After C-section Pain and Subsequent Pregnancy

Hi-I had an emergency C-Section over 2 years ago with my last child. The first year was the hardest. I still have some numbness and my abdomen is not the same but I don't feel any more pain there. I never really did belly excercises though which they say helps build muscle back. As time goes by I do feel less numb so it does get better but I don't think it will ever be the same. My little guy was worth it though!

So sorry for your loss.
I have had 2 c-sections, 18 years apart. The numb area should decrease but never completely go away. I have a numb field about 2 inches around my whole scar. The pain was very bad on both for a while and still 3 years after my 2nd still get that stingy feeling once in a while. The abdomin, yeah very misshaped. I have a ledge that kinda hangs there. Do sit ups and walk and play with my little one but no luck. Think the only way to fix it is a tummy tuck but that causes more pain, more scars, more money! Wish I had better news. Maybe try some of that scar medicine to help alleviate a bit,I don't know. We could be very different also because both of mine were scheduled c-sections.
Good Luck and hang in there! This too will pass.....
J.

T.,
i had 2 c sections the first one 22 months ago and the second 7 months ago. i had pain after my firet more than second. for my first i couldnt wear bikini underwear for about 8 months i had off and on pain in my scar mostly wear the drain was. my skin on my stomac from my belly button down has no feeling except every once and a wile a sharp pain. second one i recovered alot faster just have some back prodlems now they had a promlem with getting the eppidurak in so they had to try three times. all my pain stopped about 5 months with him. but i cant figure out how to change my flab even the slightest.

I had an emergency c-section 9 months ago. I had lots of pain for a month. I had to get up and walk alot. I still have numbness in that area, which is normal b/c because the nerves were damaged/cut when they did the c-section. the area could be numb for a long time, severals years even - depending on the person, everyone is different. I still have the numbness and once in a "blue moon" i get a sharp shooting pain. My scar has healed okay but since I didnt take to good care of it at the beginning (b/c my daughter stayed in the hosp for an extra 3 weeks) I never took care of it like I should. I was doing things (bending, lifting and other things) that i wasnt suppose to do while taking care of my daughter in the hosp. never really slept, stayed on my feet alot and more so my scar looks funny. abdomen area will not be the same (((sad)))

Hi T.,

I had an emergency c-section over 6 years ago and my abdomen area felt uncomfortable for about 2 years. Sometimes today it still has a nagging feeling but not like it did for those 2 years. Yes, my stomach is shaped differently and I hate it because I have the hardest time losing weight in that area.

Now you mentioned about being pregnant, I haven't gotten pregnant since then as she was my 2nd child and because I had developed pre-eclampsia, the doctor told me that it was best if I try methods to not get pregnant again because next time it could be either me or the baby to die, so I had my tubes tied. However, I wish that I hadn't decided on that option so fast because I now want a baby boy.

Anyway, yes, it is going to take time for your body to heal because the nerves and muscles have been damaged. If you are able to try working a little exercise into your daily routine as the exercise will help build your muscles back up a little.

HTH,
V.

Hi T.

What you are feeling is normal. Especially for what you've gone through. Have a c-section, even when not an emergency, changes sensations in your belly.

You've got the added grief of losing your child, I guarantee that has something to do with your sensations as well. Do your grieving and if you can and want to, have your next baby. As long as you can physically, it would be helpful to your body physically and emotionally.

I am so touched and know how difficult it is for you. Please be encouraged and take courage.
D.

I did not have a c-section, but I would like to offer my experience with doctors. I experienced a serious vaginal tear with my first daughter. It was not repaired properly by the OBGYN. I was in pain every single day until my second duaghter was born 23 months later. It's amazing she was conceived because the pain made intercourse quite uncomfortable. I mean it hurt to go to the bathroom. I went to doctor after doctor while they told me it was normal, or they couldn't see anything wrong. I was even sent to a gastro-internologist. Anyway, when I found an OB to deliver my second daughter she figured out the problem immediately and repaired it right after the birth of my second daughter. She was such an amazing doctor!

If one doctor tells you its normal or there is nothing they can do, go somewhere else. Keep trying. I sure hope you find some help somewhere soon. I can't imagine being constant pain like you describe.

I had very little pain after my C-section (lasted about 2 weeks) and some numbness, but nothing like you are describing. This doesn't sound normal in my opinion, but also my C-section was not emergency. If you tell your doctor you are in pain and they don't see it as a problem, see another doctor! Get a second opinion. There is no reason to live in pain with today's medical advances and knowledge.

Also, my abdominal muscles were weird-looking, sort of not lined up after the C-section, but that did normalize eventually.

