C/S moms

ala_1220 · June 2010

So, because of my surgery I will have to have C/Ss. I've been in a lot of pain trying to move, and I can't imagine having to take care of a baby right now. I've had a lot of help with my parents here and DH.

I know i will be in a lot of pain then, but is it different because you have a baby to show for it? Tell me about your experience.

AggieDee · June 2010

The sooner you move after the surgery, the better you will feel. I stayed on my pain meds and didn't really have too much pain. I was out shopping 5 days pp and actually thought about hitting up the Nutcracker Market at 7 days pp.

ala_1220 · June 2010

I'm moving, but maybe not enough? I get up, walk around the house, go to the bathroom, eat at the table, etc...but I get so tired, in pain, and get dizzy so I can't do it for long. Maybe when you have a baby you HAVE to move, so you may do recover faster with a C/S, than I am now.

Yesterday I took a shower....sat in a chair so I could do it myselft. Then afterwards I was so tired and in so much pain I was blacking out. I didn't pass out, but I did throw up and that killed me.

Tomorrow will be 5 days post op and I can't imagine getting out and going shopping!!!!

darva · June 2010

Each one has been different for me... and each one easier in different ways. With Micaela, I was very much like you are now... even a shower just wore me out and I didn't walk 'upright' for like 2 weeks. I'm certain that a lot of that was due to the fact that I had been in labor for several days prior to the c-section, so my body was just TIRED.

With Kaitlyn, I was sore but NOTHING like with #1. I was going up and down stairs with no issues by day 7. I was at Target walking around and while it would tire me out.. it was doable. I had no issues with recovery at all with the exception of pulling my incision open twice. They gave me tape strips to hold the skin together and I took it easy for a day or so to give it time to heal, but overall I felt pretty good.

With Samantha... I was sick after the anesthesia wore off. I couldn't nurse her for a good 10 hours because moving at all resulted in me puking. Once we were past that, I was okay. I had a little more pain this time around but over all I was up and moving pretty well. I had a couple of issues with the incision... I'm certain that whoever did it this time just sucked at closing. lol Even at 5w PP it was still oozing, which caused a lot of my discomfort. Had it not been for that I would have likely been a-okay. I was back at work 7w PP.

Suzi-G- · June 2010

I know this isn't the case for most women, but I honestly did not have a lot of pain. Changing from lying down to sitting up and vice versa was hard for the first week or so but once I was upright I only had minimal pain, and usually only when I laughed, sneezed, etc.

From talking to friends who had c-sections I think some of it has to do w/ your body, how fast you heal, what kind of shape you were in to start w/, etc. But I also think some of it has to do with the surgeon and how carefully they opened you and how well they put you back together. I did not have any external stitches or staples, and I've heard a lot of women complain about those, so I think that's a little more comfortable.

I also know some women had a really hard c-section recovery AND a really easy one, so maybe it's just luck of the draw.

ala_1220 · June 2010

Suzi-G-:

I know this isn't the case for most women, but I honestly did not have a lot of pain. Changing from lying down to sitting up and vice versa was hard for the first week or so but once I was upright I only had minimal pain, and usually only when I laughed, sneezed, etc.

From talking to friends who had c-sections I think some of it has to do w/ your body, how fast you heal, what kind of shape you were in to start w/, etc. But I also think some of it has to do with the surgeon and how carefully they opened you and how well they put you back together. I did not have any external stitches or staples, and I've heard a lot of women complain about those, so I think that's a little more comfortable.

I also know some women had a really hard c-section recovery AND a really easy one, so maybe it's just luck of the draw.

I only have internal stitches and steri strips on the outside. I can roll out of the bed myself and once I stand I'm ok...I just get really, really tired and get a little dizzy when I do get up. And it depends how much I have to pee when I do have to get up from the bed. I am passing more gas now and had my first poo today...so hopefully that will make me feel better Embarrassed

This will be great motivation to use my new treadmill (that was delivered yesterday) that much more!!!

duchessII81 · June 2010

Ditto Suzi... most of my pain came from the transition from reclining to upright, laughing, coughing, and sneezing. Some soon-after-surgery gas pains or all of a sudden realizing that I *really* had to pee... I didn't take Rx pain meds after leaving the hospital, just OTC Tylenol or ibuprofen. The staples were nothing - they were removed before I left the hospital and didn't hurt a bit.

