Thread: Question about c-section suture

C-section mamas (or Carolyn--I think you work in surgery?) I have a weird question:

I took the mesh tape off of my incision today (w/Dr.'s approval, as it wasn't coming off on its own) and there was a suture coming out of my skin (about 1/2" in length) at the end of my incision. I called L&D since my dr's office was already closed and they spoke to my dr. and said it was ok to snip it off close to the skin. Well, by the time I got around to doing it, it had worked its way back into my skin, so there is nothing to cut off. This has freaked me right out. I called L&D back and the super nice nurse who I talked to the first time said this is perfectly ok, the suture will dissolve in 6-9 months. I am still a little paranoid about it though. Will it cause an infection, or puncture something in there? I should just stop worrying about it I guess.

ick! half an inch seems like a lot! I have no advice. I never had stitches like that. The first time I had these sticky tab things, the second time and this time I had internal stitches and durabond on top so I have no idea what I would do! I would probably call your ob tomorrow though just to confirm what the L&D nurse said!

I had staples so I don't really have any advice either, but it sounds like you should be okay. When they took my staples out they put steri strips on and just told me to leave them on until they start peeling off on their own, which they have just started doing a week later. I would just wait and see what happens and call if it starts feeling weird or hurting. It may work its way out again so you can try to snip it off.

owch! no advice from me either. I had the sticky tape w/no stitches.

Can you call your doctor's office tomorrow?

I have no formal advice to offer, but it seems that if your nurse says it's OK then you should be fine!

I should clarify- my incision was glued shut and then he put tape on top. This is an internal suture that was poking out at the end of my incision. It seems like it's pretty close to the skin. The nurse said that those sutures actually run along the length of my incision. I guess I am just unsure bc I really don't know what they did down there. Anyway, Thanks for the replies girls. I think I will just watch it and see if anything weird happens. I keep poking around down there to see if it is sore, lol. Guess I should stop doing that.

Is the stitch clear or blue?

Originally Posted by Carolyn85

Is the stitch clear or blue?

It is clear - it looks like fishing line, lol. I didn't know it was a suture until the nurse told me that's what it was.

I've never had a stitch poke out,
this time i have no staples- previously they did internal sutures and staples too- this time i have only sutures and they will dissolve in time.

I work at a vet clinic, we use the same sutures as the hospitals. This will happen the odd time to animals that have had c-sections or abdominal surgery. We just pull it firmly and trim it off.

If your nurse tells you it's ok then go ahead- if you are worried then go into your Dr and they can check and trim it or you.

Generally we say 6-8 weeks for the sutures to dissolve.

The clear stitches used to close skin, monocril, are usually gone in two weeks. There is a stitch called PDS that occasionally comes in clear, although its usually blue, used to close deep layers. It's more likely that you popped a skin stitch. Monocril typically disolves quickly. It's not uncommon for them to pop through especially if they left the tail long. It's freaky, buy nothing to worry about, you aren't coming undone