First of all, I am so sorry that you are having these problems following your C-section.
I had an emergency C-section in November of last year and I have experienced none of what you describe. Also, my abdomen is fine.
I subsequently got pregnant again in February and had no problems whatsoever with my C-section scar. I had a second C-section with my son two weeks ago and so far everything is fine.
I think I would definitely get a second opinion just to be sure.
I wish you all the best and hope you can get this resolved.

T., I too had 2 c-sections, about 18 mos apart. I have some numbness at my incision line, but that is all, no pain. I also have a not so nice looking abdomen right now. At my scar, I have a small roll over. I am back to my pre-preggo weight, but don't feel like I look the same in my abdomen. I was not a six pack before, but certainly not obese, and am not so now. I think no matter what I do, short of having a tummy tuck, I will always have a little roll there. I don't think this is uncommon, though. But, you need to speak to your MD about pain, not good this long out. J.

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your child. My heart goes out to you.

Hi T. - I too am very sorry for you loss. I had an emergency C-section with my first child because the labor wasn't progressing after 4 hours of pushing, guess the stubborn Taurus decided no, not that way... I had numbness along my inscision, and at times a burning pain in like the edges of the incision. Both lasted about 6 months or so.. but would not be as bad as the time went on. The numbness lasted a bit longer. I had to have a repeat C-section with my second child. My pregnancy was fine, no pains in my scar area, but my repeat surgery -FOR ME - it was much more painful the very next day. But susided after a few and then the usual as with my first. Now like I said "FOR ME" because I have a friend who had a repeat C and she said it was a breeze. I took perscriptive pain meds but I also took advil - if you can, try that - inbetween the pain meds. Eventually - like 4 weeks later, I was only using Advil a few times the day. I think you still should keep informing your doctor of your pain. HTH, A.

Hi T....
I had a c-section, it wasn't planned but I wouldn't call it an emergency c because I was told it was a possiblity because I was pregnant with twins. So in the back of my head I knew it could happen. Anyway, it has been over 2 years and I still have some numbness to the area, but definitly no pain. The pain after the surgery lasted I would say no more than a few weeks. When I went back for my 6 week check up after having my boys I wasn't feeling any pain. As far as my scar you can barely see it and everything healed as it should have. From what I read fromt the other responses you got is that it is pretty common, but from my experiece it wan't bad at all. Maybe different doctors have different techniques so it isn't as bad... I don't know but for me it wasn't anything like you are explaining. I probably didn't help you at all, but I would talk to your doctor again or even another doctor's office and get a second opinion.

T.,

I have had 2 c-sections. My oldest son is 3 1/2. With him I had an ASAP section after 18 hours of labor. I had to have part of my incision reopened after him, I got an infection and was in the hospital for 9 days after delivery...the area around my incision was numb for about 4 inches....but after it was completely healed I never had the kind of pain you are describing. I did have twinges now and then where the nerve endings were healing. I got pregnant right about the time he turned 1. Just like with my pregnancy before I had ligament pain, and it was slightly worse when the stretching would occur because of scar tissue, but it didn't make a big impact at all. My 2nd c-section was almost 2 years ago and went much better :) I do have numbness to a degree still, but I only notice it occasionally. I would say the max is about 2 inches from the incision. The only pain that I have is still when the nerve endings coming to life and when I put to much stress on that area, like when the boys jump on it or I bump into something...it is a different kind of pain, nothing like I think you are descrbing. I would seek a 2nd opinion.

I am sorry about your daughter...I could never imagine it!

I can only share with you my experience with a c-section. It was a horrible experience for me since I had no idea what it would feel like after the fact and the length of recovery. But I guess each person may be different. I had terrible pain for about 2 weeks. Hard to get up and move around. So very difficult to take care of a newborn. Thank goodness I had family help. I too had numbness off and on for quit a long time, maybe up to a year. It was hard to wear fitting pants (jeans). And the area above the incision line (horizontal cut) is puffy and never will go away. Not that it really matters since it is below a bikini/underwear line. Not that I can wear a bikini anymore. It's horrible not having your body back. At least for me. But I've adjusted and it was worth having my son. So I guess we have similar situations with a c-section.

Hello T.,
I too had a scheduled c-section 18 months ago. My first 2 were vaginal. I was in pain after the surgery for a good 3-4 months, not horrible, but there. I was also numb below the scare for about 1 year. My stomach now looks like a flab o' fat, I hate it! I have been trying crunches and walking and it is a little better, but I think as women we are self concious anyway! I agree, you should not be in as much pain as you are. At lest I don't think so. Also my prayers are with you and the loss of your little one! Take care, M.

I had an emergency c-section with my son back in 2004. I can remember being real sore and having numbness in my lower belly. It’s been a little over three yrs. And I still have numbness in my lower belly that never went away. I would maybe try going to another ob-gyn to see what they say about it. It never hurts to get a second opinion.

