Just Had a C-section

I had a Csection done with my son (18month ago). I remember that I was actually really surprised how quickly I recovered...basically in 2 weeks time I was able to drive etc. and I did not have to take any pain killers after a 10 days or so after the Csection.The incision itself was tender for about a month or so and it felt strange when I touched it and it was really big (now you can not even see it).But I was not definitelly in pain up to my belly button...do not be shy and call your doc.This sound like you are in lot of pain. Everybody is diieferent..a colleague of mine who had csection was on pain killers a month.I remember calling docs almost every night for the firs week once I was released from Hospital. Beleive me they are used to it.
Good luck.

A.,
You are going to be tender for awhile. I had my first c-section 7 yrs ago. It was the worse pain I have ever experienced and it didn't help that my incision was also infected. It was at least 2 months after the birth of my daughter before I began to feel somewhat normal again. The best advice I can give you is to take it easy and not to over do it. You may also be able to take OTC pain relievers depending on whether or not you are breast feeding. Check with your doctor.

Hope this helps.
C.

I had two c-section. one eight years ago and one 4months ago. Each one was different. In the beginining a had soreness in the incision area but what help is walking around. Dont move around more than you can take your time to heal. My first c-section I only had soreness the first week, i had staples with that one. This previous one I had stitches and it was more painful. After about four weeks i was fine. Just a little tenderness in my stomach. My advice to you is take it easy, when you can walk around. Dont push yourself your body needs to heal. What also helped me is for both c-sections i left the strips(bandages) on till they fell off. it keeps the scar very skinny. you can barely see mine. you can write me anytime at ____@____.com if you have any more questions.

I had my first c-section on Aug 9th and let me tell you I knaow exactly what you are going through. Your question about being in pain....yes it is normal. I still had pain 2 months after my delivery date. The pain will decrease, but it does take time. My best advise, take it easy. I know that is hard to do with muliple children (I have a 5 year old too) but try as much as you can. Also be aware of feeling of depression that might onset due to the fact that you have limited mobility. I got really frustrated that I couldn't do even the simpliest of tacks like sit up when I was lying on the floor. I over did it and I ended up ripping the incision open making my recovery time even longer. You will get better. It just takes time. If you need any support please feel free to contact me. I know what it is like and I am glad that at the time I had another mother to turn to for help and support as well. ____@____.com

Best of luck and congrats on your new addition.

I had a C-section with my first (4 years ago) and due to have another one in 2 months. As I recall, the incision started hurting less from the outside in. The middle spot hurt last and even when that stopped hurting, If I pulled up on my skin (you know, the ugly droppy tummy skin that's there), I would experience a dull ache. If you get a fever, which is a sign of infection, see your doctor right away.

Hi A.! I have had 3 c-sections. The first one was very hard and painful. It will get better though. Just try to hold on. Try a heating pad or cold pack, which ever you prefer. Don't forget the pain relievers. Did the hospital or your doctor send you home with motrin?

My son was born via c-section in Jan 2005. In all honesty, I still don't feel quite "normal" around the incision area. It doesn't hurt, though it seems like it did for a long while aftewards. It feels almost kind of numb now. I don't notice it until I touch around it, it's like rubbing your foot when it's fallen asleep. I do remember those early weeks though when just bending down to pick up something (like the baby!) was unbearable pain. I never once cried from pain the whole time I was in labor, or for the 3 hours I pushed before they decided to go c-section, but in the hospital the morning after my surgery they were a little lax in bringing my pain meds in time and I did cry. Every day gets a little bit better, though, and eventually it just doesn't hurt at all anymore.

Hi A.,
I had a c-section a year and a half ago and it is still tender when I have my time of the month or if one of my kids jumps on my stomach the right way. I was in pain for awhile after mine, and my pain wasn't necessarily all in the incision, I could feel where they cut on the inside which might be what you are feeling. I agree with the other comment you got that you should call your doctor if you have questions. I was told with the c-section I probably have a little of nerve damage which is why I can feel exactly where they cut inside and it may always be tender. Of course I am not in horrible pain in anyway at this point but sometimes it can be uncomfortable. I am now pregnant again and get sore and the doctor said it could be from stretching and pushing against the old incision. I hope you feel better soon but I don't think what you are feeling is abnormal....goodluck!!!!!!!!!

