Caesarian surgery - what's the pain supposed to feel like?

[LondontoBanbury]

I'm 3 days pp so absolutely understand that I still feel awful and will do for a while. The worst of the pains is a sharp stinging/burning feeling when I do anything that pulls at the muscle (I assume?) behind the scar. Standing up, leaning over, etc. I just wanted to know what other people's experiences felt like in those first few days + moving forward? Does this sound similar to your recovery?

Hey, I had my second CS a few weeks ago and while I was uncomfortable moving around I wouldn’t say it was super painful. Everyone is different though. I’d say speak to your midwife for better pain relief!

Hope you recover ok

i know this sounds a bit strange but I can’t really remember the pain (it was a long time ago and I think our memory protects us doesn’t it?) but I do remember I was still moving very gingerly after 3 days - it’s a major op.

Are you taking any pain relief?

congratulations by the way

The first section I was fine really quickly (24 hours or so), the second one I was in agony for about 6 weeks and struggled to stand straight. So by my personal experience I would say each one is probably different.
Your pain sounds in the realms of normal to me.
Congratulations.

Thanks all! Same as everything birth/pregnancy related, it sounds like it's a pretty individual journey. I'm on ibuprofen and paracetamol, I'm certainly having to take things slow, but for the most part things are okay/as I expected, it's just the sudden sharp pains that catch me off guard that are worrying me. Mostly because I don't want there to be anything wrong that prolongs the pain!

Congratulations on the baby! Just keep on top of your meds.

It is quite individual but I remember the pain being so bad. Everytime I moved - especially from bed to up or opposite it felt like I was being cut in half and that my insides would fall out. They didn’t. By my goodness it was horrendous.

Remember they had to go through 7 layers of skin fat muscle etc and then stitch the layers back together. If you see any issues along the scar let your midwife/GP know.

Hi yes I have had two and found the experience after both different. Take it easy and my strong advice would be don’t leave gap between pain killers. Space them out so they overlap so you are not left without pain relief. Also just take it as easy as you can. The body heals so quickly week on week.

Have you checked the wound for signs of infection? I vaguely remember a midwife checking mine on the first visit.

I do remember kind of having to mentally prepare to move for at least a week after my c section and the pain was quite pinchy doing anything like getting from lying to sitting etc., getting out of bed. If you’re worried though or if you get any signs of being unwell definitely get checked over.

Haven't yet taken the dressing off, but the midwife did take a look yesterday and said it all looked okay, so I don't think there's any signs of infection. Thanks all for your replies, it's certainly reassuring to know some others sound like they've had similar levels of pain and there is a light at the end of the tunnel eventually!

Adding to this for reference of anyone else who reads the thread. 4 weeks PP now and absolutely miles better. Stopped feeling like my stitches were going to tear open every time I moved too quickly by the end of week 1 and was able to move about the house fairly normally by the end of week 2. I still get quite tired/sore if I do too much in a day but for the most part, feel like my old self now, with a bit of a sore, healing stomach! Thanks for everyone's insights and good luck to any mamas in the first week or two post-op who may read this - it gets MUCH better very quickly.

@LondontoBanbury Great to see your update! Glad things turned a corner for you.

Hope you're getting some sleep here and there and enjoying time with your baby.

I remember describing it to somebody as feeling like really bad sunburn on my stomach.

I don't remember it being super painful and when they forgot to give me pain relief for a full day, 24 hours after having the Caesarian, I was uncomfortable but not writhing around begging the nurses for pain relief.

It was the little things that caught me off guard EG turning over in bed, going from standing to sitting all brought a sudden pain that made me afraid of ripping the scar open.
Apart from that it was all quite bearable though.

🤦🏻‍♀️ just seen the most recent post and I am a little behind with my reply!!
Glad you're on the mend now Op!!

Your pain doesn’t sound normal to me OP.

Mine was like a pulling, like my guts would fall out. But not pain, more discomfort.