How to care for wounds after cesarean section

During the birth of a child, many pregnant mothers are afraid of natural childbirth, worrying that they will experience severe pain or dystocia during the birth process, so they choose cesarean section. Some pregnant mothers sometimes have to choose cesarean section due to some special reasons. After a cesarean section, the pregnant mother's abdomen will be left with a large wound, so postpartum care must be done with great care. Some new mothers said that the cesarean section wound area sometimes hurts or itches after many years. In fact, this is due to skin sensitivity caused by the failure of the wound to recover well. In order to avoid such situations, postpartum wound care requires attention to many details.

1. Initial wound care

First of all, avoid getting water on the wound. The mother's physical condition is weaker after giving birth, and her resistance is also lower. If the wound is infected with bacteria, it may cause infection. Therefore, try to avoid water stains on the wound when washing the body. After a cesarean section, the doctor usually covers the mother's wound with a bandage to keep the wound dry. Before the mother is discharged from the hospital, the doctor will instruct them on how to change the bandage and ensure that the wound is properly cleaned and treated. The incision wound needs to be kept dry to prevent exudate or secretions from entering the incision and causing infection. If there is secretion or exudate, it is recommended to wipe it with clean gauze or cotton, avoid rubbing the incision, and if there is corruption in the wound, it needs to be washed with saline or antibiotic water.

2. Maintain good personal hygiene

After a cesarean section, mothers need to maintain good personal hygiene, especially around the wound. Proper cleaning around the wound can reduce the chance of bacterial infection. Within two weeks after surgery, new mothers can bathe with a wet towel, and must not bathe in a tub until the lochia is completely drained. In addition, avoid sharing towels, bath towels, and toiletries with newborns. If you find signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, fever, or a lot of exudate around the wound, you should seek medical treatment in time.

3. Stay away from irritants

Mothers who have undergone cesarean section should avoid using soaps, shower gels, and skin care products with fragrances or other chemical ingredients. These substances can irritate the skin and may cause wound infection. Gentle, fragrance-free care products should be used. In addition, it is recommended to avoid wearing tight, tight clothing, or waist belts to avoid friction and irritation on the wound.

4. Eat a healthy diet and increase nutrition

After giving birth, the mother's body consumes a lot of physical energy. Therefore, new mothers need to replenish energy in time after delivery. Try to eat light food after delivery, which will not only replenish nutrition but also help the recovery of wounds. However, it should be noted that within one week after delivery, new mothers should not immediately consume a large amount of protein food, and should also avoid consuming fermented food, eggs, milk, etc., because these foods are easy to cause flatulence and are not conducive to physical recovery. After one week, new mothers can gradually increase the intake of fresh milk, chicken, meat and fish to promote the repair of tissues and organs. It is best to avoid irritating foods such as coffee, tea, wine and chili.

5. Be careful not to scratch the wound during the scab period:

During the wound healing process, you will feel itchy, which makes you want to scratch. However, excessive force may cause the scab to fall off. For mothers who have undergone caesarean section, although the surface looks like a scab, the inside may not have healed completely. Therefore, forcibly peeling off the scab may cause secondary damage, which may not only cause infection, but also affect the normal recovery of the wound. Therefore, be careful not to scratch the wound during the scab period.

6. Take some rest after returning home

After returning home, mothers should rest as much as possible, but also get up and walk around regularly. Moderate walking can promote postoperative recovery and help prevent complications such as blood clots, as long as you don't overdo it. You can start slowly in the early stages and gradually increase your activity to promote blood circulation and speed up recovery, but be careful not to over-fatigue yourself. You should gradually increase your activity based on your physical condition and the doctor's advice. If you have any discomfort or questions, you should consult a doctor in a timely manner.

In summary, the key points of cesarean section wound care include keeping dry, good personal hygiene, avoiding irritation of the wound, replenishing adequate water and nutrition, etc. Recovery after cesarean section takes time, but with proper care and the guidance of a doctor, it can be recovered quickly and effectively.

Warm reminder: When you are discharged from the hospital, the doctor will put a dressing pack on the new mother's wound. This dressing pack can only be kept for a maximum of 3 days, and it must be torn off at that time. Some new mothers may worry that the wound will be exposed and cause friction, but in fact, just wear the maternity underwear you wore before giving birth to cover the wound. In addition, most wounds are now sutured with catgut. If the thread ends are exposed, please do not use scissors to cut the thread ends yourself, and do not try to pull out the thread ends. Let the doctor solve this problem while waiting for the postpartum review. (Li Jianxiang, Luquan People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang)