C-Section incisional pain

yadda_yadda_yadda, LPN, LVN · Oct 10, 2006

I don't work Labor/Delivery or Post-Partum care, but delivered both of my kids by C-Section...I know that I'd have been miserable without the 'turn-cough-deep breathe' routine.---Also, "splinting the abdomen" with a fluffy pillow.

After I went home, I used a heating pad on the lowest setting...and made sure to take Simethicone regularly to prevent getting bloated/gassy, and creating any more pressure/pulling on my belly than there already was from being larger than normal.

If I was bothered more by itching, moreso than actual pain, I'd rub some 'Mother's Friend' lotion as close to the actual incision-site (without getting any directly on it) as I could.

Those staples are annoying things, and if the new Mom doesn't splint with a pillow while repositioning, they can cause some 'tugging' discomfort.

Again, I'm not a 'Mother/Baby-Nurse'....so my input is from having been the patient in this case...and I've got the utmost respect for OB/GYN & Mother-Baby nurses :loveya: for ALL you do!

flytern · Oct 11, 2006

Even though it seems logical to give pain meds, they slow the bowels down, cause gas/constipation, increasing abd pains. Wearing abdominal binder while up and moving, k-pad to abd, getting them up and moving all work. Along with the turn/cough/breathe.

:balloons:

MIA-RN1, RN · Oct 12, 2006

warm packs, deep breathing, visualization.

The staples sometimes get stuck on the mesh hospital panties and tug, in that case I'll put a pad between the staples and the panties. Sometimes a pubic hair will get stuck under a staple too, ouch! I cut it if I find it.

Also when walking/coughing I have her splint the incision with a folded up blanket (firmer than a piillow) and then gently push upwards while coughing.

Simethicone and colace to ease bowel distention/discomfort.

Increasing pain, and localized pain need to be evaluated tho for possible dehisc or infection.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 12, 2006

Also, "splinting the abdomen" with a fluffy pillow.

I second this one. And it amazed/amazes me that i saw so many pts. when i was an aide, who had big abdomical incisions, and no one had taught them to 'splint' their abdomen when coughing, and they were 2 days post-op.