C-section check in

kaking78 · April 2014

After some of this past week's posts it seems like we could use another one of these. How is everyone feeling, physically and emotionally? Let's make this a safe place to vent and/or AW!

I'm improving physically. The wounds on my incision are improving and I'm almost pain free. I'm still a little swollen in the lower abdomen.

Emotionally, not being cleared to drive is killing me! I miss the outside world. DH takes us places when he can, but he's gone 12 hours a day from Wednesday-Saturday. On the plus side, I do enjoy not having to wear a bra.

legallyginger · April 2014

Physically I'm feeling great (8w pp). I get random needle pains in my incision sometimes, but nothing super painful, and above my incision is still numb.

Emotionally, I'm not sure. My OB told me that with the conehead J had when he came out, its likely my pelvis is too narrow for a vaginal birth. It was pretty hard to hear that. Since we got married I had been imagining the moment that the doctor would place our baby on my chest and DH could look down at both of us and our family would be started. Knowing I probably won't ever get that is tough.

coreyeliz · April 2014

I'm doing ok physically. My 6 week appointment is tomorrow and I'm hoping I can try to jog this weekend. My incision got infected slightly, but is fine now. The numbness is what's still bothering me. Six weeks out I'm still numb down to the top of my vulva on the left side.

And that's what's killing me emotionally too. I'm so worried it will never get better and my sex life will be altered by the lack of feeling. I'm so tired of doctors just saying these things are normal. I just want to know if there's anything I can do. I don't know. I guess you can say I'm still struggling.

mrsdahamm · April 2014

I'm feeling back to normal physically and emotionally. Hell I mowed my huge hilly yard today!! Woot! I'm 12 weeks pp though so I have a jump start on many of you. It really does get better, I promise.

@coreyeliz‌ I had a lot if numbness for a while too. I don't remember exactly how long. Have you tried lightly rubbing your skin? It may help "wake up" the nerves.

@WisconsinCheese12‌ I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I know how you feel, and I even had a little bit of time to prepare before they took me back. We only have a couple pics of the three of us in recovery and they're pretty terrible. But I try to just feel lucky I have any at all.

@legallyginger‌ I was told the same thing. I asked if I could try for vbac and OB said I "could" but he didn't see it happening. It's definitely a grieving process.

MA&CB · April 2014

I have my 6 week check-up tomorrow. I'm feeling good physically - much more like myself this week. I've started doing some walking with the dog and the babe and some light yardwork and have been happy that I still feel good and not sore at the end of the day. I also feel like I have more energy and just feel more normal all around. My belly is kind of numb, but the incision itself feels fine and is pretty well healed.

twinlove314 · April 2014

I'm doing great, I even surprised my ob at my checkup

I'm actually surprised that the c section didn't bother me too much. I guess since I got to experience a vaginal delivery right before my ecs, and my ob said i'm a good candidate for a vbac

I got to see my first twin while dh cut the cord, and he was whisked away to get cleaned up while they broke the second twins water and I started pushing. After being rushed to the or for the second twin (his cord was coming out ahead of him) and being put to sleep, the next thing I knew, I was waking up freezing and seeing a clock that told me it was well over two hours after I delivered the first twin. I didn't get to hold either of the babies until about 8 hours after they were born, and the second twin wasn't allowed to be held at all until he was three days old. I love my ob, and trust him even more than I did before the boys were born

SomersIsles · April 2014

Physically... On a scale of 1-10... I'd say a 5. I'm 4 weeks pp and I am still dealing with daily wound packing. My entire incision got infected, broke open, and now is healing as an open wound. It sucks. They think AT LEAST another 2... Maybe 3 weeks before it's closed up. Walking is hard because the "stuffing" wiggles and makes the incision sting.

Does anyone else get a lot of back pain after walking around??? I think my posture is off because of the discomfort. 5-10 min of walking and my middle back area is throbbing.

