c-section questions

[php2731]

Few questions about c-section:

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?
How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).
How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
Were you able to nurse right away?

Thanks for your help!

[Dottoressa]

Cannula - that's it! Yuck.

I forgot to say: I told everyone in advance that I wanted the baby to be handed straight to me, but when it came to it, I felt sick and in some discomfort, so DH held her instead until I was a bit more comfortable.

When they hook you up to the drip, they do warn you that the anaesthetic can cause your blood pressure to drop - and that this can make you sick. So if you do start to feel sick, say so, and they'll increase the drip and get your BP back up again!

One final thing I forgot to say: don't look up at the lights while they're doing the section. I did, not realising that there are mirrored surrounds on the lights, and regretted it enormously!!!

[minster]

Re breastfeeding - if you're having an elective make sure you discuss with this your midwives repeatedly (you'll have several - recovery, theatre, pre-op) and make sure they understand that this is a priority for you. Asking for skin to skin contact in theatre does make a difference - if only because everyone is aware that it is very important for you & will they will forced to interrupt their normal routines & help where necessary. It can also go in your birth plan for an unexpected/emergency section if you write one.

After I went up to the ward I barely saw a midwife though - HCAs did pretty much everything.

I always take extra pillows with me - really helpful for feeding in the first couple of days - rugby ball hold is good because there's no pressure on the wound & you can request a bassinet cot which clips onto the side of your bed so that the baby is really close & it makes frequent feeding easier. Both times I have spent (literally) the whole of the first night feeding - I prop myself up in bed, put the dim light on & world service on the radio really quietly & just breastfeed - a private room makes in much easier. I also have all my visitors in after afternoon of they day of the section, but only dh the day after - means I can sleep while he looks after the baby.

Food is really dire, dh or my mum bring me meals & snacks & the ward is boiling (especially in winter) so it is really easy to get dehydrated, HCAs are great & bring litres of water.

I had my cannular out really quickly - certainly by the time I had visitors in the afternoon - if you're managing to drink enough & not puke there's no reason (in normal circumstances) that it needs to stray in. If they haven't taken it out buzz the mw & ask them too - often it's only in because they forgot about it/haven't got around to it yet.

Before you leave recovery make sure you ask the mw (if they haven't told) what kind of stitches you have - they don't always use dissolving stitches & the information that they'll need to come out at some point often gets lost on the pn ward.

[fruitstick]

I think the nursing thing all depends on your midwife (not necessarily private ones). My midwife in the recovery ward was fantastic and I certainly think I would have found nursing more difficult if I had been sent home straight away.

There should also be a breastfeeding counsellor in your hosipital who you can ask for.

If you are worried about feeding afterwards I would get in touch with your local breastfeeding counsellor (check with your local NCT) and have a chat with her before the birth. That way, if you do have problems you can just give her a call. Mind gave me great advice on feeding through mastitis.

[youcannotbeserious]

I'd like to make a point about nursing:

I went Private and had MWs to support me round the clock. I think BF might have been more problematic without them.

Just thought I should point that out.

[fishie]

recovery: couple of weeks all healed fine. paracetamol for first day afterwards but otherwise better left so you can feel if doing too much / wrong thing. iv antibiotics for 24hours afterwards but in retrospect i should have told them no.

up and about: it was an ecs and i'd been in various stages of induction for three days/nights previously. so i went to sleep for 10 hours. catheter removed after that. i got up, ate, had shower, took stockings off etc. poo, can't remember so it can't have been a problem. every other bloody thing was.

Were you able to nurse right away? no and shit support. didn't get latched on till 5 days afterwards at home. beware this in particular.

[hellymelly]

pain-hurt when painkillers where wearing off and for weeks and weeks if i moved too quickly-took months to not really be aware of it but it was quite copeable with.hated catheter that came out after 24hours i think,both times,also hated line(canular) into hand,bashed it every time I fed the baby.both babies fed easily in the recovery room.Can't remember when i ate anything,so it clearly wasn't a problem.also poo thing-as normal no probs,didn't really hurt other than creeping to the loo and sitting on it.

[youcannotbeserious]

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?
I have the needles etc. for 24 hours. Pain for probably a week, but not severe. managable.

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
I was up after 12 hours with care. catherter, less than 24 hours.

How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid). I was allowed to eat and drink immediately, infact, encouranged.

