Stomach Questions - Post Op

[Amythyst]

Hi ladies, I had a few questions for those that have had this surgery before. I had my c section over a week ago on the 6th. I am feeling generally fine but just had some questions about the way my stomach is.

I asked my OB about it being tender to the touch still and that it always feels tight and contracted and she said that was normal but it just feels really bizarre to me and I wanted some other opinions from people that went through it.

I am obese and while i lost 56 pounds this pregnancy i still have a big belly. Naturally more so because of the c section. However, my lower tummy is "hanging" down almost to my groin and its super heavy. It is actually annoying me a bit. It is very tender to the touch and when i press on it, its hard and stiff. I am able to press on it without it hurting too much but as i said it is tender.

Does that sound similar to your experiences? I know that my uterus will take weeks to contract but I am just paranoid that the tummy is so heavy and stiff. I just saw my OB the other day and they of course checked my stomach and my incision and said everything was ok. But sometimes i just feel like they dont really care too much until i ask specific questions.

I also am still having bright red bleeding... I thought it was supposed to turn pinkish by now? Or is that normal still as well? I dont bleed very much in general but I have periods where a bunch of red blood will come out and then maybe nothing for hours or the rest of the day. I think it depends on my activity level. I havent exactly been sitting on my ass the entire time and even made a Walmart run by myself the other day.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fizzyfefe]

I had my section on February 18, so it's been a little over a month. Like you, I also have the overhanging belly (but I've had that all my life as I am overweight). From my experience, the tenderness was normal. I am still numb over the incision area, but am no longer tender. When I touch my belly over the incision, I feel the hardness that you describe, which I believe is either scar tissue or the stitches. I also experienced red bleeding for over two weeks. Only now has it gone to a pink/peach color. The more I move, the more lochia I have.

How are you feeling now? I hope it puts your mind at ease to know that we had similar experiences, and I am now feeling almost 100% back to normal.

 

[Amythyst]

Hi, thanks for your reply! It does help to know you had something similar.

I am doing alright... only taking ibuprofen and some Tylenol on a random basis... I'm not counting the hours till I can take them but once I notice the discomfort and tightness again, I take one.

I am overweight as well and always had a belly but I still look 5-6 months pregnant. I just want my stomach to start going down... lol. I feel like it is the same since the day I left the hospital. I lost 56 pounds through everything, so I am not sure what is "hanging skin" vs. just a swollen uterus.

Yes, I noticed that too...the more things I try to do, the more I bleed. It actually stops completely if I'm mostly just sitting around or laying in bed but if I do the dishes or the laundry or something then it starts again.

I am mostly annoyed by the numbness on my lower belly and the fact that I can't feel when I need to pee still. I'm also still not able to feel hungry until I am really really hungry. My bowels aren't quite normal yet either. I think all the stool softeners I was taking were working too well and giving me the runs. So, definitely not going to take those anymore!

 

[MummyM86]

Hi hon,

I had my DD by Csec nearly 3 years ago now and still have sensitive areas on my tummy. Slightly weird because can't feel anything to touch some areas but others are hyper sensitive. I think/hope this is normal, and as my understanding is it is perfectly normal. Think how many nerves and things they've cut through, it can take a long time for that to heal.

The over hang eventually pings up again so don't worry. Another overweight girly here...trust me it does get better and tighter.

And finally, my bleed lasted for 6-7 weeks. Again I think they said 8-10 is normal.

HTH