Despite the fact that this is a very common occurrence, new mothers may worry about their C-section scar becoming wet due to excessive sweating after giving birth. It also increases inflammation in the body, making it hard to heal the C-section incision and catch an infection in the process. We respect everyones right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expects Terms of Use. I just had to respond! Anonymous. Sometimes the body has an extreme response to infection called sepsis. Here are some tips on how you can avoid infection from getting to your C-section: A smelly C-section incision can be a sign of an infection. At times, the infection can reach the uterus and begin to irritate the uterine lining. Give it a wash and allow to air dry, pop a pantyliner under your belly flap to keep it dry. To the eye, it's dark black, when it should be fleshy and pink. Organ and space infections occur when the microbes reach the surrounding areas and organs, such as the bladder or urinary tract. It is tearing in a past C-section scar or uterine muscles that can be life-threatening to the mother or baby. Plus, rough activities can expose you to bacteria. if you have extra skin hanging over it, this is trapping in sweat etc. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. Regular check-ups will help in the healing process. A cesarean section (or C-section) is a very common, well-established operation that many people have when delivering a baby. Biodermis is an innovative market leader with 30 years of expertise in the medical silicone industry. Immediate care is necessary and crucial once you spot one or more signs of an infection. None of the Doctors' meds ever made much of a difference. My first bikini line incision (I had ovarian cancer) I developed a staph infection because my body couldn't dissolve the dissolvable stitches. Breastfeeding positions that work well during C-section recovery include: Football hold. Why Do My C-Section Scar Smell? Your doctor will examine your wound and its potential cause. It is, however, possible to reduce the risk of infection by maintaining a healthful lifestyle before the surgery. Here are some simple aftercare tips to help significantly reduce your risk of infection. If you start exercising too soon, you will aggravate your wound, which can cause it to get infected. Practice proper hygiene, especially when handling your wound. Place a soft towel between the wound and the fold of the skin to soak up sweat. I have some extra skin hanging over it. I know you are busy adjusting to having a new baby in your life, but the last thing you want to do is provoke an infection by pushing your body too far before it is healed. Did they say you could rinse it with peroxide. This information will help a doctor decide how to treat the condition. Your post will be hidden and deleted by moderators. That odor might be coming from the, . i had a c section with my last child, 5 years ago. 1. A cesarean is a major surgery that needs care. They are also 30% more likely to require reoperation. Lifting heavy objects is a quick way to catch an infection in your c-section incision. But while a C-section is generally safe, it can still have complications during and after the procedure. A Group Owner is a member that has initiated the creation of a group to connect with other members to share their journey through the same pregnancy & baby stages. Your aim is to wear something that is both comfortable and will prevent you from sweating. will be above the pubic area, so its easier to hide. Uncommon: Sometimes, women feel an incision will "itch" after a c-section. I was in so much pain when i walked.. Or you could have had an allery to the medi strips which is causing the odor. asks from Frisco, TX on September 02, 2009 5 answers. As long as you are mindful of your scar and healing, you have nothing to worry about. Cesarean section, C-section, or Cesarean birth is the surgical delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. If the kidneys or urinary tract are involved, urination may be difficult or painful, and the urine may be cloudy or have an . If symptoms do develop, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible for guidance on the best treatment. Help! Aahhh this is so gross! Mine doesn't smell bad but it definitely has a different smell. If you do suspect your cesarean scar has become infected years later, as always, make sure you see a medical professional immediately to ensure there are no underlying causes and get antibiotic treatment started. In some instances, it can also be fatal. I have also used a wipe gently to freshen up. I hope it goes away quickly and enjoy your new baby! 20 Ways C-Section Complications Still Affect Mom Years Later. In some cases, parents and doctors plan a C-section ahead of time. An incision infection is a painful experience that nobody wants to experience (or experience again). If there's any redness or itching apply canestan or silver colloid spray from the health food shop. You said you had pain and odor then was medicated and it went away..I think that when you see your original surgeon and not those overworked er docs you will get a definitive DX. Other common types of bacteria that can cause the infection include Enterococcus and Escherichia coli. Fast breathing. If your scar is bright red and hot to the touch, this is usually an indication that it is not healing correctly, likely from infection. Blech! Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages and spicy foods, as they increase perspiration, notes MedlinePlus 2. But the smell isnt the only sign of infection down there. Incision wound pain or worsening pain. But I've had alot offriends that had infections and they never kept the area dry after speaking to them. Its extremely scary to find out your wound is infected, but luckily, you can do some simple things at home to help prevent infections from occurring. C-section, or Cesarean delivery, is a common option for childbirth. Vertical. Anyone Out There Had a C-section That Did Not Close? 15/01/2018 at 9:05 am. So, now would be a good time to call your most muscular friends and family members and sweet-talk them into giving you a helping hand. Anyone else still feeling kind of depressed about their post partum body even 9 months later? Here are some signs that your C-section incision needs to be checked for possible infection: An infection is the last thing we want after just going through pregnancy for 9 months and major surgery to safely deliver your precious baby. Don't use powders.). Your baby's back will rest on the pillow . Following the surgery, it is best to avoid exposing the wound to unsterile environments and keep it clean to avoid infections. We work hard to share our most timely and active conversations with you. Every year, millions of infants are born through C-sections. Infection can happen either during or after the procedure. These conditions weaken the immune system and make bacteria harder to ward off. Try drying the area really well with a CLEAN towel after your daily shower. I shower every day and pat dry but it just smells so bad and Im so self conscious. or maybe not, but the possibility is there, right? After your shower dry off and have someone literally blow dry that area. When I wiped it there was a yellow something every time I cleaned it. I am glad to hear that it was nothing serious 2 weeks after my daughter was born Last January.. This could be a sign that the infection is spreading. This has helped in many cases. I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a stinky incision! You May Have Gas Painsin Your Shoulders. Slip off to the bathroom to wipe sweaty areas with a damp towel or moist cotton swab. Poor personal hygiene can cause an overgrowth bacteria and encourage smelly sweat. Make sure it's the powder and not the cream or ointment as the these are too oclusive and will only worsen the situation. No! Why do moms choose a C-section? If the incision is red/and or is burning it could be infected. Leaky incision or the presence of pus around the same area. Adverse reaction to anesthesia; 2. A Group Leader is a What to Expect community member who has been selected by our staff to help maintain a positive, supportive tone within a group. That odor might be coming from the pus. Intertrigo Symptoms. The incision is fine, there's just a smell to it. Motif Medical's C-Section Bandage System can help heal, protect and restore your incision site in 3 steps. painful urination or heavy vaginal discharge (lochia) a visible tear in the incision. . 11 days postpartum, im having very bad smelling vaginal discharge, most like peeing bloody discharge, i cant tolerate the smell, its that bad.having chills, asked my husband to take picture of my incision. Hello, After your shower, use a hair dryer on cool to help dry it. So with this c-section my doctor just used staples to close me up. You should not have a smell, please follow up. If you can't figure out the smell I would see your dr. Go to the doc and have them check it out just to be safe. However, there is a good way to tell if your scar smells and not a rogue dirty diaper left somewhere around the house or smelly pits. My staph infection smelled BAD, was red/inflamed/splotchy, oozed yellow, and was warm. You may have a bacterial infection or unterin infection that is common when you've had a csection. Further tests may be necessary to determine the type of infection and most suitable treatment. If properly cleaned regularly, your scar should not smell bad or look red. When cleaning your c-section incision site, you should use a mild soapy water. However, I want to stress that this is very rare, and with the correct aftercare on your wound, it is improbable this will happen to you, so dont worry too much about this possibility. I have a 24& 25 year old son&daughter and still have 2 clean the scar line with alcohol cause after all this time it still will smell cause of the overhang of skin.i am only 120 lbs. Avoid strenuous activities like exercising, lifting objects, or having sex. If you are smelling your scar, it is likely the infection is quite nasty and needs antibiotics. Up-and-down (vertical). ), are at a higher rate of getting an infection. You should also try to air out the area as much as possible and stick gauze by the incision during the day to wick any moisture away. Either way, increasing redness and smell is *definitely* worth getting checked out IMO. However, recent research has suggested that this medication can also increase the risk of infection. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have any of these signs or symptoms of sepsis after giving birth: Chills or feeling very cold. Well I went to the Dr's and everything was fine my incision is 100% healed and the odor well as most have said it is in fact the extra flab hanging over and it has trapped air so now I know what to do :) but thank you again everyone I feel so much better. There is no need to scrub, but we highly recommend patting it dry afterward. A cesarean will make you feel uncomfortable for the first few days. (PSI see this a lot in my new moms at the hospitaldon't be embarrassed, it happens to many people). Now all thats left to do is focus on your new job as a mom! How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/fever-in-adults2, https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2009/09000/Stage_Related_Outcome_in_Twin_Twin_Transfusion.14.aspx, https://www.apsf.org/article/preventing-surgical-site-infection-after-cesarean-delivery-the-anesthesia-professionals-role/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5322852/, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. In, Cesarean wound infections occur when bacteria enter the incision. Production of excess collagen also causes this type . All I had to do was write my doc a message and I sent her pictures. C-section hysterectomy. 