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Obviously Doctors are misinformed about the seriousness of c-sections, and if they know the seriousness, then they are withholding information from their patients that could utimately change their patient's lives. I am in awe that not one person here was informed about the possibilities of what could happen during recovery from a c-section. I have written my story before and now my daugther is 8 months old and I still have a hole in the incision. I absolutely will not have anyone operate in that area again! I pray that every lady here will ultimately be healed. My ob knows my stance on the subject and is not happy to hear from me...I feel that the physicians here did a horrible job of informing their patients and each of them are lacking in knowledge when it comes to c-section procedures and recovery. It goes beyond my comprehension that doctors will st_tch minor cuts to keep infection out and to promote healing and will warn of not taking care of gaping holes on arms, legs etc....but that not one physician in this case seems the least little bit concerned about the gaping holes that are in each of our abdomens! That only proves to me that they simply do not have the knowledge they should when it comes to c-sections. There needs to be some serious look into the way doctors freely provide the service of a c-section. Maybe each person considering one should talk to each of us beforehand so they could at least make an imformed decision. Good luck to each of you. I hope that you will all heal as quickly as possible.

Well I have had this thing packed and covered several times over. My husband can see it but because of my stretched skin I can't but both he and the doctor promise me that it looks better. Depending on how it looks Tuesday when I go back in she said she may numb it and sew it shut again. She said it may still take some time to heal (longer than usual) but pulled together now that its come this far it may work and the fluid can still escape. Calcium Alginate that they use to pack with smells foul after its been in there but that means its working as it turns the serous fluid and blood to a thicker substance and forces it out as it makes more. I understand that this is more common in second sections as we are more likely to have the pannus or overhang of skin that pulls on the incision which inhibits healing as well. Personally they did list infection and incision problems in my consent form but I didnt expect anything like this. A friend of mine has a wound on his back from a surgery that he has to go to a wound clinic for so I suppose it can happen to anyone. If they had just left my incision shut and didn't reopen it I would have an infection or worse sooner or later. I do wish I had known about this specific complication in detail as it is so common. It would not have mattered though I had to have a c section. My first pregnancy with attempted miserable labor led me to a son with brain damage and myself I had a hemmorage in my pituitary gland. I still had a c section last time but it was to late to save my son from a lifetime of physical therapy etc. To labor again was simply to risky. But my doctor seemed a little disgusted that the What to Expect When Your Expecting book only gives this complication one line. Soon I hope barring no complications I can stop wearing pads across my incision over the plastic they cover it with to catch the ooze that escapes. Soon I can stop worrying that I look like I am wearing a diaper. And soon I will stop feeling disgusting and gross. And soon I won't cry when my husband kisses me because I am so revolting. My husband of course has been supportive but for my already damaged self esteem with my already damaged body I really didn't need this.

By the way the reason my doctor didnt do a c section sooner with my first son was because it was major surgery and he didn't want to rush it. For those of you that your doctor went with the c section to be safe instead of wait and see be grateful. My son has Cerebral Palsy and at nearly two can not sit up, crawl, walk, talk, or feed himself. He is developmentally over a year behind and thats with intensive therapy. I will take this nasty seroma and a bit of suffering over that any day. My second child came out perfect without complications.

Ok so today I didnt get it closed up but I was told its half the size it was when we started. There is some redness and a sore area to the side but not on the incision. Doc thinks its from the repet_tive taping over the area so essentially tape burn. But just in case she is wrong she gave me antibiotics in case an infection is trying to take hold. She also gave me an ointment. The calcium alginate is really working to get the fluid out but I am so sick of the smell now. I am finding this a bit depressing but I voiced that to the doctor and she said its understandable and normal to feel that way. She said think of it like I could be telling you its worse or it looks bad or something like that. The first time I really saw it in the mirror I cried so its a bit of a comfort to know that this is normal so to speak.

