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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Do you still bleed down there with a c-section?

27 replies

PenguinNZ · 30/09/2010 22:26

I feel silly for asking this, but I really don't know.

With DS1 I laboured for days (4!), pushed for a couple of hours, forceps, the lot, so even though I ended up with a EMCS, I tore quite badly. So unsuprisingly I bled quite a lot afterwards.

Time I will be having a planned c-section. Do I still need to get the huge pads and disposable knickers, or will I not bleed at all this time? Is post birth bleeding exclusive to vaginal births or is it just a normal part of the process however the baby comes out?

Thanks in advance!

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Stinkyfeet · 30/09/2010 22:28

Oh yes - you will bleed!

Good luck with the birth.

Meglet · 30/09/2010 22:30

Yes.

So big pants and lots of pads are still needed.

IME a planned cs is much much easier than am em cs. Hope it all goes well.

loopyloops · 30/09/2010 22:31

Deffo get lots.

LauraNorder · 30/09/2010 22:33

Yes you will still need all the stuff! I found cheap "big pants" were better than paper knickers. Much mre comfortable and they go right over your wound, much more comfy.

When are you having your baby?

PfftTheMagicDragon · 30/09/2010 22:37

how is the pelvic floor after a section? I have always wondered this.

Meglet · 30/09/2010 22:40

I've had 2 (emergency and planned) and my pelvic floor is no different to what it was before dc's. Not sure if that's normal or not.

gingerkirsty · 30/09/2010 22:40

It's because the bleeding is the lining of the womb coming away, so that is the same no matter what the method of exit is!

I bought big pants from Asda in a size up and wore them the whole time with my mat pads, they were great. Tragically though in spite of having lost the baby weight and DD being nearly 8mo I am still wearing them!!!! So don't get sucked in like me

DirtyMartini · 30/09/2010 22:42

Also had 2, emergency and planned, and mine is less toned than before DCs, but I think that is down to the strain placed on it during pregnancy (huuuuge bumps etc) rather than anything to do with the sections.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 30/09/2010 22:46

Meglet - no it's not Grin

YanknCock · 30/09/2010 22:47

Pfft, my pelvic floor is in a poorer state after the EMCS, but it was deteriorating during the pregnancy--lots of strain from being sick all the time, so ended up peeing every time I threw up. Very glam.

Agree about big pants vs paper pants. Big pants are much better, and yes you'll still bleed after CS.

Meglet · 30/09/2010 22:47

I always did my pelvic floor exercises though. For some reason I still do them despite having a hysterectomy Blush.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 30/09/2010 22:50

Oh yes!

I had an emcs with DS and bled for weeks - I had been in labour for a long time but not progressed to pushing or anything.

My pelvic floor isn't noticeably impaired, although I did take up pilates once my section scar had fully healed which I'm sure has helped.
I'm pregnant again with DC2 and if anything I've had less weeing in the night and at short notice than I did with DS.

wasabipeanut · 30/09/2010 22:58

I've had an em cs and a vbac - bled way more with the vbac although I did still bleed with the cs obviously. Pelvic floor was waaay worse after the natural birth but exercises sorted it after a few weeks. My pelvic floor seemed to spring back to life after the cs despite being weak in pregnancy - I also peed when chundering. Lovely.

Also agree with big cotton comfy pants - no matter what birth you have. When putting a giant pad in paper pants aren't overly useful....

Incidentally I still do pelvic floors whenever I remember.

Bechka · 30/09/2010 23:20

I had elcs and was really not looking forward to bleeding. What a relief when there was not much blood. I think they can get out quite a lot when you're in theatre, as I bled so little I actually asked whether it was normal!

Re pelvic floor, it is the same as it always was. But have only one child, so don't know whether that situation may deteriorate if I am lucky enough to have more?

BagofHolly · 30/09/2010 23:21

I had a cs and was ASTONISHED I still bled afterwards! No one told me! I thought something was dreadfully wrong! And I got afterpains too, which through my morphine-stoned state, thought I was delivering a twin or something! Grin
Thankyou, NCT, for your crap preparation for c section!I was bewildered!

Original poster
PenguinNZ · 01/10/2010 02:37

Wow - so many helpful replies and so quick! Thank you everyone! Big pants and pads again it is. [grimace]

DS2 due in January, but realised I have nothing prepared at all, so starting writing my baby list....big pants are on it again.

Thought my pelvic floor was fine until this week, when I sneezed and erm, well you can probably guess! I'm hoping that's a pregnancy thing now I'm 23 weeks and will not continue post baby - la la la, and I can't hear anyone else claiming otherwise, la la la. Hmm I am however doing pelvic floor exercises as I type this...

BagofHolly - Thank you for the afterpains warning too!

OP posts:
oxeye · 01/10/2010 02:41

oh yes, BagofHolly, I sat through weeks of NCT none of which gave me a clue re C-section

I found mens pants best Grin better large ssoft elastic on waist and not tight legs - Trunks. Can't beat them

Was stunned by bleeding and afterpains and crap pelvic floor....

good luck!

Monkeytoo · 01/10/2010 05:44

I think they do suction you out which is supposed to reduce the bleeding but I still had it for quite a few weeks. Also - watch you don't overdo things afterwards as it can increase the bleeding.

I kept a shoebox of my paper / big knickers and maxi pads next to the toilet on a box so I could grab them without leaning over and twisting to get them.

Also worth getting some form of constipation relief tablets as it can mess up your digestion for a few weeks and things can get a little painful for going to the bathroom.

Oh the joy and glamour of any form of childbirth :)

AlpinePony · 01/10/2010 06:52

Yes to bleeding - also some big clots.

No deterioration to pelvic floor although I did pee myself a few times when puking (ms up to and including delivery date!).

PfftTheMagicDragon · 01/10/2010 08:13

I would assume that you would still bleed, but seems pelvic floor deterioration varies. I suppose it can fall apart in pregnancy anyway though.

Alpine - there's nothing like feeling totally shit is there? I used to wet myself when I was sick. Even when I would wee before I knew I was going to be sick. And I would cry. And my nose would run. And I was sick 3 times a day for 20 weeks.

AlpinePony · 01/10/2010 08:16

dragon haha that's exactly it. In the end I cut out the middle man and would climb in to the bath when having an "attack" to ensure that only one receptacle needed cleaning afterwards! Grin And the farts with every heave too. I'm amazed my partner is still hanging around...

EccentricaGallumbits · 01/10/2010 08:19

pelvic floors are knackered by pregnancy in general not just pushing a baby out. So even if you have a section exercises are equally important.

all together - draw them in. suck up. hold......

KristinaM · 01/10/2010 08:22

I agree. Buy large black pants fro prim ark

And do your pelvic floor exercises religiously

TheGrumpalo · 01/10/2010 08:37

I only bled for about two weeks after my c section but about 5 weeks with vaginal birth.

Never went with the paper knickers just big primark/asda pants! Agree with getting black ones!

Did get a lot of after pains but take the meds they give you and you'll be fine.

Good luck Smile

mamaloco · 01/10/2010 08:42

EmCS and elCS, bleed lot with both.
Envy thegrumpalo

Never really done pelvic floor excercises, same as before pregnancies down there.
From what I understood VB make you wider (ask your DH) as if you only have CS you will remain more or less the same, nothing to do with pelvic floor exercises Blush.