3 days post c section. Help

[MissMoodyMoo]

As said in the heading. I'm 3 days post c section, we were discharged after 24 hours with paracetamol and diclofenac. I've got the WORST constipation I hurts more than my wound!!

Also my milk has come in and my boobs are SOLID! And again are agony! I'm not breast feeding so unsure what to do

Ok don't panic! Things hurt after birth! Some of that's normal and some isn't! You should be seeing your health visitor or midwife soon. Speak to the first. Why aren't you breastfeeding.. you might need to express just a little by hand to help relieve the pressureZ do you have laxitives?

Get yourself some lactulose over the counter and some glycerine suppositories. Hands and knees positions seem to help too. Have you had your bowels open since baby was born? Have you passed wind? Sometimes after a c section you can develop a paralytic lieus, which is where the intestines stop moving stuff down and it causes a blockage. If you can’t pass wind and/or things feel like they are getting worse, do call the maternity unit.

With regards to your bobs, try alternating hot and cold flannels and keep on top of the paracetamol. You may have to hand express a tiny amount just to soften them a little bit but try not to overstimulate. A hot shower might help.

Lactulose for the constipation - I hadn't been for a week and it sorted me out no problem. Don't invite anyone over though because the gas you will produce will be noxious

And if you're not breastfeeding, can you pump? It might help

Oh, and fridge cold cabbage leaves in your bra - my midwife sister swore by it

Does it matter why she isn't breast feeding?! I stopped breast feeding after 2 days as it was the most horrendous experience ever. Wear a tight bra constantly - I even bound my breasts, over the bra, with a scarf. It stopped the ache. I luckily didn't get massively aching/hard breasts but I did leak a little. I found a hot shower stimulated them more. My milk dried up quite quickly.

Constipation - Take senokot, and get yourself some fibre drinks. They help a treat.

Cool flannels or cabbage leaves inside your bra will help with sore boobs. It takes a couple of days but they will go down again if you are not breastfeeding. Don't express if you possibly can as your body will think it needs to produce more milk and it will drag on.

As for the constipation post c section, I remember it vividly and it is hell. Get some lactulose from your pharmacist (no need for prescription), and bulk buy dried apricots and dates. Find a time when your partner can take the baby and just go and sit on the loo. Elevate your feet if you can so you're in more of a 'squat' position and hold your hand against your stitches if they hurt. Then wait for nature to take its course. Don't push or you risk a tear (and if you do get one, ask your gp for an alternative to rectogesic. I can't remember what it's called but there is an alternative and the side effects are far easier than awful rectogesic migraines).

And congrats on the baby!

If you don’t want to feed, don’t hand express or pump. That will make your breasts make more. Warm flannels / showers / cabbage leaves. This shall pass.

As for poo then yes get someone to get you some tablets from the pharmacy. For both my sections I had to prove I could poo before I could leave. Have you managed once since the birth?

And it’s all a bit recent and scary right now but I promise things get better quickly. I’ve had two sections and the trick is to be gentle on yourself but to keep moving. Stand upright, walk about every so often and take gentle movements. No sudden twists or lifting anything heavy.

Congratualtions and good luck!

I'm passing wind but the constipation is horrific...it seems to just be sitting there 🙈
I'm really sad i can't breast feed but due to PTSD and medications it's safer for myself and my baby to be formula fed which did give me a bit of a wobble as I am pro breast.

I genuinely thought there was something wrong and I was dying 3 days after my c section. Didn't even occur to me that it was trapped wind, I felt like I was being stabbed. I was so close to calling 999 from the toilet! Thankfully I called the midwife instead. I started downing lactolose and it helped so so much. Just inhale the stuff!

Peppermint oil in boiling water helps a lot.
At a push peppermint tea might ease things a bit.

Hand hold lovely, been there and that constipation is worse than contractions! Get an ipad and just sit on the toilet, I feel part of it is fear of your stitches but you will be fine. Hold a cushion over your scar incase you need to push lightly, you will feel like a new women afterwards! X

Can you have a bath (not sure what's OK with your stitches)? I found that really helped with my boobs. I put flannels over them and just soaked. It should help with constipation too. Take lots of water, drink lots and make sure DP keeps topping it up if you're in there a while.

Ask for help from GP ASAP. I was the same as you post section. Hadnt been for a few days before but midwives told me not to worry lactulose would sort me out a few days in. Unfortunately this was too little too late and I needed a suppository and even then it was still utterly horrendous, the worst thing ever, by the time I was able to pass anything. I was in for 9 days (7 post birth) and reckon it must have been about day 5 after the section I eventually went. So at least a week if not longer since I'd last gone. I wish I'd been more firm at the start when I told them I was constipated!

Decongestants - Sudafed etc - help dry up milk, sage capsules/sage tea can help too. Otherwise cold compresses and tight sports bras (two might be necessary!).

Try squatting with your feet up on the loo if you haven’t already and make sure you’re drinking lots of water.