C-Section recovery

[Catsarethebest85]

I had a c-section 2 weeks ago and I’m still in a lot of pain. My scar needed steri-strips on it this morning to keep together a small part of it that had come apart and in general I still feel very achey and if I forget to take my painkillers I get intense stinging and stretching that the painkillers don’t cover. I’ve now got a cough and every time I need to cough the pain is quite intense.

Is this normal at this stage? I’ve read about lots of women resuming normal life a week after their c-sections but mine doesn’t seem to be getting any better!

Who put the strips on? Is it infected? Recovery is so personal, everyone has a different experience and it depends on whether it was calm and elective or dramatic and an emergency. My CS was quite complicated and my scar got infected a few weeks afterwards which made me feel fucking awful, cleared up quickly after antibiotics. Get it seen quickly if you’re worried.

It's different for everyone.
But yes by the end of week two I was still quite aware of it but much more mobile - it felt like turning a bit of a corner.
It sounds like it's less straight forward for you as you've needed some additional help with the scar area.

The biggest thing is the pain relief. You have got to keep on top of it. Set phone alarms and do not ignore them. I separated out my drugs so o had half upstairs and half downstairs that way I could never have forgotten them and think "I'll remember when I get back downstairs" and inevitably forget!

I had oramorph for about a week then down to codeine and paracetamol and ibuprofen alongside both. Was off all strong meds by week 3 (gradually reduced so I could be sure I was ok with the pain levels - I have the worst pain threshold!) and then off paracetamol and ibuprofen by week 4.

Some women do it faster some slower. Some never have more than paracetamol - don't stress comparing yourself. Talk to dr / midwife about your pain levels and they'll help you get the right set up. Keep an eye on the scar for good healing and keep it clean and dry to reduce infection risks.

You really do need to do nothing too - if you can, call on support to make sure you just sit with baby. Let your body heal. You have had major surgery.

@AnneLovesGilbert I put the steri-strips on myself this morning on the advice of a midwife at Birmingham women’s hospital as I had to go there because I started bleeding heavily after having stopped. She couldn’t find any but advised me to get some. I hope I’ve done it right!

It really does vary! After my first section, an EMCS after long labour, I couldn’t even leave the house til day 11 – managed a slow five-minute walk that exhausted me. My scar got infected and I was advised not to wear the baby in the sling, was generally in pain and exhausted.

This time, day 11 after ELCS, I’m much more mobile and much more on it with painkillers – as pp said I have a stash upstairs and downstairs, and I track them ruthlessly on my phone. I’m also taking arnica and expensive breastfeeding vitamins, and INHALING high-calorie restorative food – highly recommend pots and pots of Waitrose Madagascan vanilla custard eaten daily to keep your strength up. And do very little: DP is on dishwasher duty, nursery runs, bath and bedtime for our 3yo, anything that involves stretching or bending or core strength – pushing the pram, reaching for things on a high shelf.

Go gently, do your pelvic floor exercises, they will help, eat and drink a lot to keep strength up, take the painkillers, don’t overdo things, ask for help. It does improve!