Cesarean Recovery
Monday July 3, 2006
Having had abdominal surgery, I can tell you that a cesarean is no picnic from which to recover. Though there are some wise words to help you through this time to ensure you're healing well after surgery and able to enjoy your new baby. Read about recovery after a cesarean...
Comments
I had a cesearean with my second child. I thought it was actually easier to recover than the first mostly because going to the bathroom wasn’t so painful! The only downside was in not being able to pick up my chunky 28lb 2 year old which I would’e been cautioned against doing anyway.
I am now pregnant with my second and am opting to have another cesaran with this baby. I thought it was painful the first day after, but it wasnt all that bad. I do NOT handle pain well either. Quite frankly I’m terrified of having to give birth vaginally. I’ll stick with what I know. I honestly don’t think one way hurts more or less its just diffrent pain in diffrent areas. Plus the “period” afterward is MUCH shorter. I only bled for 5 days as opposed to my sister who had her son vaginally and bled for 5 weeks.
I so totally disagree with the last poster. I’ve had one vaginal birth and three c/s. The vaginal birth was way easier pain wise. The bleeding is also NOT related to the type of birth but other factors, I’ve bled varying amounts each time.
I had 2 children vaginally before my unexpected CS. There is something infinitely wrong,at a primal level, with having your baby taken through an opening in your abdomen and then separated from you for even the briefest time.
We are blessed to live in a time that our technology allows us to birth via CS should it be required. IT should not be an option though. It’s an emergency procedure or option should your baby’s health be in jeopardy. The World Health Organization has beenwarning us that our high CS rates will lead to less healthy babies. We finally saw it this year with the final results showing us that optionalCS babies require alot more time in the NICU.
I had PPD after my CS that also created a bonding issue. Also, it’s SURGERY. I would take a traumatic vaginalbirth expereince like my first birth over my CS any day. IT breaks my heart that women are selfish enough to risk thrit babies health by taking them from the womb early when it’s not medically indicated.
I have only had one child, by cesarean and I plan to never have a c-section again if possible. I had pain at my incision site for six months, I don’t know anyone who reported being in pain that long after a vaginal birth, even with tearing.
I’ve had three c-sections (none of them elective). My first one wasn’t too bad, in terms of physical recovery. Pretty much all my pain was gone within a month or so. With my second, the pain lasted for over 7 months - sudden, sharp pains in the left end of the scar that were totally unpredictable. With my third…well, I still have no feeling in my stomach, and I can’t feel my bladder, and I have bruise-like pain just below my navel. My son is almost a year old. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever feel my lower abdomen or know when I need to use the bathroom again. Frankly - this sucks.
My recovery from my c/s included two unexplained (by the doctors) episodes of heavy hemorrhaging that put me in the hospital, never getting my milk in and having to go to formula, and severe PPD because of the way I was treated before and after the surgery. And a very large likelihood that their insistence on inducing me was the factor that led to it. The scar itself seems to be the smallest of my issues with the surgery. I’m glad c/s exists, but I no longer trust dr.s or hospitals..and in my case, even midwives…to use it responsibly. I was all for hospitals before, nowadays I’m a strong homebirthing advocate.
My cs was aweful. My baby was damaged by it and was in the nicu for 2 weeks. I was in the hosp for nearly 2 weeks. We both almost died multiple times. It was a joke. I cnnot imagine the selfishness of just choosing a cs - it is so dangerous for babies - ESP if scheduled BEFORE you ever go into labor. I am lucky that i got to labor with my baby for awhile so i KNOW she choose her birthday and not my or a doctors conveinience. I bled for 6 weeks after my cs. I would NEVER choose this method of “birth” it is unnatural and unless used for ONLY emrgency situations is a very dangerous idea.
i just had my 3rd c-section 4 weeks ago. this is the worst one so far. none of them were elective. i tried for a VBAC the second time but got a fever from the epidural so i went to the OR. i tried for a VBA2C with this birth, but it wasn’t meant to be as my baby was malpositioned and the bag was bulging out my cervix. but this has been a horrific recovery period. the pain has been so much worse.
also, i know THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY TO BRING A BABY INTO THIS WORLD THAN THE WAY I HAVE DONE IT.
and just so you know, i was scheduled for a repeat section with this baby, and i didn’t show up. i was NOT THERE.
