C-section - long term issues

[pambeasly]

Hi,

I'm a mum of one and going to start TTC baby number 2 soon. Due to complications during my first delivery (natural birth) I'll have to have a c-section this time round. I've heard lots of horror stories but also great birth stories of no fuss and quick recoveries etc - everyone's different. Trying not to over think the procedure itself as it's inevitable so no point stressing.

My main questions are what am I to expect long term that differs from a vaginal delivery?
Hoping some of you ladies that have had a caesarean can shed some light here.

All I've heard about so far is the 'mum pooch'.

Is it true that most people have one following a section? I know it's a vain question and not hugely important, but I'd like to be prepared. It was a shock dealing with the long term body changes following a vaginal - I wish I'd been mentally prepared so I want to be this time round!

Thanks xx

I am a chubba since Covid but didn't have the Mum pouch that people talk about (2 X sections). Never been super slim though, size 12.

No pooch here, 2 c-sections (one emergency, one planned) only long term thing i have is a small patch of numbness of my skin on my lower abdomen, but it doesn't bother me.

Absolutely no regrets about going elective for the second one, way less traumatic than the three day labour first time round!

I had a c section three weeks ago. Section
wound barely visible, no pouch and only a little swelling which is lessening every day. I’ve been really lucky and my stomach has gone right down so you can’t really tell I’ve been pregnant. The wound has healed amazingly well. I’m driving again and was off pain meds by day 5. I’m over the moon with how it all went. Good luck with TTC.

I had one five months ago and have no pooch. A scar that seems to be rapidly fading. Straightforward recovery for me! No regrets.

I have a slight overhang after two sections but tbh some of that is just cos I'm still a bit fat. Otherwise nothing!

I’m someone who does have a pooch. It’s luck of the draw really. I also have a patch of numbness on my lower stomach. I feel like everyone is very quick to say how fast they recovered, off pain meds early, doing handstands etc. and absolutely good for them but I was not one of these people. It took me the full 8 weeks to get back to “normal” life and do things like the school run, hoovering, bending over to pick things up and not feels a jolt of pain if I twisted awkwardly. I don’t for a second regret my ELCS, DC2 was very big (not gestational diabetes but large and broad) and the section itself was calm and very well managed. I just think you do need to be prepared to not necessarily recover super quickly and give yourself a bit of grace to get your strength back.

My first child was breach so had a planned section. This was a smooth labour and recovery went well. My second child was a natural birth and I honestly felt like this one was harder to recover from. I have the "pouch" but don't know if I should blame the section or just myself 😝

Nice to have varied experiences.
What about other side effects, abdominal muscle weakness? Long term aches/pains?

Should have asked in OP, pregnancy AFTER a section, anyone had one? Complications?

I have a pooch, but also saggy breasts (tmi?!) I think it’s luck of the draw. Maybe didn’t help that I was very thin when I got pregnant, so there was a lot of stretching then skin left over when I went back to my normal size. I don’t mind it though- I call it my cat tummy! Because cats have that bit of soft tummy skin and it’s endearing 😂

I healed very quickly which was fortunate, actually loved the c-section. So chill. Slight nerve weirdness directly on my scar- 7 years on if I scratch the scar the nerves refer the pain so I feel it in my neck…

I had a second pregnancy after an EMCS and it was plain sailing. I lost a little more blood in my subsequent ELCS due to something to do with the scarring but not enough to be a complication or affect recovery in any way. Other than that pregnancy and second section were textbook.

No pouch, mild pain for 4 days after but fine with paracetamol. I was up and walking in the park with the buggy on day 3. Highly recommend and would definitely have another one. It was an amazing experience.

I've had 2 sections, the first was emcs after failed delivery and second was elcs as I had placenta praevia (where the placenta covers the cervix so the baby has no exit route!). Placenta praevia is apparently more common if you've had a previous section.

No pouch but I do have some numbness around my scar.

Interesting. Does seem 50/50 re the mumma pouch! I wonder what causes it? The stitching or weight gain during pregnancy, or genes?

I wonder if there's a way to avoid it - my boobs are in quite a state following BF, I struggle to keep them in a bra due to sag, not size (I'm quite small there!) So id be sad to see my tum tum suffer too, but of course it's worth it x

@Chattycathydoll I have VERY saggy boobs following my first pregnancy. No loose skin on my tummy though. Go figure.

@Q2C4 ahh yes, I'd heard about that but never looked into it. Good to be aware of the risks surrounding having CS for the second time.
Glad your second one went well. Sorry the first was an emergency x

what's a pooch? My scare is very neat & my skin doesn't lie the same way it did before but that's true of any skin with a a scar. It does annoy me a bit as I miss it being scar free.

No numbness but I did find it way more painful than my VB

My bladder isn't as strong post CS which I was surprised at but was told pregnancy alone damages the pelvic floor.

Not in all cases but I think generally planned c sections are not too bad to recover from. Obviously everyone is different and things can change when there but from the people I know whenever it has been planned it seems to have gone smooth and a nice recovery.

@finallydones it's true! I prolapsed before I went into labour, a CS won't save you from a weak pelvic floor. Weight of the baby does that.
VB sadly made the prolapse much much worse x

Maybe I was lucky but I didn't have any problems after c-section (with twins). I did have problems after previous vaginal birth though.

I've had two c sections. Both very quick and easy recoveries, no long term issues and no pouch. Regular scar massage helps with any tightness in the scar tissue.

@finallydones damages the pelvic floor? In what way? Pushing things out of place?