Recovery experiences after c section

[baileybubs]

Hi ladies,

I had my beautiful daughter on Friday via emergency c section following an induced birth and baby becoming distressed in final pushing stage.

Me and my girl came home yesterday and she is an angel, sleeping really well and making it as easy for mummy as she possibly could. But today I feel like I have gone backwards, the pain seems stronger today and although my MW has said my scar looks good today my muscles are killing me. Plus I have trapped wind in my shoulder from the op too so walking anywhere feels like such a trek!! And to make things worse, sitting down for too long gives me a numb arse and then that hurts too lol!!

I just wanted to get some others experiences of recovery coz I just wanna know theres light at the end of the tunnel lol!!

 

[Becky61]

Hi
I too had an emerg c-section. I had planned to be up and about a few days after my babys birth doing shopping etc, i hadnt even stocked my fridge!
Instead i found myself moving in with my mum (im a single parent) not being able to drive or even walk!
The first 2 weeks are the toughest. Some days i felt back to normal, the next day i would wake and feel worse than ever.
Trust me, it gets so much easier. One day youll wake up and 'just get out of bed' and think woah, i got out of bed/off the sofa like a "normal" person.
It took me 2 weeks to walk a mile to the local shops, 5 weeks to drive and 7 weeks to move back home.
I can only go on my own experience. Any questions just ask
Its easy to forget youve just had a major op, so try and relax, if that means the house is a tip and youve got greasy hair then so be it!
Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and hope your enjoying your little one!
x

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks becky thats really helpful! Its hard when you arent expecting to have the long recovery isnt it? I think I felt disheartened this morning that I feel worse today than yesterday, but I probably just did too much yesterday because I felt better lol, vicious cycle!!
Its frustrating not being able to do everything I want to for my daughter too, but I am lucky that my partner is off work and here to help!

And I get what you mean about getting up/out of bed like a "normal" person, cant wait for that day!! At the moment I'll settle for being able to just laugh like a normal person and without yelling in pain and grabbing my tummy lol!!

 

[_Lexi_]

Peppermint tea/peppermint capsules are fantastic for the shoulder pain from trapped wind!! x

 

[baileybubs]

Oooh I didnt think of peppermint tea lexi thanks!! I had peppermint water at hospital but not had anything since I got home, I'll route in my cupboards now (well, I'll get my df to look lol). Thanks for that!!

 

[Leikela]

I had a C-section in October and felt the same way as you did! Two of my friends had C sections and I remember asking them when they felt normal again! There were good days and bad days for sure! I couldn't even lie down in bed because I couldn't get OUT of bed. LOL I slept in a recliner for the first 5 or 6 weeks. Slowly but surely you will heal and feel better. It took me about 7 weeks to feel almost back to normal. Honestly, it was about 12 weeks before I was back to my normal gym routine. Even then, situps were painful. It takes time but you will get there!

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks leikela, I am managing to sleep in bed but I am like you were I can't get out of bed again!!! It's so hard when Emilia is crying in the night and I need to get up to her but it takes me 10 mins to get up!

 

[Cherrysoul]

DS1 Born via booked in C-section due to Placeta Previa, recovery was quick and pretty painless, my only issue was i need a transfusion due to very low iron. I was pretty much green/grey.

DS2 15 months later, C-section due to stupid me going into Hospital too early and they basically pinned to me a bed, with a monitor didn't let me move/sleep or anything, and induced labor, which never progressed, etc etc.

Recovery was f**** painful, wound got infected, was in agony for weeks.

I vow never to have a c-section ever again.. (unless proven medical reason like DS1) I Learned a lot since the second one, put it that way.

 

[blakesmummy09]

i had my c-section 4 years ago now but i was walking within 3 days only because my son was in nicu and midwives were talking hours to get me a wheelchair. I found wearing loose clothing with a maternity pad on my scar so it didnt run on anything, i held it when i moved for a bit of reassurance and slid my feet when walked instead of picking them up, it does take a while to recover but take it easy and at your pace and you'll be back to normal in no time. congrats on your little bundle x

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks ladies, I feel like I'm slowly getting there, I just hate not being able to do everything for my daughter properly yet! I can see a light at the end of the tunnel though!

 

[misspriss]

Despite the fact I was in induced labor for 36+ hours before my emergency section, and then stuck in bed on medication for 24+ hours after the surgery, I feel like I recovered really well. The first day off the epidural I went to the NICU to visit LO, by the second day, I walked (nurses made me!), I also walked all over the hospital (the nurses told me to walk around to get bowels and gasses moving). The next day I got my staples out and was released. Getting in and out of the car was the worst.

I had high powered pain medication, so I was pretty good. I thought I might have to sleep on the recliner, but I did fine on the bed - I just needed help getting out! I missed those rails on the hospital bed!

But by 2 weeks out, I am fine. I haven't driven, I came back to the hospital to room in with LO at 1 week 6 days - I was not supposed to drive until 2 weeks. Personally I would have been fine after about 10 days.

I am on regular ibuprofen now. I ran out of my good pain pills at the end of the week and got some mid-grade pills on Monday. I'm saving those for if I have a painful day or something. Ibuprofen all the way here!

 

[Mrs Bee]

My story sounds a lot like yours.... I thought I'd feel like I'd been run over by a car for 6 weeks....no one goes into labour expecting it to end in emergency c section... I was surprised by my own experience tho... I was in hospital two nights after the birth... My second night I was in a different hospital which was awful so I was very motivated to leave to say the least.... I was out walking at the beach by Friday and I'd had her on the Tuesday morning...

