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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Who Has Had An Emergency C-Section? How was it?

73 replies

bearmama · 26/04/2008 12:40

3 weeks since I had mine and I want to know what is going on down there in my abdomen. Can someone tell me what happens with this surgery (besides the obvious!) and if i should still feel tender now? Scar is healing well but my belly area feels so odd!

OP posts:

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Original poster

bearmama · 03/05/2008 16:37

Eek, makes me glad I was under general! Thanks everyone. I am taking it easy as even walking anywhere makes for a weird pulling sensation.

OP posts:

meglet · 04/05/2008 13:32

I had one 18 months ago. Felt more comfortable after 6 weeks. Sex after 4 weeks. Gym at 12 weeks, but very very gentle stuff.

Just had a poke down there and think the numbness has virtually all gone. Am pregnant again too.

i think i was still on painkillers at 3 weeks though.

meglet · 04/05/2008 13:34

and I was a right miserable cow for the first month. Couldn't stand being so restricted. Hope you feel better very soon.

Gangle · 04/05/2008 23:04

I had one 5 weeks ago and would say that my tummy is pretty much back to normal now. The scar was quite tender for about 3 weeks and I didn't do much more than gentle walking before then. I had painkillers for a few days but didn't finish the ones I left hospital with. No problems with breastfeeding or handling a 7lb baby either. Have 6 week check on 12th May and hoping the dr will sign me off to hit the gym. I read so many horror stories about c-sections before I had one but mine, and the recovery, was an entirely positive and pretty painless experience.

pinkyminky · 04/05/2008 23:11

Gangle- do take it easy at the gym- there is a lot of tissues that's been cut through, I would take it really steady. Sorry if that sounds nannyish.

Gangle · 04/05/2008 23:30

thanks Pinky. Was wondering what the dr would say about gym the sit ups etc as read different things - some say ok after 6 weeks, others say 3 months. Don't want anything to rupture!

lp77 · 05/05/2008 00:22

I had emcs may 06 for low heart rate which I can barely rememer what happened but just thankful for healthy baby girl and then elcs in nov for another healthy girl, recovery not too bad, out trainig for 10k now, but do be carefulk, it is major abdo surgery don't forget. Does your hosp do post delivery shape up?
Or personal coach at gym should be able to advise but not all are happy to do so...
Worse second time rouns as couldn't pick up my older girl
give it time n listen to your body!

youngbutnotdumb · 05/05/2008 10:05

I had an Emergency section in June 2006 as DS's heart rate kept plummeting during contractions as the cord was round his neck twice. TBH I haven't really had any problems apart from it getting itchy at times but think all scars do that for some reason??? I was lucky enough to have disolving stitches on the inside so didn't really have any pain after 2 ays they were forcing me to take pain killers in hospital for fear I would just come down with a crash! But I have a few friends who hve had Emergency sections and all had traditional 'fish gut' stitches and were all in agony for a while afterwards. But to be on the safe side I'd just relax and do minimal for a few weeks yet!

snowleopard · 05/05/2008 10:11

Mine felt funny for ages - for nearly a year I fear! I could feel things shifting around and pulling. I got it checked but it was all fine - just healing.

Before I was pg I once climbed over our 6ft high garden wall after I locked myself out. A month or two after my CS I remember looking longingly at that wall, thinking "my body is so f*cked now, I'll never be able to do anything like that again". I was wrong - I'm back to full strength now (nearly 3 years on!)

The more you take it easy now, the better it will heal. I know it's frustrating though.

snotbuster · 05/05/2008 11:01

I had my appendix out nine months after my emergency c-section. It felt so minor in comparison! Made me realise how major an op the c-section was and how much easier I should have taken things.
I know it's really difficult- when you're sent home with your first baby but told not to do anything - but you really do need to rest. Think mine still felt odd/pulled for at least 6 months but think I would have healed sooner if I had acted like I'd just had major surgery instead of trying to be supermum.

mummydoc · 05/05/2008 19:48

mine was very easy, wound got a bit infected but quickly cleared up with antibiotics and i was driving the car 2 weeks later, apart from an unattractive keloid scar i have no problems,personnally think ecs was easier recovery than normal delivery ( thought that was a pretty traumatic one)

spongecake · 05/05/2008 21:16

hi, it felt strange for a long time, kind of numb but i had a very heavy baby to carry about after and my uterus took ages to go down and was infectd. the wound was ok. my doc described it as a very brutal operation. I took it REALLY easy - no housework etcor walks for 6 weeks at least.or driving. just lay and breastfed lying down mostly. its over a year later and it seems ok, just not a flat tummy my baby was cut during the op though, so there are other complications.

pinkyminky · 05/05/2008 21:24

Whomovedmychocolate posted a fab video of the op on another thread recently. It just underlines why you shouldn't be driving, hoovering, heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks after. I know people who have and they were out of action for much longer than 6 weeks as a result.
I don't mean to scare anyone who is having the surgery, but don't feel like you should be doing loads just because some people did- it's not worth the risk.

