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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

TMI c-sections and sex

23 replies

susiemj · 04/03/2008 18:29

Hi.

I had an em c-section 9 weeks ago. I was catheterised and have had two courses of antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. I'm still getting pain and have just had test for ubderlying infections.

Tried sex for the first time since dd's birth last night and it hurt like hell. We had to stop. I was just wondering if anyone else had had anything similar?

Thanks.

OP posts:

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PABLOP · 04/03/2008 19:00

I had an emergency section 12 weeks ago and didn't have any pain at 9 weeks, It sounds like you still have some sort of infection, did you mention this to your doctor at your 6-8 week check up?

BlueberryPancake · 04/03/2008 19:21

Took me ages to have painless sex after em C sec and I had urinary tract infection as well. It just took ages, and the more we tried the more tense I would get and the more it would hurt. To be honest I thought it was because of a failed attempt at ventouse delivery. It could have been hormonal too. So if you are having the tests done you will know if it is an infection, and if not maybe you could just give it a miss for a few more weeks and try again later.

LiegeAndLief · 04/03/2008 19:39

I had a cs with no labour, healed fine, no infections, sex hurt for months and months. Actually more like a year (sorry to be depressing!). I thought it was hormonal because I was bfing and things got much better when I dropped to one feed a day. No real suggestions but lots of sympathy!

BlueberryPancake · 04/03/2008 19:41

Didn't think about breastfeeding but I was as well and there may be a link, who knows.

WowOoo · 04/03/2008 19:42

Sure I was told to lay off sex for 3 months. And did for longer....!! poor dh.

moominsmummy · 04/03/2008 19:54

always have large glass of wine before trying it after childbirth (need to be v relaxed!!)

clumsymum · 04/03/2008 20:02

WowOoo, I'm amazed.

I had elective CS, and we were 'back in the saddle' after about 5 weeks.
DH had to ask the midwife what the score was, mind you, I would have been too embarassed!!

TheProdigalShow · 04/03/2008 20:11

I'm 10 months post cs and sex is only comfortable now. I thought it may be the failed ventouse/episiotomy at first but on reflection, it's only since dd cut down on the breastfeeds so I think hormones have played their part.

moocowme · 05/03/2008 10:31

are you sure its a UTI? i had an elective CS and did as was told and waited 4 weeks for the deed. some pain but after a bit of practice and relaxation it was ok.

but what i did have for weeks was what i thought a UTI but went to see a fab ob in aus and she said its just an upset bladder (poor thing got pounded during pregnancy) and gave me some pills to take at night called tolerade. these are also an antidepressant but are fab for your bladder as well. now i feel sooo much better and am happy all the time. yep must say they fixed everything quite well. do get it properly investigated.

Original poster

susiemj · 05/03/2008 11:14

Thanks for your replies. It sounds like it's quite common. I'm pretty surprised as I thought one thing a c-section would guarantee would be that you would be ok 'down there'.

It's interesting what you say about breast feeding, but not encouraging as I plan to bf at least 6 months .

Thanks for tips about possible infections. I'll pursue it.

Now, I wonder how to break all this to DH ..

OP posts:

ernest · 05/03/2008 11:17

can I ask, sorry to be naive, but if the baby's come out of the sunroof, why does undercarriage hurt? Apart form obv, in cases of failed ventouse etc? (am curious/alarmed, cos am planning elective section for June and was thinking I wouldn't have any problems in that department?)

LiegeAndLief · 05/03/2008 11:20

Ernest - I wondered the same, especially as my ds never got anywhere near that far! Have no idea. That's why I thought it must be hormonal. Maybe nature's way of discouraging you from having another baby while you're still bfing the first...?

Having said that I'm sure there are plenty of women around who had cs and bf and had no problems. So don't panic just yet

Original poster

susiemj · 05/03/2008 11:22

I think mine has its origins in having been catheterised, possibly for slightly longer than necessary. Apart from that, I have no idea! Hence the post...
Sound like not everyone does though.

OP posts:

betterhalf · 05/03/2008 11:25

I had c sect and I'm bf and had no problems at all with doing the deed.... Other than I'm often just too knackered to be bothered!

mrsshackleton · 05/03/2008 15:31

It was v painful for me after two cses - in fact worse after the second one. I also think it's nothing to do with the cs and all down to bf hormones. Use a lot of ky take it very easy and you will get there in the end - it was about eight weeks for me after dd1, though sad to say about six months after dd2, though a lot of other stuff was going on emotionally that may have made it difficult as well! Don't worry you will get there

WowOoo · 05/03/2008 15:35

My lack of sex drive was def down to tiredness and bfing. When i stopped I expected it to come back with a vengeance, but no. Then, 3/4 months later got my mojo back! 5 weeks after?!! Cor blimey, you saucy devils. But, had no pain down there. Scar kind of throbbed a bit, IYKWIM?

WowOoo · 05/03/2008 15:37

Just realised after reading thread properly I must have thought they said wait for 4 months!! Hee hee. Won't tell DH, he'll kill me!

WowOoo · 05/03/2008 15:40

Re the catheter. After two years since cs I still feel a little bubble thing there which I am convinced is a teeny bit of air that should not be there coming out. Much less now, but it reminded me.

FioFio · 05/03/2008 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BlueberryPancake · 05/03/2008 17:52

Fiofio, I wish that I'd agree with you but the pain is very real, physical, and is viginal. For me, it's as if it was a burning pain because the vagina's 'texture' had changed. I'm trying to be as specific as I can here! We tried lubricant but it caused a more intense burning sensation. I don't see why there would be a psychological fear of sex - I would have had that fear if I'd have a vaginal delivery maybe, but not a c sec. The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it's hormonal.

Original poster

susiemj · 06/03/2008 12:51

I've got plenty of desire and no fear. It just bloody hurts! Kind of where you might expect it to if you've had a catheter I suppose.

OP posts:

dressedupnowheretogo · 06/03/2008 12:54

i had an emergencey section and bf and had sex at 4 weeks and everything was fine was irrationally petrified of oh touching my scar area in case it burst

bt no problems i would get it checked personally

ChutneyMary · 06/03/2008 13:02

I have had 2 sections and sex was painful for a long while after each(we're talking months not weeks).

I found that my mojo didn't come back until DD1 was about 7 months (and the BF dropped significantly) and DD2 about 10 months (and again less BF). BF can play havoc with your hormones and make you dry. I know some women who BF and are back in the saddle very soon after, but equally I know lots of women who are BF and aren't really up for sex until they start offering solids. I used a product called Replens which is designed for menopausal women and that was much better than KY for soting out the problem.

In addition, even though the sunroof has been the exit point, your pelvic floor has been really strained by the whole pregnancy, womb weight, muscles and joints relaxing to allow for a vag birth (even if you didn't end up with one)so that could explain why things are tender downstairs. It does get better, honestly, but just takes a while. Am deeply impressed by the 5 weeks thing as it was about 4 months before I emotionally felt like sex, let alone physically.

HTH

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