How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
Probably 2 days for me and, yes, it was scary and a bit painful but so was weeing at first

Were you able to nurse right away?

yes.

Hope that's some help. FWIW, I had a CS and it was great, so if you have to have one, please try to think of the positives for you and the baby and not feel like you have failed.

It can be a great experience - mine was.

[Dottoressa]

Few questions about c-section:

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away?

Quite a while, if I remember rightly. I pushed both DCs around in our Phil and Ted's for a day after about 4 weeks, and felt it afterwards! The really bad pain lasted a good week. I'd imagined I'd be able to walk round the block on day 3 or so - but no way!!

How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

IV - not long at all. I was given a big dose of something immediately following the operation, then Voltarol, paracetamol and codeine (codeine only twice - once quite soon after the operation, and then again because I demanded it!! It's fantastic stuff...)

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around?

I had my section at about 10.30 am, and was told off at tea-time because I hadn't got up (though that was because they told me not to!!)

How long did they leave catheter in?
12 hours?? Or so??

How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).

I don't think they gave me any rules about that. My Mum brought a tiny bottle of champagne soon after DD was born!!

How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful

Either the same day as the operation, or the day after. They gave me a double dose of Lactulose to speed things up - which it did to spectacular effect. Don't be tempted to accept if they make the same suggestion to you!!!

So no, it wasn't painful - just rather unpleasant. I don't recall bowel movements being a problem post-cs. The thing that hurt me most of all was walking down the stairs!

Were you able to nurse right away?
Yes

Generally, my experience is that a cs does hurt - but nowhere near as much as a drug-free back-to-back labour followed by ventouse, forceps and reconstructive vaginal surgery. Compared to that, it's bliss!

The thing I hated most was that pesky thing they stick into the back of your hand. I have the word "calendar" in mind, but it's not that - it's something else that begins with "c". I think I have sensibly repressed all knowledge of it.

One weird thing is that you have no sensation around the wound for ages afterwards. I still don't feel completely normal in the scar area four years on (though I will stress that it's not in any way painful - just slightly weird if I poke it, which of course I do all the time...)

Thanks for your help!
You are v welcome. Good luck!

[fruitstick]

Can't remember all the exact timings as it was an emergency section and now all a bit of a blur.

However, I will say 2 things

• having a section is a good reminder to everybody that you need to take it easy for a few weeks and not try to do too much. "I have been sawn in half you know!". I think you are more inclined to over do it after a natural birth.

• the pain killers they prescribe you are a real boon to get you through the initial pain of breastfeeding and I kept taking them until the very last one had been emptied out of the packet.

[Shooflypie]

I had an el cs 14 weeks ago:
Recovery - fine. Felt quite sore for the first 24 hours, codeine and paracetamol very necessary but didn't need them after a few days.
Up the next day, catheter out after 24 hours.
First bowel movement was 48 hours, didn't hurt but hosp gave me laxative as I was on iron tablets + they make you constipated.

Nursing - you don't have to wait till the recovery room. I asked to BF in the theatre and fed DS while I was being stitched.

[OatcakeCravings]

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away?

I can't say that I was ever in that much pain - it certainly wasn't excruciating - make sure you take the pain medications.

How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

No IV at my hospital, was on morphine tablets for 48 hours and then codine, paracetamol and ibuprophen.

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around?

Encouraged to move around as soon as, but it was the next morning I got out of bed so about 15 hours later

How long did they leave catheter in?

I think it was 24 hours

How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).

I got food the next morning - there was no mention of gas!

How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful

48 hours and no not at all

Were you able to nurse right away? I can't answer this as I didn't breast feed but yes you can if the other women on the ward were anything to go by.

[frootloop]

i had an emergency c-section and the painkiller codine gave me horrendous constipation (so bad that i was eyeing up the weaning spoons we had in)and as i was kept hospital for 3 days i couldn't eat much fibre.
when i got home i had to send mum out to get glycerine suppositories(sp?) as i was in so much pain, and i had made the mistake of taking senokot, i was having poo contractions.

i would deffo get glycerine suppositories in just in case.

[Haylstones]

I too had an emergency c section 18 weeks ago
Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

• It was extremely painful for a few days, sore for a few weeks then the odd niggle (even now). Definitely take painkillers when due, don't wait until it's agony!

