Help me make sure my stictches don't get infected.

[SophieRose]

That's the one thing i'm scared about with the CS i have coming up.
I don't think i could deal with it getting infected.

People have told me to put a normal that time of the month pad over the wound underneath my undies because it draws away moisture.

What would be good to put on it to help kill germs and help heal?

Either natural (i.e. oils, waters, salt, etc) or Medicinal (i.e. betadine, dettol, etc), doesn't bother me which.

I'll lose it if it starts weeping pus or something. I can't deal with stuff like that. *shudders*

[SophieRose]

Bugger, managed to misspell "stitches"

[Fleur]

Hmmm, I'm trying to remember, mine was a while ago but I don't think I put anything on it? Just keeping it clean & dry was the main thing.
I washed it in the shower as you usually would - I was a bit nervous about that but obviously I was very gentle & it was fine - then when I got out, made sure I dried it well. The other thing to do if you can is when you do get out, sit or lie for a bit with it uncovered so it really gets a chance to dry out before you get dressed.
I actually had more issues with mine because I did too much in the first few days - those painkillers were so good, I 'forgot' I was supposed to be taking it kind of easy! (We landed back in hosp with DS2 for a different reason & the mid told me the weeping I had was down to doing too much).

HTH good luck I'm sure you'll be fine

[Indadhanu]

Washing it properly and keeping it dry was all I did. And giving it some air time, which was a bit hard middle of winter LOL

It did get a bit itchy at one point, so I put bepanthen on it (bepanthen is my wonder cream PMSL I use it for everything hahahahaha) and that helped. I think there are some essential oils that can help, but I'm not sure what they are. I'm sure someone will come on and give some suggestions. But my experience is that you don't really need anything heavy duty like betadine unless you have problems with it.

[~Kim~]

you shouldn't put anything on it at all until it has healed over.
Keep it clean and dry. Water in the shower is fine. Some find drying the wound gently with a hairdryer helps in the first little while.
I've had two. The first one, the pad was a help, the second I only needed it for a couple of days.
Through working in emergency and theatre I have seen all manner of wound infection and they are the tips they give out.
Make sure you get some knickers that go higher than the scar. ie hipsters will have the top elastic right where it will be so sadly granny knickers are a must for a while, as are rolled waisted pants.

[Doing my best]

I didn't do anything with it.. When I got out of the shower I got DH to make sure it was completely dry (The 1st few days at hospital, I would lay on the bed just so he could make sure)..

You can put moisturiser on it once it is fully healed if itchy.

[Arimeh]

My stitches never got infected either time, but I did get an infection in my uterus last time.

Just keeping them clean and dry is enough, it will heal up quickly anyway

[LaDeeDa]

When I had mine I had a clear "second skin" covering on it and when it came off it was time that everything had healed IYKWIM....
Keep and eye out for ingrown hairs.... they can be nasty...

[{sarah}]

Sometimes these things just happen, so you might need to be prepared just in case I treated both of my wounds the same way, the first was fine & the second developed an infection after about five days.