Crash C section almost 5 weeks ago, still taking pain killers, still dont feel ready to leave house alone...

[roz1982]

Had a very long, difficult labour which ended in a crash section under general anaesthetic almost 5 weeks ago. The scar was very very bruised, tender and sore for quite a while and still really niggles and aches and stings if I "do too much" eg, the day after boxing day I felt as if I'd been run over by a bus again.. Am still taking painkillers daily, ibu and para. And am still on iron tablets as had quite bad blood loss.

The thing that is the worst though is that I still don't feel able to go out with ds on my own, getting the buggy up and down etc just seems beyond my physical capability and goin out still makes me feel so unbelievably shattered! Obviously this is partly due to having a newborn, but I feel like a prisoner in my own home! Know I can officially drive again in a week or so, but feel a bit anxious about that too. I want to feel mobiles and active again and just feel like a terrible hermit! Reading stories from peope who felt recovered within a couple of weeks makes me feel like my recovery is terribly slow and I'm very frustrated by it. Sometimes I even feel like carrying my son around is too much. Has anyone else had this experience after a c section? I really thought I'd b well on the road to recovery by now...

Poor you, I've never had a section, but I felt totally knackered and down for about two weeks after a normal delivery and like I couldn't manage, for me it suddenly passed without warning.

Five weeks is not very long and recovery from a crash section will take longer than other sections as they will have been less 'careful' with you inorder to get baby out quickly. It will get better and probably fairly soon. It is still early days. Don't expect too much from yourself.

Such a short time. Honestly do cut yourself a break and don't compare your recovery to anyone else's. We are all different and every labour and delivery is different. When is your 6 week check? Let's just look forward to longer days, warmer weather and proud pushchair outings!

maxbear - yes they definitely werent careful, the scar is well wonky!! Your right it is early days, patience isn't my strong point! Don't think the weather and dark nights help either. And it is slowly getting better.

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time of it. Are you having your iron levels checked regularly? Even just being a bit low can make you feel wiped out, especially on top of what you've been through - as maxbear says they can't be as careful with you in a crash CS so you will have been well and truly rummaged!

A general anaesthetic is not a picnic either - it's amazing the difference in people's reactions. Some are right as rain within a few hours and some are knocked sideways for ages, it's the luck of the draw unfortunately.

And you have just had a baby! Congratulations :) but it is a HUGE deal and very tiring. Be kind to yourself, get as much help as you can so you can rest, take things at your own pace and do tell your GP how you're feeling, so that they can help if necessary.

wolfiefan got 6 week check really soon, first week in jan I think. I know, I can't wait for spring feel totally trapped in my house by post op recovery, exhaustion and dark, horrible days!!! Had a terrible anxious, crying meltdown last night at 1am...poor dh had to be up for work and was just cross with myself as ds was sleeping soundly and so should I have been!

Thanks rooksby I haven't had my iron checked since I left hosp. Am still taking two tabs a day. I try to rest as much as poss and have help off mum but just really feel like I want to get on with my life!! With new ds of course! Like I said, just impatient!!

Congratulations on your baby.

I have had 2 emergency sections! Both very different recoverywise, the 1st I was up and about in a couple of days, but I was induced, epidural-ed and flat on my back for 12 hours before the section-not very enjoyable, but not too tiring. ( I was 26 too)

2nd time around whole different story, about 20 hrs of natural labour, on my feet, G&A only, section was difficult, I was hours in theatre, I had to be catheterised for 10 days. TBH I thought I would never recover, I felt awful and weak and cut in half and 'hit by a bus' is the exact expression I remember using.

My stepsister had one too and she could hardly do a thing for weeks.
A friend of mine had a nanny and a nurse who came at night for a month just to change the baby's nappy and pass him to his Mum for a feed.

Now I'm not suggesting you hire someone like this, but really do not be too hard on yourself. You will recover it wil get better and at least you have mumsnet to cheer you up.

As well as the section to recover from, loss of blood can make you breathless and weak by itself. Take good care of yourself and maybe see if someone can watch your baby whilst you pop to the corner shop for a magazine and some choc (there's iron in choc you know ) Just 5 mins will make you feel a little more independant and human.

Hi, I had a crash CS with my 1st, and had a terrible wonky scar that ached and gave me all sorts of jip. The good news is, you are listening to your body and not doing anything, and resting up. GA knocked me for shit, and looking back over photos I looked like a ghost. i also had a slightly less mergence c with my second and no GA. The difference is amazing.

I would advise either--
Pushing the pram about but knowing the route you will take so you know there are dropped kerbs etc so you can get the push chair where you need it to be.

Put the baby in the sling and go for a much shorter walk, more of a breath of fresh air.

For your scar--
A bath with 4/5 drops of tea tree oil in it each night
Arnica tablets- get them from your health food shop and take as directed
Pelvic Floor exercises, do them laying in bed as often as you remember

For you--
Have you spoken to the hospital about your crash c-section. We had a de-brief at home with the Consultant and head MW from the PCT to talk over what happened and why. We requested this, we really needed to know why things went so wrong.

