Post C-section Questions

I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said. It has been 19 months since my c-section, and it's still numb along the scar, twinges sometimes, and hurts somewhat if I get a swift kick during diaper changes. My midwife said that it takes a while for those nerve endings to get back to normal.

Hi, I am a Mother of 6 children (27 to 5 yrs. old). First pregnancy twins and 4 after that. All C-Sections. They will cut along your old scar and the hurting will stop. I know changing tables~Oweeeeeeeeeeee! Lol! I am 48 yrs. old and to this day I still feel a slight tingle and you'll want to itch it, no, let me rephrase that, you'll have to itch it. Loling! All scars do that though. I hope this helps.

Hi S.,
I have two c-sections. The scar will take a long time to heal. My youngest is almost 5 and my scar will still get numb sometimes. It will stop hurting though, but lets just say that it will remind you that it is there from time to time(: As far as your second one. They should cut along the same incision line as your first. It will double the scar tissue and my Dr said if I had a third one they probably wouldn't use the same line, because of the scar tissue. My incision is well below the bikini line, so I after the second one I did have some issues with hair folicals along my incision bothering me, but they went away as well. You will be fine, it jsut takes awhile since it is major surgery. Good luck and congratulaions.
A.

I have had three c-sections and they have all been on the bikini line. I think the sensitivity and soreness tend to go away and can take over a year. It is so annoying to get kicked there. With each c-section the tenderness took longer to go away. It has been three years since my last one and sometimes it still can catch my off guard. Good luck. The c-sections aren't so bad.

My daughter will be 1 soon, and I had a c section with her. I had pain and tenderness...and a bit of numbness on and around my scar for quite some time-probably even up to 8 or 9 months! i think thats very normal...especially when you get kicked by your bundle of joy! :) I also will be getting another c section with baby number 2, and they will cut along the old scar.

Hi S.,
They cut along the same line for me when I had my second C-Section which was the bikini line. In fact they used the same line when I had my hysterectomy which caused the wall to weaken and that made me have a hernia because I was cut there 3 times. I got it repaired. They cut me up and down for that surgery. My stomach was really out of shape though. The soreness does eventually go away.

Ditto what everyone has said about the incisional area hurting. And yes they will go into the same incisional area for the second. With my first, I formed a really bad keloid scar and it was ungly. With the second, they actually resected the scar by taking a 1 inch by 5 inch area out and closing it VERY nicely using a plastic surgery technique with a "keith needle". (see if your doctor is willing to close you in this manner vs. staples)All that I have remaining is what appears to be a flesh colored scratch that even other doctors didn't realize that I had a c-section by looking at it.

Hi S.,
Yes this is nomal I also had a c-section and that would happen to me to. It still hurts to this day! And my c-section was 14mos ago. I ask my obgyn about it and he said that you will have you good days and your bad days with it. My only start to get that annoying feeling when it is really cold out or when it is raining out. But you got to remember that they are cutting through all of your mucels so it is a long healing process. And for you second c section they usually cut like a tad bit above the frist c section area. I also had been cut at my bikini line to. That was one question that I had ask my obgyn about if I had a second child where would they cut me and he told me just a bit above the first incision. Well I hope I helped.

A.

This is totally normal. I have had two C-Sections. My doctor told me that the body will take six months just to heal the deep tissue scarring under the incision from the C-Section. Your son kicking it will hurt and you probably should try to avoid those kicks while you are as it seems still healing(that area will be tender for awhile.

A few years after the birth of my first child from C-Section I had some under the skin scaring that at the time would be itching and sometimes would even hurt. Again all normal as my doctor suggested.

But yep your pain is normal as long as it is not bent over, can't breathe kinda pain. Take Care.

It is normal for it to hurt for quite a while (mainly due to scar tissue healing inside). It does go away for the most part. However, you may notice some loss of feeling in the area around the scar due to them severing several small nerves in order to make the incision.

I just had my third by c-section this past summer. They try to cut along the same scar so that you are not left with a lot of scar tissue each time. However, if for some reason there is a lot of scar tissue or other complications, they may have to cut a little differently. The next time you get pregnant, your doctor will look at it. You can ask him then if it will be possible to cut along the same scar. Like I said, unless there are complications they try to cut in the same place to minimize scarring and the amount of scar tissue you may have both internally and externally. (At least, that is what I have been told.)

Also, it takes a good year to completely heal from a c-section. They will often tell you wait AT LEAST a year before getting pregnant again. (If you can. Sometimes accidents happen.)

Good luck. I hope this helps you.

Hi:

Hummm as far as using the same incision as before is more likely. Then again I wouldn't know about that aspect. However, I can tell you that with my last childbirth with a set of twins I did undergo a C-section two years ago. And to this day I still feel the pulls and tears from the incisions of that day. It isn't as severe but it's there.

