Literally can’t stand after c section?

[IsedtoK]

Had c section this morning and can’t get off the bed to stand. Pain is so bad. Is this normal? I’ve read people tend to be able to get up after 7/8 hours.

Are you still in hospital? Ring for a nurse.

This level of pain is not what I experienced after my CS, but you have to keep on top of pain relief to begin with.

Congratulations on your baby!

I had a crash section and couldn't even contemplate standing until the next day. Took 2 midwives to help me even get out of the bed.

I was the same, I couldn't get out of bed until the next day.

That was my 3rd section, the first 2 weren't that bad.

Please speak to the staff, they'll be able to help you.

I had this, very painful . Took me a while to move about.

My second was like this. They need to give you more pain relief and help you walk to the toilet. I presume your catheter is out?

That wasn't my experience. Tell the midwives, they should be able to give you oramorph if you're struggling.

Yes normal, I couldn't get out of bed for 3 days and then struggled to get off the sofa for 6 months after that.

I’m so worried as to why?! When I’m not moving the pain is ok, pretty fine. But the moment I try to get up I just can’t. It’s making me worried something is wrong. Midwife say not but I’m still worrying.

@CrookCrane yes it is out

Thats very quick for your catheter to come out, as others have said, it was 12 hours beforw i had my catheter out, and about 20hours after c secrion before i got out of bed

What pain relief have you had? Some hospitals like to withhold anything stronger than paracetamol, which is bafflingly evil. I had oramorph, it's great. Only needed it for a few days.

DH has a video of newborn DS with me in the background asking for more pain relief😂
They said I was at the limit so I requested to see the anaesthetist (this was post op). Quickly upped my pain relief.
FWIW I came home when he was 2 days and healed very quickly and well. So the amount of pain immediately post op doesn’t correlate with long term healing.

I really couldn’t move much at all for about 48 hours. I needed a lot of pain relief to be able to just get off the bed. They aren’t joking when they say it’s major surgery, give it time.

They like to get you moving quickly now - I had my section at 9.30am and was out of bed by late afternoon.

When you stand up you usually use your stomach muscles but these have all been cut in half. For the first few days you will need help to get out of bed.

I had a crash section and was up and in the shower after 7 hours BUT I didn't labour much only to 4cm. I think if you labour and are exhausted and then section you're pretty much twice broken, keep on top of meds take them religiously, easier to stay on top of pain than get on top of it. You need paracetamol and ibuprofen. I had diclofenac but I'm not sure they prescribe that any more.

Thank you, I feel a bit reassured. I was worried it meant I was not going to recover well at all! They’ve said I can have morphine but I’ve declined for now.

For my second cs the hospital tied a rope to the bottom of the bed which I could use to pull myself up - was an ingenious idea, and so helpful

I'm a midwife and I've had 2 sections myself. You shouldn't be in pain, but some discomfort is normal. Ask for some stronger pain relief (oral morphine) to get on top of it for now, don't sit there in agony its not fair on your or your baby. One dose might just be enough to sort you out and they should be bringing you regular paracetamol and ibuprofen throughout the day/night so once this is being taken regularly it should be sufficient. I set alarms on my phone once I was at home so I took paracetamol and ibuprofen like clockwork and can genuinely say I was never in any pain because of this. Where I work we encourage early mobilisation (6hrs post op) as evidence shows your recovery will be enhanced the sooner you're on your feet, catheter out and mobilising around. I know from my own experience that getting out of bed and standing upright can be a slow and uncomfortable experience. Take it steady, listen to your body and get yourself up for a little walk and a wee every couple of hours if you're able. You will thank yourself in the long run.

Never heard of the tying a rope to the bottom of the bed idea. This is genius, will be something I try at work as I know it would have helped me no end.

You need to keep the painkillers topped up. I couod only just about shuffle to the loo and back the next day. Some pain is normal. Call the button for a nurse to help you up a d down again.

@bumblebeemumma i literally couldn’t do it though, pain was horrific. I couldn’t get up, it’s scared me a lot.

Yup sorry that's normal 😔. The pain does recede quickly but the first 24 hours are bad. Codeine helped me but I honestly didn't need it by day 3. Hang in there and congratulations 🎉

I couldn't get up until the next day (and DS was born just after midnight so it was a full 36 hours). Pain was extreme but the hospital have painkillers that should take most of it away.

This is the problem that the media portrays c sections as ok, quick surgery with a quick recovery and some people are really lucky that is the case for them. But it is major surgery, if you had the same surgery without a baby people would be pampering you left, right and centre. Unfortunately, lots of people do not bounce out of bed like the myth.

Give yourself a break, you'll be able to get up soon. I found leaning onto my side then pushing up on my elbow really helped, along with holding a pillow over the section scar whenever I had to do any major movements or cough/sneeze.

Good luck!

I couldn't actually move my legs for 24 hours after but it was the morphine. Could it be the pain medication causing it?

I've not had this with either of mine but everyone's recovery is different and it's not necessarily that there is anything wrong. The initial getting up after being flat is the most difficult but. After that and the first few steps everything feels much better.

I found it hardest to get up if I'd been stuck in one position for a long period of time.