Plus Size C-Section

I've searched the web and the forums for anything relating to my question and have come up empty handed. I CANT be the only plus size lady on here who has had/going to have a c-section. I know they cut above the "bikini line", but when you have the "kangaroo pouch" type flap thing, where do they cut? That's the main thing I'm worried about. What if they cut under it, where it hangs over? Any info is greatly appreciated!

*watching*

I am plus size and they still cut you on the bikini line. My now mushy belly hangs over it. LOL

they cut me under the flappy thing. but I think its the same spot where a skinny girl would get cut. *shrug* not sure. but mine is under the flap.

it sucks. Much harder to clean and keep dry.

Your size isn't going to change where they make the incision. Why are you having a c-section? I know that if you are truly plus size, they don't like to do surgery.

Quoting MamaLou:“ I've searched the web and the forums for anything relating to my question and have come up empty handed. ... [snip!] ... cut? That's the main thing I'm worried about. What if they cut under it, where it hangs over? Any info is greatly appreciated!”

I had a c-section a few weeks ago and its cut down really low so my belly seems to sort of hang over  

Quoting Carla/Lily:“ I am plus size and they still cut you on the bikini line. My now mushy belly hangs over it. LOL”

Mine already "hangs" over it, they still cut you there? Is it harder to take care of, I mean, I'll have to "lift" my stomach to get to it to take care of it, won't it be eaiser to have it come open?

Quoting MamaLou:“ I've searched the web and the forums for anything relating to my question and have come up empty handed. ... [snip!] ... cut? That's the main thing I'm worried about. What if they cut under it, where it hangs over? Any info is greatly appreciated!”

are you having a planned csection? If so, I'm curious as to why.. if you dont mind elaborating.

Mine is at the bikini line.

Quoting Jessica [Slvrmoon]:“ Your size isn't going to change where they make the incision. Why are you having a c-section? I know that if you are truly plus size, they don't like to do surgery.”

Baby is still breech and my fluid levels have dropped too much for them to want to try and do a manual flip.

Underneath the flappy thing is where they cut me.

Quoting Carla/Lily:“ I am plus size and they still cut you on the bikini line. My now mushy belly hangs over it. LOL”

Mine too.

Are c-sections more complicated for plus-size women?
Are c-sections more complicated for plus-size women? Is it a more difficult surgery for them or will recovery take longer?

Expert Answers
Cornelia van der Ziel, ob-gyn
Generally speaking, cesareans are not lengthy surgeries, whether the patient is large or small, and in the vast majority of cases they cause very few problems.

One issue that sometimes comes up, though rarely, is that if the woman has a lot of fat on her abdominal wall, the increased thickness of the wall makes it harder to see into the abdomen and have a clear view of what you're doing during the surgery. She could experience greater blood loss because you're cutting through a thicker layer of tissue with more blood vessels. And bleeding in turn can interfere with the view into the abdomen. But this is generally only a potential issue for more-obese women.

A thicker abdominal wall may also require a slightly longer incision for easier access to the uterus. A longer incision shouldn't cause any problems later on. Or a doctor may choose to make a vertical incision, which is associated with less blood loss, a quicker surgery, and a better view of the uterus. A vertical incision doesn't necessarily heal any faster or slower than a horizontal incision or cause additional problems.

But these situations aren't common, and most women have c-sections without major problems.

As for recovery from a c-section, larger women do have an increased risk of a common problem: infection at the incision site. This is usually due to excess serous fluid leaking from fat tissue. Serous fluids are harmless, near-colorless fluids that exist in your body in various forms, but when the fluid collects in a wound it create a moist environment that's perfect for bacteria to thrive in. You'll just need to change the dressing on your incision often to keep the wound as dry as possible. Also, after you bathe, make sure to dry the incision site completely.

http://www.babycenter.com/404_are-c-sections-more-complicated-for-plus-size-women_1512497.bc

Well alright then, I guess I got my answers.   Though I am still most concerned about the wound opening and having to get packed. One of the doctors I see has stressed that she doesn't like to do c-sections on larger women because of the complications and risk of infection and the wound opening and having to be packed... this woman has litteraly scared me to death of giving birth PERIOD!

Quoting EastonsMom:“ Are c-sections more complicated for plus-size women? Are c-sections more complicated for plus-size women? ... [snip!] ... the incision site completely. http://www.babycenter.com/404_are-c-sections-more-complicated-for-plus-size-women_1512497.bc”

that was a very informative post. i wish i had seen that before my c-sections. anyway, i got cut in the same place that any thin woman would have. just make sure you keep the incision clean and dry. it should be just fine. i never had a single problem with mine, even though i worried alot.