How did you feel 2/3 days after c-section?

[rach971]

I had an elective cs three days ago and I'm really struggling. It's not even the scar that's bothering me... I've been feeling lightheaded on and off (yesterday was the worst, I was constantly lightheaded nearly all day), I can't stand up straight or all the top of my chest hurts, I've suddenly developed reflux and heartburn in the last couple of days too...

How did you all feel recovery wise at this point? I know it's major surgery and I know I shouldn't expect to feel so good so soon, but I had an emergency cs with my daughter 8 years ago and recovery was a breeze. I know I'm older now, I just didn't expect it to be this rough 😫

I also had a c section 3 days ago! Congrats - mine was incredible but fuck me im in agony now.

I was only given paracetamol. I can't take ibuprofen due to another condition. 111 have just sorted me out with some oramorph for a couple of days, praise be!

I've had some heartburn / aching chest, I put it down to the rummaging around that they did and I did suffer badly from anxiety in the pregnancy.

Lightheaded wise - is this not a side effect from the pain maybe? Are you on top of meds?

Midwives came today and were happy with me physically, so there's light at the end of the tunnel I guess. Night one at home with the pain and a newborn last night was..... interesting!!

All the luck to you. How's the baby doing?

I’ve had two c-sections. I don’t recall having chest pain with either. If you are worried it would be best to ring 111 or I think you might be able to phone the labour ward directly for advice as you delivered so recently. Check your paperwork for a phone number.

@justanothernamechangemonday Ah congrats also! I just realised though I had her 4 days ago, not 3 🙈🤣

It could definitely be the rummaging. Someone said to me it can bruise your diaphragm or something like that. All my top left side (chest, back, shoulder etc) are tender to the touch. I actually didn't feel too much rummaging, but I felt a huge tug as they pulled her out, took my breath away.

I'm not in too much pain to be honest but I have been taking painkillers. I was in a&e yesterday as midwife wanted me to make sure it wasn't a blood clot and all was fine there. They couldn't give a reason as to why I was feeling like I do.

Baby is good but does not like sleeping in her cot 🤣 So one of us always has to be awake holding her 🙈 What about you? x

My scar hurt and I had terrible gas (and was obviously knackered!) but otherwise I was ok- no lightheadedness or weird pains

@Topsyandtim123 I was in a&e yesterday as midwife wanted me to make sure I didn't have a blood clot. All was okay, bloods fine etc. All my left side like my chest, back and shoulder are tender to the touch so I think that's possibly what's causing the chest discomfort. Plus I'm having heartburn so no doubt that adds to it 😫 xx

Maybe the top half tenderness could be wind? I've got horrendous wind at the mo and my shoulders, arms, chest all hurts.

My baby wants to sleep on anyone / anything during the day - at night he wants me. Only. He's doing a great job of feeding constantly to help bring my milk in, but my nipples hurt almost as much as my belly! I had a horrible recovery with my eldest after a long and complicated vaginal delivery, so c section was absolutely right for me, and I knew these first few days would be hard but this takes the cake... now I have a little morphine I'm confident I can navigate the next painful few days!!

My midwives told me day 7 is usually a bit of a turning point, so hopefully we get there!! :-)

I had an emergency c section with DC1 and then planned with DC2. Aside from the benefits of not having been through hours of failed labour, I definitely felt worse the second time, I think I was just more conscious and aware of every thing my body was feeling. I felt sick and faint when being stitched up and that lasted a few hours. Then the trapped wind was just awful for a good few days. Think is just got away with it all the first time.

How are you feeling now, OP?

I felt horrendous, it was 17 years ago but I can remember how terrible I felt. I was on a shit ton of painkillers as well

The light headedness sounds like low bp possibly linked to anaemia, have they checked your bloods? That might be the cause of chest pain as well.

I don’t mean for this to be trivialising but could it be connected to gas? C sections can create awful constipation…….

My third child was born by c section and I was in agony. For a major op to be sent home with paracetamol is ridiculous, the pain was unbearable. I hope you feel better soon OP. I had some strong painkillers recommended by my midwife and this got me through the experience

I had the most horrific left shoulder pain about 24 hours after my planned section. It was so painful, I felt like I was pinned to the bed by it and was sweating and writhing. Wound pain a breeze by comparison. It turned out to be really bad wind 🙄 which makes it sound insignificant but I will never forget that pain. It took several days to resolve. I drank loads of peppermint tea, midwives gave me some gas meds and i tried my best to stand and move around. I googled it months later and discovered it is common after abdomin surgery.

It could be trapped air under the diaphragm. Air gets into the abdomen during surgery and the rises to form a pocket under the diaphragm. The pain tends to radiate up to the left shoulder.
Peppermint oil in hot water sometimes help. The air will dissolve eventually.

Tired - unbelievably tired. After about 5/6 days I managed to walk to the end of my street and I remember that taking it out of me.

I don't remember a lot of pain generally but I took my painkillers to schedule including through the night. Ie setting alarms to take them. Was still taking them 10 days plus before starting to reduce the dosage:

The only time I really felt pain was when I forgot and tried to bend at the waist or crouch down to get shoes on.

I also remember the lightheadedness and asked my midwife at the day 5 or day 10'check up and she said eat more fruit!!!

Take plenty of time. I really took it slowly for about 2 weeks but was driving by week 4

Yes I remember how acute the pain was the first week. For me the pain was centred about 6 inches above the external wound and it felt like I was bruised inside, the pain was horrific.

Like a pp above I'm also allergic to ibuprofen so was sent home with just paracetamol. I'm still angry about it now. I called my gp a few days after getting home and he was shocked and immediately got me a prescription for codeine which I recommend - it had the added benefit of helping me sleep easily when baby was napping. I had a dose of liquid morphine in hospital which is heaven's own nectar but I don't think they let you have it at home.

I also was extremely lightheaded because of pph. That recovered more gradually than the pain.

Day 7 I think was a bit of a turning point when the pain became bearable and I remember I staggered out to a cafe with dh and baby dd, using her pram like a zimmerframe when I was out of the car. So hold out till day 7, things will hopefully feel quite a lot better by then.

Another turning point was 3 weeks when I almost felt OK and I started having shallow baths.

I've got an ELCS planned for December and I wish I'd kept a diary so I can remember what to expect more clearly.

Hope you are ok, as I say just hold out till day 7.

Honestly, surprisingly good. Day 2 I came home both times, and day 3 we went out for a couple of hours.

My first: we went out for afternoon tea and then dropped in on my parents.

My second: trip out to the supermarket and stop off at the cafe.

I was taking painkillers on schedule just in case, but I wasn't in any pain. They were planned sections with virtually no blood loss, so I didn't have any issues with tiredness.

I know I was pretty lucky. Its pretty normal to still feel pretty rough at this stage.