I can't wait to be done with this. I need to get back in shape. Are there any exercises you think I can do despite the incision? I was thinking maybe arms with dumbbells...? I wish I could do some squats...

megs68 · April 2014

I am three weeks post partum and feeling better each day. I still have some achiness and pain if I overdo it and I have to be really careful of my older kids around my stomach. I am having a hard time limiting what I carry, my 2 year old begs me to hold her and I try not to but can't help it! Emotionally. I feel fine. I had a very difficult time after my first c sections and was hoping to have a vba2c this time but obviously wasn't successful. I finally am okay with this and accept that there's something about my pelvis or body that won't have a baby vaginally. I am disappointed but accepting of this.

saisongbird · April 2014

Physically, I'm improving. I have belly pain where my gut is over the incision but I am hoping that will subside soon. We are still covering the incision each day as I am only 2 weeks pp but when DH helped me tonight he said that the scans are almost completely gone and that it's almost completely healed. I am hoping at my Monday appt that it will be healed completely. Still dealing with some back pain and the belly band, while still necessary, is annoying.

Emotionally I am still grieving the birth. I posted this in the UO thread but I feel as though my body has failed me. I got to see my daughter for all of 2 seconds and give her a kiss before they took her away and I didn't get to see her for 12 hours. Forget skin to skin or bfing in the first hour of life or any pics. I was knocked out and apparently green because I had lost so much blood. I later found out they were afraid they were going to lose me. I feel as though so many people just don't GET how hard a c-section can be emotionally and how it can really drain you.

SassyFlats · April 2014

Physically I'm doing well! Had my 6 wk checkup yesterday and got the all clear! My body feels weak so I need to get my ass off the couch... but I'm still trying to get the hang of my baby's schedule and how to get out of the house and walk without her melting down. :P

Emotionally, I'm better. I'm not fond of how delivery ended up, and I still wish I had clear memories of those first hours after, but Kara has really eclipsed my sadness and my gratitude and love for her totally outweighs my lingering negative feelings.

My doctor said again that we can try for a med-free VBAC in the future. I'm still iffy on having another baby, and DH swears he's done. I think that's the saddest part- probably not having an option to try again for a different experience.

sebullows · April 2014

Physically I am doing so much better. I forget it's there most of the time now. It still gets a little sore from time to time (almost 8 weeks pp), especially in the night.

I had started to feel better emotionally until a read a status from a dick on Facebook that read, "a csection is the digiorno of pregnancies. It ain't delivery!" Needless to say, he got unfriended right away. I guess most people, especially men, think it's funny? We'll see how "digiorno" csections are when his wife goes through it. Thankfully, when I told DH and he saw how upset I was, he said, "what you did is almost harder than a regular delivery. Not only did you go through labor, without an epi, you pushed your heart out without any progress, almost got there, and then had to follow that with a major surgery." Now, I do not want to take credit for a vaginal delivery, because I simply didn't deliver that way. I didn't tear, have an apesiotomy, or experience the "ring of fire". But at least I finally feel like what I did do was equally as hard and equally as painful and deserve an equal amount of respect. So in a way, thank douche bag Russell for posting your idiotic joke. What you said caused my husband to make me realize all along what I've been needing to realize for 8 weeks.

On a different note, I agree with what @saisongbird‌ said. People DONT realize how hard a c section is. My brother just recently had a minor elective surgery and my parents are going so far out of their way to take care of him, ask what he needs constantly, and all the time telling me how bad they feel for him and his pain. While I'm glad they're taking care of him and I hope he's ok, where were they 8 weeks ago after my surgery? I'm not sure anyone has asked how I'm doing, how I'm healing, whether I need anything. Feeling sorry for myself now. But it's true, csection surgery gets pushed aside as "the easy way out" when I sometimes think it might be just the opposite.

Sorry for making this long and venty.

wearebirds · April 2014

@legallyginger‌ I'm in the same boat. It's definitely hard to hear that your body can't do what it's naturally supposed to. Hugs!