Megan, You are not alone with your feelings. Mine went on so long that my nerves got so bad. Everyday when I went to get packed my blood presure would get high. If you get more drainage make them do a culture to see if it's resistant to any antibotics. I am so happy yours is healing.

Seems to me that I am almost healed. One hole has totally closed and the other is almost there. Now, hopefully they stay closed and don't reopen like last time. Hang in there girls... it's just takes a while....

I had a similiar experience to Darlene. It is now 10/18/15 and my son was born 05/25/05. My incision busted open one week after I had my son. The doctor did not remove any staples, st_tches, or steri strips. The dermabond was not applied either. I was continuiously going to the doctor's office to have it packed. It burned, it hurt really bad. The odor of the incision was horrible. I experienced two infections. I had to cancel a Florida trip because of all of the visits. My doctor finally did what he called a "Scar Revision" on 09/22/05. I am currently still healing. I believe it was medical negligience, I just need someone to help me with how to prove it. If anyone can provide any information for me please leave it in here.

I would start by getting all of your medical records from the hospital and from the doctors office. Keep a date book with everything that happened.

Heather, unfortunately since you had to sign a paper accepting the risks of a c section you may not have much of a case unless you can make a case the risks were not explained to you. Most malpractice lawyers will investigate a case without money out of pocket until you collect then its something like 1/3 plus fees (pretty standard) they can tell you if you have a case and get your records collected and examined by a doctor. If you are claiming they did not close properly which led to the opening and continued pain and suffering and they can find something to help back you up then you may have a real case. It is a good idea to keep a log. My son as I mentioned before received brain damage because of a doctor unwilling to do a c section soon enough. My sons lawyer asks for me to keep a log as well. Good luck...start the log and look for a lawyer. (Take a picture of the revision while it is still fresh if you can)

You need to get another opinion immediately. This happened to me. I had my son on 8/31/2004 and am still having complications because my doctor sent me away!!!

You should call the law doctors. They are lawyers, but they are also medical doctors and can read reports and x-rays etc... they are always advertised on television. Atleast see what they have to say about your case. If they don't think you have a chance, they will tell you or won't take on the case. In my case, my doctor kept tellling me that I didn't have an infection, when I really did. I figured out, he was trying to cover his b___t because he a__sisted in the c-section. They are very slick. You have to be your own doctor sometimes. I got a second and third opinion to find out that I did have a very bad infection between my uterus and my incision. My skin looked like a monster was inside there trying to get out. When I first went to the doctor she told me my skin was probably purple because of my underwear rubbing. What an idiot... needless to say, I never went back to her! I never pursued a case because I am just thankful to be almost back to normal.

Isn't it horrible when you have something wrong! YOU should be able to trust your doctor that they will take care of you only to find out that not all of them care.

Megan, I am so sorry that the results of a doctors bad call cost you and your family and most of all your son. Thanks for all the information. The best luck to you and your family.

i am so disgusted with this my daughter is now 6 months im still open still seeing a wound care specialist and now they want to do a skin graft taking it from my thigh like i dont have enough scaring i really am sick of the medical bills the dr visits and worst of all my my ob hasnt even been seeing me and all the other drs pa__s me off and im stuck with a plastic surgeon and a wound specialist who think that the skin graft might not take and that it could be a year before i heal all the way and all i can think is why?????shouldnt there be a open knowledge of this they warn you more about the anestheia than about serious infection and wound opening???i have just been on a road of complete aggrivation and has been emotionaly and finacially and physically hindering our lives i hope this is all over soon

Good luck to all of you-- I has my son is Feb.05 and my incision opened- 9 1/2cm to the right, 6 1/2cm to left and 5cm deep- it took almost 3months to heal, packing everyday, by RN then my husband, i never thought I would heal-now i am completely healed and can do anything, i dont worry anymore about my incision, (at first i didnt think i would ever be able to do activities involving stomach muscles) So there is hope, I know where all of you are and i feel your pain--but it will get better.

good luck