Is this normal for a c section?

[Csectionnormal]

I’m still in hospital (op was Tuesday lunchtime) and in agony.

All is well when in bed but getting up and moving is 10/10 painful and leaves me in tears.

I feel the drs and nurses think I am a drama queen man. I’m not, I desperately want to go home and recover.

@shortandpaleandoldandugly
That's not entirely true now. I had an emergency C-section as my child was in breech and struggling. We both survived the initial stress and are healthy and thriving. My husband's younger sister had a planned cs and she's been in agony from countless infections and her scar won't heal properly. So I think there's more to this don't you?

My first two weren’t like that.

But my third floored me for weeks.

I was chucked out of hospital 14 hours after my section and I was in agony for the first two weeks. Then it took another two before I could walk to the bathroom without crying in pain.

No one gave a shit, which after the experiment of 2 other babies, I expected.

*experience not experiment

@Muddays I've no idea. Just stating what I experienced and was told this. There's a difference between an emergency section and a crash section too.

It can be totally normal. I cried a few times a day for several days, this was at home as I was discharged less than 24 hrs after the section.
I had full dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen for about 3 weeks.

Sounds normal for mine

i had no infection or complications

it honestly varies

My c sec was awful. It was emergency so wasn't expecting it either.

I had one AWFUL pain on one side low down. Anytime I moved I was in agony and cried and shouted. I did not care what others thought as the pain was so bad.

I remember they tried to get me up and move as soon as I could feel my legs again- it was almost forceful. I said in the end I told them to put me back into bed, while half stood up. My partner looked very worried.

The pain kept me awake, I couldn't move in bed. Honestly, the slightest move and I'd be in tears.

I learnt a few days after that they had to cut away more muscle than usual on my right side, as baby was stuck, where the pain was- so I think it might have been this. But who knows.

On top of that, my baby was in NICU and I couldn't see her when I'd wanted to- nightmare for breastfeeding (but I managed and am still feeding now at 20m!).

Have all the pain meds; it does get better. For me that awful pain started to fade within a week. Was a long week; and I was a mess. Also was in summer and it was so bloody hot!!!

You'll get there; go easy on yourself.

Also, I was in hospital a lot longer- I lost a lot of blood in theatre- they didn't want to give me a transfusion but in the end after two weeks I needed one- my blood count was LOW.

I also was treated for sepsis a few days after my daughters birth; that was horrid.

I think it's really important to remember everyone recovers differently, and this magical three day recovery is not for everyone.

You may have an infection and if that's the case you definitely need it to be sorted asap. I didn't have anything "wrong" but it took me over a month before I could even walk up stairs in one go and three months before I could walk further than the end of the road (and up until the day before I had been walking dog 1-2 hours so I was fairly fit). I'm sure you will recover quicker than that, but one of the things I found hardest was everyone saying "I was going round the supermarket with three children then playing on the swings" the next day" etc.

So just go at the pace that suits you and don't push it. I got some exercises from a pilates instructor which helped.

Morning, based solely on my own experience, that doesn't sound right. Yes, it was uncomfortable to move around but I was up and walking around as soon as I had feeling back in my legs and went home two day later. Infection could be a factor in your recovery although I'd hope they would have checked this already ... Hope you're feeling better soon.

I've had three. The first 24 hours were painful but after that I was okay unless I overdid it. I left hospital the next day with all three and was gone walking to the car, being driven home etc. I'd ask them to check nothing else like an infection is going on

It sounds a bit worse than it should be.
I was allowed to take a couple of days worth morphine home after my EMCS as I was in pain, but I could still move a bit. I found things very difficult for a couple of weeks, I remember standing up straight was hard. Was over a month before I stopped pain relief.
They shouldn't be dismissing your pain and need to help you recover. Hope you are home soon.

Not normal for me - I've had 1x emcs & 2x elcs.

Pain was easily controlled by codeine and I was moving about relatively easily within 1 day considering I'd had major surgery. Never struggled going for a wee or poo either. Was on codeine for about 5 days, then just paracetamol when needed.

I was discharged home within 24 hours of my last birth.

I was driving again within 2 weeks of my last elcs.

I found my recovery was the quickest by resting & getting DH to do all the moving around, bringing baby to me etc, but making sure i was getting up & walking around every hour or so, just for a few minutes.

I always supported my tummy when going from sitting to standing, coughing etc & I used my elbow to help me go from lying down to sitting so I wasn't pulling on my tummy muscles.

I think you need to chat to the nurses as I wouldn't consider your pain to be typically.

Good luck & congratulations on your baby

Congratulations!

What pain killers have you had? I found it really important to keep on top of them, paracetamol alternated with ibuprofen every two hours. I did have to keep asking for them for I wouldn't have got them. As soon as the pain killers wore off the pain was really bad for about a week, but I was up and hobbling around by day 3 (still in a lot of pain though)

I didn't realise that you could have stronger pain relief then paracetamol. I found the first few days pretty tough when moving about & it was only on upon reading MNs I realised some get stronger pain meds.

Is there a reason you are still in hospital? Is it pain pain or discomfort & frustration about not being able to move your body how you are used too?

No not normal at all. Is there someone who can advocate for you? I was up and about the next day with both of mine with some pain but nowhere near 10/10 or crying levels of pain. Unless you usually have a very low pain threshold it should be investigated.

Not normal for me either, what pain relief are you having? There was a cock up with mine so I was sent home without whatever the strong thing was and (unsurprisingly) I did end up in a fair bit more pain until we managed to get them.

I've a very high pain threshold and had no more pain meds after 48 hours but to be in the pain your in after so long then I'd be asking them to do a swab or a scan.

I have a high pain threshold too but i definitely needed paracetamol for the first week & looking back I would have liked stronger stuff the first few days.

I didn't find it 10/10 painful but I was being topped up on morphine every 4 hours (which I would very much recommend) once it wore off I bloody knew about it!

What pain relief are you being offered ?

Sounds normal to me 🙁 I had an emergency C-section and was in agony. I needed morphine, high dose of codeine and diclofenec to be able to get out of bed.

I think the nurses thought I was putting it on but I felt like someone was holding a burning hot iron to my scar line. The pain was intense and burning.

It took around a week to drop to more manageable levels.