Pain after C section - what is normal?

[ElderMillennial]

Had CS nearly 3 days ago. First day felt unable to do anything. Second day felt much better in the morning and was able to get up and have a shower. Maybe I was too active as by evening was in a lot of pain. Yesterday was similar except I was careful not to overdo it and learned what seemed to hurt most.

The area across the wound hurts a bit, which is understandable as they have cut through skin and muscle. It hurts a bit to pee or would it be more accurate to say I feel pressure around that area while passing urine (around wound area / could be bladder, difficult to say). Midwives have said this is normal.

Worst is on the far right hand side. If I bend forward or twist or otherwise put pressure in that area in a certain way, it really burns and stings. It's almost unbearable but only lasts a few seconds.

Midwives say wound dressing looks ok and this is normal but I feel like I'm in a lot of pain, especially on that side. There is no chance of me bending to pick something up and sometimes it burns even to sit back in a chair.

Please be careful you have had major abdominal surgery! You should be moving around but very gently and carefully, listening to your body and what feels okay or hurts - all the internal layers have to heal and it will take time.
Yes if I pushed myself too hard after mine then you would definitely feel it later/the next day.
Are you still taking the paracetamol and ibuprofen? It helped to alternate so were always taking something each 2hrs so alternating eg ibuprofen 8am, para 10am, ibuprofen 12, para 2pm etc

Please do take things as easy and gently as possible ❤️

Congratulations

Day 3 is still so soon! Try not to bend or pick things up or anything just move between the bed and the sofa as much as possible.
I started to feel A LOT better after a week (could go for short walks outdoors) but definitely take it easy the first few days and take the painkillers even if you don't think you need them.

I also found it a lot more painful on one side (even 4 months on I get the odd twinge on my left side) but it does get loads better.

Keep an eye on pain when you wee though, I did get a uti and needed antibiotics after a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm still in hospital as baby needs some oxygen so I am having to go between wards to see baby.

Midwives encourage movement and walking but when I get that pain on one side it takes my breath away and I have to brace myself before even sitting on the toilet or anything that might trigger it.

It's making me miserable as I just want to get up, get washed and dressed and express some milk for the baby but everything is so difficult that it's 9 am and I have just about had breakfast. It will easily be another hour once I have had chance to shower and express for him.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen don't seem to be doing the job. I've had some dihydrocodeine(?) but don't want to rely on it too much as not sure how long this pain usually lasts.

Oh love that all sounds hard, hope little one is okay and back with you soon ❤️
If it was an emergency section then I think recoveries can be a bit tougher given the emergency nature of getting in there quickly.
It is major surgery and whilst you're encouraged to not be chair of bed bound, even walking around can be hard, do keep raising any concerns to be checked just in case x

I had that too, my mom reckoned it was nerve pain, nerves starting to fire connections again to the ends their missing and it burns! Not sure how true it was but she has a nerve disorder and said she often gets that burning sensation. It died down after a few days for me. Picking things up is bound to be difficult, you've just had major abdominal surgery. And you're in no rush to shower/get up, breakfast done by 9am isn't exactly lying in bed at lunch time, which is also totally fine!