I LET MY BABY PICK HIS BIRTHDAY AND I WENT INTO LABOR WHEN HE WAS READY.
ALL WOMEN CAN DO THIS!!!!!!! WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE WAY WE WANT TO BIRTH!!!!!!!!
AND I WOULD NEVER NEVER CHOOSE A C-SECTION TO BIRTH MY BABY!!!!!!!
My first baby was born by “urgent” c-surgery after a long but manageable period of laboring at home with a doula, follwed by a distressing period of interventions at the hospital. The fetal heart monitor gave the doctors something to be concerned about (malpractice-wise), enough times that they pushed us into surgery. My daughter turned out to be fine, high Apgars and everything (no signs of actual distress), but we had to deal with further interventions in her treatment due to “standard cesarean protocols.” Physically, my recovery was fairly “normal,” but still, the whole experience was very difficult and led to so many unwanted consequences (breastfeeding problems being a major one). Therefore, I worked really hard to plan a homebirth for my next baby to give him and me the very best chances to have the best, safest, and calmest labor, birth & breastfeeding start. Before my cesarean — unwanted, preventable, and cause of many undesirable consequences — I was never a birth “extremist”. But that surgical start to my daughter’s life caused me, after much research and self-searching, to become rather passionate about encouraging women to really seek out the information and support they need to plan the best and safest birth for their babies and themselves. In most cases, I do NOT believe elective c/s to truly fit into that kind of planning.
I absolutely hated my c-section, and I think if women who had one were honest they’d realize that any “advantages” they list to having one (no perineal pain, able to have sex sooner, as if you’d want to!) are really just rationalizations. My beautiful daughter is six months old, and I love her more than life itself, but I do NOT feel like I gave birth to her. I was cut open and she was taken from me– not the same thing at all.
As for the recovery, postpartum bleeding has nothing to do with whether you give birth vaginally or surgically; it has everything to do with how the inside of your uterus is healing. I bled for about 4 weeks (breastfeeding helped I’ve been told). My lower abdomen is alternately numb and painful. I was in excellent shape before and during pregnancy, and now I have a flabby “shelf” entirely caused by the surgery that will never go away. I couldn’t climb stairs or even get into my pillow-top bed for weeks, and had to sleep on the couch. Postpartum bonding and breastfeeding already had other factors complicating them, and the c-section only made them worse.
I would advise all first-time moms to do everything in their power to avoid a c-section, and make this clear to your birth attendants well BEFORE you go into labor.
I just wanted to point out that every abdominal procedure produces adhesions (scar tissue). For some women, these adhesions cause pain problems for years because they attach to intestines or other internal organs. For others, it can prevent the doctor from reaching the baby quickly in subsequent c-sections.
I had a c-section at 16 (baby wouldn’t descend) and unfortunately, can only have repeat c-sections due to a medical problem. However, getting up and moving around as soon as the staff would let me also reduced the recovery period, compared to those who don’t.
My second c/s took two years to get back to normal after. I missed out on a lot of life with my family due to pain and fatigue. And this was even without any complications during the surgery. I don’t even want to recall the first few days after surgery, I wish I didn’t have those memories of that pain. I too was frightened by the idea of vaginal birth - if I’d ever watched the “Gentle Birth Choices” video, I would have had a chance to see peaceful birth and get over my fear. If you are like me and scared to birth, see that video, it really helps. Now, I’m scared of surgery. Knowing that pain, I’ll never walk willingly into the OR ever again. I’ve had nearly twenty hours of UNmedicated labor to compare to the pain of surgery - give me labor over surgery, any day. I think there needs to be more education about AVOIDING c/s in the first place, so women can start addressing birth fear, and learning that it is possible to have a normal, peaceful birth.
