Can the caesarean suture tear or open again?

If you give birth by caesarean section, then you will get cesarean suture marks which you must take care of properly. After cesarean delivery, you should limit your activities slightly to support the healing of the caesarean suture scar. If not treated properly, the caesarean suture can become infected, but this may rarely happen. Then, what about the cesarean scar, can this happen?

Can the cesarean scar be torn?

Usually cesarean suture scars heal well and create strong tissue that keeps uterine tissue back together. This strong tissue can withstand the stretching of the uterus that occurs when you are pregnant again, making it less likely that the cesarean suture will tear. A cesarean suture scar that has healed will not cause pain or bleed that could harm you or your future pregnancy.

However, a cesarean scar may be torn or reopened, in very rare cases. This can cause uterine rupture (uterine tear) which can endanger the life of the mother and the fetus in her womb. The risk of uterine rupture is very high if you have a normal delivery after having previously given birth by caesarean section.

There are various risks that can cause a torn caesarean suture scar

Although cesarean suture tears or uterine rupture are very rare, there are several factors that can increase your risk of experiencing this, namely:

Normal delivery after a cesarean delivery (vaginal birth after caesarean / VBAC)
How was your previous C-section performed, as different surgical techniques can carry different risks of uterine rupture
You were obese or had a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 at the start of your pregnancy
If you are induced while trying VBAC, it will depend on your gestational age and the method of induction used

If you look at the risk factors above, you may not need to worry that the cesarean suture that has healed will tear when you do a lot of activity. A cesarean suture that has healed can be very strong in holding back any stretch of the activity you are doing.

The cesarean suture that has healed will look more attached to your skin. Over time, the color will change closer to the skin tone and will become smaller in size. You may not be able to find it quickly after years.

The characteristics of a torn caesarean suture scar

If you have problems with your caesarean suture in a later pregnancy, you may experience the following signs:

Severe abdominal pain
Sudden pain in the scar of your stitches
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Rapid pulse and other signs of shock
Do not experience regular and strong contractions

Cesarean suture tearing or uterine rupture in pregnancy usually occurs early in normal labor. Apart from being experienced by pregnant women, signs of uterine rupture can also occur in the fetus, such as abnormalities in the fetal heart rate.

To avoid stitches tearing or uterine rupture, it is recommended that you have another cesarean delivery if you previously had a cesarean section. Having a normal delivery after a previous cesarean delivery can put you and your fetus at great risk.