C Section Mamas

Ljljljl

How is your recovery going? I'm a week PP and  I'm still in a moderate amount of pain. How long does this last?

mbirdie

I'm exactly 3 weeks and I would say I feel about 90% healed! Just a little muscle soreness if I overdo it and some annoying irritation above my incision.

WiseUsagi

I'm 5 weeks PP and I'm 90%. I guess everyone is different. My recovery was really rough especially the first 2 weeks. I also had a lot more blood loss than is usual and that definitely contributed to my crappy recovery. I was very weak feeling for a while. If say the pain itself was 90% better by 2 weeks though. 

Just don't be too tempted to overdo it. Baby your body. I've took LO out on my own lugging him around in his car seat and lifting groceries and stuff a few times after the 2nd week and ended up in excruciating pain afterward. Don't repeat my mistakes! Even now at 5 weeks there are certain things that will trigger horrible pain if I'm not careful. 

BeatboxBaby

4 weeks PP here. I would say I'm feeling pretty well. Every once in a while it hurts above the incision and is still numb there. Granted I have really taken it easy and been a good girl and listened to the directions of not lifting anything heavier than baby, etc. It does get better though!

wildtot

Just shy of 3 wks pp. Pain has decreased. I get the occasional pain on the left side. My bladder still feels funny. I don't feel the urge to pee and feel weird when I do. Doc said to give it time. If it doesn't get better ongoing to ask to be checked for UTI. I can get over how uncomfortable underwear feel around my incision because it's all semi numb. I hate the itchy healing feeling. 

MrsCayEye

2.5 weeks PP and feeling about 80% back to normal. This time has been a little slower healing than last time, but I wasn't chasing a toddler around then. I have had more soreness this time. 

Missingchampagne

I feel significantly better at 3.5 weeks post partum than I did just a week ago. I went to Old Navy a week ago for some in-between clothes, and just walking from my car to the store made me feel like "oh yeah, I just had surgery, maybe I shouldn't be here". Today, however, I pushed the stroller and walked 3 miles! Heavy lifting is still not happening, but I can walk more and get in/out of bed without thinking twice now. 

I stopped bleeding just shy of 2 weeks post partum. Some days I'll have some spotting, but I notice it's mostly triggered by massaging the area (I have one spot that's really hard with scar tissue so the doctor told me to massage it daily). 

adifrog

I'm 3 weeks PP and thought I was about 90% by 1.5-2 weeks.  This week we've been getting out a little more and I feel like I've gone backwards--maybe 80% now?  I realized it's mostly due to the awkward lifting/carrying of that darn car seat.  I'm trying to be more careful or just let my husband carry it.  We've gone on some walks and it was nice to get out, but I have to take it slow.

linzoirv

4 weeks postpartum here! 

I have to admit, I have been somewhat overdoing it, but I can't really feel any pain at this point. I've been lifting the car seat and a gallon of milk (heaviest items) and I'm back to bending over/picking things off of the floor. 

I'm extremely bummed  about STILL not being able to sleep on my damn stomach. I am sleeping on my back with lots of pillows to support me. I also hate the itchy healing feeling as well around the incision; makes me want to just rip my skin off. 

All in all recovery is going fine.

Question: Is anyone waist training or wearing support garments yet? 

wildtot

@linzoirv I've been wearing the hospital one majority of the time. Gonna try to transition to my belly bandit since it should fit now. I definitely feel much better wearing it but I do because sore if it's for too long (around incision). I put on coconut or vitamin e oil to hopefully help make my skin look better and wear a belly wrap (the ones used early on to keep your pants on) to avoid feeling itchy from the wraps texture.

nikkinbonnie

I'm 9 days PP and so tired of not being 100%. I feel mostly okay but still have intermittent pain and my incision site is very sensitive. I'm dreaming of the day when I can go for a long walk and do some yoga. Right now I can barely pick anything up off the floor and rolling over in bed is so uncomfortable. Plus I'm so afraid of re-injuring myself!

zazouille

Did anyone have significant swelling? How long did it take to go down? I'm only 5 days out, and my lower abdomen/pubis is a huge bump of puffiness - this is not belly pooch, but another bump underneath.

