C/S recovery question

[rupertpenny]

I had a C/S Saturday morning and I don’t know how to clean myself.

Staff at the hospital was not super helpful. They said not to get the wound wet and to just rinse of my legs and undercarriage and go to a salon to have my hair washed. Traditionally bathing is not encouraged and washing hair is forbidden for 30 days after birth so this is really liberal advice I think.

Anyway, I got home today and did wash my lower body, scrubbed my armpits with a washcloth, and leaned over the tub to wash my hair. This was not easy and I am still absolutely covered with medical tape residue. I don’t have another appointment until Thursday so I might just have to stay dirty.

Anyway, how soon did you shower post C/S? And how do you get rid of all the tape residue? Last time I had a vaginal birth and I think I just soaked it off in the bath.

[Deleted]

I showered 3.5 days after. Apparently I was allowed to before then but nobody told me. From that point, I showered regularly but used a maxi pad afterwards to help get the incision really dry. But this may vary based on how the incision was closed. And I don’t recall having any tape residue. Is the hair washing thing cultural? I have never heard that.

[kkfeb04]

I showered within 36 hours after both c/s, I needed it to feel normal. H did help me. I was at normal shower routine when I got home but I'm not the norm, I was only on Advil in the hospital (I refused oxy and I don't do well on Percocet). I was also driving within a week after #2. My friend claimed she was told to do absolutely nothing including laundry which was on the same floor outside her bedroom for 3 months.

[isabel]

Huh? My doctor never said anything about not getting the wound wet. I had tape the first time and staples the second time. In both cases, she said not to scrub and just let soap/water run over the wound, pat dry with a towel (gently!).

I scrubbed at the tape residue on my legs from the get-go, but was much more cautious about anything around my belly until the tenderness went away.

I showered in the hospital both times and left after 36 hours the second time, if that gives you any indication about how quickly I showered after.

I really don’t understand why they would tell you not to shower unless they closed the incision in a weird way, maybe?

ETA: Seems like this advice may be cultural, not medical. If you want to take a shower, go ahead and take a shower. Don’t scrub around the incision until it gets less tender. The tape residue in that area is going to take awhile to come off.

[minionkevin]

I was told not to remove the tape for 7–10 days. I left it on for 10 days post hospital discharge which got me to close to 2 weeks. Then I gently removed the residue over the course of 2-3 days. I showered each day in the hospital except the day of my c/s. Once my catheter was removed 24h after kid2 was born, I was in the shower. The only thing I didn’t do was use super hot water the first few days bc I was trying to get my milk not to come in (FF). I washed my hair on it’s usual 2-3x/week schedule.

[lemoncupcake]

Both times I took a shower about 24-36 hours Post c/s - basically as soon as I was able to walk around comfortably/safely.

Can you get the tape residue off with some rubbing alcohol wipes? That’s what I used for the stickiest ones.

[minionkevin]

Jan 22, 2018 7:39:48 GMT -5 milsaroo said:

Can someone explain not washing hair for 30 days? Because I definitely showered at least once, but I think twice, while at the hospital. Homegirl was born on a Thursday and we went home Sunday. I had no issues, other than moving slowly. The residue stayed for maybe a week? I can’t remember but do know it was still sticky when I was home.

OP lives in Hong Kong IIRC.

[littlemisssunshine]

That is so strange. I showered (with the staff's permission) 36 hrs after c/s. They said don't scrub the incision, but just left the water flow over it. There was no tape residue that I can recall. I can't imagine not washing my hair for 30 days! Can you clarify with your ob at a follow up appointment? If it's cultural and not a medical reason I would would totally shower and wash my hair sooner!

[ewall]

I showered maybe 2 days post op? I was still in the hospital. My OB recommended antibacterial body wash so I used Dial and let the suds wash over the incision. Barely pat dry the general area and then hair dryer on low to fully dry incision and steristrips. Medical tape adhesive elsewhere on my body, I just kept washing each shower with the body wash until it completely came off.

[rupertpenny]

Yes, I live in Hong Kong and the hair washing is cultural. Not everyone does a full month long confinement with no shampoo, but this is the baseline from where advice is given.

I think I have real stitches because they said they would remove them on Thursday. There is some kind of tape covering them completely. And I had a pressure suture (?) thing over it the first day and that is what left a lot of stickyness. It is completely full of mesh panty fiber.

If I can’t handle it I’m going to just take a quick shower tomorrow. Based on what everyone is saying here it sounds like advice I got is definitely not universal. Not all of the hospital staff speak English well enough to to answer unusual questions. Medical advice is also very black or white and SUPER cautious. This won’t be the first time I’ve bent the rules.

[Blue Moon]

First of all, congratulations!

Second, I definitely took a shower ~ 48 hours after my csection, while I was still in the hospital both times. I had my H help me. The first time I had a ton of tape residue and then developed an allergy to the adhesive so I really had to get it off. I used a washcloth to buff as much of the sticky stuff off as possible. The second time I had staples only and recovery was a breeze.

[vtdiamond]

I also showered fairly soon after my c section. Surgery was Monday morning and I showered late afternoon on Tuesday. I just let the water and soap run over the incision and didn’t scrub. I made sure to keep in dry.