A. Abbott

Hello,

I have never gone through anything like this, i just wanted to tell you that i am so sorry that your daughter passed away two days after you gave birth to her.

May the Good LORD bless you and your family and heal you of this pain and touch you and your family as you go through this tough time.

God Bless

From one mother to another.

Dear T.,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss and your pain and discomfort after your c-section. I had a c-section 3 months ago and I regularly still have some discomfort around my scar and the skin around my scar is still numb. My abdomen is stretched out and I have extra skin. It does hurt sometimes when I attempt to jog or get up from a lying position. I have felt okay though b/c it seems to be improving little by little. I would trust your instinct though and get a second opinion.
-L.

Hi T.,

I too had an emergency c-section with my twins 17 months ago. I had the constant pain and numbness too. It would drive me crazy...everytime I would get up from bed or stand up too quickly, I would have like a buring/pulling kind of pain at the incinsion site. That started to ease up around a year, although I do still occasionally still have twinges of pain. The feeling is slowly starting to come back as well. I was told that I may never have 100% feeling in that area.

As far as the shape of your abdomen...mine is horrible too! I hate it...I actually marched into my OB's office and demanded to know why they sewed me up wrong becuase it is so mishapened. I hate it but I don't think that there is much I can do aside from corrective plastic surgery--which is out of the question as we would like to have more kids in the future.

I am glad that you posted becuase I have never really told anyone about that and it is nice to know that I ma not th e only one out there that has experienced these kind of issues, so thank you!

M.

I don't know about an emergency C-section, I was enduced for labor due to high blood pressure issues that developed during my pregnancy. 11 hrs into labor, my baby would not drop into the birth canal. She was "sunny side up" and her head would not allow her to be born vaginally. I was informed that I would need a C-section and my daughter was born 1/2 hr later. During the C-section, I had the shakes really bad, was extremely cold, my teeth were even chattering. I was told by my husband that I went in and out of sleep during the 1/2 that I was having the surgery. Afterwards I had some back pain, which I was told was a bi-product of the epideral, but with in a week I felt fine and my scar healed fine. No lasting pain what so ever. I feel like my abdomen is not the same as it once was (more sagginess and extra skin), but to be honest I have friends that had vaginal births and they feel the same way. I am not really sure it ever goes back to the way it once was. I know that if you suffer from nerve damage, numbness can occur, but I think I would seek out a second opinion if it was me.

I had a c-section 7 months ago and I'm feeling the same numbness and pain. I am looking for answers online because most women said that the feeling is normal. I hope that you feel better soon.

I am sorry I have no advice for you re: you incisional pain. But, I read you request and it truly tore at my heart. I just wanted you to know how very sorry I am for your loss. It must have been/still be quite difficult for you. I wish you and your family the best of everything!

T.- I have had 2 c-sections (8 years apart with a VBAC in between) and have not had the problems you speak of. YOu should NOT feel constant pain 8 months after ANY kind of surgery. What has your gyn said about all of this? Does he/she think it's normal??

Hi T.,

I had a C-section voluntarily 22 months ago because my daughter was macrosomic and even now have some periodic numbness and occasional "weird" feelings in my abdomen... but never any more pain, unless my 30 lb toddler is standing on my scar! :) I didn't have any bad scar stuff and although my abdomen will probably never look the same again, my scar is actually fairly well hidden and not too lumpy or bumpy, so I guess I was lucky. For a while, I felt like they put something back into me the wrong way because I was all of a sudden much bigger just under my breasts, as opposed to lower down in my abs. I still am and am not sure what that's about but that's my worst side effect.

Good luck!
K.

I too had an emergency c-section 18 months ago. I had pain for almost a year. Not constant but a sharp pain her and agin almost everyday. I had never had surgery before so didn't know what to expect. My husband said it was thr nerves and muscles growing back together. I don't have any pain nowadays. I still have some numbness at the scar site. Maybe nerves still not grown back. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about it at your next annual exam. My stomach is so misshaped to. I think that a c-section totally messes up your abdominal muscles. It is just one big flab. I am very sorry for your loss. I have never experienced the loss of a child(came close to losing my 18 month old and myself) but my motherinlaw lost a child at birth 35 yrs ago. You are in my prayers.

Hi there. First off, I'm so sorry about your baby. I can't even imagine. As for your pain, I agree with the other people, pain so long afterwards is not right. I have had 2 c-sections, they cut me in different places for each one for some reason so my abdomen is all messed up. My first c-section was 3 years ago and my second was 17 months ago, and my entire abdomen is still numb. There is a good 6 inch high area where i have no feeling. So the numbness could be normal. Good luck.

i myself had 3 emergency c sections and my first one was as u discribed with the pain and the numbness my my abdoman looked finethough .after i heeled after about a year it was totally fine except i still had numbness and i would get a pinching feeling every once in a while still til this day it is numb though