Couple of questions please

[nina21]

Hi all
I am 35 weeks and am having a planned c/s due to various reasons.
I had an emergency c/s with my last child and ended up with a really bad infection.
I have been reading a c/s book written by a couple of USA mums that states that they give you a post-partum antibiotic in your drip while you are still on the table to combat any infections and that is continued for a few days after. Does anybody know if they do that here? I am terrified of getting another infection, the last one nearly killed me.... literally!
Also I was wondering when they normally book you in for the planned c/s some people say it is 38 weeks others are saying they will let you go to 39. Nerves are setting in any advice would be greatly appreciated...thanks xx

[Ellee05]

Hi Nina, I had a c/s 4 wks ago and I'm pretty sure that I didn't have any antibiotics after c/s. Perhaps if you're worried, talk to the doctor about having a course. My c/s was booked in for 38wks because of the reasons I had to have a c/s. In the end mine was an emergency one at 36wks when I went into labour. I guess it depends on the reasons that you need a c/s as the longer they can stay inside the healthier the baby.

I hope all goes well for you, try not to stress about it.

[Winter]

Hi Nina,

I did get antibiotics with my c/s.

They weren't continued afterwards, though my doctor did check my scar every day for 6 days so I'm sure that had I needed them, I would have had them.

Ask your health care provider at your next appointment to reassure yourself what the procedure is.

Good luck with bubs!

[LimeSlice]

I dont know if I had ABs with my ECS or not.

But they will dress your wound and check it at LEAST once a day, usually the new nurse will come in after handover and check it herself in the afternoon as well. the doctor should pop in ince or twice while you are there aswell.

The stapels should come out just befor eyou leave hossie so they will certainly know then if you have n infection.

Once you get home though, especially if you staples are still in, you need to take care of the wound well to help prevent spliting and infection. So keep it clean and dry, avoid using soaps and body washes on it at all for a couple of weeks, warm water will surfice.
Ask the nurse for some dressing pads go, they are large rectangle wadding pads that arent sticky that you can put over the wound to prevent things rubbing (like your pants band or undies) and also help protect the wound.
Get yourself some calendula ointment or some lavender oil and uset his at least 3 times daily on the wound - it will help heal the scare nicely and also kills everything so will help prevent any nasties being able to get in and create the infection in the first place.

Also if you can try and get some time out where you can lay with the wound uncovered so expose it to the air an allow it to heal naturally.
Don't go into public pools or spas etc until well after it has healed properly and keep up your intake of Vit C and Iron to fortify your immune system.

Good luck with your birth!!

[Ellee05]

Sorry, like the others have said I too had my wound checked at least once a day by nurses and the doctor checked it every day for the first few days also then whenever he visited me (not everyday) once staples were out. So I too think if I needed them I would have recieved them.

[Marydean]

I'm pretty sure I had a dose while I was in surgery but not at all afterwards. My DD was born right on 38 weeks but when I discussed it with the ob it was clear I could've negotiated a week or so longer. So there could be room for negotiation, depending on how busy the hospital is.

[Rach75]

with Jack I had a dose in theatre then had oral tablets for the days I was in hosp I had no infection...

this time different hosp am booked in for elective 10 days before due date, which sound snormal if no complications ie GD or anything HTH!!!!

[lubby]

Hello

I had intravenous Antibiotics that were set up in theatre. i had torn cervix and bladder which is why they administered antibiotics.

My stitches were taken out after I was discharged from hospital so I kept a keen eye for signs of infection including redness or oozing. The moment I saw the tiniest bit of redness I dabbed betadine solution on the wound. I also exposed the wound a few times a day to direct sunlight which apparently assists in wound healing. like many of the other girls i placed a large pad over the wound for protection. i continued with the betadine and pads evev after the stiches came out.

I would ask your ob pre surgery if he will give them to you.
i understand your concerns.....i am about to have my second cs and infection is a big worry.

good luck

[nina21]

Thanks for all the advice ladies...its nice to know there are others that have had c/s with no problems.

I had no outside stitches or staples with DD at all I was suprised, I had internal ones and the outside was "fused" together, not sure how they did that.

I will be monitoring it all a lot closer this time around and if I even get a hint of anything I will be on it....thanks again xxx

[MamaSpice]

Hi Nina,

I'm pretty sure you will be given some kind of anti-biotic coverage intraveiniously whilst in theatre but usually not after that. Speak to your care providers if you are worried and they'll keep a close eye on you or may suggest continuing on with an oral course post op. I've also heard that there is less chance of infection if staples are used to close the wound.

[nina21]

Ok Ladies had my 36 week appt today and yes they give you antibiotics in theatre and one dose after then they closely monitor you for any signs of infection.

They like to do the c/s at 39+ weeks but talked them into 38 + 5 so the 25th of September it is....wish me luck xxxxx

[Rach75]

good luck great day for c-sect my little man will be 3 that day so 3 years ago on the 25th I was having mine

[Mother Goose]

I was given IV AB's in theatre because my waters had broken over 24hrs before DD was born. I didn't have any after that though. And I only had my wound looked at once by my Ob and once by an agency nurse during my 5 day hosp stay - the normal staff never looked at it!