Struggling Post Csection ...

[Lunamoon23]

Hello.

I have a planned Cesarean due to baby being breech, I'm now 9days pp and I'm seriously struggling.
If I'm doing anything other than sitting/lying in bed, I'm so uncomfortable and in pain. I'm not incapacitated by any means. I am able to do most things albeit a lot slower and careful, but my DH is doing 99% of stuff. But even showering/getting dressed I'm struggling with, as I just feel sore.

I've been out of the house 3 times, twice for hospital appointments, because they couldn't accommodate home visits and once to go to DH work to introduce baby boy but I stayed sat in the car with baby.
When walking I have to walk at a snail pace as anything quicker feels like it's pulling my incision.
I've had the incision checked twice, once at the appointment when my dressing was removed, 4 days ago and again yesterday by a midwife and they've all been really pleased with how it looks. It doesn't look angry or red, no weeping, no openings. But I'm ultra aware of anything touching it. I'm wearing high waited cotton underwear and even the fabric touching it makes me feel icky.

I was sent home 26 hours after birth with just paracetamol and ibuprofen although I did request stronger but was scoffed at and told it isn't routinely given. My sister did get me some paracetamol and codeine from the pharmacy but unable to take due to breastfeeding.

I don't really know the point in this post, I think I'm just seeking reassurance it will and does get better.
I think I naively thought a week pp id be feeling almost normal again after reading so many threads on here of women who've bounced back so quickly. I did everything I'd read that was recommended to aid recovery, moving frequently, standing straight, getting in and out of bed tips, pain medication, wound care etc etc. but I still feel like my recovery is stagnant. I wake up everyday in hopes I'll feel better but it barely does.
Granted, I feel considerably better from days 1-5, where I struggled to even sit and stand off the toilet unaided.

I'm just feeling abit defeated and depleted. It's exhausting being in pain constantly and feeling so inadequate while caring for a baby. Which, I'm managing to do just fine, albeit from my bed/bedroom. I just want to be able to fully embrace being a mum and enjoying my time doing so rather than feeling like this. I was so hoping that come Christmas Day I'd be feeling considerably better but being 4 days away it seems unlikely. Thankfully I'm not hosting or anything. I only have to travel to my grandparents and the rest will be taken care of, and they'll be lots of family there so I won't have to lift a finger I'm sure.

The pain I'm feeling it above the incision, my stomach feels very tender and bruised. I get burning sensations in the incision itself and a pulling sensation. And just feel generally a-bit battered and bruised.

But when did you start to notice a drastic change in the discomfort and pain?

I felt it took me ages to feel normalish, but this was about 23 years ago, so my memory is hazy. I completely understand how you're feeling. I felt cheated - you see others looking so glam hours after giving birth and I could barely walk. But I did feel better, it will feel slow, but you'll get there.

I’m so sorry to hear this - are you still keeping on top of your painkillers?

I felt much better after day 5, but I did take it reeeeaaaallly easy for at least 3 weeks while my husband was on paternity leave.

Do you think you might be trying to do too much? It’s absolutely fine for your husband to be doing almost everything. You’ve had major surgery and need to recover. Don’t rush it and take care of yourself. It will get better but the time it takes is different for everyone x

Just reread this and you’re only 9 days Pp!! Omg, you need to stop trying to do too much. Let your husband do it all. I did a few short walks by this time but I was not 💯 back to normal by any means at this point.

You will be ok, we all heal differently, I have had 2 c sections, just keep moving and taking pain meds if need, try eat healthy and drink plenty water.

Gentle moving, by the way 😊

oh and I was also sent home the 2nd time (during the c vid time) the very next day. Was glad to be home to my own comforts though.

by day 14 I started to feel a bit more human both times. Before then it was not good. I think the second time I knew what to expect and made myself stay in bed a bit more

By about day 14 I could wash myself, but honestly it took the full six weeks to feel close to normal, and even 6 months later my scar pulled if I lifted shopping or hoovered. Take it easy!

This makes me so angry, OP you are like this because your pain relief isn't adequate for you. Nowhere else in medicine do people have major abdominal surgery and are then expected to do everything for not just themselves but a completely helpless human being on the most minimal pain relief that exists. It makes me so annoyed that medical professionals are checking your scar and doing nothing about ensuring your pain relief is adequate.

You need to take ibuprofen and paracetamol regularly and get oramorph to take when required for breakthrough pain. It's safe for breast feeding. Please call your GP first thing and get some. Out of hours GP if they can't get you in.

It isn't right and it isn't fair that women are treated like this and it's not some right of passage. This is just the shit end of the stick that women's issues receive.

You need stronger pain killers. Phone the gp first thing tomorrow and try and get a prescription for cocodamol. Failing that send DH to the chemist.

I needed strong pain killers for several weeks. Paracetamol just wasn’t enough.

For my first section (emergency) I was sent home with oramorph as well as paracetamol and ibuprofen and it made recovery so much easier, was able to be up and about and go on short walks within the week.

Second section (planned) I got told they don't prescribe oramorph anymore because some mothers were getting confused as to how to use it correctly, this made me quite angry as the onus should be on the nurses etc to explain it properly, not just take it away from ladies who desperately need it!

Recovery second time has taken so much longer, we only have an upstairs loo and I had to have a lie down every time I went up to the loo for the first three days, managed a trip to the supermarket on day 6 but had to have a sit down after I'd walked around for less than 15 minutes.

I'm 5 months PP now and my scar still pulls and hurts but it's getting better slowly. I do wonder if I'd pushed for better pain relief for recovery if I would be better now as well.

