Recovery from 2nd (or more) c-section??

[twiglett]

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Yes- much much harder. After ds1's I was up and about closing windows the day after the section (literally). Very little pain.

After 2nd was told I had lots of adhesions, drain and catheter in for 3 days which didn't help - and in absolute agony. 3rd day a midwife found me doubled over in the corridor- I felt like I had red hot knives in me, apparently I'd missed my painkillers (they were short staff) and she went ballistic and sorted it out for me. Boy I needed those pain killers though.

After my first wee post catheter I thought my bladder was going to fall out.

So no you are not alone......

Hi Twiglett, i have had 3 sections and haven't had too many probs. Actually i had more pain after the first one i think. With dd1 i suddenly had like electric shock across my scar whikst out walking one day. Was awful and i had to keep stopping and sitting down.
With dd2 and ds i wasn't too bad really but i do remember with ds that it hurt when i wee'd , exactly as you describe it.
If you are worried i'd get a doc to check it out. I definatly didn't need any pain releif at 11 days IIRC.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

twiggy, I can't remember specifics (long time ago now) but I know that each time I was aware that recovery took longer than the time before. I think it's partly repeated surgery in the same site, partly being that much older, and partly having even more to do with older children to look after. I seem to remember having to double up to cough/sneeze/laugh for weeks!

Don't think I even got out of the house for more than 2 weeks with the last 2. I didn't have adhesions like jimjams but just took longer and longer to get about. So I think you're pretty normal!

Have to say Twiglett I found this one easier to recover from, but I think that was because I was so well looked after for the first 5 days (and have you seen - I missed Gwyneth by 2 weeks!) I didn't bring any painkillers home and didn't need them. I did have the pain at the end of peeing, but thinking about it I haven't had that for a couple of days now, so hopefully yours should stop soon as the bruising goes down. Hope you feel better soon.

Twiglett ... congratulations
Although my secion with DD was a much better and 'nicer' experience than with DS, physically I took (and am taking) longer to recover. I don't remember having much pain relief once I got out of hospital with DS but this time around I was still on tramadol 2 weeks after. I still have scar twinges now (3.5 months later) and I ache after a long walk ... with DS I was back in the Gym by 8 weeks. I have just put it down to the fact that a) DD was a much bigger baby and b) I am more tired to start with ...
Look after yourself and please do take it easy ...
xxx

Twiglett - just thought, are you doing your pelvic floor ecercises, because they really do help the recovery. I kept on forgetting, but the midwife told me to do a set every time I attached ds to my breast, and it has made a difference

found 2nd one easier to recover from. felt more of a 'pull' inside after 1st, dunno if it was sewn up differently but consultant did my last one who I had great faith in. (during ante natal check up looked at scar, asked who did it and said 'ooh we can do better than that' in a jokey way!)
much better clued up re: pain relief this time too. co-codamol? I think.
I think you're doing all the right stuff.

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also in same situation as you (although dd is now 6mths)

I used tea tree and aloe vera gel on wound everyday and the small absessed bit cleared up really quickly.
also took arnica30 tablets for the bruising.
also took glucosamine sulphate which helps wound healing (and helps back & joint pain)

it does seem to take longer to recover 2nd time, but does get better with time