Post C-section questions

[MrsFionaCharming]

I had an emergency section last week after a 2 day labour that failed to progress. It was actually a lovely experience and healing is going well, but I was hoping someone who’s had one before could answer some questions.

1. were you ridiculously gassy after your section? I’m doing some really loud, long farts now. How long did it take for this to stop?
2. My dressing was removed yesterday and I’ve realised I’ve got 2 scars. The main baby-exiting one, and a second 1-2cm vertical one on my right hand side. It looks like a laparoscopy scar, but I can’t think why they’d have done that?

Thanks :)

Gassy - normal.

Scar - no idea? I have a small vertical one but it's attached to my actual c-section scar.

Gas definitely normal.

Check your notes re the vertical scar or ask your midwife. I had an additional vertical incision in my uterus due to the baby's position but there was nothing visible externally.

Gassy-normal. In fact I had terrible constipation after all 3 of my c sections. I think the massive amount of pain killers effects your digestion speed.

Scar- don't know but ask the midwife when she comes to see you.she will want to check the scar anyway.

Congratulations on your baby!

Congratulations on your baby.

1. Normal. Your intestines are rearranging after being displaced and squashed by your uterus. Digestion speed is also picking back up after pregnancy and (potentially) being slowed down by painkillers and your operation.

1. Less so normal. How long is it? Is it separate from the scar? Or is it a continuation/go off at an angle from the main wound? They may have needed to extend the incision after the initial one to get more room to manoeuvre. Or potentially a tear caused by pulling either by hand or a retractor. If it's entirely separate, that's just plain bizarre, and you should definitely know why it was done.

Gas - peppermint tea. Lots of it.

Scar possibly from a drain insertion?

I wondered if it was a drain but I think it’s smaller than a typical surgical drain site. I’m also not sure what the purpose would be of inserting a drain in theatre, and then removing it before going into recovery, during an open procedure.

Its completely separate to the main incision and a few inches away. Terrible diagram attached.

Beautiful diagram. 😍Good job.

I would have said drain site too, but inserting and removing it during the operation does seem a bit redundant. But the weirdest thing is to not mention there's a second incision at all. Like... You weren't ever going to notice? Get your midwife on it. Hell, phone the labour ward if you have to. See if an obstetrician has a moment to explain why.

I’m seeing the midwife again on Wednesday so I’ll ask then. I’m sure it’s one of those things where the explanation will make perfect sense, I just can’t think of what it is.

If it's not too much trouble, please come back and tell us the reason. ❤

We just had the health visitor come round, so I asked her. She had no idea what it was from, just said it was healing well. She said to ask the midwife at the next appointment and to book a debrief at the hospital if I don’t get a satisfactory answer.

Will update after the next appointment.

Peppermint tea helps with the gas. And dried apricots if you’re feeling constipated at all.

Well the midwife today looked at it and said it doesn’t look deep (how would you tell from the surface?) and that it’s healing well. She doesn’t know what it is and said maybe I got scratched by accident during the c-section.

I’m going to request my notes and see what’s written in the op note.

I know it’s a old post, but curious. Did you find out what it was op?

I only got round to requesting my notes a few weeks ago so haven’t received them yet, will update once I have 😊

Though to add, it’s completely healed with no scar so can’t have been a full depth surgical incision.

Oh! These things takes so long doesn’t it. Just made me really curious! But glad to hear everything healed well 🥹

im having contractions now and so
scared! Initially wanted ELCS, but then changed my mind to have early epidural. But now im regretting I think 🥺

Congratulations! I'm glad it was a positive experience for you.
I forgot about the gas....it was so painful. I remember the midwife giving me some kind of peppermint syrup in hot water and it working wonders.

I’ve received my medical notes, there’s no mention of a second incision. I wish I’d taken a photo of it because I’m starting to question what it even looked like!

More annoyingly, the surgeon told me straight after before I was even taken to recovery that during the section she’d seen an ‘obstruction’ which meant I’d never have managed a vaginal delivery. I was a little distracted at the time and didn’t ask what the obstruction was. I was really hoping it would be in my notes, but it hasn’t been documented. That was the main reason I wanted the notes, in case it affects future pregnancies.

Aw bless you. Can you try contacting the surgeons secretary to contact the surgeon. Not sure if he will remember but might be worth a try

The surgeon was a reg so I don’t know if she’d have a secretary but I could try contacting maternity in general.

At least in a way it’s made a decision for me. I wasn’t sure whether I’d want to attempt a VBAC next time, but without knowing why I couldn’t deliver that way this time, I’ll definitely go for another section.

Awww rubbish you're not getting closure. I can't imagine a reg would have a personal secretary, but there's probably a secretary pool, so a letter would reach them. Or just write the senior obstetrician. Your diagram would definitely help in lieu of a photo.

I wonder what the obstruction was. Fibroid? Baby themselves?

I was also told that there was a fibroid in there, but the way it was said made me think the two things were unrelated. But then again, I’d been awake for 36 hours and was full of drugs, so who knows.