I have had both a c/s and a vag birth. I would NEVER have a cesarean again barring life/death. The recovery from a cesarean is horrific. It is major surgery. MAJOR surgery. I couldn’t nurse. My daughter spent time with my mom, my sister, my brother in law, and her daddy long before I even knew what she looked like. That was the least of the bad things about it. Three years later, I’m still horrified by the experience and will be numb and scarred forever. Malpractice runs rampant during surgical procedures and just the rate of babys getting cut accidentally during cesareans should be enough to turn others off from this procedure. Nature knows best. Ladies, we were created with the ability to grow and birth life. It doesn’t get more amazing. Birth isn’t scary at all. Its all the rediculous hospital policies and scary stories others tell us that makes vaginal births scary. I had the best experience of my life giving birth vaginally and with no drugs to boot…….a BAZILLION times less painful than my cesarean birth.
I vaginally birthed two babies and then went into labor with my third who ended up a c/s for transverse breech. At the time, I was told that the baby or myself would die if they didn’t do a CS. Baby was 9lb4oz Highest Apgars (8 & 9?) and I “recovered” faster than anyone I knew who’d had a CS. (But I had to hold my stomach when sneezing or coughing for 20 months postpartum because of excruciating pain; numb abdomen for 16 mos.; no perineal pain but oral meds for 4 wks). The most important thing to me now that I’m expecting another baby is not to avoid a CS because it is “my choice” and “my right” and b/c the recovery stinks—I know that a CS can be a lifesaving procedure BUT only in VERY RARE situations. It has become more normalized to the public and faster/easier for a doctor to do, even in the last eight years from when I had our first child. I wish that I’d known how probable it is to move a breech presenting baby or change the mom’s position so the baby moves himself. Medical personnel should be supportive of helping change a breech position or vaginally delivering “tricky” positions and not rush to an easy-for-an-OB cesarean surgery.
What I meant to say in my previous post is that I choose to avoid a CS because it is worse for the baby most of the time. For me, it isn’t an issue of my rights–but how dare a doctor “allow” a patient to elect to have a cesarean and NOT a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)!!! Do the research. Look at both sides pros and cons to CS and who’s writing the reports to recognize any bias. I am going for a VBAC this time because it is a wiser choice for my unborn child who I cherish and want to protect. We all want the best for our children, but it is imperative to proactively learn all we can about this most important time in our and their lives!
I had a vaginal delivery with my first and a cs with my second, on June 24, 2008. It was not elective, the baby wasn’t moving into my pelvis, was facing up and just too big (1 lb. bigger than the first). I thought it went very well, was discharged from the hospital after just 2 days. I think they are both painful recoveries, but going to the bathroom is much easier with a cs. It breaks my heart that I can’t pickup my 19 month old, and I can’t drive for who knows how long! I would have a cs again if needed, but would prefer a vaginal birth because it is so much better for the baby. I don’t think I will be so scared to have sex once the doctor gives me the ok this time!
I had 2 previous vaginal births and was scheduled for a c/s for my 3rd birth which was twins, because the one twin was transverse and could not be moved. I was not happy but it was necessary. I figured recovery would be easy. Holy cow was I wrong. It has been 8 wks and I have pain still, that I double over sometimes. I’m still bleeding, and I have a lump above my incision that the doctor said was fat. I weigh 96 pounds, does this sound right to you. Has anyone experienced anything like this. The hard lump hurts, it starts out non-existant at one end and is 2 inches long and 1/2 and inch thick at the other end of my scar. But it isn’t in my scar it is above the scar. I don’t know if I should go for a second opinion. I just feel something is not right.
I’m sorry to read all of these bad experiences with c-sections, and I hope women who have one planned are not too scared or worrying that they are somehow hurting their babies. I had one cesarean birth and have another scheduled in a month (another breech baby). I was of course sad and worried when I found out there was a problem. But I gave birth to a beautiful, perfect, healthy baby boy. Breastfeeding was wonderful and easy and I never had PPD. Of course recovery is harder, but with help from family and friends it’s not too bad.
