C Section Recovery Struggle

[AimeeLou84]

Hi All. Did anyone or is anyone else struggling with recovery of c section? Had mine yesterday AM and I’m still in hospital in agony. Been on morphine, not working. I can barely walk, sitting down or getting up is doing me in. I can’t do anything for my baby other than sit and hold her on my chest. It’s doing me in. I just want to be a Mum and have my body back to be able to do that. How long does it take until the pain goes enough to be able to walk properly or get in the bath or hold and feed my baby?
Thank you

Has anyone checked you properly? Was it a planned c sec? Only asking as mine was and I felt nowhere near what you describe. I was up and about the next morning after an afternoon c sec and gone the next day, pain wasn’t great but manageable- I think you need someone to assess you and see if everything is as it should be. So sorry you are feeling like this, it must be horrible for you when all you want to do is enjoy your new baby.

I never experienced what you describe. Had EMCS at 9pm and was up and showering by 9am. It certainly wasn't pain free but manageable with regular pain meds.

I was like this with my 2nd. I knew it wasn’t right as my first was a totally different experience, but I couldn’t advocate for myself as I felt like my brain was fog.

I left after 2 nights, looking back I should not have been allowed to leave, I could barely shuffle down the corridor.

I did get back to normal after a few weeks, I think I felt a bit better by 3 weeks and a lot better by 8 or so, but something was definitely not right at the time.

I hope you are feeling better soon. Let your family and friends do Everything for you as you recover. Dont try and do too much.

I had a planned c section and felt just like your saying. Some people don’t feel pain. No idea why. I felt like I had been hit by a bus and then reversed back over again.

Use the buttons on the bed to get up and down. Make sure you’re taking all the pain meds you can get, stay topped up but also be strategic about leaving a small amount of flexibility for targeted use.

I was on the morphine for about a week but tapered off to using at difficult times like just before trying to get out of bed. If you need stronger meds demand them.

I would avoid baths for a while. You want to keep your incision dry clean.

It takes a while. For me it was after a week I was 90%, by 2 weeks 95%. Sadly it takes about 6 weeks to get to 99% and it took me a year to gain that last % of strength back. I’m now stronger than I ever was 2 years later. I have no pain. No scar and everything is perfect.

You will get through this. Rest as much as you can. Don’t push it. Listen to your body. And don’t forget your a soldier 🥁 Congratulations 💐

I completely recognise what you are describing. That was exactly my experience with both my sections.

Some people are fine after a few days, many after a few weeks and some much longer. Some are fine with a few paracetamol. Others are in pain and need stronger meds.

I was in the much longer group.

Keep taking the strong pain killers. Stay on top of them. When you are released get a prescription for decent painkillers. Don't let them fob you off with paracetamol.

Get someone to bring you surgical strength arnica tablets from Boots. That will help you recover from bruising.

When you get home accept all offers of help.

The good news is that everyone does recover. But it can be hard.

I had a planned section and felt the same as @Inlaw described. Like I’d been run over by a bus! I really couldn’t get out of bed for a couple of days and even then my dad and brother had to pull me up. It took me days to pull myself together enough to even be shuffling about. Everyone is different. Take your time and take it easy, you’ll get there. I know it’s frustrating though, and painful!

When you are released get a prescription for decent painkillers.

100% - take the bottle of morphine with you!

Hey OP, my experience was very similar to you. I'm abroad and they keep you in for 5 days post c sec as standard. I was fine lying down but had alot of pain getting up, didn't shower until the 3rd day and that was so painful, felt like if i didn't hold my stomach everything would fall out. I was walking comfortably on day 5. But I had morphine for the week. Left after 8 days as my son went to neonatal. It will get easier, just go at yoir own pace.