I wasn't in good shape going in but the experience wasn't bad at all - easier than I expected. I found the stairs to be really rough that first week at home so I set up a base camp downstairs to keep the trips up and down minimal. And driving on a bumpy road was uncomfortable the first month.

Nanner · June 2010

My experience:

I have had 3 uterine surgeries: 1 myomectomy and 2 c-sections. I can tell you right now that my myomectomy recovery was 100x worse than either of my c-sections. Like you, I had a sizeable fibroid. It was intramural (within the uterine wall) and like 10 or 12 cm. It was a month before I could even think about driving again, and 6 weeks before I started feeling back to normal. Lots and lots of pain. The c-sections were painful, no lie, but much less painful compared to the myo. I'm guessing because not only did they cut through the uterine wall, but they also had to cut the fibroid out. More cutting = more pain in my book.

It sounds like you're moving around quite a bit for just 2 days post-op. I think you're doing great. I had to stay in the hospital for 5 days because my plumbing took forever to start working again! And because of that, I couldn't eat regular food. I remember bursting into tears when the staff brought in my lunch of chicken broth and jello for the 3rd day in a row.

Having the baby definitely helps your recovery by a) making you move more out of your comfort zone, and b) keeping your thoughts occupied from the pain!

Hang in there!

ETA: I read again and saw that you're 4 days post op. But you're still doing great!

kat.in.the.hat · June 2010

I think one of the differences is that with a c/s, you're able to stay in the hospital longer, at least 48 hours. That time helps a lot because you're not trying to feel normal, you're just resting, moving a bit, and taking care of the baby.

I was lucky and got to stay in for five days. While it wasn't the most fun time in my life, the enforced quiet time was very good for my body and I was fairly fully recovered by the time I got discharged.

TexasPaige · June 2010

The c-section is the only surgery I've ever had. I described the pain around one part of my incision as white hot. That one spot hurt badly but for just a few days. I actually was getting around pretty well at a week postpartum. I went out of town (1.5 hour drive) two weeks postpartum, and that didn't bother me at all. I felt pretty much normal by then. If I overdid it, my body let me know.

My mom had some fibroids removed between her two c-sections, and she said that was very painful.

I agree with kat that staying in the hospital a bit longer probably does help with the recovery as long as you move around when they let you.

stephelias · June 2010

I had a scheduled c/s. I had never had surgery prior to having my daughter so I was really worried. Like pp said, you get to stay in the hospital longer. My nurses took great care of me and made sure I was able to move around ok before I was discharged. I had the option of staying another night but I was good to go.

The hardest part was training myself to move around without using my abdominal muscles. One of my nurses showed me how to get out of bed without being in too much pain so that helped a lot. I was afraid to get up and go to the bathroom because it really did hurt. DH was a huge help, and I think that's probably one of the most important things. I think we had been home a couple days before I even changed her diaper for the first time. For night feedings, he always brought her to me.

I'd say the recovery went by pretty quick. I was BFing so I was trying not to load up on the pain meds they prescribed me and I still did pretty well pain-wise.

The good thing about it is that it's somewhat predictable since it will be scheduled. You won't have to go into labor and that's definitely a plus (it is for me anyway)! The recovery is not too bad of a trade-off IMO.

chrisbride04 · June 2010

With my c/s, I started noticing a decrease in the pain about 2 days post-op. Of course I was in the hospital for 4 days following surgery and getting pain meds as needed. The day I was released we made 2 stops on the way home and I managed to get in and out of the car pretty easily. For a week or so post-op it would hurt to get up and down, from either sitting or laying. 6 days post-op I took DS to the pedi, got my staples out, and ran some errands with my mom driving. 2 weeks post op I'd say I was back at 90-100%, driving and doing normal activities. Went back to work 7 weeks post-op. I hope my recovery from any future c-sections is just as easy.

lilycat · June 2010

My first was painful and getting up and down for the baby was hard. I relied on help.

My husband is a well trained man from the experience. Babies are brought by him to me for nursing at night. It is a habit that started after my first c-section and has not died. He's wonderful.

My second section was much easier. If all of yours are like that, it will not be too bad.

I recommend staying ahead of the pain through medication. This may have been the key difference between my two experiences. It may have just been luck the second time.

Good luck. You make it work; that's really all you can do. Draw on your support network as much as possible.

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