Few questions about c-section:

>Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?
> How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
>How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).
> How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
> Were you able to nurse right away?

Thanks for your help!

I had an emergency c/s with spinal block. I had a drip afterwards for rehydration which was then removed before being wheeled to the ward. I had tea and toast about 1.5hrs after leaving recovery. This was late at night and nobody asked aoubt passing gas.

I was on the ward over night with dd. I didn't need any painkillers at all. It took a while for her to latch as she was sleepy and a bit jaundiced but she did eventually and we are still bfing 14 months later. I got up in the morning and could walk normally.

I was discharged 12 hours post section after proving I was weeing enough and never took any painkillers. My tummy was a bit itchy and tender if I stretched upwards but nothing too problematic.

First bowel movement after 48 hours, didn't hurt at all.

well my section was an emergency one and there were many complications but that was for other reasons so don't let that worry you. afterwards, i spent 48 hours in intensive care totally out of it.

but, when i was moved onto the ward i was fine. walking is uncomfortable but not painful and you may feel like you are being stretched upwards at first when you try and straighten up - this is fine and regardless of how you feel, you will not split in two

you can eat and drink straight away, you can pretty much get up and about within an hour, all drips and such should be removed once you are up and about if you are passing enough water so a good tip would be to drink plenty.

if you do not tolerate pain very well, please keep taking the pain killers prescribed and take them on time. there are no medals for matyrs and ultimately, you want to enjoy your new born, not suffer in pain and there is no need for you to if you take proper pain relief.

saying that, i didn't have any pain killers after the first two days. WRT bowel movements, i think it was about a week for me. if you don't go within a few days, take some lactulose to soften and help and eat a good high fibre diet to help you along. if it helps, place a clean pad over the wound when going to the toilet, with feel more secure for you if nothing else

i didn't BF, but there is no reason why you can't just make it clear to your car team that you would like your baby to feed as soon as possible

and good luck and congratulations

Hi

Pain; I didn't get pain as the pain medication was well managed. I was on self regulated morphine plus given a suppository during the op. Afterwards had co-codamol and something else which slips my mind.

My IV was in for a while as I was on IV antibiotics. Catheter is usually removed the following morning. Once mine was removed I was pointed in the direction of the shower. Encouraged to move to stop clots etc. Remember to stand upright even if it does feel like you might split in two - you won't.

I breastfed in the recovery room after calling parents to tell them about their new grandchild . Used rugby ball position so baby not on my tummy.

Passing gas; haven't heard this before.

Allowed to eat; I don't remember sorry!
1st bowel movement; 3 days I think and no pain at all.

Hope this helps.

Had an emergency csection (so pretty sh!te experience) so mine would probably be worse-case scenario. My answers: -

>Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?
Well the first three days were pretty rough - very limited movement, etc. and it was a struggle to walk to the end of the corridor/sit up, etc. But I did have quite an aggressive caesarean (twins, forceps, etc.) and no epidural (under GA) so no pain relief from that. By day 4 I had a huge surge and was able to walk slowly around the place - to the car, etc. At three weeks I still couldn't walk to the end of the road without resting and struggling but by week four I was totally back to normal. Could walk anywhere for any distance.

I was on an IV all day. Section was at midday and they took me off at around midnight. But I was quite poorly after mine (blood loss - common after twins). I had voltarol suppositories and also tramadol as, again, I didn't have the epidural pain relief.

> How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
They came in the next morning at 7am (I'd been left to sleep all night for seven hours to allow me to recover - my babies were in the nursery with a paed and a midwife as they were 35 weeks) and took my catheter out and made me go to the loo. Once that was done I was encouraged to be up and about. It helped a lot. My tip: STAND TALL. You want to hunch over but actually that makes things worse. Nothing will tear open or hurt and actually standing tall really helps with healing, etc., as does gentle movement. It gets the blood flowing.

>How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).
I had food after I woke up from my anaesthetic - at about 3pm. I was starving and so was given a bread roll but someone on the HDU who took pity on me.

