Emotions running high after emergency c-section

[MummyRR]

I gave birth just over a week ago via emergency c-section after labouring for 5 very difficult days.
I wanted the most natural birth but unfortunately it didn't work out that way.
I was on gas and air for 7 hours before having my waters popped, an epidural to allow me to sleep and a hormone drip when finally an emergency caesarean was the only option left. I had dilated only to 5cm in that time and couldn't progress. It didn't help that baby was back to back either.
For the first few days I was very sore and very numb. Not being able to walk or even shuffle had me in pieces. I couldn't even bend to pick up my baby and felt so useless for it.
A week on, I am feeling a lot better and keeping mobile though still needing painkillers to ease the pain.
I think what's making me sad the most is body image - I am an active person and love to exercise vigorously. Reading online forums, women who have had c-sections write about experiencing pain for so long afterwards... I gained so much weight in my pregnancy and my stomach now just looks horrible.
I want to know, has anybody here had a c-section and been able to carry on with life eventually... as normal? And if so, when? Does the pain ever go away or does it come back from time to time? Will I ever be able to run again?

I'm sorry you had such a rough time. I had an ELCS so my recovery was probably a lot easier but I was given the all clear to start running at my 6 week check (I didn't because my pelvic floor wasn't up to it!). I was exercising properly from 3 months pp and was the fittest I'd ever been (then I went back to work ate all the biscuits). Absolutely no lasting effects though.

You're being a bit catastrophic. Most women who have c sections go back to normal life. I had an emergency c-section. My body looks different but I can still do everything I did before. Try not to worry and focus on your baby.

I had an emergency c-section, I found recovery quite hard, was taking pain killers for around 2 weeks but by 6 weeks I was almost back to normal. My friend took two weeks which I thought was mental!

with my second child I had an elective c-section and within 14 I was fine!

Take some time, relax, take it slow, you'll be back to yourself in no time.

I had a c- section 6 months ago and experience no issues. I had pain etc for maybe 1-2 weeks and now the only thing different is that the area is a little bit numb. Like when you get a dead leg and you can feel pressure but not sensation? I do still have the slight stomach overhang to the scar but tbh I haven’t been back to the gym yet 😂. I have no worries I wouldn’t be able to, I’ve been on 10 mile walks, swam, cycled etc. It wasn’t the birth you wanted but you and your baby are safe and the chances of long term consequences are minimal. Congrats on your baby!

Your body has been through the most amazing, wonderful yet terrifying, traumatic experience. Try to go easy on yourself. Your baby is only a week or so old. You’re only a few days into your recovery.
The birth was different to what you wanted but look at your baby, they are here. One day at a time, slow and steady really does win the race

After my emergency c section I felt like I’d been hit by a bus; however within just a few weeks you’ll feel so much better. After 6 weeks you shouldn’t have pain ( my first I took painkillers for 4 weeks and with my second less). You can also start exercising after 6 weeks and I’d say take it easy but it won’t be long until you can exercise as normal. Also with my first my scar was barely noticeable after a year. Go easy on yourself; you’ve had a big operation after 5 days in labour and it took 9 months to grow your baby so it makes sense it takes time for you body to go back

Had 2. First emergency and the second elective. Been to the gym today. It doesn't take massively long to feel more normal. Shifting the baby weight is more the issue.

I can understand how you feel. It’s really early days. I couldn’t wait to get back to running and lose the baby weight after my section but had to learn to take it easy as I caused problems for myself by going back to running too soon. What I did do that helped were post natal exercise classes for pelvic floor and core and once I had been patient enough to strengthen myself, I was back to running. I’m now running and doing CrossFit regularly and am fitter and stronger than I have been.
be gentle with yourself and give yourself time. You will get there.

oh, and the pain for me went completely. I don’t have any lasting issues from my section.

I've had two csections. Emergency 9 years ago and elective 7 years ago. Of course you can go back to living life pain free and as normal. Just not overnight.

You need to deal with all the emotional baggage of the birth yu wanted vs the birth you got. (Even with my second child, my elective section went to shit!). Get the counselling, birth de-brief and all of that. It will help let go of it all. I felt absolutely mentally broken after my csection. I've never needed to go to hospital before having kids and i honestly felt like I'd been chopped in half after my first section.