Mom of 4.

Hi, I have had 2 c-sections in the last four years and I still get twinges of slight pain if I get hit right in the scar. Also, you should end up with only 1 scar. My Dr. used the same inscision for both sections.

S.,
They should use the same scar on any subsequent C-sections. And as far as hurting when your baby kicks it, that in my experience is normal. It takes a while for all the muscle & nerve tissue to get itself back together & heal. I have had 2 C-sections.

Hi Hun,My Name Is Theresa; I've Had 3 C-Sections...Although Mine were straight up & Down because the first was an emergency; they try to go through the same scare & clean up any scare tissue that has accumulated in those years between babies too. The Tenderness takes time to heal because of muscle,tendents,& nerves that were cut. Just be real careful what U do & pickup & watch How U lift Things; UR more Vulnerable for hernias in that area. It May Take Maybe 2yrs before U notice ALL the Strange Tenderness Gone & Some Areas May Not Have Any Feeling At All. After Being Cut So Many Times This Area Loses That Copasity To Feel Outside but inside it still does. After Major Surgery Like This The Body Takes Alittle While To Reconstruct Again Thats' Why They Tell U To Take Awhile Before U Think About Getting Pregnat Again After A C-Section....

It is very normal. I had 2 c/s and still even have a small location that feels numb. With the incision the nerves are also cut and have to grow back. They may not be exactly the same causing possible areas that may be more sensitive, numb, etc. Your next c/s will be on the same scar. The old scar could also sometimes be revised if you have thicker or uneven areas from the original incision.
I am a mother of two(3yo girl & 5yo boy)and also am an L&D RN.

I had a c-section 1 year ago tomorrow. It still 'twinges' at times and if my son kicks me there while changing him it is still a little sore. Keep in mind this is a major surgery and they cut through all of your muscles and it takes more than 5 months for it to heal. There may be some scar tissue as well. To this day I still have some numbness in the area of my belly. And kudos to you for losing al your baby weight! That is so great! Can't help you with the other question about a second c-section as I have had only one.
Christina

S.
Yes it will go away and pretty soon. My girls both kicked me when I was feeding them and it hurt but then you remember that you got this amazing person in your life and nothing else matters. As for your scar, my doctors used the same one and I used two different doctors.

I've had 2 c-sections (soon to be 3), so I'm familiar with what you are saying. I remember it taking several months, even years, until I didn't feel any discomfort at my scar. Naturally, I could tolerate a little more as time went on, but I still noticed discomfort. Even with my second and third pregnancies, I can feeling a pulling sensation depending on how I move. It is normal to have feel this, and you have to remember that everyone heals at a different pace. As for your next c-section, they usually will cut along the old scar and actually remove it. I ended up with a nicer scar the second time!
Hopefully this helps!

I had two c-sections, one with each of my 2 girls. The second c-section they did try to cut along the old scar, but is is hard to get it exactly right on. My last one was 17 months ago and I still can get the annoying pain you are referring to when I get hit, kicked or jumped on in a certain way. I just assume it is normal because of scar tissue. Hope that helps.

My c section scar certainly doesn't hurt any more (3 years since my second child). It is actually pretty numb all around it. I had two c sections and they put the second incision right on top of the other. I call it my zipper!

Hi S., Some pain, espically when you are kicked by a child is normal (they really are strong!). Yes, they normally cut you in the same place the second and even third time around. I have had 3 c-sections and only one scar. After a while it becomes almost numb...it's kinda weird actually. Don't be surprised if they encourage you to try to go vaginal the next time, they tried to talk me into it with my second, but there are certian conditions you have to meet to even try and since my second was bigger than my first I had the second and then a third c-section. Actually if you were in labor before you had your first c-section you will find things much easier and the recovery much faster the second time for a number of reasons. First, it is easier to go though when you aren't in labor. Second you know what to expect so it isn't as stressful and you are more aware of how much pain meds you really need. Good luck and Congrats.

Hi, S.,

I have had two c-sections and yes they will cut at the same spot every time. The pain you are feeling when you are kicked can be normal. They had to cut nerves and the nerves maybe a little more tendor then they would be with out the cut. You are still healing. That or your son has a realy powerful kick. LOL
Give you body time to finish healing, Best of luck!

I've only had one C-section, but the scar hurt for at least a year. My baby is 19 months old now and the scar does still occasionally hurt or itch when I do alot of exercise or housework. I've heard that the pain continues to diminish over time, it just takes a LONG time to go away.

I had a c-section too, and I had the same tenderness for a very long time. It is normal. I used to just bend a little at the changing table to protect my scar from misplaced kicks.

