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Childbirth

Cearean.. The recovery...

31 replies

dabihp · 11/06/2005 16:13

Hi, I had had my baby girl 10 days ago by c-section. we are both doign really well, just wanted to know if anyone else had section recently and how you are doing recovery wise...

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mears · 11/06/2005 17:51

Congratulations . There was a thread looking for you very recently. Sure someone will be a long soon with experience.

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Fio2 · 11/06/2005 17:58

was it elective or eergency? as my recoveries were different with each

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dizzymama · 11/06/2005 22:30

Dabihp, I remember feeling like my stomach was never going to be the same, couldn't watch comedy for the first two weeks as laughing hurt! But, slowly and surely it got easier and easier (although sometimes I would forget what a big operation I'd had and do something daft that would make it pull )I'd say that it took a good two / three months till I felt 'back to normal' but then again I've had friends who have been back on form much quicker. How is your recovery so far?

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kid · 11/06/2005 22:43

recovery was quite slow for me, I had infection on the scar so had to take it easy. With my elective section, I was advised to take it slowly for 12 weeks. I was instructed not to lift anything heavy (no carrying shopping bags for me )
An area of my stomach is still numb now, my DS is 3.2

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Flossam · 11/06/2005 23:09

Bless you i have been looking for you. Glad you are here and hope you are ok. sorry you didn't get your natural birth. post your birth story and more details when you feel able. and congratulations!

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milward · 11/06/2005 23:16

Dizzymama - remember the no laughing after a cs -really surprised me how much it hurt. Had to take care of a 3 year old so was always up & about - difficult at first. Seemed to heal quickly though. Is a major op so have to take things easy if you can. Best wishes dabihp.

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uwila · 11/06/2005 23:32

hi Dabihp. Ds is now 3 weeks, 2 days. He was an elective, and I feel quite well. I'm not up to going jogging just yet, but I'm fine with walking around, normal activity -- even driving and picking up toddler.

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Ruthiebaby · 12/06/2005 17:53

Congrats

I had an emergency C-section after 23 hours of agonising induced contractions. Felt really really sore after, I have a horror story about it all but I'm going to keep that to myself. Anyway, I was able to go on the bus to town with ds after 3 weeks.
He's 4 months now and I have started back doing & teaching my martial arts again which is quite intense. No problems !
I used to feel pain up until a few weeks ago down there. Went to the doc about it who told me it was quite normal to still feel pain at 3 months.
I still have the odd pain shoot now whenever my pants are tight over the scar. But mostly, it just feels numb now.

Only problem is my big flabby tum that I'm desperately trying to get rid of !

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Lantana · 12/06/2005 18:08

I had my daughter by emergence C-Section three and a half months ago, and it is only in the last few weeks that my stomach has begun to feel a bit more normal and not too sore. But it is still very tender and I get twinges. Good for you doing martial arts after 4 months, Ruthiebaby. I was advised not to do any 'jolting/bouncing' exercise, eg. jogging, for 6 months. Has anyone else been told this? It certainly hurts when I do gentle ab exercises.

I'm with you on the big flabby tummy, though Ruthiebaby. It hangs over my scar. Nice.

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Ruthiebaby · 12/06/2005 18:52

Lantana - yes, that's around the time when I started to feel more normal. I was advised at 3mths by my doc not to do any sit-ups, though she didn't say when I could start to do them. I've started doing around 10 small ones every other day now - it does feel a bit strange down there when I do it which is why I'm only doing a few.
I guess it all depends on how you feel. Everyones different.

My little boy has a tendency to kick when I'm changing his nappy - he's got me quite a few times down there and it still flippin hurts !

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Magscat · 12/06/2005 19:11

Hi there. Congratulations to you and your family.
I have had 2 sections, 1 emergency, 1 planned. Neither gave me any trouble recovery-wise & I was visiting freinds after a couple of weeks & driving after 3, BUT (and it's a big but) I didn't labout either time & I'm sure this made a big difference.
I had lots of hot baths both times (with small amounts of lavender oil) but otherwise did nothing special apart from being really careful about not lifting anything.

I wish you all the best with your recovery. Let us know how you're diong.

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pupuce · 12/06/2005 19:13

Congrats
Was wondering where you had gone too.... kept looking at birth announcements.
How are you feeling 10 days on? Some women recover very quickly others struggle... Did you take Arnica? Are you still on pain killers?