I had a scheduled CS with my son due to a medical issue and my doctor said she didn’t feel comfortable with me having a vaginal as my pelvic structure was too narrow to do so without complications. I never had surgery before and recovered quickly. I had no complications, got up and walked without any problems the next morning, and haven’t had any pain. I bled for the normal 6 weeks but it was light. I’m pregnant with my second child now and will again have a cesarean. I don’t see why anyone would have a problem if someone chooses to do this or not. I guess I was lucky to have a great doctor and to have healed as well as I did.
I can’t see what the big deal is. My son and I have a great bond. I say if you had problems you should look at either your doctor or yourself. Don’t baby your scars and be happy with your baby, not pissed off because your baby didn’t come out the way you wanted.
I was in a car wreck at 30 weeks, baby was fine but I had severe injuries including numerous pelvic fractures. My baby was born seven weeks later via c-section because of the risk of my pelvis breaking again (it had already healed). I had no compications and was taken straight to a normal room and my baby was brought to me immediately. Of course, family were there to help. Getting up out of bed the first time was extremely painful, mostly due to having been in a wheelchair up until giving birth.
All of you angry and judgemental moms out there, please keep in mind that there are many mothers like me who because of circumstance had to throw their “perfect delivery” expectations out the window and are just grateful for their CS and their healthy baby. BTW, ask anyone who has had a vaginal delivery AFTER a pelvic fracture and see what they say happened- usually the pelvis breaks again, even after a long period of time since injury.
It seems that there is a lot of “peer presure” on expectant moms to have the “perfect, natural childbirth”. I thinks its great when everything comes together to facilitate such an experience. But when it doesn’t, usually women are left beating themselves up mentally and emotionally at a time when they are especially vulnerable. There needs less criticizing and more openess and understanding.
My first baby came out through CS because my water bag had already broken, but my cervix continued to be only 1 cm wide even when the doctor tried to induce me. When I woke up from the surgery, and the anesthesia no longer had an effect, I felt like I had been run over by a truck. It was so painful that I couldn’t move, but my doctor told me the next day that I have to move. Because I wanted to see my baby so badly, I forced myself to move around even if I felt like a very old woman with terrible aches and pains all over my body. When I was finally able to stand up straight without any pain, that was it. That terrible pain never came back. I was able to breastfeed my beautiful baby for two years. At the beginning, I could feel my uterus contracting while I was breastfeeding her, but it wasn’t painful.
I am pregnant again and I asked my new doctor if it is possible that I have a vaginal birth this time. She asked me the reason for my cs the last time and she then said that I will definitely have to do a repeat cs. Although we will be able to choose the baby’s birthdate this time, we’ll just wait for him to tell us when he wants to come out.
I have had 2 vaginal births with my first two children. first child born vaginal thought i was going to die was in alot pain 2nd child was a breeze compared to 1st. c/s with the 3rd I had to cause they induced me and I would not go into labor even broke my water still nothing and had to do it wasn’t real that bad lil pain but that’s it went home after 3 days in the hospital walked up & down step even did the laundry and other house work. 4th c/s was planned cause of the bleeding factor I am severe anemic and b12 def. in case I herroiaged if was to a vbac so I chose a c/s had my daughter and was released from hospital next day pain was same as first c/s only a litle…now I’m expecting the 5th child would do a vbac but scared the scarring from the 3rd & 4th c/s will tear open and i would bleed to death.
I have experienced both ways of delivering my babies. I had a vaginal birth the first time and had fourth degree tears, I opted for a c section the second time and have found the recovery to be much much easier. I was up and around the same night and the day I left the hospital we stopped at Babies R’ us and did some shopping! If you keep up on your pain meds and keep your body moving you can recover quite quickly from a c section too!