CilC · 06/05/2008 07:25

I have had no problems with C section and almost 4 years later I have no scar. It was numb and tingly but did wear off after about 3 months. I made sure I took my pain relief and recall asking for more from a GP. I think this also helped me recover quickly as I was not focussed on any pain but just my baby. My DH is a pharmacist and he researched and assured me medication was safe for bf.

It is major surgery but take things slow, enjoy your baby and it will get better.
I actually now feel more frightened of the thought of delivering vaginally because c section went fine that I am having another in July for baby number 2.

CilC · 06/05/2008 07:29

Gangle forgot to add, I was doing pilates at gym 8 weeks with ok from GP. I actually think moving, albeit slowly helped me as does the poisitive frame of mind of getting back out there so to speak!

RedFraggle · 06/05/2008 09:30

I had a emergency section 3 years ago and then an elective 11 months ago. With both the numbness last for a fair while. My scar this time is much less numb though. I was advised by a lovely midwife that once the actual scar had healed I should gently massage along the scar line on a regular basis. I did this and I don't know the science behind it but this time around I have hardly any numbness left. After my first there were still numb patches even when I was pregnant with DS.

Do take it easy though - that is the best thing you can do for your body (and ultimately your baby too). Ultimately the more you rest, the faster you recover and the faster you get to do all the things with your baby that you want to do.

Congratulations on a safe delivery!

titchy · 06/05/2008 09:51

Still numb 9 and a half years later..... anyone know why numbness is always abnove the scar and not below?

triflenorks · 06/05/2008 10:04

Mine was 9 years ago, and I feel numb above the scar but the scar it self is as itchy as fuck.

squilly · 06/05/2008 10:11

I felt like my body wasn't my own for months after, but I still felt it was probably easier than a vaginal delivery (though I can't know that of course, having only given birth once!..just from conversations at baby groups etc).

Hope you feel well in yourself soon and are enjoying every minute of your precious new baby. I know we all struggle at times, but I LURVE being a mum and wouldn't trade it for the world.

In fact, I'm off...this is making me way too broody

Poledra · 06/05/2008 10:27

I had an em c-s 4 years ago, and now have no problems with the scar BUT go easy on yourself. It took me quite a while to lose all the numbness and tingling along the scar. I would definitely stay off the hoovering, driving etc (who wants to hoover anyway?). The problem with driving is not that you can't do the straightforward pootling-along-the-road bit, but that you may not be able to react in an emergency, or that you may damage yourself trying to do an emergency stop or something like that. Also, I don't know about you, but the GA did not do me any favours either!
It was probably harder dealing with the appendectomy surgery I had a couple of years ago while 31 weeks' pregnant with second child, but that's another story - now pg with third baby, and sincerely hoping not to collect another abdominal scar for the collection

sneekpeeks · 06/05/2008 11:02

Had c-section 11 mths ago due to DS's heart slowing. Had previous surgery few years before so they went through same scar, but had trouble due to build up of scar tissue.
Had 3 infections in the following 6 weeks, which was wearing.

Felt really unsure about driving for ages afterwards, much longer then the 6 weeks they suggest. And it was a struggle just doing general household chores and having to ask family and friends to help.

All fine now. Scar has pratically disappeared

Lovesdogsandcats · 06/05/2008 11:06

I had em c-section 9 years ago and things have never been right tummy wise. Still have numb areas and periods more painful and heavier since then. titchy I am like you, numb above but not below.

LuckySalem · 06/05/2008 11:07

You will have places you can't feel anything - I do, also loads of bruising. I literally had a green belly for a few weeks. lol

Pennypops · 07/05/2008 13:37

I had the "failure to progress" cs 8 months ago almost to the day. Mine healed well but I still have some numbness going up towards my tummy and also get itchy tingling from time to time. Feel like some maternal version of Harry Potter and his scar

I actually scaled down my painkillers before I had to because I was getting a bit cavalier because I couldn't feel any discomfort at all. Around 5 days afterwards I felt this sort of twanging sensation and got a bit scared so decided I'd rather have niggling discomfort to remind me not to lift tubs of washing etc.

The whole area still doesn't feel quite right. if I press on my scar it feels like the area is somehow weak. I guess it takes years to heal properly - thats a lot of tissue to cut through.

number1 · 07/05/2008 15:14

Had emergency c-section as DS was overdue and showing signs of severe distress.
I went to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry and would have no hesitations in having another c-section. Fab support from the health care workers who were very sensitive to the fact that DH and myself were very fragile and nervous (not quite how you plan having your first eh?)
all my stitching has been done internally so no stitches to come out. Dressing removed after 24h post op and have shower and visited the toilet within 24hrs of having c-section. Felt exhausted for a few weeks (i'm sure c-section wasn't the only responsible factor though)but followed advice from physio and TRIED to do some exercises when i had a moment (ie not very often, maybe once a week).
all bits intact and as i said i'd be tempted to go for a c-section if there was to be a next time.

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