Hello A.,
I had my 1st C-section 4 years ago and the 1st 2 weeks was the hardest to get used to. Even though I am used to constantly moving, I took everything slow because I did not want the healing process to take any longer than necessary. The pain for me only lasted 2 weeks, but the healing took about 6 months before I was feeling back to normal. I just had my 2nd C-section in December and the recovery was much quicker, but I also remembered what to do and what not to do from the first. I also have a 4 year old that I had to deal with this time. Just take it easy for the 1st 2 weeks and then see how you feel. Take any offers of help and relax and enjoy the baby. If you have stairs, I would try to avoid them for the 1st 2 weeks, trust me sleep downstairs. Any extreme pain or irritance, call your doctor, otherwise use the motrin and percuset they gave you. Congrats and enjoy your baby and even though you won't relaize it now, this 1st year will fly by before you know it so enjoy. I've been through this twice so if you need someone to talk to, you can email me and I'll gladly try to help. Good Luck
A.

I had a c section last January. I had a lot of pain for a while. I would talk to your doctor about it just in case, but I remember it took a long time to feel normal. For months I had little twinges in my stomach too. My son is a year old and now I feel fine. I hope that helps.

when i had my daughter over 2yrs ago by c section it was unexpected & b/c i was always trying 2 do things around the house my incision opened on one part causing me to have to stuff it with a medicated gause... my advice to u is do as little as possible, take ur medication & climb the steps as least as possible.. good luck

Of course it is important to have a doctor look at it to make sure it's not something more serious. It took me up to 8 months to recover fully from my C-section. Sometimes it takes people up to a year and others recover in a month. It just depends on the person so be patient with yourself. I was very tender, especially if I sneezed or moved around too quickly. It felt like my insides were sloshing around. Some people told me that wearing a band around your tummy can help with the tenderness. I guess it depends on what type of tenderness you have. Take the medication they give you on schedule. Sometimes that helps. I couldn't because I breastfed and my baby wasn't haven't a great reaction to the meds. good luck. feel free to email me if you have more questions.

Y.

Hi,

My sister had a c section, she is also a nurse, and I am on the phone with her now. She said if there is no readness, puffiness, puss, or fever, etc. , then it should be normal. Call your ob just in case.

i had a c-section in apr of 2005. and yea they do hurt for a good while after but i would express your pain to the doctor on your next visit or call him. i kno my mid section hurt whenever trying get up or down. and it always hurts when i sneezed i wish you the best.

hi, i had a c-section on feb 22nd. However, they stitched me on the inside and glued the outside, do you have staples? mine is still numb and depending on the way i move i am in alot of pain... I know they told me no housework, no lifting anything heavier than the baby, and no steps... You may be sore bc your doing to much too.... If you are in a large amount of pain you should call your doc but i also had to go for an incision check 2 wks after as well so you may want to check into that.... Hope this helps some

I had a C-section with my first. It did not start to heal correctly and they took out the staples and let it heal from the inside out. It did heal okay, but it was painful for a few weeks. Just make sure their is no puss or strange odor coming from the incision. Their is still a sort of numbness in the scar area. It did take awhile for me to get back on my feet. Good luck to you.

Hi A.,

From what you described, it seems normal, but if you are concerned, make an appointment with your doctor to be checked out. I felt nothing except numbness for the first week of mine, then I felt very tender. I healed very well, but every now and then, I still get 'tenderness spells'. My advice is to take it easy, but don't baby it. No real heavy lifting, no laundry, etc. But get up, go to the bathroom...walk around the house for five minutes at a time, that kind of thing.
You are right that they don't tell you much at the hospital, but remember, there is a number on your discharge papers, so call it and ask away. Nothing is dumb or stupid.
I hope that this helps. For the pain, you can take tylenol, or you can use a cool or warm compress (keep it dry and don't use anything that is cold or hot...just cool or warm).
Good luck and congratulations on your new little one!

A.,
I just had my second and last c-section on 3/6. The area under your belly button will hurt as your uterus recovers and shriinks back to normal size. That area hurts me especially when I breast feed. Where your incision is well thats also normal. They had to cut through muscle and tissue and move around organs and then somehow put them all back and sew you up or clamp you up. Recovery takes a long time. Then theres that whole numbness issue. Try not to carry too much weight. Be extra careful lifting your 2 yr old.
Now I am not saying you shouldn't write down every weird symptom and talk to your doctor at your 6 wk check up. He/she will check your incision and your recovery progress. I strongly suggest asking when it will be ok to start exercising or anything they suggest that will aid recovery. One thing I do know keep up with the vitamins and the water and try to eat a healthy diet. Remember this was abdominal surgery. Not that you can possibly forget. There are several books that may help. Like What To Expect The 1st Year, if you still have it from last time, has some suggestions.
Take care of yourself you'll need the streangth with 2 in the house.
oh and a word of advice try not to leave the baby alone with the two year old. my mother had been getting laundry out of the dryer and had left the room for just a moment while my sister at age 2 took me from my bassinet and draggged me around by my head when I was a newborn. She didn't mean my any harm but she was 2. My mother is still scarred and I am lucky to be alive.

