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C-Section wound closure improves with Glove change by Doctor

May 10, 2017 by Christina Hemming Leave a Comment

I read an article yesterday based on a study in a Minnesota Hospital over a period of a year which clearly shows that a simple glove change by all attending Doctors and nurses in the operating room reduces skin separation and improves wound healing! Clearly old habits of using the same gloves to open the body, do the surgery and then close the body needs to be changed right away.

Imagine you don’t need a wound vac, or wound infections, or large scars because your Dr changed his/her gloves prior to closing your incision post C-Section, or any abdominal surgery, like hysterectomy’s, appendectomy’s, etc. Once the gloves have touched the intestines, bladder or other areas, bacteria spreads from those parts, and are directly deposited on internal organs and skin layers by the Dr using the same gloves!

Skin separation is the main observation that was noted to decrease with the change of gloves. So if you don’t want to have problems with your incision and scar, request from your Dr that they change their gloves mid surgery when closing up your abdominal cavity. Ladies and Gentlemen, nothing could be easier and less expensive!

The study also found that irrigating the vagina with iodine prior to surgery helps decrease endometriosis! So bacteria ladies can really complicate surgery, ask your Dr to do the right thing, and use a hemostatic agent also to reduce cauterization (burning) of tissues to stop bleeding. You can find many useful tips on our site CSectionRecoveryKit.com . C Section Recovery Kit is here with all the latest news for your improved surgery, find us also on Facebook .

Increase Oxytocin with Touch

March 10, 2016 by Christina Hemming Leave a Comment

Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the body which plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, and during and after childbirth. It is released during the stretching of the cervix and uterus during a vaginal labor, and with stimulation of the nipples from breastfeeding. This helps with bonding with the baby, milk production, and during the birth itself, as it acts as a pain reliever

Oxytocin, commonly referred to as the “love hormone,” bonds you to your mate through physical touch, sexual activity, and orgasms. The large amount of oxytocin released during birth, and simply the profound experience itself, can add a special closeness to your partner. The way you see each other has also shifted. The connection with the baby the two of you have divinely created is a very intimate bond.

Use the healing time in the first few weeks after childbirth to be present and affectionate with your partner. Hold one another, kiss, gaze into each other’s eyes, and gently caress each other, valuing this new stage of life.

The oxytocin released in physical touch will increase your sexual drive, so you will be open to resuming sexual intimacy when your body is ready.

C-Sections Double Risk of Blood Clots

August 30, 2011 by C-Section Recovery admin 2 Comments

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently issued a new recommendation recently, following evidence that having a c-section nearly doubles the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or thromboembolism which result in blood clots and can be fatal. The recommendation is that women undergoing a c-section should have inflatable compression devices on their legs as a preventative measure to clots forming.

The potential for thromboembolism is common to all pregnant women and it’s potential is four times than women who are not pregnant due to slower blood flow and restrictions in the pelvis and legs. When pregnant women have blood clots they are usually VTE (venous thromboembolism), which mostly form within the deep veins of the leg. In the USA between 1991–1997 thrombotic embolism accounted for 327 of the 3201 maternal deaths.

In worst case scenarios a blood clot cuts of blood supply to a major organ and can prove fatal. Exacerbating factors for this condition are smoking, high blood pressure, smoking (hypertension) and obesity For women who fall into one of these, or other form of higher risk group such as those with a history of clotting, the ACOG advised they additionally receive anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medications, in addition to the inflatable compression devices.

The common symptoms of DVT are pain or swelling of the leg (more often the left leg). Other symptoms consist of tenderness, increased temperature, lower abdominal pain or a raised white cell count.
Blood clots could also dislodge and be carried to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism ( PE ), also potentially fatal, though rarely causing sudden death without warning. Symptoms of this condition include faintness, sudden shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, raised jugular venous pulse and signs or symptoms of DVT.

In a college news release Dr. Andra H. James, who helped develop the new guidelines, said,

“VTE [venous thromboembolism] is a major contributor to maternal mortality in this country. The risk of VTE is increased during pregnancy and the consequences can be severe.” She then added, “It’s important for ob-gyns to adopt these recommendations to help reduce maternal deaths.”

