The woman feels after cesarean delivery may depend on the length of the incision, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed pain in nearly 700 women who gave birth via elective C-sections. Both short and long surgical incisions were linked to greater pain. Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that the ideal length of a C-section incision is between roughly 4.5 and 6.5 inches. They said shorter and longer incisions should be avoided when possible.
Women in the study were followed for up to 12 months. Those with short incisions were more likely to report higher pain scores immediately after delivery, which likely indicates intense tissue stretching during delivery, the researchers said. Women with long incisions were also more likely to report higher pain scores, including increased sensitivity to pain around the surgical incision. "To our knowledge, this 'Goldilocks…
