Your caesarean wound should have closed and healed within 6 weeks of delivery. At this point there should be nothing seeping from the wound and you will be left with a scar approximately 4-6 inches long. In the 6 weeks after your c-section, the scar should begin to fade from red to pink and depending on how your body heals, it may feel flat or raised to the touch. The tenderness of the scar should reduce as well.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms you should look out for that may indicate that your c-section scar is not healing. None of these should be present 6 weeks after your c-section:
Swelling or redness around the wound or abdominal area
Severe abdominal pain
Painful urination
Pus or discharge from the wound
High fever
If you are still suffering from problems with your scar more than 6 weeks after childbirth, then you should seek advice and information from your doctor.
A lot of mums have their heart set on a vaginal birth for many reasons; it is how the female body is designed to give birth to a baby after all. However, caesareans now account for 1 in 4 of all births in the UK, therefore, there is a likely chance that you could be going down that route. If this is the case for you then try to hold on to your original feelings of excitement, as the thoughts of longer stays in the hospital, a more difficult recovery and a surgical wound can often have expectant parents worrying about the delivery of their child.
Having a c-section doesn’t mean you can’t feel empowered and in control about your birth. If you’re having an elective c-section or if you know you are at a high risk of an emergency c-section, be sure to discuss all of the risks and options you may or may not have with your doctor and do your own research so that you feel prepared for any outcome!