> How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
I had ds at 4pm and was up the next morning showering. I think thye removed the catheter later that night but I had to measure how much I weed until i left the hospital by doing it in a jug then writing the amount down.
>How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).
I was starving but they wouldn't give me anything until the next morning, meaning I didn't eat for 36 hours.
> How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
This took a few days and I was pretty bunged up. Wasn't awful but would recommend lots of fibre!
> Were you able to nurse right away?
Yes, when got to recovery and had no problems whatsoever

[MrsSprat]

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? Don't know, took pain-relief for 2 weeks; although there were times when I was gasping for next dose. It was an emergency section.

How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?
Anti-B's and rehydration for about 36 hours post op (waters had broken >24 hours before labour)

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?
On a busy ward, so nearly 48 hours, which I think made mobility a bit tricky in short-term, very painful first walk

How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).
No-one told me I should be nil by mouth, so I scoffed a load of biscuits I had with me!

How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful
Over a week for me and yes, worse than labour. Improved after getting some lactulose

Were you able to nurse right away?
Within 30 mins of giving birth, but was v.drugged up so couldn't tell if latch was okay, but ultimately BF dwindled as baby was very sleepy, lost weight and was forced onto top ups. Support very patchy and normal positions were very uncomfortable

[reethi96]

Recovery and Pain - I only felt pain for about 18 hours and it wasn't extreme anyway, I took the painkillers that were adminstered, after 24 hours I was just on paracetemol and once discharged I didn't take anything.

I had my c-section at 3pm and the following morning at around 10ish they removed the IV and cathetar.

I didn't eat until I got home which was about 50 hours after the c-section because my food never arrived and the toaster was broken. I was too caught up in everything else to worry about it.

I had a bowel movement about 5-6 days after I didn't feel the need before. It didn't hurt but I did suffer terrible constipation for a few weeks, I think this is supposed to fairly common after having a baby.

I bf about 90 minutes after ds was born as he was taken to special care, the first feed went really well but once it came to the evening I found bf really difficult especially when I was still attached to the cathetar & iv. It was difficult because I physically needed help and I had real issues with the night staff.

[Bundle]

Regarding recovery - on iv meds for a day i think, then injections of morphine, then oral meds - do take them BEFORE you need them rather than wait for pain to kick in

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? encouraged to move around the next day. took catheter out myself in shower after 2nd c/s (first one nurse took it out - ouch!)

How long before you were allowed to eat? when I was hungry - next morning
How long before u had 1st bowel movement? about 2 days. not painful.
Were you able to nurse right away? yes after first c/s - had epidural. but after 2nd c/s - had general anaesthetic - i was pretty drowsy. dd2 did latch on when i tried though and seemed pretty happy. went on to bf for 3 yrs!

[MrsMattie]

Hi there. Here are my experiences, although as you will start to see, you're going to get some quite different answers I think!

I didn't really suffer with any 'pain' after my c-section. I was on really strong painkillers for about 3 weeks, and when I came off them I felt weak in my abdominal area rather than in pain. I had to be careful not to bend too much or lifty heavy stuff or I would get a dragging, pulling feeling and feel weak and need to sit down.

I was off the IV within 48 hours I think? I was given painkillers immediately after the op and then regularly until I left hospital, when they sent me away with a packet of prescribed painkillers. Also had anti co-agulant injections to stop blood clotting (just a precaution)

The hospital I was in encouraged us to get up as soon as possible and walk around in order to avoid blood clots. I had my son in the afternoon, and was walking around the next morning. However, I felt very weak and resented having to get up to be honest!

The catheter was removed within 48 hopurs, too, I think?

I didn't eat for more than a day after my son was born, but that was purely through the negligence of the hospital who mistakenly made me 'nil by mouth' (long story!)

Had first bowel movement on day 2.Didn't hurt, but I was scared about busting stitches, so took it very slowly!

I wasn't able to breastfeed until about 90 mins after my son was born, when I was in the rceovery room and they'd stopped faffing about with him and me.

[wasabipeanut]

My recovery wasn't great - I could move, very slowly the next day but took a lot of painkillers every 4 hours - codeine, paracetomol, brufen etc.

For weeks I had to have dh pull me upright in bed so I could feed ds and turning over in bed was difficult for a couple of weeks. It was a case of gritting my teeth, bringing knees up and then swinging over.

Managed to bf straight away though after going back to recovery room and got it established fairly easily by laying ds on a pillow across me.