You also need to accept that you have had major abdominal surgery. Start telling yourself that instead of saying you've had a baby. If a bloke had what you've had, he wouldn't be trying to get back to running after a week, he'd be in the dressing gown of doom for a good 12 weeks. Rest. Relax. Don't push yourself too hard. Take your pain killers and your iron tablets. (I learnt all this the hard way BTW).

The weight comes off with time. Your fitness comes back with time. I don't have any pain and didn't have much pain I can remember. I still have no sensation in parts of my stomach. And I still have my apron but only a tummy tuck (that I'm not prepared to go through!) will fix that.

Be kind to yourself and give your body and mind time to heal.

So sorry you went through that! I had something similar almost 9 months ago after a three day labour ending in emergency c section
Very active before pregnancy, play rugby. I returned to training at 4 months pp and went back to full contact games at 6 months pp, now 9 months pp and training and playing every week.

It DOES get better, but only if you listen to your body and advice and take it easy. Try find a mummy MOT and also see about some birth debrief to talk through what happened as it can be very emotionally draining. Keep up the scar massage when you can and slowly work on pelvic floor exercises and things to help rebuild your core

Yes. Mine was elective 6 years ago, but I did go into labour (ds didn’t want to wait until
the scheduled date). I was up and about a couple of days later, and my recovery was honestly so much easier than my first, horrendous, vaginal delivery (hence the elective). I didn’t have much interest in exercising vigorously until a few years ago, but I was back to my normal day to day life within 6 weeks. I’m now training for a half marathon, and can barely see my c section scar. I’m sorry you didn’t have the birth you wanted, I know how that is, from my first, very traumatic vaginal delivery. Take care of yourself, and allow yourself to heal.

You will recover @MummyRR it might just take a bit of time. I've had an ELCS not an emergency one so probably had it a bit more straightforward but if you were fit before you will be fit again. I found using a Belly Bandit wrap helped to hold everything in and aid recovery (also used a hip wrap) - really helped me feel like the caesarean scar was being supported.

I had an ELCS and afterwards wound up in the best shape of my life. It took about 6 months to shift the baby weight, but after that my body went totally back to normal - I was back in my size 10 jeans, got some visible abs once DS was a toddler and gyms opened again after Covid and was happily swanning off to 7am spin class.

I think I started exercising again at about 8 weeks. Slowly at first - lots of stretching and body weight resistance with some Pilates, before working back up to intense cardio and lifting.

You’ve been through a really difficult experience. I found back to back labour agony even in the early stages, so 5 days must have been horrendous, and then ending in a c-section.

Go easy on yourself, it’s an emotional time anyway because of the hormones.

You will get back to where you want to be physically, but for now try to eat as well as you can, remember to drink water, rest and get as much sleep as you can.

Yes it's awful at the time but you will recover physically and psychologically. I had three sections. I don't have a ledge. I have lost 40kg since March when I had my third one.
Sending you a lot of love: hormones are rife and you had a horrible experience. Let yourself heal and the body will come back. It's always a shock when the baby is born. I had a stomach like crepe paper and I'm now back to 46kg xx

Not helpful!

The first one I was asleep for it was a top grade emergency, second elective and I was doing the dinner and on the beach 2 days later, third one elective but not as planned the baby was prem and it was a top category emergency that day too. Third one was hardest to recover from but I've been told I had no scar tissue really and could get away with another if I wanted xx

You will be fine. You are at that tricky sleep deprived first bit and everything seems insurmountable. It's not it's just how it appears.

My advice to you is rest when you can, cuddle your baby, tell yourself on repeat how wonderful you are for having grown and birthed this baby, because you did that.

Let these early worries go and try not to dwell on them. They will rob you of the joy you get with that first few months.

You will heal. Bodies heal very well on the whole. You will be out running again and be a healthy mother.

I want to to get blissed out with your new baby and maybe revisit your concerns if they are still present in six months. Things will have changed by then. Give your body time to heal, it's major surgery and it does take a while.

Congratulations on your new baby.