Cocodamol isn't safe for breastfeeding.

To be honest it sounds normal to me, it's major surgery and I wouldn't be expecting to do much more at 9 days postnatal. Give yourself time to recover and heal. Make sure you are taking maximum doses of your paracetamol and ibuprofen

I had a section earlier this year. I think I was still taking pain killers and taking it easier at this stage. On reflection I tried to do too much too soon, but, felt mum guilt when I wasn't looking after my new baby. My scar was really low and rubbed on all my maternity jeans/trousers as well. I've recently started wearing silicon scar patches (several months down the line but I think you can wear them earlier but do check).
I asked to be referred for physio due to back and scar pain at my 6 week check which has helped loads. When you're healed scar massage and alhydran cream have been really helpful.

@ChickpeaPie oramorph is safe though, and setting normality as women being in pain after major surgery is the problem , telling them to do less because they aren't on the pain relief they need to function is not the solution.

it is.

I was prescribed it after both of my sections and breastfed both

was given it both the hospital and by my GP

I had vaginal births but with 2 of the 3 were ventouse with episiotomies and the third had a 2nd degree tear. I also had varying degrees of the stitches coming away every time. I wasn't feeling anything remotely like normal in terms of confidence in my mobility and off pain relief until around 3 weeks PP each time. But actual full recovery took a fair bit longer than that each time. I still had a slightly open wound at 6 weeks with both my first and third for example!

Take it easy. It takes awhile to recover, but you will. If you need more pain relief, phone your GP - I was taking oral diclofenac for a few weeks after DC1, and oral naproxen and dihydrocodeine after DC2 and DC3.

I had a horrific cesarean recovery with my first (also breech). Literal agony for abut 2 weeks, whimpering to crying at each movement. It took a few more weeks of feeling sore and bruised before I became more able. Dp did everything. There was nothing wrong with me medically, it healed beautifully. I do have permanent (I presume, he's 6 now) pins and needles around the scar now if it gets touched, so tailored bottom half clothes are out.

For reference, my second was a vbac with shoulder dystocia, and a deep 2nd degree tear. I was bouncing the same day of delivery, and continued to be only a little sore after from my stitches. I don't know then if it's pain threshold or if some women get much more severe nerve damage from a cesarean, but they were night and day for me.

@Lunamoon23 you've basically been chopped nearly in half. It's not surprising that the same painkillers you take for a minor cold aren't cutting it. Do as little as possible while also keeping mobile (!!) while you heal, it's not a race. Be careful, perfect time of year for snuggling baby and taking it easy.

@ChickpeaPie - I'm not sure why it wouldn't be? I was discharged with both paracetamol and dihydrocodeine, whilst breastfeeding, after my EMCS.

Ugh, the pulling feeling is the worst.

I've had 2 c sections and the first was a harder recovery for some reason; several weeks until I felt myself again.

Take it easy, you've had a major abdominal surgery.

Stay on top of the pain meds. Even if you feel OK, don't skip a dose. I found if I let myself get in some pain, it was Much harder to manage. Try to avoid it completely.

Try not to lift anything or bend fully.

I gave myself about 2 to 3 weeks of "I've just had surgery, I don't need to exert myself, someone else can do that ". You're still so soon post partum!

Are you taking your paracetamol and ibuprofen religiously? Don't let the pain get on top of you, you need to keep it at bay with the painkillers.

I was discharged with oramorph (in 2019) and took it for the first week, and it was definitely needed. I can't remember how long it took for the pain to reduce, but I know I was in pjs for a week and I couldn't walk properly because my scar was pulling after a month.

If you are taking your max painkillers every day and are still in pain, you need better pain relief. Go back and make a fuss.

Congratulations. I'm 4 weeks pp, I felt relatively pain free after 2 weeks, but only just starting to feel myself and starting to do more at 4 weeks pp. I'm still bleeding when I do more, my tummy is still very tender to touch/put any pressure on and my scar burns when tired and my tummy is still swollen. I'm still not lifting anything heavy. I hope that helps. Take care and don't be too tough on yourself, it's still early days and everyone is different x

I've had two c sections and in all honesty the first two weeks are the worst but the key is to take your painkillers regularly and not do to much
You will feel better very soon

Be gentle with yourself.

I’ve had four c-sections.

The first was in 1985 when 2 weeks in hospital was normal.

Since then it has got shorter and shorter recovery time before you were discharged.

Now look, you have had MAJOR abdominal surgery. You also have a newborn to care for. I think it’s unconscionable to expect a woman who has had this kind of operation to be up and about so quickly. So don’t place unrealistic expectations on yourself. It takes TIME to heal from. A LOT of time.

You are going to be ok. It’s like this - you feel you will never improve - then you do - but it’s a plateau - after a while you improve some more and so on.

I had my first, 14 months later my second, 22 months later my third - all c sections. Then a few years later my fourth, another c-section. It’s ok - you will be ok. but be gentle with yourself. It takes time.
bless you and merry Christmas xxx

edited for typo

think logically how long it should take you to feel normal after major surgery. Yes, lots of people say they felt fine on day 2 but many have stronger pain relief & everyone has a different bar to feeling fine.

9 days is nothing. I remember 2 weeks feeling like a milestone but seriously, take it slowly.
Definitely get better pain relief.

once to go to DH work to introduce baby what on earth?? Why? Totally unnecessary outing.

How long is your drive to visit for Christmas?

Honestly you will feel so much better eventually, you just need to give your body time.