Massaging the uterus in recovery??

athomas2424 · December 2013

Did they do this to you after your c-section in recovery?? I had it done with my first 2 and it was the WORST PAIN EVER.........like the c-section itself was totally fine and I felt nothing but this massaging of the uterus was what killed me. Enough to make me not want to go through it again. I've had some friends that say their hospitals do not do this at all!! And some say they've had it done. Just wondering your experiences. I'm wondering if I can tell them i do not want it done or if it is mandatory?

emwaiting · December 2013

I had it done and it wasn't pleasant at all but not bad enough that I wouldn't go through it again to have another child. The word "massage" should not be used when they are talking about that because to me massages are generally a relaxing and enjoyable thing but this was not!

slwprincess · December 2013

Yes... They did it after my second (I don't remember it with my first though). It was pretty bad and I was even still partially numbed from the spinal! I definitely remember it taking my breath away it was so uncomfortable.

Mrs. Alice · December 2013

Yes I had it done some in my recovery. I felt like my spinal wore off really fast and I could feel everything. The pain was REALLY bad from that but I know it's necessary. It's very important for them to assess this during your recovery to ensure your uterus is staying firm so you don't hemorrhage. Sometimes the "massage" is because you are having heavy bleeding and/or clots or your uterus is boggy and needs to firm up.

LittleFish1 · December 2013

I recall the dr pre-closing up saying they got all of the placenta out, the streching and tugging as they put everything back, and about to be wheeled to the recovery room, then waking up and my LO was across the revovery room and my nurse was checking vitals and brought over LO to put on me to nurse. DH doesn't remember anything about my abdomen being touched by the nurse, nor do I. Maybe depends upon the situation?

When my sister had her kids (neither were by csection) they did that to help her deliver the placenta & she said was more painful then the birth itself.

KellyAnne82 · December 2013

After my C, the nurse did it a couple times (no pain) and then instructed me to do it as often as I could stand it. Early on in the afternoon (c was at 1:20pm) she said I was feeling a bit 'boggy' which I gathered wasn't good, so I stepped it up (it also made me think of cranberries-guess I was pretty banged out on pain meds, LOL). Breast feeding helped shrink my ute down some more and holy hell-those contractions were rugged!

zbeesma86 · December 2013

savannah_girl said:

it is called a fundal massage..it is done to express blood and clots and make the uterus firm up to prevent excessive bleeding. they do this is vaginal deliveries too. it is standard

yep- I was hemorrhaging and they had to do this.

the part that sucks royally is that you were just cut open! so they are putting pressure on an incision. my spinal had wore off. it was horrible. the nurse was like, squeeze my hand, and I was like whaaaat, next thing I know my OB is pressing on my uterus... I wasn't expecting that.

oh and they did it at least 4 times... it was horrible.

DreamDisney · December 2013

hls19 said:

savannah_girl said:

it is called a fundal massage..it is done to express blood and clots and make the uterus firm up to prevent excessive bleeding. they do this is vaginal deliveries too.

it is standard

yep- I was hemorrhaging and they had to do this.

the part that sucks royally is that you were just cut open! so they are putting pressure on an incision. my spinal had wore off. it was horrible. the nurse was like, squeeze my hand, and I was like whaaaat, next thing I know my OB is pressing on my uterus... I wasn't expecting that.

oh and they did it at least 4 times... it was horrible.

I'm with her. It was terrible. But I knew they pushed most of the blood out and I didn't have any pain meds in me when they did it. Wasn't fun at all.

ksimo6 · December 2013

They hung a bag if pitocin after my section... Which was freaking horrible AND they did the massages. I understand why but it was unpleasant.

Foutzie44 · December 2013

savannah_girl said:
it is called a fundal massage..it is done to express blood and clots and make the uterus firm up to prevent excessive bleeding. they do this is vaginal deliveries too.

it is standard

This. I had it done periodically the first 24hrs bc I had alot of bleeding...it was very uncomfortable, but not intolerable

jknigh8 · December 2013

My hospital doesn't do it, but I do know ppl that have had it done and said it was painful

mommytoconnor · December 2013

Im an OB nurse and you should have had uterine massage. This is to make sure your uterus is clamping back down to prevent bleeding. It's not comfortable but necessary. The only time your shouldn't have uterine massage is when you have a tubal ligation done. This is standard for postpartum patients to make sure you are not bleeding internally after delivery.

Kaymee · January 2014

mommytoconnor said:
Im an OB nurse and you should have had uterine massage. This is to make sure your uterus is clamping back down to prevent bleeding. It's not comfortable but necessary. The only time your shouldn't have uterine massage is when you have a tubal ligation done. This is standard for postpartum patients to make sure you are not bleeding internally after delivery.

I am curious as to why they shouldn't do it if you've had a tubal. I had one with my RCS 6 weeks ago, and they still pressed on my stomach afterwards...

emberlee3 · January 2014

Yes, but I think I was still numb from the epidural. I can't really remember it. I know my uterus was "boggy" and I bled a lot, so they had to massage even more and then give me a medication every 6 hours for 48 hrs to contract my uterus. That was with my second LO. Combined with the after-pains from nursing, it was quite painful.

shamyfowler · January 2014

I had it done. I remember the nurse apologizing and saying it was going to be really uncomfortable but necessary. I don't remember it hurting that bad but I might have still been drugged up pretty good.

mommytoconnor · January 2014

Im an OB nurse and you should have had uterine massage. This is to make sure your uterus is clamping back down to prevent bleeding. It's not comfortable but necessary. The only time your shouldn't have uterine massage is when you have a tubal ligation done. This is standard for postpartum patients to make sure you are not bleeding internally after delivery.

I am curious as to why they shouldn't do it if you've had a tubal. I had one with my RCS 6 weeks ago, and they still pressed on my stomach afterwards...

Typically we don't like to massage the uterus alot when you have a tubal. Because if you do a lot of pressure then you can actually cause bleeding from the tubal site. They should have done fundal checks which is when they lightly press on your abdomen and check to make sure your uterus is firm and not "boggy" which would mean you are bleeding too much. This is different from massage. You definately need to have fundal checks with light pressure to make sure bleeding is controlled.