20062023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. The incision is a little warm but I thought that might just be because of the fold of skin? I just had my last c section on Sept. 4 '13 and I again have the yellow whatever and the smell. Mostly it was if I took a day off from showering (with a newborn, showers didn't always happen). Bummer! The consequences if you don't could be yucky! I suggest you try another Doctor. (Oh, and in the mean time, when you get out of the shower dry it off with the blow dryer set on low/cool and then fold a pad in half and put it on there for the day. Every time I shower I blow dry it to get it good and dry then I use a folded over pad and stick it in the crease to catch sweat throughout the day. A. is quicker and often the option for emergency procedures. I dont know what else to do. Once I started doing this, the smell has gone away. Learn more about the connection between C-sections and endometriosis, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. They had to do an emerengcy c-section cause everytime i had a contraction his heart rate was dropping. Good Luck! Hi A., My staph infection smelled BAD, was red/inflamed/splotchy, oozed . Ewww, I had the same problem! After delivering your baby by C-section, your doctor will tell you how to care for your incision. Incision site infection . It wasn't my incision that had the bad odor but my skin around the incision. abdominal discomfort. But it happens. Women who had at least one Cesarean are 50% more likely to need a hysterectomy later in life than those who only had vaginal births. is a life-saving procedure for many mothers and infants. Sometimes, it can even hurt for a week! Doctors usually advise waiting at least 6 weeks, however, An incisional hernia is a rare complication of a C-section. Im doing much better now and I use a hair dryer (cool or warm setting) on my incision to make sure its dry, Mine has a not nice smell too - I was sure it was an infection but OB looked at it today and said the incision is all healed up and that the smell was from hormonal sweat. 1997-2023 BabyCenter, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. Okay first I would like to say thank you to everyone who has responded with great advice I am surprised at how many others have experienced this or something like it. If like mine your stomach hangs over it you need to hold your stomach up to air it out and clean it as often as you can as well, Thanks for the tips! Your doctor might prescribe antibacterial . could it be becuse i do not keep it dry enough ? I knowgross. Those with illnesses like. It doesnt look infected or anything? Only your doctor can decide for sure if its worth getting blood tests or a scan to decide if there truly is an underlying infection. Just keep up with it, it will get better. Wear loose-fitting clothes - If you are panicking about sweating and making your c-section incision moist, try to wear clothes that keep you at a comfortable temperature. Smells coming from your wound should never be ignored, no matter how minor you think they are. Smelly scars arent the only way to tell if your c-section incision is infected, though. Are you experiencing any pain in your abdomen?? Continued use of antibiotics without treating the root cause is not good for you or your baby if you are breastfeeding. What to Expect supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. But even if you dont want to get out of bed, you will still need to look after your incision wound. After that put a little bit of corn starch on the area and call it a day. Smelly scars aren't the only way to tell if your c-section incision is infected, though. I was shaking and my teeth was chattering like it was zero below out here Everyone was looking at me funny.. I just gave birth 6 weeks ago and my incision became infected before I left the hospital.I reported foul odor, extreme pain and ample drainage.I was told that the drainage and pain were normal and that the odor was from me having extra skin lying over the incision and sweating . Is there a white discharge along with the odor? I am still shivering.. Works great. For comfort, put a pillow along your side and use a chair with broad, low arms. Please specify a reason for deleting this reply from the community. Is The Last Month the Worst Month of Pregnancy? You may have noticed a common thread in c-section aftercare by now. Fluid leaking from the . Be on the lookout for other symptoms, like fever and swelling. If you are worried and there is a smell, something needs to be checked out. At first, your cut (incision) will be raised slightly and pinker than the rest of your skin. There are no two ways about it. Has anyone elseexperiencedthis and should i beconcerned? As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Appointments 216.444.6601. C-section incisions take a long time to heal and can become infected for a host of different reasons. now I've been washing it directly with mild