@SomersIsles‌ I do get back pain after walking...I'm thinking because I don't engage my ab muscles much or fear of the paiiinnnn! Feel better, love.

I'm finding that if I get up, shower and actually get myself ready in the morning I have a much better day. My anxiety has lessened about my incision (don't get me wrong, I'm still terrified that something will go wrong)...so I've been able to get stuff done today.

I definitely have numbness above my incision but I'm afraid to touch the actual incision too much to know how that part feels.

I hope I can get over my incision anxiety soon.

MA&CB · April 2014

I had a lot of back pain too around then, but it's better now. I think it's because you're not able to use your core muscles as much as you could before, so there is more strain on your back.

lnvane00 · April 2014

I am almost 5 weeks pp.
I have finally got the nerve to look at my scar (after 4 weeks) and it looks fantastic! Gross and I still hate it and want it off my body but since im stuck with it it looks like it should shrink and almost disappear. Thank God. But there is still numbness and its so weird.
This week is the first week I have went back to wearing actual underwear instead of the awesome mesh ones from the hospital. I didnt like how the band of my underwear sat on top of my scar so it took me a while to wear them again.
I haven't had my check up yet so im not officially cleared. But I cant freaking wait to take a hot bath again. I used to take one almost every night when I was pregnant and I miss that. I want sex but I am scared.
But I have started driving again. Although I dont leave the house unless I have to.

pepperedmoth · April 2014

Physically I am having a unicorn recovery. I am not even four weeks PP and I feel at least 80-90%. I forget I had surgery and try to do things like lift a 40 pound bag of wood pellets! (I stopped myself.) I am looking forward to being cleared for exercise and sex, in that order.

Emotionally I am having a harder time, but am still doing very well. I think I would be totally recovered except for all the shit that happened after my surgery, with LO being whisked away to a hospital in the next county and all. That was so much harder that the section itself is secondary....but I think I will still have to process the difficulties and fear around the surgery AFTER I finish processing the bit where they took my baby away. :-(

The section itself, though, I am pretty convinced was necessary---for whatever reason, my body was just NOT responding AT ALL to the pitocin. At 56 hours after my water broke, baby just needed to come out. Feeling like it was necessary is definitely helpful!

ETA: andplusalso I didn't have an OB involved AT ALL until the point I needed surgery...but I ended up really really loving the woman who was on-call. She has a reputation of being an amazing surgeon and it is well-deserved. Anyway she said I'd be a great VBAC candidate which made me feel better, and she also said she'd be my girl for OB care next pregnancy (my midwives don't do VBACs :-( ) So overall that really helps. I feel like I have her in my corner!

SassyFlats · April 2014

@pepperedmoth‌ a great OB makes a world of difference! I adore mine! At my 6 week checkup Kara was fussy and my OB scooped her up and held her just outside the room while I got dressed. She said poor fussy baby was breaking her heart! And then told me for about the tenth time that we would try for VBAC next time... and said not to do any "permanent" birth control for a couple of years because it took her four years to talk her husband into having a third kid, so it can be done. :P

I feel like she really cares, on top of being an excellent doctor. She was so open to everything I wanted and I truly feel like she did her best to honor my wishes. She was also so incredibly empathetic when she brought up the potential of a c section and when she called to tell me it was too risky to keep trying for a vaginal delivery. I never felt like she was pushing me into anything unnecessarily.

It also seems like she's known around the hospital for being very laid back as long as mom and baby are safe. I couldn't be happier with my OB. I just wish that damn umbilical cord hadn't been in the way.

SmittyPants · April 2014

I have my 6 week on Tuesday. I was doing great and feeling fine so I got it in my head that lifting my toddler to the swings at the playground, on the changing table, lugging the double stroller in and out of the car, carrying baby in the carseat places, was totally okay- maybe not so much. I'm starting to feel a bit achy again so I think I'm overdoing it.

sopranoali · April 2014

sebullows said:
Physically I am doing so much better. I forget it's there most of the time now. It still gets a little sore from time to time (almost 8 weeks pp), especially in the night.