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your baby x

I can't believe how crap aftercare for CS is! I was amazed when I had mine, having worked as a staff nurse on a general surgical ward and seen how appendix, hernia repair etc are treated.
Anyway. Good luck, hope you have a speedy recovery, and I think you are right about the weather and things, I had my CS in summer and being able to sit outside in the sunshine must have helped my recovery. Take care xxx

I didn't have a c-section with dd but bled for 14 weeks after, had a couple of uterine infections and felt like I had been sledgehammered in the fanjo!it took me a while to recover. Just try and take it easy and you will be back to your self eventually.

chipmunksex I swear if I had the money I would so hire a night nanny!!! Getting ds out of his Moses is still really difficult!

gapants good idea about putting baby in a sling for a short walk...next time it's not raining I will give that a go.

Thanks for responses feeling much better about the whole thing x

rooksby I have to admit, even though the midwives were really nice, the two nights I spent in hosp with ds were absolutely nightmarish! So bloody hard, I didn't sleep hardly at all for four days by the end of it! I just felt I couldn't look after ds at all! And dh had to be out from 8pm til 10am whic I was just horrified by!!

Did they give you a leaflet saying not lift heavy objects?

My dd weighed nearly 10 pounds! I couldn't just leave her screaming on the floor could I?

I was exactly like that after my EMCS. At about 4 weeks post CS I remember putting a huge note on my fridge telling me to stand up straight, for the first month I was walking hunched over like an old woman. Just lie low and rest for a while yet.

FWIW I was fine at the gym by 12 weeks. You won't feel crap forever. But in the meantime listen to your body, it's not a competition to feel 100% again, everyone is different.

I had dd2 by crash cs (with ga) - I was in hospital for 5 days, and really felt like I needed to be there! It is much more to recover from, with the additional blood loss, general anaesthetic and wonky scar.
My scar was wobbly, but very neatly sewn up afterwards and is almost invisible now (dd2 is 11)

Be honest about how you are feeling when you go for your 6 week check, and keep asking for help/accepting any and all help offered for as long as YOU need.

I had to have my father in law stay as dd1 was very young, and still not walking, but heavy and I couldn't lift her at all.

5 weeks is a very short time though, so try not to beat yourself up about it, and enjoy your new ds. Congratulations.

No I didn't get that leaflet!!

I stupidly and without thinking lifted ds out f mums car in his car seat the other day...I bloody well knew about it!

meglet gosh sounds like you had it even worse than me!!

I have 4 dc, all straightforward inductions, all unassisted deliveries.

After dc2 I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, took me weeks and weeks to start feeling better etc. Other 3 were a breeze, was up and about going to the shops etc etc next day, no babymoon here.

My kind to yourself you've had major surgery, for some reason sometimes it takes a long time to get over births - most unfair but certainly true.

You have my sympathy too, I felt like I'd been run over by a bus. I would recommend you also get your thyroid checked, that dragged me down afterwards too and is somewhat common post partum. Is your scar horizontal or vertical? I don't know if they do vertical ones for crash sections still but have heard they have a much longer recovery.

For what's it's worth, I felt pitiful for a long time after my c section but it did pass. Make sure you take care of the emotional side too, an EMCS can be a big shock.

I had a crash section about 18 days ago , and did too much and now have a hemotoma which is infected . I feel like I'm climbing the walls with not being able to do certain things , and walking like an OAP.

Is it just the physical side of things that is getting to you ? I find I keep replying the birth over and over , and the alternative scenario had we been 5 minutes later turning up at the hospital . I'm also extremely anxious about something bad happening to the baby that I can't turn off , and going out makes me anxious . I worry I'm not getting over that side if things quick enough.

It is still very early days. I've had 3 section, 1 emergency one, and 2 elective.

My first one was elective but i felt like if i stood up too straight i would actually break in two. I remember trying to go xmas shopping when dd was 6 weeks old, and we had to go home because I was so exhausted and in agony from my scar.

I second going out on your own for a little walk if you can. It's a lovely feeling and much easier than taking baby along. It will get better. Congratulations!

antarcticether I know what you mean about the emotional side of recovery...and replaying the birth thinking if it could have been different. A few days after the birth, I got really down and upset thinking that neither me or dh had been there when he was born...I was out cold and dh wasn't allowed in...that realisation really knocked me for six. I still have days where I feel utterly overwhelmed, sad and anxious, but luckily they seem to be getting less and less. Make sure you rest and look after yourself too x

I have had a emergency c section and an elective. Oh my goodness the elective was a walk in the park but recovery from the emergency c section took months. I felt totally knocked sideways and had to recover mentally (after the very traumatic labour) and physically. Like you I felt very anxious and this probably lasted around 6 months.

I had a lovely health visitor who spent a long time talking through what happened and how I was feeling. She also showed me some exercises to get my core strong again try pilates for mums. Getting outside everyday helped and meeting up with other mums.

Things will get better. Take it easy, get some good box sets and put your feet up.

Oh I really feel for you op. it took me a long time to feel ok again after cs, not under ga though fortunately, you poor thing. Just echoing what others have said, be kind to yourself, don't do too much and make sure those around you know how you're feeling so they can support you better. I remember not being able to stand up straight for fear of stretching the scar, also I was so paranoid about breaking the stitches and the wound opening but that was stupid and never happens. Good luck and take your time. Enjoy your lovely baby!

headsrolling it's a very wonky horizontal scar! Your right, it is a shock. When I came round I shook uncontrollably for twenty minutes before I could finally see my boy after 2 hours. BUT he's here and he's perfectly healthy and I'm so happy for that