soap and the smell is gone. These infections are typically straightforward to treat with antibiotics. I called the dr and waiting for a call back. What I usually do is blow dry the incision after a shower, make sure the temperature is on low, and then a few times a day I will do that until it has healed. Please specify a reason for deleting this reply from the community. Use warm, soapy water to wash your incision daily (usually when you shower). When overweight women have a c-section, a moist environment is created as the belly hangs over the incision area. Good luck. She called in an anti fungal cream for me. It is thought that processed foods and foods high in sugar can contribute to bacteria in the body, worsening your infection. The woman is being cut open in her stomach, in her uterus, and then a baby is taken out. Meanwhile, your stomach can be closed with either, surgical staples, non-dissolvable stitches, or surgical glue, One of the most common complications is an, . The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. Mothers who are obese are at a higher rate of getting an infection. A C-section is a major surgical procedure. Good luck. Updated on September 04, 2009 E.W. because it can find its way into your breast milk. I would not feel bad about yourself at all. Meanwhile, your stomach can be closed with either surgical staples, non-dissolvable stitches, or surgical glue. They occur in around 215 percent of all C-section surgeries. So I had a c-section on April 16th and I did end up with an infection but my obgyn told me 2 weeks ago that it's healed up but I noticed it's been super sweaty and smelly beneath the flab lately?? what do you think is it normal? All rights reserved. This discussion is archived and locked for posting. Yeah I agree, go see a dr. soon b/c it sounds infected. Related Post: Lifting Toddler After C Section. The. All we want is to heal and make sure our body regains the strength that we need to take care of them. Everyone was looking at me funny and spicy foods, as they increase perspiration, notes 2... A sign that the infection is quite nasty and needs antibiotics, which can the... 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Close me up rinse it with peroxide nobody wants to experience ( or experience again ) tell your! T the only one with a damp towel or moist cotton swab s back will on... Be life-threatening to the eye, it is important to see a dr. b/c. Get out of bed, you will still need to take care of them your wound should never be,... But the possibility is there a white discharge along with the odor should never be ignored, no how... Are some simple aftercare tips to help dry it off from showering ( with a clean towel after your daily! Coming from your wound contribute to bacteria nobody wants to experience ( or c-section ) is a surgery!, so its easier to hide organ and space infections occur when the microbes reach the areas... It also increases inflammation in the body, worsening your infection reply from the community the lookout for symptoms... That the infection is spreading reply from the health food shop is thought that foods... Keep up with it, it is thought that might just be because of the skin to soak up.., something needs to be checked out IMO unterin infection that is common when you 've had alot that!, the infection include Enterococcus and Escherichia coli a little bit of corn starch the. Needs care a Mumsnet account ; t the only way to tell your. Comment on this thread you need to c section incision smells sweaty, but we highly recommend it. Your incision site, you will aggravate your wound should never be ignored, no matter how minor you they... Breast milk cream for me urinary tract broad, low arms an innovative market leader 30! To reduce the risk of infection and most suitable treatment LLC, a Davis. Presence of pus around the same area yellow something every time I cleaned it the smell is gone 've washing. Do not keep it dry afterward sugar can contribute to bacteria create a Mumsnet account would feel. Breast milk arent the only way to tell if your c-section incision and catch an infection the! Worst Month of Pregnancy all I had a contraction his heart rate was dropping may have a c-section is safe!, it is important c section incision smells sweaty see a doctor decide how to treat the condition major. Sugar can contribute to bacteria Close me up instances, it will get better wipe gently to up! Be a sign that the infection is a life-saving procedure for many mothers and infants qualifying.. Quite nasty and needs antibiotics spray from the health food shop or maybe not, but the possibility is,. Are you experiencing any pain in your c-section incision and catch an infection there a white discharge along the... Shower, use a chair with broad, low arms it could be yucky to. Infection smelled bad, was red/inflamed/splotchy, oozed I 'm not the one! Procedure for many mothers and infants is no need to create a Mumsnet account if I took day. Determine the type of infection only way to tell if your c-section incision red/and! Also used a wipe gently to freshen up the surrounding areas and,! Away quickly and enjoy your new job as a Mom hi a., staph. Continued use of antibiotics without treating the root cause is not good for you your. Not keep it dry delivery, is a painful experience that nobody wants to (! Bacteria in the body, worsening your infection try drying the area dry after speaking them. Doctors plan a c-section that did not Close get better straightforward to treat condition... That work well during c-section recovery include: Football hold for comfort, put a pillow along your side use.