I had started to feel better emotionally until a read a status from a dick on Facebook that read, "a csection is the digiorno of pregnancies. It ain't delivery!" Needless to say, he got unfriended right away. I guess most people, especially men, think it's funny? We'll see how "digiorno" csections are when his wife goes through it. Thankfully, when I told DH and he saw how upset I was, he said, "what you did is almost harder than a regular delivery. Not only did you go through labor, without an epi, you pushed your heart out without any progress, almost got there, and then had to follow that with a major surgery." Now, I do not want to take credit for a vaginal delivery, because I simply didn't deliver that way. I didn't tear, have an apesiotomy, or experience the "ring of fire". But at least I finally feel like what I did do was equally as hard and equally as painful and deserve an equal amount of respect. So in a way, thank douche bag Russell for posting your idiotic joke. What you said caused my husband to make me realize all along what I've been needing to realize for 8 weeks.

On a different note, I agree with what @saisongbird‌ said. People DONT realize how hard a c section is. My brother just recently had a minor elective surgery and my parents are going so far out of their way to take care of him, ask what he needs constantly, and all the time telling me how bad they feel for him and his pain. While I'm glad they're taking care of him and I hope he's ok, where were they 8 weeks ago after my surgery? I'm not sure anyone has asked how I'm doing, how I'm healing, whether I need anything. Feeling sorry for myself now. But it's true, csection surgery gets pushed aside as "the easy way out" when I sometimes think it might be just the opposite.

Sorry for making this long and venty.

THIS

sopranoali · April 2014

Butsrslytho...I want this recovery to be DONE! Ugh. I am 7 weeks pp. STILL bleeding. Also, my insides feel all menstrual crampy, with a tinge of sore pain. Reminiscent of the first time you walk in the hospital after your section, just less intense.

Emotionally I'm ok. I had rapid onset preeclampsia. I went from "going to the hospital to do this stupid NST" to admittance, c section, baby in my arms in the span of less than 4 hours, so it was really fast. I wanted a natural childbirth...but I didn't want to end up like Sybil on Downton Abbey.

I have easily bonded with my baby and think she is perfect, helps me put stuff in perspective.

ALSO yes ughhhh one more big "eat a dick" to those who fail to comprehend csection = major surgery!!! AWWW you poor thing you had your big toe operated on? Oh you're sooo right I have NO idea how much it hurts... X(

kaking78 · April 2014

I was unaware that there is a time restriction about VBAC. For those of you in the know - how long between pregnancies do your OBs recommend?

jtenkorang · April 2014

I'm doing well physically I was cleared at my 6 week pp appt on Tuesday. I still have numbness and my physical state is kin of affecting my emotional at this point. I really want to get back to my prepregnancy weight but I can't restrict what I eat due to bf and milk supply issues. I don't go back to work for a few more weeks and I think I need to start gettin a routine I. Place and start getting out more. I'm starting to get lazy and just lathargic since I don't have anywhere to go every day. I try to stay active and keep up with the house work but that gets so boring after a while

I feel like I need a just me day or hour sometimes. I really want a pedicure maybe that will be on my list for next week

Andreabills · April 2014

I'm doing pretty good physically. I'm 9 weeks PP and I feel nearly back to normal. Emotionally I'm okay with the c-section. I guess that since I was hypertensive practically from day 1 of my pregnancy and we started talking VERY early about induction and the possibility of a c-section I had a lot of time to come to grips with it (or at least the possibility).