Ljljljl

@zazouille I know exactly what you are talking about... I had it. My doctor said it is normal!!

sseale33

@zazouille I had the same swelling above and below my incision, and really bad in my legs, ankles and feet. The swelling down there was much better after about a week half. Thank goodness... I was terrified it would never be the same again. Legs and ankles were better at about 2.5 weeks. The swelling in my belly is still there though at 3 weeks PP. 

Ljljljl

I got my staples removed a few days ago, and they were replaced by sutures.. OB says they'd fall off on their own, or become weak enough that I can pull them off painlessly... How long did it take for yours to come off??

AEG84

@Ljljljl The steri strips fell off about a week and a half after the staples came out, for me. My dad is a surgeon and said 7-10 days is pretty normal. I was really glad when they came off as I think I had a mild allergic reaction to them.

Did everyone get the same instructions from their doctor about no baths until 6 weeks pp? I'm so sad about that, as I'm normally a bath every day or two kind of person and I really miss that relaxation!

wildtot

I didn't get instructions on baths but u usually don't take one. I was only told minimal water exposure at first until my two week appointment. My stitches resolved by the time I saw my OB at two weeks. She only removed the surgical tape. 

MamaRoni

Ljljljl said:

I got my staples removed a few days ago, and they were replaced by sutures.. OB says they'd fall off on their own, or become weak enough that I can pull them off painlessly... How long did it take for yours to come off??

I'm pretty sure you mean steri strips.... sutures are stitches and they don't pull off....

linzoirv

AEG84 said:

@Ljljljl The steri strips fell off about a week and a half after the staples came out, for me. My dad is a surgeon and said 7-10 days is pretty normal. I was really glad when they came off as I think I had a mild allergic reaction to them.

Did everyone get the same instructions from their doctor about no baths until 6 weeks pp? I'm so sad about that, as I'm normally a bath every day or two kind of person and I really miss that relaxation!

I got the same instructions about water. No baths and swimming until 6 weeks postpartum. They want to make sure your cervix is completely closed before doing those things to avoid infection.

AEG84

linzoirv said:

AEG84 said:

@Ljljljl The steri strips fell off about a week and a half after the staples came out, for me. My dad is a surgeon and said 7-10 days is pretty normal. I was really glad when they came off as I think I had a mild allergic reaction to them.

Did everyone get the same instructions from their doctor about no baths until 6 weeks pp? I'm so sad about that, as I'm normally a bath every day or two kind of person and I really miss that relaxation!

I got the same instructions about water. No baths and swimming until 6 weeks postpartum. They want to make sure your cervix is completely closed before doing those things to avoid infection.

Huh. It doesn't seem like women who delivered vaginally had that restriction, so that seems odd

cmjenkies

AEG84 said:

linzoirv said:

AEG84 said:

@Ljljljl The steri strips fell off about a week and a half after the staples came out, for me. My dad is a surgeon and said 7-10 days is pretty normal. I was really glad when they came off as I think I had a mild allergic reaction to them.

Did everyone get the same instructions from their doctor about no baths until 6 weeks pp? I'm so sad about that, as I'm normally a bath every day or two kind of person and I really miss that relaxation!

I got the same instructions about water. No baths and swimming until 6 weeks postpartum. They want to make sure your cervix is completely closed before doing those things to avoid infection.

Huh. It doesn't seem like women who delivered vaginally had that restriction, so that seems odd

I delivered vaginally and those have been the instructions with both of my births. 

AEG84

@cmjenkies maybe it just depends on the doctors? I know several of the mamas on fb have mentioned taking baths and I'm so jealous!

SophiaAlbert

My recovery was almost too good in terms that I may have taken it too lightly. Back to walking 30 mins and more after 5 days, by now, 3 weeks pp, I am walking and biking whereever I need to go (european here, we don't have a csr...) the scar is healing well. I am very scared of adhesions . Do you girls massage your scar ?

wildtot

I asked my doc and she said no to leave it alone because it's still healing inside. The inside incision heals slower I guess. I still feel around a bit and gently rub it with coconut oil. Im also concerned about adhesions since im very prone to them. I remember reading stuff about a c section massage that you start away from it and work your way in. I am 4 wks pp (almost 5) and things are looking/feeling better down there. I still feel sore inside sometimes if I over do it and just spotting (only have to wear a liner). 

