Post C-section - hard baby bump restricting breathing when I stand up

[Jajajagi]

I had a c section on Monday with my 2nd, after a vaginal delivery with my first. I've been walking around a bit but finding my breathing to be a bit restricted when I'm stood up and walking, like my chest and back are pretty tight and I can't fully expand my lungs.

I've tried some gentle stretches for my back which seem to relieve some pressure but I still have a large baby bump - it feels firm when I stand up and a bit restrictive for my breathing. It feels a bit like a balloon filled with air above my belly button. When I press it standing up it's vety firm and when I press it sitting down it does soften a bit but still feels fairly firm. Is this normal? My midwife said it's not my uterus as that is further down now but she didn't really know and thought perhaps it's Diastasis recti.

I remember having a bump after my first but it was pretty squishy so am a bit concerned. I feel like I am full of air/pressure! Has anyone experienced something similar?

I would ask to see or speak to your surgeon and ask them what they think. I had excruciating trapped wind after my first c section (took gentle laxatives after my second and it didn't happen), could it be that? Don't forget you've just had major abdominal surgery, any issue at all and your surgeon is the person to speak to, or failing that another obstetrician.

Thank you. It's not painful and I've been taking laxatives and drinking peppermint tea which have helped with wind. It feels more like the muscles are tense but only when I stand up. Sitting down I don't have the same restricted feeling.

I did feel quite like they were kneeling or pressing hard on my chest when I had the operation so just wonder if it's a hopefully temporary stress reaction to whatever they were doing, or that's it's just my bump going down, but don't know why it would feel so tense so high up? I did have a large bump and it was all on the front.

I'll call the post natal line tomorrow and see what they say.

Your muscles will be contracting back to where they used to be…it might just be that especially if your baby was big or long. My first baby was right up under my ribs and it was so sore…it stayed sore for a week or so after, I can’t remember exactly how long but there wasn’t any hardness. They do push down to get the baby out but this shouldn’t have caused any damage. The pushing and rummaging feels weird doesn’t it?! Good luck with the post natal unit, fingers crossed you get answers - I would still insist on speaking to a doctor.though, don’t be fobbed off!