Thank you all. Well done to all the people who had nothing like me and sorry to all those who did, but thank you!! The woman opposite went home this morning and walked out normally. Being hit by a bus is actually how to describe it. If they didn’t take my catheter out this morning I’d have honestly just sat in this bed first days. If my partner wasn’t here doing literally everything I don’t know what I’d have done. I’m so glad (not in a horrible way) that others have felt this way too as I was beginning to think something was wrong with me!! Such a shame as the actual section was brilliant. Once again thanks all, gives me some hope that at least in a week I can try breast feeding etc

You can try breastfeeding now in a laid back position or side lying, whatever is comfy for you. I had 3 C-sections, my first was like you’re experiencing it was agony and felt like I’d been beaten up, our bodies don’t know what hit them so it’s understandable. I was wheeled to SCBU for the first few days because I couldn’t walk it (third baby I was able to walk to SCBU the next day 😊) and had to learn to breastfeed sitting in an uncomfortable plastic school chair, it was awful! Much easier to start breastfeeding lying in bed or propped up there if your baby is with you.

I would really suggest breastfeeding now and not waiting.

Put a pillow across your wound to support you. The sooner you get that underway the better.

It helps contract your uterus and speed up recovery.

Order yourself a good breastfeeding cushion for when you get home. There an example of what I used in the link below.

amzn.eu/d/08p9Xlt0

Great your partner is there!

Yes you do need to start breastfeeding now. Has a midwife been in to show you how to latch and talk you about feeding.

Or is there a reason they are saying not to?

I could barely walk for a few days. The nurses even said breakfast in bed again on the second day. I didn't have much pain but was quite anaemic. BF just didn't happen, despite all the help and advice. It might for you but don't feel guilt about that if it doesn't, your baby will still grow up healthy. I went home on day 3 but could only do the stairs once a day for a few more days. The midwife visited daily for a week, this was NHS. But it all got better after that and it will pass for you too. Congratulations!

I was the same with my two sections. In fact I refused to drink anything after my second section so they wouldn't take the catheter out as not enough urine had passed. That's how much I didn't want to/couldn't stand or walk.
It will get better, I now have a small, neat scar and I healed to a comfortable level in 2 weeks. Hang in there OP!

Thanks all! Got home last night sleeping downstairs til I can manage the stairs unaided. I tried breast feeding today and she’s unable to latch on so midwife is going to get someone to pop in this week to assist. Baby is showing interest and stressing herself out trying so really want to do it. I bled loads after trying, is that normal due to uterus contracting?
Also please tell me it’s normal to not want to sleep and just watch your baby making sure she’s ok through the night?

Talking from bitter experience with my first csection here. You need to get some sleep. As hard as it is, leave as much as you can to your DP and focus on getting yourself better.

I didn't rest properly after my first DC and it took me 12 weeks to fully recover from my csection. After my second, I spent two weeks in bed doing nothing (left EXDH to deal with the kids) and I was 100% back to normal by the end of that fortnight.

Keep on top of the pain relief every four hours on the dot. Take your iron supplements. And rest.

Bleeding for 2 to 6 weeks after a Caesarean section is normal and the bleeding can be heavier after breastfeeding due to the uterus contracting. Wanting to check your baby through the night is also normal. I was in hospital for 4 days post-section and barely slept as I kept checking on my baby!!

Omg so glad it’s not just me! I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep the next few weeks the worry and anxiety of pregnancy then them being here is real

I am due to have a C section in a few weeks and from what I have read, your experience is average. I'm not in the UK, here they keep you in hospital for 3-4 days after a section and you have to fight them to NOT give you strong painkillers.i assume DH will have to do everything for a week while I lay in bed breastfeeding and resting. And yes, you're meant to bleed for like 6 weeks. Sounds to me like you're handling it great!

@AimeeLou84 I'm regards to the bleeding that is a good sign. Nursing is having a positive effect. Sensing messages to your brain and oxytocin is being realesed this is then telling the uterus to contract down. You want that as the placenta scar needs to contract down to stop bleeding (will have bleeding while this happens) but means there is a good relay measage happening and nursing is working.

My DS was sleepy and wouldn't latch for a few days so I was encourged to hand express evem a little for him to taste and then pump to syringe feed.

All the best with recovery. Docua on getting well amd rearing up. Don't stress about anything else. If baby needs some supplement so be it not the end of thw world. Once your feeling better you can establish nursing. It ia very possible and doable.