First movement - not painful really (anticipation worse) but I had been given senna to counteract the codeine!

[ChopsTheDuck]

I stopped the morphine the day after because it made me sleepy. carried on with ibuprofen for about 10 days to a fortnight. Wasn't really painful provided didn;t make sudden movements.

catheter came out the next morning, so about 12 hours. iv stayed in a bit longer, but i had a couple of transfusions.

I ate the next morning I think. Never heard the gas thing! can't remember first bo, but it didn;t hurt.

bfed in the recovery room, so as soon as I was stitched up.

[Pinkjenny]

I had a planned cs for dd's breech birth.

I don't remember ever being in significant pain at all, but I was careful to ensure that my painkillers never wore off too much in the first two days.

My IV was taken out about 5 hours after surgery. I had one lot of morphine, and then only paracetomol, I only took it for 4 days in total. (No medals though, take what you need)

I got up the next morning. The catheter was taken out the next morning too.

I had tea and toast at about 10pm - was the nicest meal I've ever had.

Bowel movement about 3 days later, didn't hurt at all, and I didn't have any painful wind either.

I struggled to nurse, but hospital were very unhelpful indeed. Wish I'd persevered.

I was terrified, honestly, I could probably find the thread I started which was almost identical to this one, but it was totally fine, and a completely pleasant experience.

[TuttiFrutti]

As you can see from people's responses so far, there is a huge variety of experience! There is a big difference between emergency and elective c-sections in recovery times, but also a lot depends on the skill of the individual surgeon.

I've had 2, one elective and one emergency, and the emergency one was quite rough. I couldn't walk until midday the next day (the op was done in the evening) and even then I needed a midwife holding each arm.

With the elective which was also done late evening, I had my catheter removed the next morning and got out of bed on my own and walked around the ward just after breakfast - which I know doesn't sound like much, but I was amazed with my mobility compared with the previous time!

Never felt a minute's pain with the elective and only needed paracetamol. A bit different to the emergency cs when I was in agony and needed morphine!

[minster]

I've had two, one emergency, one elective.

Regarding recovery, how long did it take for the pain(i mean abdomen ect pain due to surgery) to go away? How long were u stuck to IV etc and what pain medications did u take?

I didn't need painkillers at all by the end of the second week. For the first 3-4 days I took paracetamol & voltarol but after than paracetamol only. Pain was never that bad. They put diamorphine into the spinal which meant I had no pain at all for the first 24 hours. With the em-section I had an epidural so had oromorph for the first 12 hours (I think I had 2 doses).

I had an iv for fluids only which was taken out 3 hours after the section (they would've taken it out sooner but I was still a little sick & they wanted to be sure I was getting enough fluids).

How long after your section were you allowed to get up and move around? How long did they leave catheter in?

Had the catheter taken out 24 hours after the elective & 12 hours after the emergency. Was up, out of bed & showered at lunchtime on the day of the section (about 4 hours after surgery).

How long before you were allowed to eat? (i heard they allow food only after passing gas, is it so? sorry timid).

Ate in recovery - toast & tea - less than an hour after section.

How long before u had 1st bowel movement? is it painful

24 hours after section. Not painful at all - made sure I ate high fibre food before & after section, also used senna. I held a towel over the scar.

Were you able to nurse right away?

Yup - had skin to skin contact while I was being sewn up (baby naked under my gown with a blanket over both of use), then fed properly in recovery - ds was about 20 minutes old.

My experience with an emergency section was pretty much the same - I felt more tired afterwards (been in labour for 3 days & had a pph) but no great pain. No problems breastfeeding either time.

[sophiewd]

And like niceychops, I really enjoyed the experience.

[sophiewd]

While this is tsill fresh in my mind.

Was on IV drip for extra fluids only as was throwing up so 2 hours, pain relief was diomorphine and suppositry and then paracetomol and volterol, pain was OK just hurt for a few days when sitting up so roll over on side before you do that.
Catherter this time was taken out 24hours later first time was 12 hours, done in the morning and then up and in shower. Take things easy but a regular walk around the maternity floor gets things moving and you will fell better quicker.
I was starving, and scoffed sandwhiches which DH brought in. Never had a problem with gas.
48hours and not painful, its the thought that is scary.
I FF.
I am 13 days post op and feeling really good. Up cooking breakfasts for guests and generally feeling fine. I haven't walked far yet that does take time to build up.