5wk post-natal 1st time section questions....

[glaskham]

Had an emergency section 5 wks ago with DD2... came out of hospital after 3 days, have 2 other children and had a troublesome time back and forth to SCBU for the first 2 weeks.

Anyway, my staples were removed on day 5 and i've been told it all looks good on the healing front...

I just have a few Q's...

• when did the scar get small and become a silvery scar?
• could you feel aching inside where you were stitched up? if so when did that stop?
• when did you start to feel sexy and comfortable with your scar?
• did you have a 'blank' about the birth?

For the last Q, I was knocked out completley with a General Anastetic and didn't see my DD till she was about 3hrs old, then when i did it was only for 2 mins, but i can't remember it really... everytime i think about it and try and remember it brings me to tears... i feel so bad that i don't remember the first time i saw my DD. The next time i saw her she was nearly 24hrs old because of them being busy with a sick baby in the same room as her on SCBU... i'm bonding fine with her now but i just dont know how to feel emotionally about this 'blank'...

I had a CS 10 months ago (May 08)

Scar is now tiny and very silvery (hardly noticable)... I'd say that happened gradually over about 6 months.

I felt 'OK' very quickly, but would still feel the scar if i missed a step or something for probably 8 weeks.

Can't remember NOT feeling OK about my scar, but I had an El CS, so mentally, I was prepared for it, so I suppose that makes things a lot different.

I had an epidural so was 'with it' throughout and held DS immediately. I remember everything but it was def. a bit ofa blur and I'm sure I was pretty off my head!!

I do agree with what you say about bonding. I didn't feel that 'whoosh' of love for probably about 10 hours (DS was with me the whole time) - It def. took place once the drugs had worn off and I was feeling rational again... Then it all dropped into place. Again, the fact that I was prepared for that might have made it easier (plus no SCBU)

I had an em cs with DS and a planned cs with DD.

• when did the scar get small and become a silvery scar? Mine is still red now, 6 months after DD was born. But it doesn't hurt to wax over it so I don't think about it.

• could you feel aching inside where you were stitched up? if so when did that stop? I was tender for about a month both times.

• when did you start to feel sexy and comfortable with your scar? For some reason my scar doesn't bother me at all, which is why i stick to a very thorough bikini wax, i prefer the scar to hair! And I like looking at it thinking that's where my babies came out.

• did you have a 'blank' about the birth? No, i had a spinal block both times. But the em cs was pretty rushed so i just remember 'chunks' of it. Whereas I can remember the planned cs minute by minute.

I know it's probably easy for me to say this but you and DD are ok now so please try not to dwell on what didn't go to plan. I went to a birth reflections meeting with a midwife after my em cs, it put my mind at rest about what had happened. I really recommend going in a couple of months if your hospital does them.

I would, with respect to Meglet, say there is little point in trying not to dwell on it.

It is good that you are bonding with her fine, but you need to acknowledge and allow the feelings you have. Not remembering the first time you saw your dd is quite a big thing. Try to accept however you feel about it. It will probably be a range of emotions and that is fine. Talk about it as many times as you need to, it will help to give it a place. And if ever you feel you struggle with it, or feel you just cannot move on, your hv or gp can refer you for some counselling.

By the way i have never had a c-section, but my ds pulled some very hairy stunts in his early hours and spent a week in NICU and two in SCBU. Have just been diagnosed now (ds 14 months) with ptsd so know a little bit of the emotions involved, although of course I have no idea how you feel.

I've had 2 CSs and the first time the scar did fade quickly. The 2nd time I had a lot of stretch marks and skin wasn't as young, so the scar didn't heal so well.

I have two sections (one emergency, one elective), and in answer to your questions:

The scar from my first section took a long time to become 'silvery' and small - maybe two years? I had my second section 4 mths ago and it is looking much better much more quickly this time, so I think that means - how long is a piece of strong?

I felt twinges after my first section for up to a year after the birth. I am still having occasional twinges in one side now after my second op. I think this is pretty normal. If you feel pain or your wound becomes moist or smells at all, go straight to the hospital, though!

First section - it took me a long, long time to feel Ok about my body. I was in shock and hated the way I looked. This time round, I feel pretty good about my self, body image-wise, only 4 mths later.

Both my sections were under spinal, so I was awake, however, I do struggle to remember parts of my DS's birth, as I was in a state of shock. I also had a terrible time in hospital afterwards and think I have blanked bits of it out.

HTH.

Congrats, btw xx

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