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dabihp · 13/06/2005 19:17

hi, thanx everyone, 13xdays on and feel ok, but very tired, am really anemic from operation... will post birth story, ii got to ;abour and was glad for dsection after 12hrs and only 3cm! LOL


cant sit on pc chair long, looking forward to catching up with may mums thread (although i made it to june!)

good luck and wd 2evry1

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Rochwen · 15/06/2005 09:29

ok, really horrible question but is it true that you will forever have a 'jelly belly' after a c/s or will it go back eventually? How long until you can work those abs again after the sectio?

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suzywong · 15/06/2005 09:33

well not necessarily a jellybelly but there will always be a tender little roll above the scar

you can start doing very gentle exercise, not sit ups, after your 6 week check. Pelvic tilts are good.

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wardyme · 15/06/2005 16:49

Hi - I'm new to this site and was really after some advice. A long story short I had a thorric Vaginal Birth - the whole thing lasted hours - only had gas and air, ended up having an episiotomy and lots of blood loss after.. and my daughter was 9lb 9oz. I am 28 weeks preg now and know my baby is "big" again and have been suffering many probs, one of which is SPD - overstretching of the ligaments - so at the moment i can hardly walk and expect to be on crutches soon. basically the decision I need to make is do I go for another natural or go for elective C-section. I am just concerned about recovery time especially as my daughter will have just turned to. Anyone help and advise what they may go for??? please help...

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mhorne · 15/06/2005 18:12

Hi I had an emergency caesarian 2 weeks ago after my baby showed fetal distress. Unfortunately I had also broken my leg at 34/40 so I was in a cast. I have had to use crutches with my caesarian scar as well as care for my 18mth DD and my new DS. Today I have noticed my scar has split a little bit on the right hand side. Should I be concerned this far down the line, I am presuming it will just start to reheal again if I take it easy. Has this happened to anyone else?

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uwila · 15/06/2005 18:50

Blimey mhorne. What a lot to deal with! I definitely think you should have it checked out mostly because I'd be concerned if anything on the inside also might have torn.... though if it had I suppose you'd notice an increase in blood flow.

Anywway, at 3 weeks, a wound is still very tender and I don't think tearing open is a good thing.

Probably you should call your GP and ask him/her if you need to come in.

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uwila · 15/06/2005 18:51

oops, make that 2 weeks.

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CarolinaMoon · 15/06/2005 19:28

bloody hell mhorne! do get it checked out. mine split open an inch or 2 while we moved house 4 weeks after ds was born. There was too much going on for me to have it looked at until a few days later and by then it was infected - it took another 3mths and 2 lots of antibiotics for it to heal over.

If you leave an infection, the whole length of the scar can open up and that really wouldn't be much fun.

Your GP's surgery should be able to send a community nurse out to see you, to take a swab and dress it properly.

Do take it easy though - can you get any help round the house/with your toddler?

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mhorne · 15/06/2005 19:34

Thanks for the advice. My husband has been off work since our son was born because he was in special care for a week and then to help me round the house etc. He has asked for one more week off work but that will definitely be it. The problem we have is we used all our favours up with help the six weeks I was in a cast before the baby was born, obviously didn't plan for a c-section! I have an appt on Fri with the doctor about my leg so I'll get her to look at my wound.

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uwila · 15/06/2005 19:42

Uh, don't mean to be pushy here well, maybe I do but I think you should call the doc first thing in the morning, if not tonight. I've had two caesareans and never had a problem with the wound, but I don't think it would be much fun.

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uwila · 15/06/2005 19:43

mhorne, where are you?

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mhorne · 16/06/2005 10:43

Hi Sorry not to get back to you, still determined to have an evening with my husband when we get the chance! I actually tried the doctors this morning and they had no appts... no surprise. The wound has dried up a bit today, and I have a nurse friend coming over this afternoon to have a look, so I will stick with the original appt tomorrow. Thanks for your concern though.

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mhorne · 17/06/2005 15:52

Hi Uwila. Just wanted to let you know that I went to the doctors today about my scar. It has opened because of an undissolved stitch. It's not infected though, so hopefully it will clear up again in a couple of days. Thanks again

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