Dr James explained, “Fitting inflatable compression devices on a woman’s legs before cesarean delivery is a safe, potentially cost-effective preventive intervention…. Inflatable compression sleeves should be left in place until a woman is able to walk after delivery or—in women who had been on blood thinners during pregnancy—until anticoagulation medication is resumed.”

However, the authors of the report say delaying delivery in emergency C-sections for placement of the devices is inadvisable.

The authors also cautioned that all women who have undergone C-sections also need to be monitored for the development of VTE post delivery. James said,

“Because half of VTE-related maternal deaths occur during pregnancy and the rest during the postpartum period, ongoing patient assessment is imperative. While warning signs in some women may be evident early in pregnancy, others will develop symptoms that manifest later in pregnancy or after the baby is born.”

Cesarean contraindication for home birth ACOG says

January 26, 2011 by C-Section Recovery admin Leave a Comment

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a Committee Opinion that says that a prior cesarean delivery is an absolute contraindication to planning a home birth due to the risks, including uterine rupture.

The statement says that although the absolute risk of planned home births is low, published medical evidence shows it does carry a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of newborn death compared with planned hospital births. A review of the data also found that planned home births among low risk women are associated with fewer medical interventions than planned hospital births.

Although The ACOG does not support planned home births given the published medical data, it emphasizes that women who decide to deliver at home should be offered standard components of prenatal care, including Group B Strep screening and treatment, genetic screening, and HIV screening.

It also is important for women thinking about a planned home birth to consider whether they are healthy and considered low-risk and to work with a Certified Nurse Midwife, Certified Midwife, or physician that practices in an integrated and regulated health system; have ready access to consultation; and have a plan for safe and quick transportation to a nearby hospital in the event of an emergency.

The recommendations state Women who want to try for a vaginal birth after cesarean are advised to do so only in a hospital where emergency care is immediately available. Attempting a home birth also is not advised for women who are post term (greater than 42 weeks gestation), carrying twins, or have a breech presentation because all carry a greater risk of perinatal death.

Committee Opinion #476, "Planned Home Birth," is published in the February 2011 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Source:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Dearmabond in C-Section Trials

January 10, 2011 by C-Section Recovery admin 8 Comments

Dermabond was approved by the FDA in 1998 and is currently one of the options for closing c-section incisions. Women are currently being recruited for trails to compare results between women who’s c-section incision was stapled with those closed using Dermabond. Another trail will compare c-section closures using staples and sutures (stitches).

Essentially Dermabond is a medical grade version of superglue. It dries very fast (10 seconds) and forms a strong waterproof bond.

As the morbidity associated with cesarean delivery, usually results from wound complications, especially infection, and with c-sections accounting for one in every three births in the US, knowing which method of incision closure is most effective is paramount.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that Dermabond works well when used to close c-section incisions. Many women report infection free recovery and small, even scar healing. Sadly in instances of emergency c-section, there is no prior consultation about the method used for closing the incision. When the c-section is elective, we recommend talking to your caregiver about the options available.

One of Dermabond’s advantages is that it seals the incision to both air and water. This allows for immediate bathing and importantly prevents infection-causing bacteria access to wound. At least it does as long as the seal remains intact. Care must still be taken after delivery in regard to physical activity, especially the first 2 weeks. This will itself alleviate potential for the glues seal breaking.

Another advantage over staples and non dissolving stitches, is there is nothing to remove later. The glue will simply break down and fall off by the time it’s job is completely done and the incision has healed. You will though be cleaning up bits of glue from your bed and clothes when this happens!

Another issue that can effect the integrity of the wounds sealing, is the potential for itching. In some cases there can be an allergic reaction to Dermabond, particularly if there is allergy to cyanoacetate and formaldehyde which are the main components of Dermabond. In any case a healing wound usually becomes itchy. If this results in picking or scratching, the glues seal can be broken and the wound itself re-opened.