MemorialCare - Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care

After Cesarean Birth

After a cesarean birth, it’s important to know how to care for your surgical incision and protection dressing and how to manage other physical changes as your body recovers.

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WOUND CLOSURE After cesarean birth, your abdominal incision will be closed using staples, stitches, sterile strips, or surgical glue.

INCISION CLOSURE OPTIONS

Type

Description

Shower Guidelines

• Removed at hospital or provider’s office • Replaced by wound-closure (sterile) strips

Staples

Pat dry

Stitches

• Dissolve on their own in 10 to 14 days

Pat dry

• Dry up and fall off in 7 to 10 days • Don’t pull off unless very loose in shower

Wound-closure strips

Fully air dry after showering

• Dries up, flakes off in first 2 weeks • Don’t scratch, rub, or pick at glue

Surgical glue

Fully air dry after showering

DRESSING OPTIONS

Sterile

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

If you are at increased risk of developing an infection, you may be given a negative pressure wound therapy dressing. This special type of wound covering uses a vacuum to create negative pressure on the incision. What to know • Small battery pump in dressing wicks away moisture to keep incision dry • A negative pressure wound therapy dressing typically stays on for about 7 days • Battery pack can be removed to shower, then reattached after it dries

After closing the incision, your care team may cover it with a sterile dressing (bandage) to keep the area clean and dry as it heals. This also protects the incision from contact with your clothing. What to know • Most hospitals use a waterproof, breathable adhesive dressing to create a warm, moist healing environment • Your care team will tell you how long to keep dressing in place • You will be shown how to care for incision after dressing comes off

9 Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care