I'm relatively certain that for your next c-section they will make the incision pretty close to your first, but not on top of it (scar tissue isn't great to keep opening). It will still be nice and low. The scars fade really well over time, so I wouldn't worry too much about the appearance. Talk to your ob to find out the particulars of how THEY do things, though.

S., I had two c-sections and emergency abdominal surgury where they opened the c section scar up again. Mu sister who lives in AZ and is into all their homeopathic stuff sent me Herbal Caster Oil and Wool flannel (try stores that sell organic, homeopathic products.) You pour caster oil onto the wool flannel place on your scar, cover with seran wrap and place a heating pad on top. The oil seeps into the new skin helping it to heal. It is relaxing and definately makes the scar fad. You can barely see mine and my OB was amazed how good the scar looked with my last one. Yes they cut on the same scar and try and to avoid any new scarring.
Of course any scar will be sensitive. Mine sometimes tingles with underwear that is lacey or some elastic that may hit it. It will become less painful overtime, and as long as your son is wearing diapers beware of the feet. My 2-yr old still likes to push me away with her feet.

I had a c-section with both pregnancies and it did take a while for the scar to not be tender anymore. I would give it more time. What I found most annoying was it was numb and sensitive above the scar for quite a while. I'm sure it must have lasted longer than six months. When I had my second c-section they basically cut along the same scar, though you can see two scars now because they don't line up perfectly.

Hi

Think everyone heals differently...but
even after almost 4 years, while I am playing with my son and he puts his feet on my belly or if doing cleaning and I bend a certain way I feel a twinge in my incision. Also, I am very numb along the scar. Think what you are feeling is normal...

I am not sure about the hurting part, I don't remember ever being kicked to know, but it is a very serious incision that can take a while to heal. Just call your OBGYN and ask, they will know best.
Now onto the second part, yes, they will try to cut along the same line. Unless you have major scar tissue, they try to keep it the same place so you will have 1 scar.
Hope this helps =)

I'm sorry to say, I had a c-section almost 18 years ago, and it is still numb in some spots. It doesn't hurt anymore of course, but it definitely has a strange feeling to it.

Don't worry, it does go away. I had my third c-section in December. It will take some time because they had to cut through muscles. You will aways have some numbness. If you have a second c-section and they cut the same area, you do not feel as much of this because the skin and muscles have already been cut during the previous c-section.

I just had my second c-section about 6 months ago, and they did cut across my old incision, so it's barely noticeable. As far as pain, I still have pain in my scar, and remember the same for my first 2 years ago. My twin toddlers are always jumping on my stomach and kicking me by accident, and I frequently experience the same thing as you. It does get better, but I found that I always had "phantom" pains because of the healing of the nerves, etc. It took me a good year to feel 100% again. Best of luck and you should continue to improve.

I don't know about anyone else, but I had a c-section 4 years ago and it is still tender around the scar (when pushed on). It is also numb around that area.
I would say that it is normal.
I can't answer about the question about the next c-section. I have not had two c-section.

Hi S. ! My two children did the same thing !! What I did is changing my kids with their legs facing the other side. Instead of being in front of the changing table, I was on the side to avoid them to kick me in the scar. Mine hurt for a long time, and even now, after 3 years of my last child, it's still sensitive when I touch it ! My second scar was a tiny bit higher then the fist one, cause I had a placenta previa and the doctors told me they had to open a little bit higher. My first one was very low. It doesn't really show now. It's still lower than my bikini line so I don't mind at all. These are 2 scars that reminds me of the 2 miracles I had !

I was amazed at how long I felt tender or even a weird sensation along that scar after my C-section. I was the same way...my first major surgery and returned to my pre baby weight yet was worried about the sensations I got there. The doctor assured me that that was normal and it could take even up to a year to get back to "normal". I don't however know about c-section #2. I am at 34 weeks and hoping to go VBAC but we'll see. I look forward to hearing from other moms on that point!!!

Hi S.. I had a c-section with my daughter who is now 7 years old. I too experienced tenderness at the incision sight for about a year. I wouldn't worry about it unless the pain gets worse or does not improve over time. If this happens you may want to talk to your doctor. Regarding you other question about a second c-section, most doctor will do their best to follow the same incision scar. Have you considered a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section) for your second child? This is how I had my son who is now 6 years old. Surgeons are very skilled and there is little chance of tearing now, which was a concern many years ago. I found the experience very fulfilling because it allowed me to play a bigger role in the birthing process for my second child. Other benefits are: recovery time from a vaginal birth is very short (helpful when you have a little one waiting for you at home), and experts believe that children who pass through the birth canal get a dose of there mothers antibodies that child born by c-section do not. I'm not sure if the latter is true because neither of my children get sick very often. Something to think about. I hope I could help.
L. D