C section recovery - 3 weeks on

[OM82]

Hi, I'm just looking for other people's experience of recovering from a c section. I had an emergency one just over three weeks ago, and whilst the wound seems to be feeling fine the bit of my stomach below my belly button - and maybe the middle third from hip to hip - is pretty tender to the touch. I'm still taking max dose of paracetamol and Ibuprofen, but because of how my stomach feels I'm struggling to stand up or sit down whilst holding my daughter.

I wasn't really given any advice on what to expect and everything I've read on line seems to suggest the pain should go by 2 weeks?

If anyone has experienced anything similar it's be good to hear about, thanks. It's making me pretty frustrated and teary.

Hi @OM82 - congratulations on the birth of your baby! I had an ELCS three weeks ago too - on Monday 29 Nov. By the Sunday I had come off all my pain meds, took ibuprofen just once on the Tuesday and the Thursday following. I wouldn't expect to have to take them religiously now three weeks on - I would tend towards more on a needs basis?

If you are talking about the area just above the scar, I still have bruising there so yes, it is still tender, but it doesn't prevent me from sitting / standing? If you are at all worried please call the GP and get it checked? Is it still showing bruising?

It can feel tender or numb for months, they put a lot of pressure on the area and pull it around a lot so there's swelling and bruising like any major surgery that takes a while to settle. But I wouldn't think it should be painful enough to still require max dose of both painkillers (I've had 3 sections in 6 years, last one was 12 weeks ago). Maybe call your gp or public health nurse or the equivalent for a chat/to get it checked out just to be sure.

Thanks for the replies @chippedchocolate and @garman.

I ended up speaking to my gp who just said some people heal quickly (sounds like you both got lucky!) and other people take longer for some reason, so I've just to be patient. She said as long as I'm feeling well otherwise and no fever etc then it will just take time..

I think it was 5 weeks on that I felt like it was pretty much fine then just got stronger as the time went on. Mine was an elective though and after about 5/6 days the recovery really was a million times easier than I expected

I am 7 weeks post section. I was like you and was mad looking for info online. I was still in pain exactly where you described and was up to 6 weeks post section. My nurse said to me take pain relief of you need it. I actually met with the surgeon at a hospital appointment and she also said its normal. Some women bounce back. Other don't. I had twins and found bending to lift them v painful too. You poor thing. Another few weeks and you'll feel bit better. Take your pain relief and drink lots of water. And don't over do it either with housework etc.

I had a section six months ago and was definitely still on regular pain relief by the three week point. I don’t think I stopped taking it completely until nearer the six week mark to be honest. No infection or anything but I obviously just took longer than some so I don’t think it’s that unusual. Annoying maybe and I remember being quite frustrated some days too that it seems to go backward on occasion. Got there in the end though!

Thanks @sarah13xx, glad you're getting better now and that there's hope!

@Dagray21, it's really nice to hear you were in a similar situation (although not for you obviously), and good to hear what your surgeon said. I felt like I was going mad looking online and not finding anything about longer recoveries and was beginning to wonder if it was all in my head. I hope you're feeling a lot better now and well done on coping with twins!

Thank you to you too @canary0, it's just so good to hear that it's not this quick recovery for everyone thst you read about - although obviously that would be best!

I also had a planned section 6 months ago and was surprised at how long it took to feel better. I was exercising and doing prenatal yoga throughout my pregnancy too. I can’t remember when I stopped taking pain relief but I did have issues getting in and out of bed and the burning feeling of opening up a stitch a tiny bit once. I have no idea how I dragged myself to baby classes 6 weeks PP and got on and off the floor holding the baby at the same time! Probably made very loud ‘ooooof’ noises! It took 3 months to feel ‘strong’ when getting up and down and around 4 to be able to lie comfortably on my stomach when playing with baby. Oh, and for some reason my stomach stayed swollen for ages. It’s only recently that I’d say I’ve lost all the post surgery swelling and just have baby weight left.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby. My advice is to go at your own pace and treat your body gently xxx

I’ve had two sections, the first one was emergency section and was on painkillers for a couple of weeks, with my second i took longer to heal but I was up about more..didn’t take any pain relief as I bought some cbd oil and that really helped me although at the same time feeling great and doing too much when I shouldn’t have been lol

@OM82 I thought the same, couldn't find
anything online. All I wanted to read was about someone experiencing pain still but it was all I didn't even need pain relief and I was feeling great 2 weeks after. I was flying around yesterday shopping and other bits and I have to say, I'm sore today. About 2 weeks ago, I wasn't able to walk fast. I was still walking so slow. I'm only out and about again in the last 2 weeks. My twins are 8 weeks on Monday, so I feel it took me a lot longer. My core is really weak still. I still have a big belly. My wound looks good. Tmi...but there's even still a really small bit of a scab type mark on it. Someone told me to rub oil into the scar from now on to help with nerves. Anyway, I'm blabbering now but it's nice to have someone to talk to about all these random symptoms. And when people ask you how are you, you say, oh I'm fine! imagine if you told them how you really feel!!
Happy Christmas to all

Congratulations!

I had an emcs 15 months ago and the area is still numb and sore at times.

I think I felt back to normal after 5 months. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear! An emcs is major surgery and recovery can be very long.

Thanks for the reply and advice @Crumble012, the thought of getting up and down off the floor fills me with dread! I've been feeling a lot better the last few days so hopefully I continue to improve. My stomach has also stayed swollen and I am needing to wear my maternity clothes still which surprised me.

@Chanel05 thanks for your reply too - whilst it's not what I wanted to hear there is some relief to be had that what I'm experiencing is normal (or at least not isolated to me alone!), as I said before I had been wondering if it was all in my head since everything you read seems to be about super rapid recoveries.

@Dagray21 I know exactly how you feel - I can't imagine how it would have been with twins (for more reasons than this one!) I've been honest with people when they ask how I am feeling and there's probably a 50/50 split between those who understand and say "it's major surgery" and those who obviously think I'm being a bit of a wimp! Luckily my husband has been great and not expected me to do anything beyond feeding our daughter . I hope you had a lovely Christmas and continue to feel stronger.

I took paracetamol for a week after my emc the numbness almost feels like a sunburn sensation lasted about 4 months after my first emc bug I didn't get it after the second one

Completely normal to still be wearing maternity clothes for a while yet, pre pregnancy clothes would rarely fit straight away with either natural birth or csection.