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...

AntarcticEther - I felt very like this after my first baby and not only replayed it but also had nightmares about it and woke up panicing in the night. I felt like i had PTSD. Can you talk through what happened with someone? It may help?

You've had a massive trauma, no two people recover the same and reading other peoples stories doesn't compare to your own feelings. I felt ok two weeks after my EMCS, but five weeks after I felt rotten, the pain was worse?!?!

It came in waves for me - one day was good, the next day I was really sore. Tell your doctor how you feel at your six week check - get them to run blood tests for you if you don't feel good.

In the mean time buy a subscription to LoveFilm, get some dvd box sets, get your groceries delivered and take to your bed or the sofa - I stayed in bed with the baby and had a changing table next to me, I did a lot from bed in the first few weeks and I felt like a hermit too. Now I'm 9 weeks in and I went for a walk yesterday and I had a real spring in my step for the first time, I felt normal, not just 'ok' - iPod on full blast and fairly bouncing along...gosh it's been a while since I felt normal!

Stay home and take time to heal - and congratulations.

I would second what someone said upthread about getting your community midwife out to talk through your labour notes with you.

I had an emergency CS and found it very difficult to recover from emotionally but doing the above really helped as I at least knew for definite that it was no-one's fault (unless you count DD for wanting to come out back to back and looking where she was going)

thecokemachine god I cant wait or feel normal again!! I need to put blinkers on so I can't see housework and other stuff that needs doing...today I did spend significantly more time on the sofa though!! The thing is as well the days are very long with dh at work, he leaves at 8 and doesn't get home til seven...I've never clock watched so much in my life!

Roz I had a crash section under GA 10 weeks ago and I still felt like you at 5 weeks. I was determined to take it easy and slowly as this was my second cs, and from the start I did not heal as quickly as i did with previous one (although previous one was emcs, it was slower and with an epidural. This time dd's heart nearly stopped and the cs was much more "slash and pull"). I was scared to drive too , until about 7 or 8 weeks. I carried (and still do) my baby in a BabyBjorn type carrier as they put the weight on you back - have you thought about getting a sling or something like this ? - gives you the freedom to get out and about with the baby. I have got pretty much "back to normal" in the last 2 or 3 weeks, and walk and swim when I can, which is rarely with a 10 week old and 3 yo. Hang in there, it will come together soon.

oh roz, the days arre loooooonnnnnggg!! My DH leaves at 7:30 and gets home 8 ish. I agree, time has never passed so slowly. I didn't have a crash section, but did have a long induction, constant CS threats for failure to progress, culminating in a third degree tear, big PPH and was quite anaemic and felt so dreadful and traumatised. I was not functioning right at 6 weeks!!!!! And was still sitting on an inflatable ring cushion

Be kind to yourself, I think it sounds really normal from friends of mine etc

FWIW, I'm still so scared I'm cosidering ELCS (nice, calm, controlled) for this pg, and my DD is 15 months so I've had ages to get over it (but am having twins now)

dreaming aren't they just???? if I have a visitor in the afternoon I make them stay til six so then I only have an hour before dh gets home!! I don't think I've actually spent a whole day at home yet on my own with ds...the thought makes me shudder a bit at the moment!!! Not because i dont absolutely love him to pieces because i do, its just alot of time to fill!! And there's far too much Xmas choc in the cupboards taunting me all day!!!!

Oh Roz I know those days, my husband works long hours too. I've never been so bored in all my life - I was watching Bargain Hunt and Homes Under the Hammer every morning like they were exciting stuff! I've never viewed so much crap telly in all my life!

I spent hours feeling like I should be cleaning the house - I mean seriously WTF?...I'd had major abdominal surgery and I was worried about mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom sink. I'm such a total divvy sometimes!

Take care of yourself, it'll be better soon!

I know, what is it with the compulsion to clean?? I'm not even a mega clean and tidy person, but I really can't bear NOT being able to do it! Dh doesn't give a rats arse either so he doesn't do it either! Ah well. Got three days of husband at home now so feeling a bit happier!

Happy new year y'all! X

Aww i rememebr this so well.

It took me about 6 months to be able to walk to the shop with the buggy without having significant discomfort in my scar and needing to take pain killers.

I did try to walk short distances, but back then even 5 weeks post section, even getting up the stairs was painful.

It really is VERY very early to be expecting so much, so give yourself a break and take your time.
You have had major abdominal surgery after all.

So, crap telly, naps on the sofa, brews and painkillers, on line delivery service shopping and a bit of cleaning, just wash up and make meal plans. Drag a chair into the kitchen and sit down in between cooking things. Bung a wash load in, and then bit by bit (because it hurts to bend down), pull stuff out of the washer and put onto radiators/dryer.

Just do bits.