I had a c/s for my fifth birth although i would never opt to have one, i am gratefull that i could have one or both myself and my beautifull 7 month old daughter would not be here today. I was diagnosed with placenta previa which actually turned out to be placenta acreta, i am grateful to the doctors and to all the staff who saved my life that day. I still have an area above my scar that is numb and the occasional sharp pain. If that is all i have to deal with for the gift of my lovely little girl then i will gladly wear it.
I had a c/s with my first son 2 years ago and I am now pregnant with my second son and due next month. I did not recover well from my first son’s delivery. I had many complications with having to heal twice due to the incision opening back up after 2 weeks. I would’ve opted to have a vaginal birth but was not in the best interest for the baby. I think everyone is different when it comes to childbirth, everyone’s body handles pain much differently and you have to do what’s best for your baby and deal with what pain you tend to have afterwards. There is only 2 ways they can come out and most of the time you don’t really have a choice!
I had to C sections and the second one was way easier then the first the recovery was way better they didnt give me morphine and i felt 100 times better i recovered pretty fast for having my stomach cut open my baby is going to be a year this month and hes all over the place. I was scared at first but its okay you will get threw it and it will be worth it. you forget about the pain once you have that little baby in your arms! xox
My babies both were super healthy and my daughter was 8.8 lbs now problems and my son 9lbs even so those scary stories dont happen to everyone and its not danger to the baby where do you guys get these stories get different drs next time.
i had three experiences..vag. with epidural and vag. without epidural and Ceseran..but the first was the easiest since it will recover so fast and u will not feel the contractions while delievery..
I just had my second c section two weeks ago and I must say, recovery was much easier the second time around. I am up and about again. I try not to complain too much because my doctor did a wonderful job with the surgery and my baby was healthy. The first time, it was not an elective c section and I was pretty disappointed not having to experience a vaginal birth but in the end, all I want is a healthy baby. I think mothers who have to get a c section should be optimistic about it because in the end, your baby comes out healthy. I recently had to help a friend cope with a stillborn - it made me learn to be more greatful in situations like this.
My son is 6 months old now and i had to have an emergency C section due to him bein distressed and the cord wrapped around his neck and he also soiled in me, the epidural didnt work and i was so tired as id only had 3 hours sleep and was in labour for 14 hrs but lately ive started getting sharp pains just below my scar also on the left hand side does anyone know what this is?
I gave birh to my boy vaginaly and i can’t say that it was so painful as they said.to my mind it’s even safer for a woman as it’s a natural way of labour and not an artificial one as in case with C-section.all in all after Cesarean you’ll geta scar on your pretty belly! Ladies,dont be afraid,it’s our destiny to create and give a new life!
I’ve had two CS’s. The first, I was in labor for 36 hours and my daughter simply didn’t fit through my pelvis…I was completely dialated and pushing for almost 3 hours and she couldn’t come out. The doctor finally looked at me and told me that I had done all I could…I accepted it and felt good about having worked so hard…she just didn’t fit…she was 9lbs and I have a small pelvic opening. The recovery was fine, my milk came in, but her mouth was too small and she never latched on well enough to nurse. My second child, my son, was a different story. I had a planned CS because of my first…and my sonograms indicated that my placenta was low. At 35 weeks, I started bleeding heavily, and when I got to the ER, it turns out I was in labor. They had to do an emergency CS because of the heavy bleeding…turns out I had placenta previa and my son was breeched…there was no way of coming out of that alive without a CS. The recovery (this was only 3 weeks ago), has been pretty good. I got home and was able to climb my stairs, get in and out of bed, and the pain was managed very well with ibuprofen and oxycodon. I took myself off of the meds about a week later and did just fine.
I’m sorry about all of the horrific stories I’ve read on here, and I always wanted to give birth vaginally…but both of my CS’s saved my children’s lives. I have to be greatful, no matter the pain or recovery. I’d like to try a vaginal birth with my next child, but don’t know if that will be possible…and I can accept that.