> How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
The next day. Not painful at all. I had no problems whatsoever, although once I needed to go I NEEDED to go. Your pelvic floor is a bit shattered, even after a caesarean so it's good to be close to a loo! The midwives banged on about how they needed me to go to the loo and were singularly impressed that I managed it so quickly. We aim to please.....
My top tip for post-caesarean loo trips is moist loo roll (those andrex moist wipe thingies). When your stomach hurts then these are a FAB way to clean up quickly and easily. They were a godsend! That and giant disposable paper knickers and then giant M&S granny knickers. You won't want anything near your scar so high waist ones are the bees knees!

> Were you able to nurse right away?
I tried the next day when I was well enough. Neither of my babies had a suck reflex as they were born early, but we tried and I had LOADS of milk. Colostrum for the first three days which I expressed into their feeding tubes and then I poured milk. So the caesarean had no impact on my feeding. However, I've had friends who also had caesareans and the baby was given to them to nurse straight away. If you'd like that then there is no reason why you shouldn't have it. The baby can lie on you and nuzzle away. Lots of pillows for feeding can help, as does feeding in the rugby position.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thanks for your help!

>Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away?

About 3 days.

>How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

2 days on drip. had painkillers to take home. took them for about 10 days after birth.

> How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?

Took out catheter on day 2. Walking a bit after that.

>How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).

not heard this. you can't eat before and they give you something to take a certain no. of hours before the op. don't know what/why! i was offered sarnies once in the recovery room. sadly threw them up as was sick from extra anaesthetic i had to gave (DS2 was stuck and took longer coming out than they thought.)

> How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful

2 days, and no.

> Were you able to nurse right away?

YES!

Other thing is that until you are mobile you have to wear support stockings in case of DVT. i got incredibly itchy (a possible sie effect to the anaesthetic) and they were murder! couldn't wait to get them off!

good luck!

Hi! My section was an incredibly positive experience all round.

The pain lasted a few days but was very manageable. Just keep on top of your pain relief.

I was allowed to walk around that evening, but had been nagging them to let me get out of bed since lunchtime! My partner said I appeared to be walking more easily than in the latter stages of pregnancy!

They brought me tea and toast about an hour after the op.

I think catheter was in about 24 hours. It isnt painful, or even uncomfortable, and didnt hurt when they took it out. You don feel them put it in either, as they do the spinal first.

Think the bowel motion took 2 days but the codeine bungs you up apparently.

I had no dramas breastfeeding, baby just sort of taught herself about 30 mins after the birth. Midwife said to just carry on!

While this is tsill fresh in my mind.

Was on IV drip for extra fluids only as was throwing up so 2 hours, pain relief was diomorphine and suppositry and then paracetomol and volterol, pain was OK just hurt for a few days when sitting up so roll over on side before you do that.
Catherter this time was taken out 24hours later first time was 12 hours, done in the morning and then up and in shower. Take things easy but a regular walk around the maternity floor gets things moving and you will fell better quicker.
I was starving, and scoffed sandwhiches which DH brought in. Never had a problem with gas.
48hours and not painful, its the thought that is scary.
I FF.
I am 13 days post op and feeling really good. Up cooking breakfasts for guests and generally feeling fine. I haven't walked far yet that does take time to build up.

And like niceychops, I really enjoyed the experience.

I've had two, one emergency, one elective.

>Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

I didn't need painkillers at all by the end of the second week. For the first 3-4 days I took paracetamol & voltarol but after than paracetamol only. Pain was never that bad. They put diamorphine into the spinal which meant I had no pain at all for the first 24 hours. With the em-section I had an epidural so had oromorph for the first 12 hours (I think I had 2 doses).

I had an iv for fluids only which was taken out 3 hours after the section (they would've taken it out sooner but I was still a little sick & they wanted to be sure I was getting enough fluids).

> How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?

Had the catheter taken out 24 hours after the elective & 12 hours after the emergency. Was up, out of bed & showered at lunchtime on the day of the section (about 4 hours after surgery).

>How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).

Ate in recovery - toast & tea - less than an hour after section.

> How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful

24 hours after section. Not painful at all - made sure I ate high fibre food before & after section, also used senna. I held a towel over the scar.

> Were you able to nurse right away?

Yup - had skin to skin contact while I was being sewn up (baby naked under my gown with a blanket over both of use), then fed properly in recovery - ds was about 20 minutes old.

My experience with an emergency section was pretty much the same - I felt more tired afterwards (been in labour for 3 days & had a pph) but no great pain. No problems breastfeeding either time.