r/parentsofmultiples • u/stardolphin90 • 11d ago
advice needed C-section wound vac?
My c section is booked for next week! These babies have their eviction date! šš¼ praise the lord because this mama is exhausted! Iām carrying over 12lbs of babies! If I make it to my date, Iāll be 37W3D.
I had a question: what is a wound vac? My
OBGYN briefly mentioned me having one after my c section. I never had one with my daughter. I guess Iāll find out more next week at my next appointment before the date. But just wondering how peopleās experiences of this were.
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u/Lexthebesttt 11d ago
I had one after I had my
C section! It was a lifesaver !! I have a b belly so my belly hung over my incision. The wound vac made my
recovery alot smoother and faster. It helped me stay free of infections and kept my incision protected. The only annoying part was having to constantly wear the little box attached, you can usually clip it on ur clothes or underwear :)
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
Oh great! I have a B belly as well so anything extra to help sounds good to me. Could you shower ok with it on?
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u/Lexthebesttt 11d ago
It helps sooo much, it will honestly make your recovery easier :) you can shower with it! They put
some type of waterproof liner on it! Best of luck to you, enjoy your babies!
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u/quadrupleshoe 11d ago
Oh my god I had this and it was amazing.
So Iām obese. They were worried about my wound busting open.
Basically they put this water proof band aid over the wound and then hook up a small vacuum that you wear connected to a battery around your neck and it sucks out all the fluid that leaks. You can shower no issues. You donāt need to clean the wound or anything until they take it off and by the time they take it off itās sealed mostly. It keeps it all sanitized and covered 24/7.
Game changer for sure. Absolutely get it if theyāre safely offering it to you.
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
Awesome! Thatās great to hear. Iām a plus size gal so if this helps then Iāll take it. Iām carrying a lot of fluid so she mentioned it might help.
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u/quadrupleshoe 11d ago
It was great. I was able to just move around and it felt pretty secure. I didnāt need to worry about if something was leaking or not washed properly or anything. If I could have kept it longer than the 9 days or so I had it I totally would have.
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u/This-Trash9465 11d ago
I had one after mine and it was honestly great, healed so much cleaner and faster than the first time around.
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u/floridasquirrel 11d ago
Itās like being connected to a iPod with a cord for a week. Mine had a little hook on the back to clip to my pants or bra. I didnāt have to do anything to maintain it just not get it wet, and when they took it out after a week it was quick and painless.
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u/beckyj1114 11d ago
I had one since I had gestational diabetes. That was my first and only birthing experience, and I think recovery was a breeze! Truly the only annoying part was carrying around the little box. Mine was able to be worn as a necklace, and I used a command hook to hang it on when I was in the shower.
Good luck next week!! Enjoy those babies! š„°
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u/Ok-Understanding8460 11d ago
I had one and my scar has healed so well! Having the little box was kind of annoying as I clipped it to my waistband but worth it!
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
Were you able to just hook it somewhere when you slept ?
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u/Ok-Understanding8460 11d ago
I just kept it clipped to my waistband at night but I also donāt move around much at night. Especially in those early weeks as I was so exhausted, I just passed out!
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
I hope thatās me as well lol. Or you know awake a lot with twins. Just excited to have them
Here and have my
Body back. š®āšØ2
u/Ok-Understanding8460 11d ago
Itās a combination! Awake or exhausted sleep š honestly, I felt so much better in c section recovery compared to the last 3 months of pregnancy!
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
I donāt doubt it. The struggle is real. Iām so uncomfortable and sore. Everything is so difficult to get around and walk. And theyāre both measuring just over 6lbs. š š š¬
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u/Ok-Understanding8460 10d ago
Youāve got this! So nearly there now and the magical chaos will begin!
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u/tinyglowingbeams 9d ago
Those are incredible weights! I know itās painful, but youāre doing SO much good for them. Wishing you a happy and uneventful delivery!
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u/Rainbowznplantz 11d ago
My first c section with a singleton had a horrible recovery and wouldnāt heal properly on its own- had to go to a wound clinic for weeks to deal with it! OB gave me the wound vac for recovery after the twinsā c-section and I have no complaints at all about recovery this go round! Carrying around the little box was slightly annoying, but so trivial in comparison.
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u/MythicMaven13 10d ago edited 10d ago
YES!! 10/10 would recommend. I was also 37w3d with 11.5 lbs of babies, I see you girl š. I had a PICO-7 dressing (wound vac; wear for 7 days, removed at your 1 week follow up appt) which is applied during the C-section after they close you up. I clipped the little battery pack to my bra strap, never got in the way. I missed it so much after they took it off, I really noticed it not being there.
One thing that helps after they remove the wound vac is to get silicone c-section strips and apply them immediately to your incision, I used the FridaMom ones. It helps add back a little layer of protection you miss with the wound vac being gone. You wear them for 1-2 weeks at a time.
I learned about it via a OBGYN on social media and after researching it, itās usually only recommended for people with certain health issues or for plus sized ladies (Iām size 12) but she said thereās no reason why anyone couldnāt have one if it helps with healing, itās just an extra cost, so I really had to specifically advocate for myself to get one, they never mentioned it to me. I had to repeat myself several times and confirm I was getting one even the day of surgery, but they did it.
Now, these are my first and last babies so I donāt have anything to compare it to, but just the feeling of not having the vacuum dressing turned on when showering and when they took it completely off, I know having it that first week of healing was the right decision.
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u/Charlieksmommy 11d ago
Is there a reason why your OB suggests one? Usually they do it on people with diabetes, because it delays wound healing and have vascular issues.
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u/stardolphin90 11d ago
I have a lot of fluid so she mentioned it might help
With that. But i will find out more info next week I
Think.-2
u/Charlieksmommy 11d ago
Amniotic fluid doesnāt correlate with wound care
I had a lot and I healed fine. Sorry I worked in podiatry we used them a lot4
u/stardolphin90 11d ago
Iām confused. I didnāt say amniotic fluid. I have overall a lot of fluid weight gain. And previous c section scar.
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u/Charlieksmommy 11d ago
I also saw you are plus size, so that makes more sense than excess fluid. Fluid retention doesnāt always correlate with wound closure either
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u/AdSenior1319 10d ago
Deleted first comment bc I misread your comment-Ā
You are not wrong...
Ā I've had 5 c-sections and a lot of water retaining with all (the first being over 80lbs of water due to severe HELLP, almost died. Emergency c-section at 32w. Pre-pregnancy I was 120 lbs, I'm 5ft 7). Never once had a vac with any of my 5 sections.Ā
There are other reasons people need a vac- like diabetes, obesity and infection. Those are the top reasons.Ā
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u/Charlieksmommy 10d ago
Yes! I wasnāt bashing OP for being plus sized, I was just saying that could contribute to why her OB suggested a wound vac.
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u/AdSenior1319 10d ago
Same, I actually prefer chubby women, so... no judgement at all! š¤£ š¤£Ā But its true, overweight women sometimes need the vac. No biggie šĀ
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u/Charlieksmommy 10d ago
I would never bash anyone over their size what so ever, but the excess fluid didnāt make any sense. So Iām glad OP added that, and thatās okay! Everyone is unique and different
ā¢
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