To think that my c section wound shouldnt still be sore at 6 weeks post partum?

[Duesept20]

So I had an EMCS 6 weeks ago....I'm finding that my wound is still hurting in the last week, and I've had to have a week of not going on walks and generally trying to not over exert myself.

Last week I went on a 45 min walk every day so I dont know if i over did it?

But yeah, now at 6 weeks pp its sore, especially if I bend too much. Is that normal?

I'm getting mega upset that I can't exercise because I'm hating my postnatal body more and more. I feel so fat and I know I have about a stone to lose. But I just cant do it right now when I cant exercise 😭

6 weeks is still very new. Please do not worry about your weight at this stage!!!!

If the scar feels hot or you feel off generally or have a temp it’s worth a GP visit to check you don’t have an infection.

Otherwise take it easy, nothing wrong with walking but give it a couple more weeks (at least) before you start pushing yourself. Relaxed strolling is fine!

Speak to your GP about the pain. But you know you aren’t supposed to exercise in the first few weeks after a section, right?

I think you're trying to push your body too soon. At 6 weeks post cs I still had intermittent post partum bleeding if I over exerted myself. You need to let your insides heal properly by resting and then you can focus on getting your body back. I know it's frustrating!

I was told to wait at least 3 months before attempting any exercise (other than walking) after my C section - it's major surgery, you need to recover

Youve had major abdominal surgery it will take a year for your body to fully recover. Its normal for a scar to hurt for months afterwards, i had 2 c sections and both took about 3 months to fully heal and were still a tender if prodded afterwards. Your obsession with excercise and body shape so soon after having a baby sounds very unhealthy- you need to chat to a GP or you midwife

It shouldn't be too painful. But I was on pain relief for around 6 weeks after my emcs. Take it easy for a while longer. A few lazy days won't hurt. It does get better before long.

My dog jumped up and caught my scar yesterday, three months post C-section. Nearly cried! I think the skin heals quite quickly but the rest takes a bit longer.

I think after i had my c section it took till baby was 9 months old for me to walk without any pain at all. I used to love walking so it was very frustrating! I was 37 nearly 38 when I had my baby though.

I had tingly shooting nerve pain for a year afterwards, not all the time though. I figured its just all the nerves rewiring again after being cut and now my boy is 18 months it's gone. I do get a bit of soreness in the scar if I over exert myself (sit up type actions when playing with my toddler, or carrying a heavy shopping basket). Its quite normal I think, that area will always be a bit weaker but it's not something that bothers me now. Rest assured it does calm down and settle but as a PP said it can take a year.

I would say a 45 minute walk every day at your stage is definitely overdoing it. Give your body rest days and reduce the length of the walking for now.

Erm... of course it is normal to still be sore after only six weeks . That's hardly any time considering it's major abdominal surgery.

You've definitely overdone it and need to slow down. I've had 2 c-sections and after my first I put my recovery back by too much lifting, carrying, etc. Please take it easy, it sounds like you're doing too much.

Of course it’s normal, OP. You had major abdominal surgery!

I agree with pps that your obsession with your body sounds disordered, OP. It’s going to take a while for you to be able to exercise vigorously again. It’s not a race —take it easy.

It took me a year before the pain on exertion went. No way should you be doing exercise at 6wks!

I'd think it was normal to still be sore.
My episiotomy scar hurt for 12 weeks!

Mine still has its moments nearly 4 years later . But yes, of course it's normal after 6 weeks!

You're really overdoing things. That's why it's hurting.

YABU it’s major surgery. I’ve had 3 c sections and I’ve never been fully recovered after 6 weeks. Take it easy it needs time to heal.

@SumAndSubstance

Mine still has its moments nearly 4 years later . But yes, of course it's normal after 6 weeks!

Mine too (every now and then) and I’ve been 5 years.

I remember I did get to the gym and took it incredibly easy at 12 weeks, but I was very fit pre CS and at the gym until 36 weeks. No sit ups or big movements and rock bottom weights.
I tried to run at 5 months post emcs and it was still sore so walked back home after I'd got to the end of the street.

I had my appendix out five months ago and that scar still hurts, never mind a c section. It’s a huge surgery and trauma to your body, it’ll take time. Rest up as much as you can and don’t put pressure on yourself to be back to “normal” too soon. The weight took nine months to come on - you’re only six weeks pp, please don’t worry. Move as much as you can but it will come off in time. Your recovery is the most important thing.

I could have a rant here about how the maternity teams brush off women's post CS pain and recovery too.

I think sometimes women forget that the cut isn't just the skin. When I went for my postpartum check up at 6 weeks the doctor showed me the scar in my uterus on the ultrasound. My son is nearly 2 years old now and sometimes if he is climbing on my and presses in just the wrong spot it still hurts now! They cut through skin, fat, muscle, tendons and your uterus so that's a lot of healing in a lot of layers to do! I understand the frustration of not feeling comfortable in your post pregnancy body but it really helped me to think that it took 9 (well 8 months in my case) months to get to that so it's not going to suddenly be back to normal after 6 weeks! You've been through a lot. Enjoy your baby. Walking really helped me but I didn't go our until nearly 3 months after he was born for a proper walk.

I think there is nine layers of stitching under there, it is indeed major surgery, the scar is not just the one you see. There are many layers of it underneath. That’s why the baby is out in the first five mins but the next forty or so are spent stitching you up, layer by layer

Yes, it’s normal for it to still hurt. Just go easy, if it gets worse go speak to your doctor, but take it easy, you’re going to be sore on and off for a while yet.

I’ve had two CS now and the last one was an awful recovery. It opened and got reinfected so I was readmitted to hospital for three days. It caused me pain probably for 8 weeks PP in total.

If you push yourself too soon it will inevitably lead to more pain. I know it’s frustrating but you need to relax a little and walk less. Obviously if you have any signs of infection get it checked out ASAP.

I’ve had 2 c sections - last one was 2.6 years ago and agree with PP that it still has its moments.

I remember cutting the grass when my younger DS was 10 months and my wound site felt like it was on fire and the muscles around my lower abdomen were throbbing. Had to stop in case I did myself an injury.

And I’d had my younger son on the Monday and was out on the Friday at the shops pottering around Zara - overdid it completely.

Take it easy and just relax. Check your wound though and make sure you’ve not got an infection

Agree with comments above. Had my CS at 40 and although I was quite fit it did take months for the flappy overhang above the scar to reduce, and a lot longer to go back to pre CS state. A good friend who’d had two reassured me that you will get there but it takes time, don’t worry. I was walking around 4-5 weeks but took it slowly and with the pram. I mean slowly - nothing like how I would normally exercise walk. At 3 months I went back to circuit training, or a version of - no sit-ups, jumps etc and everything I could do at half pace - slow and steady. Instead of running on the spot in between stations I did walking, side steps etc. So you don’t have to not exercise but you need to take it carefully, take the trainers advice (mine was very clear on what must not be attempted) and slow it down.