Be honest, what's the pain like after ELCS?

[Tea1Sugar]

I had a 3rd degree tear last time and was in genuine agony for three months until it was re stitched so I'm praying an ELCS will be more manageable.

I've had my appendix out, does that even compare?!

I don't "do" pain well, I don't cope with it so I'm petrified about it already. That and the effects of the painkillers making me feel giddy/sick/out of it/constipated.

So be honest please! How painful was your ELCS? I've got 7 weeks to prepare myself!

Am 4 days post elcs, and managing fine on 4x ibuprofen and paracetamol. Obviously sore, and need help for all fetching/carrying etc, but can go up/down stairs and move about with relative ease. Was a different story when I got home on day 2 - wound agonising and could barely stand let alone walk, was shivering and shaking with pain. But turns out I had endometritis and a fever! Was readmitted straight away for course of iv antibiotics which made an immediate difference. First c section for me so didn't know what was normal. In retrospect I should never have been allowed home, or allowed midwife to persuade me that my pain levels were to be expected. They were not!

As for elcs itself, it was fine except for when they put spinal in, which took 20 minutes and was extremely painful. After that it was a doddle:)

I wouldnt have had pain except a few hours after the operation I was told to get moving and made a sort of under pressure lunge, a huge twist, and I felt like I tore something,
This troubled me, when I moved in certain positions badly for two days. But the pain was short, sharp, and stopped when i readjusted my position. If It wasnt for that it would have been painless. and even then, a few moments of sharp pain which subsided after about 4 days....compared to hours of un relenting pain in labour, it was nothing.

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot

this helped my recovery , massively, it meant I didn't have to sit up at all at night, i could transfer easily, baby was super happy being next to me, it was large enough to put items in the corner...

For two weeks I took it easy and I wasnt in pain, it was more tired feeling...after walking.

the whole thing was a billion times better than labour though.

The huge bonus for me after section was being able to go to the loo in peace. I had no problems there at all.

after the section now, months on I am in better shape down below and my back , than after a normal no issues labour.

I had an emergency section and it really wasn't bad. For two days I was very tender on moving around but the worst of it was the cannulas in my hands making it nigh on impossible to do anything (really interfered with bf)I got home on the third day and went for a short walk the day after. It got better each day. I stopped using painkillers on day five.
And we got married two weeks and five days later, I wore a wedding dress and danced till twelve and everything!

I had two very different experiences with my elcs. The first was FINE, took painkillers, felt great. The second was not so good tbh. Not so much mind over matter - I hate that. It wasn't my fault it hurt more the second time, it was just how it went.

However, it certainly did not take 3 months to feel normal either time. More like a week to be painfree and to move confidently.

It is major surgery though. Don't feel you have to be up and running around just to prove your mind is of good quality!