Is it normal for c section incision to bleed

Keep it clean during the initial C-section scar healing period to prevent infection. Avoid heavy lifting, housework, or any big movements that might stretch or irritate the scar for the first six weeks. After about six weeks, your C-section scar will be healed—meaning you'll likely be able to resume all regular activity without disturbing it. And although the integrity of the scar may be intact, you may still note that it has turned a reddish-purpleish color.

Don't worry, that's completely normal. The color will persist for about six months before fading to a less noticeable whitish line, says Dr. In less common cases, your scar may have a raised characteristic, known as a keloid. Doctors aren't sure what causes keloid C-section scars, "but there is obviously a hyper reaction to the healing process that causes the scar to grow outside its original boundaries," says Dr.

Some physicians attempt to counter the effect by injecting cesarean wounds with a steroid called Kenalog at the time of surgery, but the results are mixed—as are treatments such as lasers and injections of interferon. You may be eager to try vitamin E or over-the-counter creams like cocoa butter in an effort to reduce the appearance of your C-section scar. Go for it, but manage your expectations. Gala, M. You should also be mindful to avoid certain cosmetic creams if you're nursing.

It's almost always strong enough to withstand the stretching of another pregnancy and pressure of contractions. In very rare cases, however, the scar can tear. This is more common but still rare with vertical incisions than horizontal ones, which is one of the reasons vertical incisions aren't done very often. If the C-section scar tears, called uterine rupture, it causes massive bleeding hemorrhage and is a life-threatening emergency for both the mother and baby.

Insurance providers won't cover them—or make it crazy-expensive—if they do VBACs. Usually none, once it has healed properly. In some cases though, your C-section scar changes the way the placenta grows in the next pregnancy. The more C-sections she has, the greater a woman's risk. Women who have a scar on their uterus are more likely to develop placenta previa , characterized by the placenta growing over the opening to her cervix. There's no way to safely deliver a baby vaginally if there's a placenta in the way.

Placenta previa is associated with increased risk for serious bleeding, shock, blood transfusions, and hysterectomies. Placenta accreta is also more common in a scarred uterus. Placenta accreta also makes it difficult for the placenta to separate from the uterine wall after birth and can cause hemorrhage. In rare cases, when doctors have a really tough time separating the placenta from the uterine wall, they just have to take out the uterus.

Massages can reduce C-section scar tissue formation and can help ensure a smooth, flat, pain-free, and supple scar, says Leslie Lo, DPT, a women's health physical therapist at Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago. Have sex until your doctor says you can.

Be afraid to ask for help. That might mean asking friends and family to watch the baby while you nap, or having them do laundry. Take the stairs repeatedly. Soak in public pools or hot tubs.

Do: Drink enough water and other fluids. Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Take a fiber supplement daily. Ask your doctor when you can start trying to lose the baby weight. This care should include: Do: Keeping the area dry and clean. Use warm, soapy water to wash your incision daily usually when you shower. Pat the area dry after cleaning. If your doctor used tape strips on your incision, let them fall off on their own.

This usually takes about a week. Some bruising around the wound is common. Numbness or itching around the wound is common too. This can last a long time in some women.

If you see any signs of infection around your wound, see your doctor or midwife straight away. Signs of infection include pain, swelling, smelly discharge or the wound coming apart.

The skin around the wound might also look red on lighter skin, or brown, purple or grey on darker skin. Family, friends and other people will also probably appreciate you telling them exactly what you need.

If you feel you need other support at home — for example, with breastfeeding — talk with your doctor, midwife or child and family health nurse. If your other children are used to being picked up, there are other ways for you to be close. For example, your toddler could sit next to you on the couch while you have a cuddle and read a story together.

Driving Doctors usually recommend that you avoid driving a car until your caesarean wound has healed and you can brake suddenly without feeling sharp pain. This is usually around weeks. A gentle walk each day can help your body and your mind feel better. You could start with 5 minutes walking around your home. You might like to ask a physiotherapist at the hospital to give you some other good exercise ideas as you start to recover.

In general, your incision was likely made across the top of your pubic hairline. Because this area sometimes falls under a fold of skin from where the previously pregnant uterus was, it requires special care. The most important thing that you can do to avoid infection of the wound is to keep it as dry as possible. You may shower, but please do not scrub the incision with soap of any kind; simply allow the warm shower water to run over the area.

Once you are finished bathing, please blot the area of the incision; and, if not completely dry, use a hair dryer on the cool setting to ensure the area is completely dry. If you find that your incision falls underneath a fold of skin and accumulates some sweat, it is a good idea to place a maxi pad over the incision and change it frequently.

Your incision may leak a small amount of clear or bloody fluid in the first few days after delivery, this is normal. However, leaking of pus, redness around the incision, fever or opening of the wound, may indicate infection and we would like you to call us right away.

Incisions are generally closed in 3 ways: stitches, steel staples or resorbable staples. If you have staples you can see externally, we need to see you back days after surgery to take them out. If you cannot see any staples, we need to see you back in 2 weeks to check on your incision. Most women will develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy and delivery, even without pushing.

A lot of hemorrhoids will resolve on their own as your body recovers from deliveryCare of hemorrhoids can be accomplished with use of witch hazel pads, dermoplast, and over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatments.

Cleansing your bottom with water after a bowel movement and blotting to dry will alleviate a great deal of discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. Shortly after your discharge from the hospital, you likely will notice your breasts becoming sore, tender and hard.

This is engorgement, or your breasts filling with milk. Engorgement is a normal process that provides milk for your baby. Using a hand held pump before latching your baby on to the breast can help relieve some of the discomfort. You can also hand express a small amount of milk while in the shower to relieve some of the pressure. The amount of milk you produce will eventually match up to the amount of milk your baby drinks, but it may take a few weeks for you and your new baby to reach this balance.

Motrin is also a good choice for management of breast discomfort caused by engorgement. You may also find that your nipples are painful at the time of latching, this is normal.