17 answers

C-section Complications?

My daughter, now 9 months old, was born at 30 weeks by emergency c-section. I am currently 10.5 weeks pregnant with #2 and will also need another c-section for this birth. I am terrified about having another c-section b/c the first one went so badly. I lost 1.5 liters of blood and was in so much pain. Now, over 9 months later, I still get these weird sensations on the right side of the scar that also "tingle" my entire right side at times, down to my foot! Has anyone else experienced something similar? SOMETHING I FORGOT: the tingling sensation is more apparent when my daughter is nursing on my right breast! I'll get the sensation in my breast, c-section scar, and the tingling in my foot! So weird!

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

Thanks for all the comments, help and good wishes. It really makes me feel better just knowing total strangers take the time to respond to little ol' me! The first thing I asked my doc when I found out I was pregnant again was about VBAC, but they said it is not an option due to the way they had to do the first c-section incision. Thanks to all of you I have some other ?s for doc now too. The funny thing is, I don't remember them telling me to not get pregnant for a year! They also said worse case scenario is placenta could attach to scar tissue. It wouldn't be a danger to baby, but worse case at delivery I would need a hysterectomy- GASP! I'm just praying to make it to at least 34 weeks this time. I don't know if I could handle another baby in the NICU for 7 weeks, especially with a one year old at home! Oh, and my daughter is doing very well. She is very alert and vocal and loves to play her toy piano!

Featured Answers

I am havign weird sensations with my scar but I feel it on the inside. My boys are premees born at 24 weeks.

Hey J.,

I am not a preemie mom but do you really have to have a c-section again? In other words did the doctor tell you there is a chance of that happening again? I ask because my cousin found out she was 10 weeks pregnant with her second baby when her son was only 5 months. She too had a c-section for the first one but with the second one she had her son vaginally. Her doctor had informed her that she would also have a c-section with the second one.

More Answers

I had the same thing although my oldest is now almost 4 and my baby is 11 months. So they were almost 3 years apart. But I had the same sensations and sometimes still do. My first c-section was emergency as well at 5 weeks early I had toximia. I lost a lot of blood myself. But the second c-section was SOOOOO much better. It is very different when it is controlled. Just relax. I was so nervous because the first one was all that I knew. But the second one went smoother. I felt better. My stay in the hospital was shorter, and most importanly my baby was healthy and was able to go home with me. I don't think those sensations ever go away. I still get tingling on my left side, but I also get them on my right. You should talk to your obgyn about your fears. My dr was great at putting my mind at ease. And what made it better was that I truste her competely. Good luck, it's not as bad as the first!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J., You are so brave to be having another baby already!! My daughter is 2 now but was also born prematurely by emergency c-section at 27 weeks. My incision just recently stopped stinging occasionally. My gyn said it was normal and that some women will actually feel it for the rest of their lives. It's really weird, isn't it? I wish you a healthy full term pregnancy this time. I would love to hear more about your daughter and how she's doing. My little girl is amazing. At this point you would never know she was a preemie. She caught up and actually surpassed the normal expected developmental milestones for her age. She is a true miracle.

1 mom found this helpful

I still get weird tingly sensations in my scar (though not down to my foot) 27 months post-op. (I also lost a lot of blood - they never told me how much, but I had 2 units of blood and 2 units of plasma transfused about 8 hours after delivery.) Given that nipple stimulation is linked to uterine contractions, I'm not surprised that you feel it while nursing (I know I felt it a lot while pumping!).

Good luck with this next pregnancy!

(Oh, my daughter was born at 25w3d gestation - she's now 27 months.)

1 mom found this helpful

my name is A. i had my daughter at 32 weeks due to emergency c-section. few months later i have pain in lower back it goes down my right foot my doctor told me i have sicata. how is your daughter doing?

1 mom found this helpful

J.,

I know others have responded and you've gotten a lot of advice, but I wanted to chime in as well.

First off, to address whether or not you can VBAC with this pregnancy - your doctor may have told you you could not VBAC, but you should know that part of that sentence is missing. It should read, you "cannot vbac _with this particular doctor_". Many doctors are leary about VBACs because they have concerns about malpractice and such. There may be other choices, such as a midwife or a family practitioner, and it might be worth it to you to explore other options, especially since it sounds like your previous cesarean was rather traumatic. VBACs are *usually* safer than a repeat cesarean - there is plenty of info out there to back that up - so it's a good idea to be your own advocate and do your own research before getting up on that table again.

As for the tingling, I don't have any explanation for you. I know (and this might sound a little weird, but bare with me) some women who have had similar sensations and have used accupuncture or reiki to try to alleviate those symptoms. Some have also used massage, and in some cases are able to do it themselves. It *could* be psychologically linked as well, but when an incision is made, it effects all kinds of nerve endings, so that is why the techniques I mentioned may help, as they would stimulate the nerve endings and hopefully provide some healing.

I hope that's a little helpful. I run a cesarean support group in the area of Buffalo, NY, so please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. My email is ____@____.com.

-R. Z

Please look at this group and send them your story.
You did not say why you needed the C-section- but if you live in NJ - The highest c-rate in the nation, more than likely yours was not needed. MOre than 1/2 are unnecessary surgeries.
International Cesarean Awareness Network can give you some good information to help you avoid the second surgery. Vaginal birth is much safer than surgery. It is called a VBAC- many unethical doctors will not tell you this. Hang in there, go on the site and you will see you are not alone.
www.ican-online.org

namaste,
S.

Hey J.,

I am not a preemie mom but do you really have to have a c-section again? In other words did the doctor tell you there is a chance of that happening again? I ask because my cousin found out she was 10 weeks pregnant with her second baby when her son was only 5 months. She too had a c-section for the first one but with the second one she had her son vaginally. Her doctor had informed her that she would also have a c-section with the second one.

I know my aunt had a problem with her C-section- it didn't heal properly and took FOREVER to heal. I've never heard of your problem, but have you talked with your doctor? what does he/she say about it? and if you're not satisfied with your doctor's answer, get a second opinion.

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