What I am still struggling with is the mom guilt that I couldn't make it further in my pregnancy. I'm with you ladies who feel as if your body failed you. Ava was born 3 pounds 9 ounces at 35 weeks and had to fight so hard her first few weeks of life because my body failed. The high blood pressure (and the meds) caused her to be growth restricted. The c-section actually saved her life.

clo1982 · April 2014

@SomersIsles‌ be careful with the weights. Even though it's your arms you still use your core to stabilize yourself when lifting weights. Better to be safe so your recovery doesn't take even longer!
Physically and mentally I feel great. I'm 7 weeks today and have honestly felt great from the beginning. It's such a different experience from my first time where I basically remember nothing from the first day, was crazy sick then in terrible pain for weeks after. This time at 2 days post surgery I felt awesome! I love love love my ob who listened to me about my experience last time (with a different practice) and helped me to have a great experience and recovery. I started exercising again and it's just amazing how out of shape I am even though I exercised throughout my 3rd tri. I am getting frustrated that the scale hasn't budged in weeks even though I've been exercising pretty hard. I'm thinking a few lbs may be holding on while I pump but I just remember them coming off so much quicker last time. Doesn't help that I got an email yesterday saying our community pool would be open may 2! Bathing suits are not something I want to contend with right now but I know dd will want to swim on the first warm day! The adjustment to caring for 2 has been crazy! I'm fortunate first that I had an easy recovery and second that ds is a super easy baby. If I had a tough 2nd child I would have gone a little nuts by now! Overall though things are good!

PerkyErky · April 2014

I am 8wk pp on Saturday and I am feeling really good physically. I have overdone it a few times and my body definitely lets me know. I think I am having a really easy recovery and DH not letting me do too much or carry too much those first few weeks definitely helped.

Emotionally, I am still working through my feelings about the c-section along with other feelings of lack of faith in my body (needing a cerclage, struggles with bf and supply, etc). As the days go by I am more and more accepting of everything.

saisongbird · April 2014

@Madapple - my scars from my breast reduction faded to flesh tone in time Andover am whiter than white bread.

clo1982 · April 2014

@MadApple‌ it will likely fade over time. The first time mine was angry looking...puffy, red and purple and lumpy. After a while, maybe six months, the swelling went down all the way and it faded to slightly darker than my skin. It's super low though so no one other than me dh and my dr will see it! With my second they cut the scar out and now it looks really good! Much less red than it was at this point last time. So just give your some time!

MA&CB · April 2014

@MadApple, the scar from my first c-section faded to a point that you could barely see it. My OB actually commented on how barely visible it was when prepping me for this one.

clo1982 · April 2014

@Jt7dreamz‌ I'm not. Mine is so low that no one is going to see it outside of dh and my dr's. Given that, I don't care if it fades. I don't know where incisions normally are but each dr I've seen since my first c/s has commented on how low it is. If I wear low cut underwear you still can't see it. So I'm not too worried about it as long as it flattens out!

SassyFlats · April 2014

clo1982 said:

@Jt7dreamz‌ I'm not. Mine is so low that no one is going to see it outside of dh and my dr's. Given that, I don't care if it fades. I don't know where incisions normally are but each dr I've seen since my first c/s has commented on how low it is. If I wear low cut underwear you still can't see it. So I'm not too worried about it as long as it flattens out!

Same here! Can't even see mine in bikini-cut underwear. So, fuck it.

mrsdahamm · April 2014

I got some vitamin e oil and put it on my stretch marks (only got them beside and below my belly button) and apply it to the scar while I'm in the general vicinity.

Eta my scar is lower than bikini line too

MA&CB · April 2014

SassyFlats said:

clo1982 said:

@Jt7dreamz‌ I'm not. Mine is so low that no one is going to see it outside of dh and my dr's. Given that, I don't care if it fades. I don't know where incisions normally are but each dr I've seen since my first c/s has commented on how low it is. If I wear low cut underwear you still can't see it. So I'm not too worried about it as long as it flattens out!

Same here! Can't even see mine in bikini-cut underwear. So, fuck it.

My OB asked while she was getting ready to do my RCS if the first incision was a little crooked. I told her I had no idea what it looked like because I never see it.

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