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.

I feel so overwhelmed and upset. I’ve been trying really hard to move about normal it’s not like I’ve just been sitting here doing nothing expecting to be waited on.

It is so much better being at home than stuck in hospital, if you have someone at home to support you. You shouldn't be doing anything other than sleeping, feeding/holding baby and doing some gentle walking when you feel happy to.

Don't forget that a lot of that overwhelmed and upset feeling will be related to hormones and the massive change that's just happened to your body. Everyone has a different birth experience and a different recover, there's no right or wrong, or "should be" about it.

I had my second c-section a little under 5 weeks ago. It was a pretty rubbish experience compared to 8 years ago. They didn’t have enough staff to provide any level of care and tried to only give paracetamol.

i refused to go home until they got my pain under control and I was eventually given / prescribed tramadol, altho it was half the does of previous sections. I did go home later in the evening and they couldn’t wait to get me out the door!!

You're rushing things a bit. Keep your pain relief topped up.

Do you have support at home right now? Your messages aren't clear.

I was much, much happier at home and left after 12hrs but there may be reasons why you need to stay.

Is the baby feeding okay? Are you weeing okay? Bowels? Any trapped wind pain?

You say you feel worse though finding moving easier. Can you identify if it's pain or something else or a combination of both? Have you seen a physio yet? And I presume all your obs are normal?

@IsedtoK You said you had no support until Sunday?

Post-natal wards are the seventh circle of hell, I don't know why anyone would want to stay there longer than necessary. There is hardly any support, and they are hot and noisy and sleep is near impossible. I firmly believe that recovery happens easier at home, where you can properly rest.

I took my own ibuprofen to hospital after the first time and took 2 at a time every 4 hours for the first few days because codiene didn't suit me and I didn't want to keep asking for pain relief. The first 3 days are rough! Also they made me fill a jug with pee before they could release me, super annoying.

I had an emcs & was in HDU for 48 hours after, I couldn't stand until probably mid afternoon 2 days later.

I just wanted to feel more confident. I had hoped to stay four nights.

After mine I went to a midwife-led unit for two days due to severe anxiety (all arranged beforehand, but the midwives didn't seem to know anything about it and just rang to check they could have me). You could ask if there's anything like that available in your area? I'm mid-Essex.

Will you have anyone else at home with you? I don't think you can reasonably be discharged if not. Stick to your guns and say you feel unsafe. However, if your partner will be at home you should be ok - stay upstairs so you don't have to navigate the stairs, and get them to wait on you - you shouldn't be doing anything except resting and feeding the baby for the first few days. Make sure you have somewhere above waist height to do nappies if you're changing them, you won't be able to kneel on the floor.

It is completely overwhelming having a baby and being in pain, you're not in any way doing anything wrong.

Four nights’ stay after a CS is very unusual and would only happen in the event of complications. I was in for three nights because DS was in SCBU but if he had needed special care for any longer they would have discharged me and I would have had to go home without him. I’m sorry OP but anyone who led you to believe you could routinely expect a four-night stay has badly misled you.

Your recovery will be much quicker when you're home, OP. I was in for 5 nights after my emcs, due to complications with my surgery and I honestly was itching to get home! You will be able to rest much better at home.

Take the Oramorph- I did.

You’ve had major surgery and it’s the only major surgery you have and are then expected to put your big girl pants on and get on with it. Hurts like merry hell. I had codeine and paracetamol- personally I don’t think it’s enough, the pain was so bad never felt anything like it!

I couldn’t wait to get home but had to stay in a few days, honestly you’ll sleep so much better at home. You’ll feel better in a few days, 💐 some people just have less tolerance to pain.

4 nights after a c section is extremely unusual.

You need to keep your pain medication up, you get no medals for being a hero with not taking it. Take all the pain meds and get up and move.

I was the same after my crash section. Given loads of pain killers and managed to get up about 36 hours after with help from the midwife.

Yes same for me also, emergency c section after failed induction. Couldn't get out of bed at all on first day. Couldn't bend down to pick up a bloody pad off the bathroom floor, had to call nurse. Ask for help whenever you need it and don't let them pressure you too much either.

They will not want to keep you in hospital if you are medically well enough to be discharged. One or two days is normal, longer is usually only if baby is unwell or you are having complications in relation to the c section surgery or both.

I'm a bit confused, because first it was about being in pain, then not having support, and now not being confident? OP are you struggling with anxiety?

@CornishGem1975 yes very anxious! It’s a mix of those things. The pain being highest as I can’t move properly still but I am better than I was.

I wasn't allowed to move until the next day and my daughter was born at 10:55am. I don't think I moved until about 24hrs later

You will feel better at home. It's normal to still be shuffling about and bent over for a few weeks. I've had 3 sections. They won't keep you in for more than 48 hours (they prefer 24) if you and baby are ok to go home. The pain is bad, especially if you have stayed still for a while. Get yourself home so you can rest properly. Congratulations on your baby

Unfortunately, hospitals arent there for you to recover. They are then when you need acute treatment. You cant stay just because you need mental health support on a ward that isnt designed for that. You will have community come out to support you. You can be discharged with pain relief. But a post natal ward cant have you stay 4 days without medical need. Things just arent how they used to be and hospitals need to discharge as soon as the medical need allows.

@IsedtoK Ok, then you need to speak up and advocate for yourself but the postnatal ward isn't the right place - speak to your community midwives and health visitor. Postnatal ward will slowly drive you insane.

It's okay to be anxious, there is support out there.