Saying all this, I realise how major this surgery is so I'm still taking it easy, I walked 2.5km which overdid it and I was in pain so back to light gentle strolls... I wish u all the best with your recovery xxxxx

 

[emaritska]

Hi Hun, how's things going? I had an emergency c section sat eve (13th) and am suffering big time thought was recovering nicely etc, but got up from sofa last night and felt like had been ripped open again
Not sure if my wound ok as covered by the dressing still and they said not to remove it the nurse will on thurs....might call them out today to check it as can't move at all now.

Hope things are improving your end, its so different with a c section isn't it?!! My previous two I was up and fully recovered after a few hours. Also .....

CONGRATS!!!!! Xxxx

 

[baileybubs]

Hi Hun, how's things going? I had an emergency c section sat eve (13th) and am suffering big time thought was recovering nicely etc, but got up from sofa last night and felt like had been ripped open again
Not sure if my wound ok as covered by the dressing still and they said not to remove it the nurse will on thurs....might call them out today to check it as can't move at all now.

Hope things are improving your end, its so different with a c section isn't it?!! My previous two I was up and fully recovered after a few hours. Also .....

CONGRATS!!!!! Xxxx

Thanks Hun and congrats to you too!!

I'm finally feeling better now, it's still sore but movement is much better, as long as I don't lift anything or try to bend forwards or twist sideways too much. It seemed to be much better by about a week after my c section. Thankfully getting in and out of bed is much easier now so I can tend to baby when she wakes in the night!
Strange that your dressing is still on, they made me take mine off the morning after and have a shower. Have you got the community midwives number, maybe you could give them a call and ask them to come round and take a look at it.

 

[emaritska]

Glad things are improving....I'm clinging onto that hope lol! Called midwives but they didn't seem concerned....they said if I feel bit ill its prob as my milk has come in (although never made me ill with boys), and said long as can see no weeping under dressing its fine :/
She is here tomorrow to take it off so shall see then I guess....it's odd as everyone I know was told to take theirs off....mine has been showered etc but still stuck...hubby reckons can't see any blood/ yukky stuff through it so hope ok!

Can I ask how you are feeling emotionally? Not to worry if you rather not share,,,,I have found myself spending a lot of today just getting cross / upset about the section, even though was for the best just feels so out if control

 

[Cherrybump]

Congrats bailey i havent seen you in ages. Glad your both ok.

This is the first time ive been on this forum didnt really thing until now there was a c-section part lol.. I had one to.

My water had broke just after eastenders lol and i was to go into hospital found out my little monkey was breech and had to go for a section. Contractions were mega painful..

Anyways glad to hear from you xxxxxx

 

[baileybubs]

Glad things are improving....I'm clinging onto that hope lol! Called midwives but they didn't seem concerned....they said if I feel bit ill its prob as my milk has come in (although never made me ill with boys), and said long as can see no weeping under dressing its fine :/
She is here tomorrow to take it off so shall see then I guess....it's odd as everyone I know was told to take theirs off....mine has been showered etc but still stuck...hubby reckons can't see any blood/ yukky stuff through it so hope ok!

Can I ask how you are feeling emotionally? Not to worry if you rather not share,,,,I have found myself spending a lot of today just getting cross / upset about the section, even though was for the best just feels so out if control

I actually spoke too soon after all that. I woke up last night soaking at the front and it had come from my scar. It seemed to be a clear liquid that was slightly tinged with blood. So I've put a maternity pad across it and its still bleeding slightly this morning. I've got MW today anyway so hopefully she'll say it's ok.

As for emotions I'm quite annoyed about my whole labour really. Everything that I didn't want to happen did, I was induced (due to high bp) and so was attached to loads of wires and drips so couldn't move. I ended up having the epidural because the drip made my contractions too intense for me and baby was back to back. And then after all I went through and all we put baby through after an hour of pushing they decided on a c section. Like you I know it was for the best. And I know it's not a decision the doctors take lightly as its a major operation, but it just seemed like they could have made the decision a lot earlier for me than they did. I had wanted an active birth, using my Tens machine and possibly a birthing pool.
But in the end I am happy my baby got here safely. Although I am terrified of doing it again now, but will probably end up having an elective c section next time. I'm hoping that my negative emotions towards my labour will gradually disappear though, it seems to for most people.

Cherrybump! Hi! Your baby is gorgeous!! Aw so sorry you ended up having a c section too! How are you finding recovery? I have stupidly overdone it and my scars bleeding now but otherwise I'm doing ok. And Emilia is just perfect!

 

[babylou]

Hello

I ended up having an elected C section due to LO being unstable/breech lie. Got to say the section itself wasn't the terrible experience I anticipated, but the recovery is hard going.

LO was born on 12th April, and I stayed in for two nights before being discharged. They showered and removed my dressing the day after the section, and had me walking gently later that day.

I agree getting out of bed is the worst, sleeping on the sofa is a lot easier but not so practical!

I have times of the day when I feel good, and times when I feel so tired and achy.

Hopefully start feeling a bit better soon.

Congrats to you all xx

 

[Cherrybump]

Bailey's everything i didn't want to happen, happened to . Didn't want a section i was so scared of having to have one. I didnt want the iv thing in my hand i got that to and paige just had to be breech silly girl.

Your scar is ok hun. This happen to me also and i started panicking 'oh crap i going to open up and all my bits fall out' yep been there lol just keep the pad on there to dry it out. I was getting mmr shot and the nurse put something on it which stinged a little and them popped on a badge to help dry it out.. It worked a treat. 3 weeks on almost and it dry. only sore if i push myself to much at walking sore im little sore today xxx

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks cherrybump, my MW got me some antibiotics sorted and said the same thing, to keep a pad in it and keep it clean as well as let air get to it for a while every day. It's much better now than it was this morning.

I had a cannula in my hand too coz I was induced and was attached to a drip, I hated it. Felt so restricted and not in control. Plus it really hurt putting it in, or so I thought it hurt, it was nothing compared to the contractions lol!