Worried First Time Mommy

I would call my OB and talk to her to describe it. I'm actually concerned that you took the steristrips off too soon. My doctor told me not to take them off at all. To leave them on until they fell off, which wasn't until more than a week after the c-section.

Some oozing is normal. Anything concerning to you is worth a call, to your doc office. They may prescribe an antibiotic.

call the hospital and ask for one of the nurses in labor and delivery or postpartum care. Ask them what they think. Explain that you were a patient and were recently released. they may be able to tell you if it is normal, if you need to follow up with your doctor on monday or if you need immediate attention. Many insurance companies also have a free nurse line that you can call. Congratulations on your new baby!

A little oozing in the areas that are healing is normal. Try to keep moisture away from that area, you could cover it with some sterile gauze. Are your stitches supposed to be the dissolving kind or do you have an appointment with the Drs office to have them removed? I wouldn't be overly concerned about the stitches poking out, but a phone call to the office on Monday might be a good idea just to put your mind at ease.

Take Care,

M

With my 3rd c-section I did have one area that was a bit puckered, and also wasn't really bleeding or oozing. I also had a few ends of the stitches sticking out on the other end. I just kept an eye on it, and they all eventually healed normally.

I've had 3 abdominal surgeries and experienced this sort of thing with all 3. No need to put gauze over the area. It may mean that the stitches weren't done as tightly as at the other end. It's not a problem even if there is a bit of oozing. I've had that, too.

I had stitches coming to the surface for months after one of the surgeries. They were supposed to dissolve but worked their way to the surface as they were doing that. I just pulled them the rest of the way out. If they are hard to tug, then just leave them alone. They will eventually loosen up.

It will take months before it starts to fade. After a couple of years one of my scars was barely visible. The last two are still red after several years. The difference, I suspect, was my age at the time of surgery. We heal more quickly when we're young.

I've tried Vitamin E and saw no difference between the time I used it and the next time when I didn't.

Steri strips are usually left on until they wear off or come off. When the edges curl up, you can trim them, but should stay on at least a week as it helps support the underlying sutures and incision. The small amount of drainage on the gauze probably isn't abnormal, usually a slightly beige color, as long as it does not look like pus or have an odor.
The clear stitches you are seeing are probably absorbable sutures that usually disappear, but occasionally will come to the surface and sometimes need to be removed, if they don't absorb. Absorbable sutures that don't absorb can be annoying and catch on clothing or become itchy. Some plastic surgeons, I know, recommend using vitamin E on the incision to help keep it soft and decrease scarring. Vitamin E capsules can be punctured and the oil will drop out to spread on a healed (not open) incision.
Have your OB look at it on your follow up appt at your two week check if not before.

Thanks everyone. The steri strips i did have on for a week because that was doctors orders. About how long does it take for my scar to look like its fading a little?

Updated

Ok...thank you! It just looks open thats why i kept gauze on it to mak sure nothng got in there. As far as thr bleeding and wonderful pads...how long did everyones bleeding last?