Every woman who goes through a cesarean delivery will have a cesarean stitch. These wounds often cause discomfort and require a long recovery time. However, with proper care, caesarean section wounds can heal quickly.
Before deciding to have a cesarean section, of course you have to know what things to prepare and it is important to know about this surgery, both in terms of costs, risks, and things that may happen after a cesarean section.
Not only that, you also have to know how to treat caesarean section wounds so that the recovery process can run quickly and you can be more comfortable when caring for your little one.
Caesarean section wound
It is important to know that in a cesarean section, the doctor does not only make one incision, but two incisions. The first incision is made in the abdomen, while the second incision is in the uterus to remove the baby.
After the baby is delivered, the doctor will close the two incisions with stitches. For the uterus or uterus, the doctor will close the incision with stitches using sutures that can be absorbed by the body and blend with the uterine muscle tissue.
Meanwhile, to close the incision wound on the stomach, the doctor will sew it with sutures that cannot be fused with the flesh. Therefore, a week after the operation, you should still return to the hospital to have the stitches removed.
In addition to using threads, now caesarean section wounds can also be closed using glue or plaster.
How to treat a Caesarean section incision
Caesarean section incisions are usually about 10-15 cm long. If there is no infection, the wound will close and heal within 6 weeks.
About 48 hours after undergoing a cesarean section, you may feel some complaints, such as nausea, difficulty moving, as well as itching and a bit of pain in the surgical wound. Usually these complaints will subside by itself within a few days.
In order for the surgical stitches to heal and not become infected, you need to perform the following caesarean section wound care:
1. Clean the incision regularly
Keeping the surgical wound clean is very important to prevent the risk of infection and speed up the recovery process. Your doctor or nurse will generally give you instructions on how to clean the stitches while you are recovering at home.
Clean the stitches by wiping them with a cloth that has been moistened with clean water. Do it gently and slowly, and avoid rubbing the wound area. After that, dry using a dry cloth or towel by patting.
2. Wear loose and comfortable clothes
Tight clothing will make the body sweat easily, so the caesarean section incision is at risk of irritation. In addition, friction between the wound and clothing can also trigger inflammation.
Therefore, wear loose-fitting clothes made of cotton to make it more comfortable and absorb sweat. This method can keep the wound dry and clean, and heal faster.
3. Avoid strenuous physical activity
During the post-cesarean recovery period, you need to limit physical activity so you don't get tired. Too much activity will make the process of healing the incision or cesarean section take longer.
If you want to exercise, you need to be patient until your doctor states that you are allowed to exercise and carry on with your normal physical activity. Usually, your doctor will allow you to return to exercise and physical activity within a few weeks of your C-section.
4. Take painkillers
During the first few days after a cesarean, you may feel pain in the area of the suture wound. This condition is common and will go away on its own with recovery.
However, if the pain that is felt causes discomfort, the doctor will generally give painkillers, such as paracetamol, to reduce the pain that appears.
Recognizing Symptoms of Infection That Should Be Checked Immediately
A few weeks after surgery, the incision will turn reddish in color. This means that the caesarean section wound on your body has gradually improved.
However, if there is swelling in the area around the incision or the wound appears to be draining fluid, you should immediately consult a doctor because this could be a sign of infection.
An infected caesarean section wound will cause you to experience the following symptoms:
- Discharge of pus and blood from the surgical scar area
- Stomach pain that doesn't go away or gets worse
- Fever
- Pain or soreness when urinating
- Discharge that smells bad
Generally, the length of the recovery period that must be passed by each woman who undergoes a cesarean section is different. However, by routinely maintaining the cleanliness of the caesarean section stitches and of course the support from your partner and the presence of the baby, it will indirectly have a major impact on your recovery process.
However, if you experience some of the signs and symptoms above after a cesarean section, immediately consult a gynecologist for proper caesarean section wound care.