Hernia After C-section: All You Need To Know

[Abhilash Rathore]

A caesarean delivery generally involves making an incision in the woman's abdomen and uterus for gaining access to the baby. There are several reasons doctors suggest c-section, even if you have had one before or your baby is breech. One of the rare and possible complications is hernia post caesarean.

What is it?

It is when a part of the body protrudes through another part where it is not supposed to. If an incisional hernia, their abdominal lining comes through the surgical incision from the caesarean delivery. Women are at risk if –

• They are obese
• Have larger caesarean incision
• A diabetic
• Have tissues which are not strong

While incisional hernia does not cause other symptoms beyond physical characteristics, they do need hernia surgery at some point. This is the only treatment for an incisional hernia.

Symptoms of hernia after c-section include –

Abdominal bulge

This is a common symptom as the tissues bulge which seem to come out of the surgical scar. You might otherwise experience just a lump of the skin or around the scar area. Hernias do not develop immediately after the c-section. You could notice it months after the delivery. The skin on the abdomen could appear loose, dimpled, or bulging postpartum. This becomes difficult to say if the women do have a hernia or only healing from caesarean.

Pain or discomfort

Sometimes, the incisional hernia causes pain and discomfort, especially when the stomach's bulge is noticeable. Such a symptom can be challenging to recognise. The healing process after the c-section causes some discomfort. But discomfort owing to hernia continues after the routine healing of the delivery too.

Nausea or constipation

The incisional hernia affects the stomach area, so chances of stomach upset are high. This includes nausea and vomiting. Constipation is the other symptom. Hernia causes the intestines to move out of the place. Bowel movement becomes difficult after that.

The occurrence rate of hernia after c-section

Almost 2 out of every 1,000 caesarean deliveries causes a hernia, which requires surgery within 10 years of delivery. Some women for whom even surgery cannot fix it or cannot get conducted for a while.

Treatment for hernia

Hernia surgery is typically the treatment for the incisional ones. But doctors do not recommend one unless the women carry specific symptoms. These are –

• It gets bigger and noticeable
• Causes discomfort and makes it difficult for women to do their daily activities
• Bowel gets trapped in the hernia and does not allow blood flow

The last symptom happens rarely, and when it does, it is a medical emergency. There are not too many medications you can take for making the hernia smaller. Some women wear an abdominal binder, an elastic belt which keeps the hernia from protruding. It does not do away with a hernia but keeps it from increasing.