[rupertpenny]

@angryharpy did you use the pad to pat the incision try afterwards?

That would be one use for all the gigantic pads I stocked up on! I’m not bleeding like crazy this time. Silver linings I guess.

[VillainV]

I also showered within the first few days. If you have tape/steri strips over the incision it should be fine to get wet (don’t scrub or immerse), and let the steri strips fall off on their own. Reaching your hands above your head to wash your hair could be uncomfortable, but let pain be your guide on that one.

Also, for the love of all that is good in this world, take a stool softener like colace.

[kdubs923]

Jan 22, 2018 7:57:53 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

@angryharpy did you use the pad to pat the incision try afterwards?

That would be one use for all the gigantic pads I stocked up on! I’m not bleeding like crazy this time. Silver linings I guess.

Congratulations!!

I had scheduled csections both times, showered the next day once the IV was out (catheter stayed in 12 hrs, IV 24 hrs). Same advice as above, you can let the soap and water run over the area, no need to scrub at it, just gently pat dry.

I found the pad across the incision was comfortable for a few weeks to give a barrier between the incision and the waist band of my underwear/pants. Also, your bleeding might ramp up once you get home and are more active. I needed the gigantic pads for a couple weeks post cs.

[dcrunnergirl52]

Both times, I showered within 24-36 hours, while still at the hospital. The first time, the nurse stood in the bathroom while I did it to make sure I didn't fall. For my second c/s, DH was there but just in my room, not in the bathroom with me.

Like pp, the doctors were fine with getting it wet, but just said to let soap and water run down it and not scrub anything, so I didn't worry about the residue near my incision for a while. I pat it dry with a soft towel and let it air dry a bit before putting on mesh undies.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

I showered in the hospital before I left. They told me to soap my chest and upper stomach area and let the suds rinse down over the incision area. Then I would pay dry with a clean towel after my shower. I think I did that until my steri strips all came off.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

Oh yeah and I definitely did a pad across the incision area for the first 10-14 days I think. I was admittedly very nervous about the incision area because it was my first real surgery.

[icedcoffee]

I was encouraged to take a long hot shower and let the soapy warm water run over the incision. I was nervous, but it was fine. My tape didn't come off completely for almost a month.

Congrats!

ETA:  I realized you might mean medical tape residue on your hand and leg from IV and catheter?  If that's the case, I just picked at it for a few days, but rubbing on lotion should help get it off!

[patches31709]

If it's random tape residue and not over a wound, rubbing alcohol works well to get it off.

And congrats!!

[tigress]

Jan 22, 2018 7:24:02 GMT -5 minionkevin said:

I was told not to remove the tape for 7–10 days. I left it on for 10 days post hospital discharge which got me to close to 2 weeks. Then I gently removed the residue over the course of 2-3 days. I showered each day in the hospital except the day of my c/s. Once my catheter was removed 24h after kid2 was born, I was in the shower. The only thing I didn’t do was use super hot water the first few days bc I was trying to get my milk not to come in (FF). I washed my hair on it’s usual 2-3x/week schedule.

If I remember correctly this is how I was too. I remember showering the day after my c/s. I remember having tape on for like a week and then took it off. 

[rupertpenny]

Ok thanks everyone! Looking forward to my shower tomorrow haha.

[jennistarr1]

I showered in the hospital. I believe I had something waterproof over my incision.

I didn't know women had an undercarriage...I thought that was cars

I definitely washed my hair

LOL to a new mama who just had major surgery making it to the salon. The thought of leaning back all that way is making me cringe.

I hate giving advice just in case their directions are driven by something unusual in your case (or something different they do) but I say get in the shower and be careful

[hockeywife]

I showered as soon as I was allowed to stand on my own at the hospital. There were no restrictions aside from don't scrub the incision. I had staples, not stiches, if that makes a difference.

[Velar Fricative]

No advice but congratulations!!

[konapoppy]

Glad you are going to shower tomorrow! My vote is this is cultural carryover from China. My Chinese American friends don’t wait the full 30 days like their moms want them to. They also leave the house before then.

[hamster]

I showered most days in the hospital. Wet was fine, just no touching/scrubbing the wound. Can't remember for how long, but my strips came off around 2 weeks so I probably waited until then.

[krystee]

I just had a c-section and showered the next morning. They told me I can let water run over it, but don't actively wash the incision area. I put a dry wash cloth or a pad over it to get all moisture out of the area after the shower (but I am fat, so it is under my stomach pooch).

I have been pleasantly surprised by how good it looks in such a short time!

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2018 7:57:53 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

@angryharpy did you use the pad to pat the incision try afterwards?

That would be one use for all the gigantic pads I stocked up on! I’m not bleeding like crazy this time. Silver linings I guess.

Yes. I would shower, dry off everywhere but the incision, and then hold a pad against it for a minute or two. I didn't leave it on under my clothes, just used it in lieu of a towel. (Instructions say to use a freshly laundered towel to dry off the incision...LOL, OK, sure, I'll just run out and wash my towels every two days. I thought a new pad each time was a good solution to that.)

[vmars]

They told me to wash as normal but just let the soap and water wash over th incision aka don’t scrub that part (not like you would want to anyways). I also used a panty liner inside the underwear over my incision in case of any blood or whatever.