Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

What's the thing about c sections and gas/trapped wind?!

46 replies

ThisIsActuallyHappening · 09/07/2017 16:52

I'm due to have a planned csection in a few weeks and I'm sure I read previously about others saying the gas was the worst bit?

Tell me more! What to expect? Do they pump you fill or air then or is it from being lay down?? What I can do to help? There was summit about Peppermint oil capsules - good/bad?

Thanks!

OP posts:
EdgarAllenPoe · 09/07/2017 18:51

I'm not sure what causes it, but it is very real! I guess it could just be that parts of you are exposed to air that usually aren't and it gets trapped in there. Who knows? All I know is after my emergency csection I had the weirdest gas in places it usually isn't, and it took days to naturally come out. It certainly didn't aid my recovery! I'm having a scheduled csection in November, I am going prepared with peppermint oil capsules and windeze. No idea if it will help, but going au naturel last time was not fun. Good luck!

DartmoorDoughnut · 09/07/2017 18:53

Oh god it's hell! Didn't have it with my first EMCS but with my ELCS I had it, in my shoulder, utter agony, took 24/36hrs to bugger off

DartmoorDoughnut · 09/07/2017 18:53

They gave me peppermint oil on the ward and I basically just traipsed around the ward doing laps holding the baby in an effort to shift it Grin

MoonPower · 09/07/2017 18:55

I had horrendous constipation from the painkillers they gave me after my CSecs. It was the Cocodamol apparently. But no wind probs Hmm

IrnBrufan · 09/07/2017 18:55

I've had two sections and have never heard of this Shock

CloudPerson · 09/07/2017 18:55

It's not a given that it will happen. I've had 4 CSs and never had a problem with trapped wind.

mummymathsteacher · 09/07/2017 18:56

Oh it's horrible! Mine started in theatre. Midwives recommended drinking lots of sparkling water etc. Took about 24 hours to go

MyWhatICallNameChange · 09/07/2017 19:04

I've had 4 sections and had it every time. Peppermint cordial solved the problem. The midwives would give me some when doing their drugs rounds.

My last section was 10 years ago, so don't know if they'd still do it.

TheLegendOfBeans · 09/07/2017 19:09

I had a bit of wind after mine but it was the flipping consitpaton that was an unpleasant after effect.

Please; ask for lactulose. And if they offer it, snatch it out their hands.

In all seriousness, straining for a poop could hamper the recovery of your scar. It's not worth it x

GuntyMcGee · 09/07/2017 19:09

It's because your uterus and bowel are quite close together. Messing around in the abdomen can irritate the bowel and cause it to spasm, which means that it's not doing its normal peristaltic motion and that's where gas can get trapped as it's not being forced through towards the exit. The pain can be intense but it doesn't happen for everyone and they can give you peppermint water to help shift it.

hipposinacircle · 09/07/2017 19:21

The midwives would only give me peppermint oil 2-3 times a day so I sent DH out to buy peppermint teabags which also helped. Apparently another good one is tonic water.

I was in utter agony from it and found myself rocking on my hands and knees on the hospital bed to, ahem, relieve myself. Worked though Smile

Original poster
ThisIsActuallyHappening · 09/07/2017 19:28

Ooh er Hmm .. those who did have it, doesn't sound nice!

Think I will get some Peppermint something just to be on the safe side then! Do I take anything in anticipation? Or just take it post op? Any recommendations?

Thanks all!

OP posts:
SairdyJane25 · 09/07/2017 19:33

It's worse than any pain I had from the section!! I had peppermint cordial but be careful not to OD on it as it goes from trapped wind and constipation to the opposite extreme!! Thankfully it doesn't last much longer than about 48hrs, good luck x

BonjourMeDarlin · 09/07/2017 19:38

It's very common but it's rarely mentioned to mums before or after a csection. Don't know why.
You need to get the wind out.
Let your arse say pppppppppppbbbbbbbbbbttttttttttt or it will be painful.

Sittingintheshade · 09/07/2017 19:39

I never had wind issues after my emcs but did ask for laxido which helped.

OuchBollocks · 09/07/2017 19:41

Buy peppermint capsules and your own lactulose in advance. There is little worse than trying to push out a stubborn poo while holding your stitches in place thinking they're about to pop with the straining.

Original poster
ThisIsActuallyHappening · 09/07/2017 19:43

How about if I got something like these ... any good?

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-extra-strength-oil-of-peppermint-capsules-200mg-60005010?skuid=005010

OP posts:
OuchBollocks · 09/07/2017 19:44

Actually the above goes for vaginal births too. Lactulose and lots and lots of water for all women who have just had a baby, however it comes out.

Ouch44 · 09/07/2017 19:44

I had it both times. Windeze really does work so go prepared. Also eat loads of things with fibre in like dried apricots, prunes etc before so that there is already a load of fibre in your bowel post-op. Then drink loads of water after and it will be reabsorbed into the fibre in your bowel. You do not want constipation after a c-section!!

MrsChopper · 09/07/2017 19:46

I didn't have this. About 3 days after EMCS I had the worst diarrhoea at 4am because of all the medication I was on. It was truly disgusting.

I did eventually end up with the worst constipation which was agony. This was a couple of weeks after having baby and lasted a while. But it all sorted itself out.

AshesandDust · 09/07/2017 19:48

After my e.section I was told by a nurse to lie on my left side
and massage my abdomen from right side to left to help
the wind ..ahem, exit.

I found it helped and still use that trick years later when I need to.

AshesandDust · 09/07/2017 19:48

Fgs *c.section

Lofari · 09/07/2017 19:51

I had my first 2 sections and all was fine no wind issues.
3rd one.....the pain was that bad with it I sobbed. They ended up giving me peppermint capsules and oramorph and kept me in an extra night.
Definitely stock up beforehand. It isn't a given that it will happen but much better to be prepared.

TheLegendOfBeans · 09/07/2017 19:53

Oramorph?! You poor thing Lofari Sad

WeeM · 09/07/2017 19:57

Mine was chronic! They prescribed me peppermint tablets in hospital but they didn't do that much to help. Not helped by the fact as I was in a ward and felt self conscious lol!