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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Somone talk to me about b movements after an elcs, no such thing as TMI!

23 replies

girlafraid · 28/01/2011 19:41

I had an emcs last time and this time I'm booked in

Not being able to move for 24 hours to go to the loo was fine as I hadn't eaten for days and got really bad diarrohea during labour anyway

What happens if I need to go after the operation and am confiend to bed?? You'd think I'd find other things to be scared of but this is doing it for me.

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LadySanders · 28/01/2011 19:43

i've had 3 cs. took 7 days (and an AWFUL LOT of laxatives) to poo after each one. anecdotally i'd say this is common, i don't know why, perhaps effects from the anaesthesia? so i doubt you'll need to face that issue!

nunnie · 28/01/2011 19:51

Bowel movements after both VB and EMCS for me took a while but I have the trots just before I labour usually. I was told by my MW that after a CS it can take a while might be soemthing to do with the medication (think I read somewhere it is the antibiotic but not certain).
I was in with a few who had had ELCS and not one of them complained about needing the do a number 2 and we talked about literally everything including the wind issue once we were moving about again.

SandStorm · 28/01/2011 19:53

I was told that during surgery the bowel actually shuts down and takes a while to get going again and that's why I wasn't allowed to go home until I'd had a movement. They wanted to be sure everything was working again.

Original poster

girlafraid · 28/01/2011 19:54

Oh , this is very reassuring

Thanks!

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LadySanders · 28/01/2011 19:55

also i was only 'confined' for 12 hours at most after each birth, i assume that's the norm

nunnie · 28/01/2011 19:58

Blimey glad they didn't keep me in till I had had one, it was at least a week later.

It's 18 hours here and even then that is from bed to chair.

SandStorm · 28/01/2011 20:01

Actually, first time I fibbed and told them I'd been - silly really but I didn't understand why they were so interested - and second time I just told them I didn't go every day anyway and I promised to see my GP if there were issues!

Also, I was up and about within the day too.

GwennieF · 28/01/2011 20:02

I've had an EMCS, but had eaten as normal the previous day. I went as normal within 24 hours. Though now that I think about it I must have eaten a full net of satsumas the evening of the CS as I had missed the evening meal and only had a sandwich and crisps instead of a hot meal.

I was terrified of having a poo after I had my DD (VBAC) I had visions of the stitches just 'unzipping'! (They didn't)

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 28/01/2011 20:09

I think it is very unlikely that you will need a poo so soon after a section. The painkillers that they give you bung you up.

Even if you did need to go, you can be up and about (albeit slowly and bent over) about 6 hours after the op. The quicker you start to move about, the better - less risk of DVT, better blood flow to help the scars to heal etc etc.

ChunkyPickle · 28/01/2011 20:11

I don't know if I'm the exception, but I was able to get up and about (although I didn't enjoy it) 2 hours after my EMCS (basically once the epidural had worn off most of the way) - I was blessing the catheter as it meant I could drink and not be plodding to the toilet every 1/2 hour to pee, but after a CS at night, I'd done a number 2 the next morning- about 12 hours later - no problem

No pain, no fuss, all that freaked me out was it was white - although thinking back I presume that was something to do with the suppository they informed me they'd popped in after the op for something or other (I'm presuming pain relief).

ChunkyPickle · 28/01/2011 20:12

I'd been on hospital food for 3 days while they tried to induce me, then nothing much past breakfast on the day I ended up with the EMCS as I was concentrating too much to be hungry (turns out they wouldn't have wanted me eating anyhow)

ChunkyPickle · 28/01/2011 20:14

I think it was the hospital bed that got me up by the way - momentary discomfort moving vs. continuously uncomfortable lumpy bed (and baby in a goldfish bowl by the wall) and moving totally won out.

WorzselMummage · 28/01/2011 20:17

I couldnt poo till I got home after my emcs and that was afer taking lactulose.

The dr told me it takes a while for the bowel to start working again after being rummaged about.

Blatherskite · 28/01/2011 20:18

I had a ELCS last time (13 months ago now) Had been out for dinner with DH the night before so had definitely eaten well. DD was born at 12.15pm on the Thursday and I was up and in the shower at 10.30am the next morning. Was in hospital for 48 hours after the op and had definitely gone before I went home. Was told I had to have done before I could be discharged.

You'll be fine. I think the anaesthesia does slow things down but it'll soon get moving again. Take some Windeze tablets for if you feel very bloated and uncomfortable and when you need to go - just go - just remember not to strain. I found holding my hands over my wound made me feel more secure.

LadySanders · 28/01/2011 20:20

god i'm glad i didn't get interrogated about my bm... although they did obsess about whether the baby had pooed yet before they let me out with dc3 (i lied, i was desperate to get home)

wheresmytractor · 28/01/2011 20:20

take lots of stool softeners, drink lots of water. I found pooing very hard in both senses of the word! Remember you can't really strain either because of the scar, so it all needs to be as soft as possible

HTH x

Monkeytoo · 28/01/2011 20:29

I struggled to go as well and had to take medication - but if I had needed to go I would have been able to. They had me up and about within a few hours of my c-section so they could take the catheter out and definitely encouraged me to walk around. I found it hard but was able to.

Highlander · 29/01/2011 08:34

24 hours after each CS - both were elective.

If you have a morning CS - get on your feet that afternoon. The more you move, the quicker things get back to normal.

Stangirl · 29/01/2011 10:36

It may be something to do with the opiates you are given for a CS - diamorphine/morphine/codeine - they are very powerful constipators.

Meglet · 29/01/2011 10:39

I was nil by mouth for 12 hours before my planned cs. TBH I barely ate the day before anyway as I wanted to be empty before the op.

I was in hospital for 3 days but didn't poo until I got home. I had Movicol to make sure everything was soft.

Harry2007 · 01/02/2011 11:16

Hi Ladies,

I had an ELCS for my first and am booked in for another ELCS on the 24th March. My Boots.com order has just arrived, in which was the Dulcoease that I'd ordered for the post-op period. However, it says on the pack that you shouldn't use it if breastfeeding - anybody know why?

Thanks

Harry x

1944girl · 02/02/2011 01:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

girlafraid · 11/02/2011 10:53

Thanks for all the responses - elcs done and a really great experience. No bowel issues!

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