Residual swelling and pain

[Grace]

I have some residual swelling and pain around my c-section wound site. When can I expect it to go down? I know a c-section is concerned a major surgery and it may be several weeks before the swelling is completely gone. I was just wondering, because I would like to wear something besides my maturnity clothes, but even the thought of anything too close or binding to that wound site makes me cringe. Thanks.

[Liz&NicksMom]

You know...I forget how long it was before I was able to wear regular clothing...I hoep it all goes away for you soon :hug:

[Dawn]

I know with me it was a good 4 to 6 weeks, even though I went back to work at 2 weeks after Cody was born. However, my incision was INCREDIBLY sensitive for several months. Of course, I've just recently tried to regain use of my abs in the last two months, so that may have something to do with it.

I know it's depressing wearing maternity clothes, but unless you have something nonrestrictive, such as a sundress, I'd keep wearing them until the sensitivity goes down.

[Becky]

When Ihad Logan I had some problems for the first 2 weeks. I had fluid pockets along the incision. They felt like hard lumps along the incision. I also developed a slight infection. I went back to the Dr's twice to mkae sure everything was ok. Have Steve look at the incision. I had drainage and the dr said to use a solution of 50% water and 50% peroxide and that help. The pockets had to reabsorb into my system. Took about 2 weeks. I was back in my reg clothes within 2 weeks but I had also lost tons of weight from being pregos with Logan. I was heavy when I got pregnant so that was ok. Another tip is to dry the incision with a hair dryer on low heat. I also have fond out I have adhesions from the section.

[Grace]

Yesterday, I got up my courage and looked at it for the first time. I was scared to before. I didn't want to know how it looked and actually it seems to be healing well and looks pretty good. There is only one slightly angry spot in the center. It just feels sore now not wrenchingly painful like it did for the first few days. Okay, I will continue to wear my maturnity clothes even though I am tired of them. I was hoping there was a faster way out of them. :shucks:

[dinapooh2]

I had drainage for a while around the incision, which the doctor said was normal. Just to make sure it was clean and healing well. But I really didn't have a lot of pain. I don't remember a whole lot about the swelling. Mainly because we don't have a full length mirror, so I couldn't see it. LOL. I'd have to hold up my floppy stomach and ask DH "Does this look OK?" :lol: It was sore for a while if I bumped it just right or wore something tight. I think I was able to get into a pair of my jeans about 4 weeks after Jonathan was born. Sometimes if I hit it just right, I'll still say "ouch!" I'd say give it a couple of weeks. It will go down gradually.

[Dawn]

LOL Dina -- I did the same thing. I made Mike clean it up for me and I'd have to pick up my belly for him to do so. :D

[Joy1]

I had to keep wearing maternity pants for at least a month but I know I wore jeans for Christmas and he was 6 weeks then. After about two weeks though the tenderness wore off and it was just the poochy belly that was the problem. I about :barf: the first time I ever looked at the incision. I had surgi-strips but didn't know it so in the mirror it looked like shark teeth - grotesque.

[Stink_Momma]

I had DH clean mine also. It was sore and swollen for quite a while, and if I didn't wear maternity clothes than I wore something really baggy that had a high waist, so nothing rubbed on it. To this day it still bothers me sometimes, with itching and stuff.

[Dawn]

Ooh .. did you have "phantom itching"? For probably a year, mine itched way deep down and I could scratch and scratch, but never get relief. It was weird because I was actually still numb there, but itched???

[dinapooh2]

You know, now that you mention it... :lol: Yeah... But not too bad.