, you should adhere to the standard recommendations of doctors:
- regularly treat the incision area with special preparations;
- it is allowed to take a shower, but it is impossible to crush or rub the seam;
- continue to wear a bandage after cesarean section;
- do air baths.
About a couple of months after cesarean, therapeutic ointments and creams are allowed. They contribute to the speedy resorption of the seam. After the operation, doctors are advised to start treatment with the use of a pharmacy solution of vitamin E. It should be applied directly to the scar. In the future, this tool can be replaced with "Contractubex" ointment. Its cheaper analogue is another drug with a similar mechanism of action - Solcoseryl.
Features of the recovery period
The technique of the operation in 90% of cases affects how much the suture heals after cesarean section, what difficulties a woman will have to face. Therefore, it is advisable to note several problems that concern most of the newly minted mothers.
Most often, the recovery period is accompanied by pain. This is not surprising, because after birth, a wound remains on the uterus and stomach. In the first few weeks or even months, discomfort may be present. This is a natural reaction of tissues to an incision. Pain can be stopped with analgesics. They should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the lactation period. The longitudinal seam will disturb for about 2 months, and the transverse - for about 6 weeks.
Many are concerned about the hardness of the tissues in the seam area. This phenomenon is also considered the norm. The tissue heals, and the scar does not immediately soften. A cosmetic suture after cesarean section heals faster. Tissue scarring ends within a year. The longitudinal scar lasts about a year and a half.
Some women notice that over time, a skin fold forms over the seam. In the absence of pain and suppuration, it does not present a problem. Thus tissue scarring occurs. However, the bump in the seam area should alert. Its size can vary from a small pea to the size of a walnut. Most often it has a crimson hue. In this case, an appeal to a gynecologist is mandatory. A bump can be a manifestation of scarring of tissues, as well as inflammation or even cancer formation.
When on the seam after a cesarean section, an anemone appears in the first week, there is no reason to worry. This is a normal healing process. If the discharge becomes contaminated with blood and pus, you should immediately consult a specialist.
For anyone who has had a cesarean section, after about a week, the suture begins to itch strongly. This phenomenon also indicates the onset of wound healing. However, you can’t touch or comb the stomach.
Early complications
Advances in modern gynecology have made Caesarean section a relatively safe procedure for a woman's health. However, complications may occur during wound healing.
In the first few weeks after delivery, a hematoma may appear on the seam, bleeding may begin. Such problems are caused by medical errors. We are talking about poorly sutured blood vessels. A similar complication can be caused by improper treatment of the wound after surgery, when a fresh scar is constantly injured.
In rare cases, a seam divergence is observed. In this case, the incision begins to literally creep on different sides. Usually this happens on the 6-11th day. Another reason why a suture after a cesarean section has spread is infection. It interferes with the normal fusion of tissues.
Doctors often diagnose inflammation of the incision area due to improper care or infection. In this case, the alarming symptoms are:
- temperature rise;
- the appearance of pus or blood;
- swelling;
- redness.
If these symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help. It is dangerous to engage in self-medication. In the case of an inflammatory process, antibiotic therapy is usually prescribed. In advanced situations, surgical intervention is required.
Late complications
Negative consequences with a suture after cesarean section can occur at any time. At the initial stages of the complication, they are easily treated with medication. However, after several months, surgical intervention may be required to eliminate them.
Most often, doctors diagnose ligature fistulas. They are formed due to the developing inflammation around the threads. This means that the body rejects suture material. Such inflammation manifests itself after a couple of months from the moment of intervention. Fistulas look like small seals, from the hole in which pus oozes. Only a doctor can remove a ligature.
Another complication is a keloid scar. This skin defect does not pose a threat to life and is not accompanied by pain. The main reason for its occurrence is the uneven growth of soft tissues due to the characteristics of the skin. Outwardly, a keloid scar looks like an uneven scar.
How to get rid of an ugly scar?
Sometimes a scar at the seam after a cesarean section looks extremely unattractive. Women have to deal with such a problem not only after a corporal cut. To get rid of it, modern medicine offers several procedures:
- Microdermabrasion. This technique involves polishing scar tissue with alumina. As a result, the growth of new skin occurs. At the same time, metabolic processes improve in the tissues. Just a few procedures with a break of a week can significantly improve the condition of the skin on the abdomen.
- Laser resurfacing. This procedure involves removing scar tissue using a laser beam. On the one hand, it is very painful, and on the other, it is effective.
- Chemical peeling. It is carried out using fruit acids. Their proper use allows you to exfoliate the skin in the problem area. Mandatory with chemical peeling is the use of drugs to even out the skin.
- Surgical excision. This procedure is recommended if the suture on the uterus after a cesarean section is small. During the operation, the scar is dissected and the ingrown vessels are removed.
Before choosing a specific procedure, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Many of them have contraindications. In addition, the scar should be removed no earlier than a year after the intervention. These procedures do not completely eliminate the scar. They only make it less noticeable.
Subsequent pregnancies
Gynecologists do not prohibit women from giving birth again after an intervention. However, here there are certain nuances.
The most common problem is a suture after a cesarean section that hurts and causes discomfort. Unpleasant sensations can be so pronounced that a woman will think about his discrepancy. For many inexperienced mothers, this feeling is accompanied by panic. If you know what the pain syndrome is dictated by, all fears will immediately disappear.
Doctors recommend keeping the period between surgery and subsequent pregnancy at 2 years. Only in this case, the divergence of the seam is excluded. It is all about adhesions that form when soft tissues are restored. They are stretched by an expanding stomach. Therefore, there are unpleasant sensations. When a pain syndrome appears, it is important to immediately contact a gynecologist and undergo an ultrasound examination. Your doctor may recommend anesthetic ointment.
You need to understand that the healing process of soft tissues after surgery is very individual. It depends on several factors: the state of health of the woman, the type of incision, the correct care after cesarean. If a newly minted mother takes these nuances into account and follows the doctor's recommendations, complications can be avoided and a new pregnancy can be planned.