Knottie99642114

3 weeks post partum. I'd say I'm about 90%. I still have pain an inch or so above my incision. My stretch marks are sore.  I believe I have internal clips. No staples or stitches and my steristrips came off after 7 days. My incision looks great. I'm still bleeding some. Not much though. 

SaVy_05

I'm 7 weeks pp and feel 99% normal. Only occasional uncomfortableness when my 3yo climbs on me and puts pressure on my incision. 

SaVy_05

^edited for typo 

juana0909

7 weeks pp, 99% recovered, recovery wasnt bad,  but there was like an inch of my incision that did not want to heal and it had to be cauterize with silver nitrate, but other than that no complications, as long as i dont over do it or wear something too tight im good.

Missingchampagne

5 weeks post partum, so much cervical mucus recently wtf?!? I'm not sure if I'm ovulating, in which case this is WAY more than I have ever had - or if it's something else like losing my mucus plug since I never did naturally?

WiseUsagi

Missingchampagne said:

5 weeks post partum, so much cervical mucus recently wtf?!? I'm not sure if I'm ovulating, in which case this is WAY more than I have ever had - or if it's something else like losing my mucus plug since I never did naturally?

Omg I'm having the same issue. Mine is super thick, like I've never had it be this thick before. I also never lost my plug so maybe it's related somehow?

Missingchampagne

@WiseUsagi So icky. We're finally cleared to have sex and now we have GLOBS coming out of us? Life isn't fair.

Andie41

I have had 2 sections. The first was a tougher recovery...I was in moderate pain for at least 2-3 weeks. This time around has been easier (I am 6 weeks PP tomorrow). I've found that the pain of the incision is replaced by general muscle soreness...I'm at that point now. I think being in some pain 2 weeks out is totally normal. Keep up with taking ibuprofen and/or your pain meds, there is no shame in that! Make sure you don't do too much too fast...it's amazing how little "too much" can be! By another 2 weeks or so, you'll feel worlds better.

WiseUsagi

For some reason I've been extremely sore the last few days around my incision site. It's a deep ache that I just can't shake and it gets worse with any physical activity. I wore LO around Target for about an hour today and when I got back to the car I was nearly in tears I was so sore. I'm 8 weeks PP and was cleared for normal activity by my doctor so I don't understand why it's so bad.

I thought about calling my doctor but I don't want to seem like a crybaby. 

cosmobella

@WiseUsagi I'd call your doctor. That kind of pain should be checked out. 

I'm pissed because I finally stopped bleeding between weeks 4 and 5 and last night at 6 and 1/2 weeks I'm bleeding again. This time it's like I have my period. WTF uterus?

wildtot

I get a sore feeling as well but I'm 5 weeks pp. I'm be seeing my doc on Friday for final check up. I keep telling myself it's healing but it's a bit concerning that it's always the left side majority of the time. My pain is also above the incision and feels tender to the touch when I over do it. My bleeding is pretty much over except for random spots when I over do it.

Missingchampagne

I'm 6 weeks out and I think I'm getting my period, too.

WiseUsagi

I got my period on Sunday. So upset about it. I only BF and pump so my doctor said not to expect it for a few months. LIES! 

@Knottie2891384 my pain is also mostly concentrated on the left side. I think I will call my doctor because it's worrying me.

wildtot

The left side is also the numb part so maybe it has to do with that (nerve endings?) I sometimes feel better if I wear a wrap. I thinks it's from getting up and down from sitting and the stairs. I'll update after I see my doc tomorrow. I've been feeling crampy lately like a period is coming so I might be joining that party soon.

Andie41

WiseUsagi said:

I got my period on Sunday. So upset about it. I only BF and pump so my doctor said not to expect it for a few months. LIES! 

@Knottie2891384 my pain is also mostly concentrated on the left side. I think I will call my doctor because it's worrying me.

Have you ladies been carrying around your LOs in their carseats? If you carry it on the right side, it could definitely be tough on your left side abs. I've felt that when I carry her around too much. Carseats are so awkward to carry!

wildtot

I have not carried it at all. I will occasionally get the pain just from being home. 

SophiaAlbert

Question :are you swollen above your incision? I still have a clearly visible swelling. Looks like a sausage under my skin...