You didn't say whether this was your first c-section or not but I am assuming it is. I had 3 of them and each one got progressivly worse. My OB told me that there are nerves around the incision that "bundle" and can cause a lot of pain. It really does take a good month before you are back in the game. Try not to over-do anything (yeah, I know you have a 2 year old!)because that won't help the healing.

Of course, I am no doctor so you definitely want to check with your OB.

Good luck!

Hi A.,

I had a c-section with my son. The First 2 weeks are the hardest. I still found I was tender for a good month. And until you start exercising your tummy again it will still feel tight when you do the bending and lifting. My son was a 10lbs baby and I had to be very careful just lifting him that I didn't tear anything in the first two weeks. Take it easy, I know with another child that isn't always easy but it really is the only way to make sure you heal the way your body should.

Good luck with the new little one:) S. R

I personally haven't had a c-section (yet) but I know of people who had pain for up to a month after the surgery. What does your doctor say? Is the incision infected?

i have had 2 c-sections, and yes i was still tender after 2 weeks. for me, the best way to recover fast was to walk, walk, walk, walk. after my first c-section it took me 5 weeks to start to feel better. but with my second i did much more moving and walking and i was running the steps and feeling GREAT by 2 weeks. but you know if never hurts to just call your OB and see what they say.

good morning
I had a c-section with my only child 5 years ago.
It was given on a emergency type situation.
afterwards I experience some extreme pain with my incision.
at my first check up after having my son, the nurse discovered infection had set in. (being a new mom i was scared as hell, i already felt like my body was going to rip apart if i pull the wrong way.) but the doctor said that it was cause by my skin growning over the staples.
make sure you keep an eye on your incision if you see any redness or swallen go to the doctor to make sure no infection set in.
the best advice i can give you take it easy, avoid heavy lifting or strainful activity. congrats on the new baby and well wishes with the family.

Hello A.. My name is L. and I'm 25. I have had 2 c-sections. The first one was very sore for at least 4 weeks. So it is normal to be that sore, but if it gets to bothersome you should call you OB. I did find one thing that helps with the soreness. A belly binder. They work great. I had a very hard time moving around because of the pain and soreness. It helped me alot. Well I hope that this helps you

Hi A.,
It is normal to have discomfort for some time. I had two c-sections and was sore for about 4-6 weeks with my son. It is normal don't be alarmed. Just be careful and dont push yourself to fast to recover. You tend to forget the pain after a while due to taking care of family needs. Good luck with everything and if you just want to talk my email is ____@____.com
L.

Hi A.. I had a C-section when I gave birth to my last child. It was an emergency C-section, and was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. It takes a bit of time for your incision to heal. It will seem like forever. It will be tender for a long time. Even when it is finally healed up, you will still have no sensation or feeling in that area for about six months to a year. It was the weirdest thing to touch the scar after it was healed up, and not be able to feel my own touch. Its just that they have sliced through your nerve endings, and it takes a long time for them to be normal again. As long as you care for your incision properly, you really shouldn't have any trouble.

A.
call your OB and discuss the pain with the doctor. I had a csection and i was walking and carrying stuff the next day. I don't remember any pain except for the day of birth.
Good luck
vlora

Have you found ICAN yet? http://www.ican-online.org/

I had a C-section about 18 months ago. Recovery was rough. It hurt to sit on the toilet, it hurt to crawl into bed. It hurt when I was up at night pacing around with a one week old who just would NOT sleep. I definatly do not want to co through that experience again. I never felt tender so much as I was numb. I'm still numb actually. The area all around my incision is COMPLETELY numb. Once in a while I will feel a little nerve pain in that same area.
Best advice I have about your recovery is take it easy. I know that will tough with a 2 year old. But you are recovering from a MAJOR procedure. Take care of yourself and I hope you have a successful recovery.