To stay in bed today?- c section pain

[Jajajagi]

I had an elective c section last Monday and have been getting on ok since, managing to walk around the house and go up and down the stairs a bit but for the past couple of days I've had very painful searing burning pain around my scar, particularly at the edges/ends. Midwife checked the wound a couple of days ago and says it all looks fine, no sign of infection. It's so painful mostly when I'm standing up or kneeling (which I only do when changing the baby downstairs). The pain arrives almost immediately after I stand up. It seems that the pain goes when I am reclined sitting. I've spent most of today reclining in bed, feeding the baby and changing him on the bed. I'm taking paracetamol and ibuprofen but they don't seem to do much for the pain. I do have stronger painkillers but my midwife suggested not taking them anymore after a week as they are opioids.

Should I be making an effort to get up and move around even though it's really painful? Take the opioids anyway?or am I ok to have a lazy day or 2 in bed to avoid the pain? My MIL is pushing for me to get up and moving but I am feeling so sensitive to the pain at the moment.

Agree with PP that that pain sounds like it might warrant more attention.

Your MIL, of course, warrants less attention.

I also had the searing and burning approx one week in. I think it is tightness as the scar begins to form/heal and it shrinks a bit and pulls tight.
You have had major surgery. If anyone other than a new mum had major abdominal surgery, pretty sure that they do not go around lifting objects (babies) bending to change nappies, cook meals etc. Is the baby upstairs with you when you rest. I wonder if MIL wants you up and about so that she can access the LO.
I found changing baby at waist height (used dining table) helped as did a bed rail guard (the type used on toddler beds). The rail was brilliant for pulling myself up and out of bed. Getting out of bed from a lying position was the only thing that I found really difficult.

You'd have still been in hospital 20 years ago and very much in bed and resting for at least 5 days. You've had major abdominal surgery,you need to be very careful. Rest, rest and more rest , if things hurt then stop.

@Jajajagi Have you thought about setting up a changing station on your dining table? I didn’t have much other option as I had and emergency section and then they went and revised it so ended up back in hospital again for more surgery. I was in pain for months so couldn’t manage changing or being on the floor. Best of luck with your recovery!

Oh OP, you poor thing. I had two c sections, just over a year apart, and had very little pain or discomfort. I think that was down to the fact I sat on the sofa breastfeeding all day whilst DH did everything else! You absolutely need to rest!

I would also get a second opinion on why it might be causing you so much pain because generally speaking it should just feel slightly tender at this stage (if that), and definitely not feel like an intense pain!

Finally, take the painkillers! Mine were prescribed for 10 days, and although I knew I didn't really need them (missed a few doses and was fine), I took them anyway just to make sure. They're safe for you and safe to take whilst breastfeeding.

I hope you feel better soon. And congratulations!

Take the stronger meds!! Ive had two c sections and called the dr both time for extra meds once mine had run out! Tell your MIL to mind her own business

You really wouldn’t . I had an ELCS 25 yrs ago was in night of / next night and discharged being told to take paracetamol. You also weren’t laying in bed after your spinal wore off , you were up , showering , getting your catheter out and dealing with your baby as no husbands allowed to stay . Maybe 40 yrs ago people languished in bed .

Any other symptoms op?

Temperature?? Do you feel well otherwise?

Thank you everyone! I've just managed to have a shower but it was very painful to even walk along the hall to the bathroom. I have been lightly using the shower head over my tummy/wound on a cool low setting (as advised by my midwife) and the warm seemed to help a bit at least for those few seconds so wondering if a hot water bottle (through several layers so just warm) might help.

I feel well in myself, no temperature, everyone who has had a look at the wound says it looks ok, a little bit red but no smell or discharge/oozing but obviously don't know what's happening inside.

I've been quite emotional as I'm worried why it is suddenly hurting so much and what these means.

I've contacted my doctors surgery to see if I can see someone tomorrow but I think even getting in the car and walking from the carpark to the surgery is going to be difficult if I can't get down the upstairs hallway without crying (although I know I do have a low pain threshold)

I spoke to the hospital earlier and they said to contact my gp to look into and maybe prescribe some antibiotics and also to get back into taking the opioids regularly for a bit longer.

It's a searing burning pain mostly on the right hand side but my bump feels tender to touch a few cm above the wound. When I am lying down and reclining I don't really have any pain, the occasional burn feeling and I had one electric shock type pain earlier. I've been injecting blood thinners daily since the op and moving my feet and legs around today so hoping I am moving enough.

I have tried to get up and just walk around the bed a couple of times this evening but even trying to put away some baby clothes and muslins on the bed into a basket was too painful. I did manage to get up and down the stairs the other day but don't think I could do that today without a struggle. I'm just concerned why it has become so painful over the part couple of days and worried it's something not great going on internally

I assume you are holding your wound area whilst you move about IYSWIM ?

I think you may be over doing it tbh. If it's on the floor leave it mentality. Change baby on bed or sofa etc. I used a belly binder on day 1 for mine. No infection etc. but it kept my back supported and a barrier to feed baby and heal. If you are taking the injections and getting up at least once an hour you should be fine. Also your hormones will be rushing around everywhere. So give yourself and your body a break!

Also don't worry about folding and putting stuff in a basket! Ask for help. Set up a snack and water station. Nappies, cream etc so you don't have to move as much. Being constipated can cause belly pain, glycerol suppositories are fast effective not pleasant. I had the same burning searing pain. It's not nice but can be normal as nerve pain is to be expected.

You need to give yourself time to rest. With my second C Section I thought I was superwoman, moved around too much through the pain and ended up taking longer to recover. Build back up slowly and at your own pace. MIL and others (your DP/DH?) should be helping and allowing you to rest, not giving you bad advice!

I would ask them to swab the wound, if possible? No one thought I had an infection and I did, I didn't have a temperature either. And don't do too much. You've had major surgery. No one else's business.

I had an elective csection on the 11th January. I have experienced a similar pain. I put it down to the fact that they tie the stitches off on one side and it’s tight. I also had pneumonia so coughing was painful but I only required paracetamol for the csection discomfort. I think you just need to listen to your body and rest when you can.

I have had three c sections and remember the searing pain caused by doing too much.

I still had that pain iff I did too much weeks and weeks after the section. A total reminder to take it slowly.

Stay in bed if that's where you're comfortable. Get up slowly and carefully when you want or need to (hold a pillow across your scar for support while you stand and sit), and try to stand up straight when you walk. But rest rest rest rest rest is the best recovery plan.

My best recovery was during lockdown. So DH was home to look after the house and kids and I didn't have to fetch my own food or do washing or anything. I spent three weeks predominantly in bed with my baby - best start for us both!

Oh well,I was in for 5 days which was standard. London hospital.

Not standard in Kent , even first night post section you had to deal with your own baby if remotely possible .

I didn't say you don't deal with your own baby,it's not a hotel 😂

@LoafofSellotape true but you do expect someone to assist if you ring a buzzer , where I was it would have been a quicker response to ring my husband a 20 minute drive away 😄