C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I am having one on Saturday morning and I would like HONEST opinions. Did it hurt, how long until you felt "normal", what is the worst part? Anything you want ot share would be groovy. I want to be as prepared as possible. Im sure it varies person to person, but I'll take what I can get. TIA.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Heck yes it hurts. But that's what motrin is for (I was BFing and that's all I could take). Best advice I got: Start walking as soon as they give you the OK! Do not just sit still or just lay in bed, it makes it so much worse. I would go for little walks in the hospital to prevent stiffness and to not accumulate air in the shoulders (I had abdominal surgery very similar to a C section and I had the gas pains in my shoulders....worse pain ever).

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

First off that is my dd birthday. My first c-section I made the mistake of not moving around enough. Horrid gas pains. Get up when allowed and walk it off. I didn't realize I would bleed, I assumed that since I didn't delivery vaginally i wouldn't. My first was my hardest. Use your elbows to lift yourself up. Cream them because they get chapped. You have to remember that this is an operation so you really need to follow the drs. instructions. Good Luck and Congrats on your new bundle of joy.

Message edited 1/22/2009 4:51:02 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I have to say- the recovery was not bad at all. And I had mine after 32 hours of labor.

I took the pain pills they gave me in the hospital- but by the time I got home I was fine with Motrin. Just take it easy, walk slowly, get up slowly and carefully from the bed. Try having DH do all the diaper changes in the hospital.

I got up and walked around the next day, I think that helped. I made sure I did slow laps each day. Avoid stairs when you get home though.

All of the best to you Congrats on welcoming your little one into the world

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

ok- here's the good- your hoo-ha stays intact! ha ha. the bad- the recovery can be painful. the ugly- the first 2 days in the hospital after the birth... lots of vaginal bleeding, catheters, and numerous people looking 'down there'.

i know it can be stressful. i had my c-section on 11/25 and i have to say all in all the experience was good. I wasn't wanting a c, but the doc said my little one wasn't so little and they were afraid to do a vaginal birth. To be totally honest, the first 3-4 days are hell (in terms of pain) but the MAJOR pay off is that you have your little bundle of joy to help take your mind off the discomfort. take the drugs!!! the percoset and ibuprofen were GREAT!! I felt 'normal' as far as being able to drive and move around 3 weeks after.

It's now been 8 weeks and i still have a little numbness by the incision, but i've heard that is totally normal. I started doing crunches and other abdominal exercises at 6 weeks with no pain.

just a few suggestions... keep the things that you will be using a lot of very handy (not upstairs if you will be downstairs). Create a little diapering station on each floor of your home so that you won't have to climb any more stairs than necessary. also- my parents came over and lowered my matress and boxsprings onto the floor (we have a high'ish' bed) and that was a godsend...it's tough to get in and out of bed... just a thought.

most importantly- congrats on your upcoming arrival. good luck and you'll do just fine

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Well, yeah, it's surgery so it does hurt afterwards, but there's no getting around pain, whether you have a c-section or natural birth I took painkillers for a few days afterwards to deal with the pain and eventually transitioned myself to tylenol.

The surgery itself is ok, though extremly strange. Not painful at all but you CAN feel everything they are doing.

I also ended up getting sick from the anesthesia and was throwing up in the operating room

Afterwards I was totally with it - and they carted my daughter in about 30 minutes after so I could BF her, which worked well.

The single most painful moment for me was having my first bowel movement afterwards. HOLY CRAP that was the most painful and scariest experience of my life!! That, and of course, the gas pains.

Like someone else said, the key is to get up and moving as soon as you can. I was up and hobbling by the next day. I had to move around quite gingerly, but I managed to do it.

Recovery at home wasn't all that bad. I was able to walk up the stairs from the moment we came home. Within about a week I was able to take short walks around the neighborhood.

I promise, you'll be ok - you'll be so distracted by taking care of the baby that you won't really notice what's going on with your body

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

It is bad - you are having surgery after all. But it does get easier day by day.

Move around as soon as you are able to. Use your arms, not your abs. And take the pain medication offered, it will help and you will need to rest.

Once you get home, don't overdo it. Hard to do with a newborn at home but you need to take it slow or you will hinder your healing.

It took me two weeks to feel like I was back to myself. But don't be alarmed if you feel pain after that. It takes time to heal.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Ok here goes:

Best thing that helped me - when you get up you are going to be in excrutiating pain -- this student nurse who was on call told me to walk backwards to the bathroom to take the pressure off the front of my body. What a difference - by the time I would get to the bathroom I could stand up straight.

Going to the bathroom is really hard the first couple of days - especially peeing.

Request the gas pills and the tea the hospital gives out for gas - that will relieve some of it - and hopefully reduce the gas pains.

Alternate motrin and the pain killers that the hospital gives you every 4 hours (can't remember if it's percoset or vicodins) I thought the pain killers were stronger then the Motrin and was just sticking with that - turns out you get better pain relief if you alternate.

Shower as soon as you can - you will start to feel human again once you do.

When you get home try to take it easy the first few days and don't overdo it. I thought I was Superwoman and a week later I was gushing blood and thought I was going to die - it was the scariest thing ever. The dr. said it happened because I did too much too fast (going to a party a few days after I got home, up and down stairs etc, cleaning etc)

Good luck - it's not that bad!

ETA: if you have to cough or sneeze hold something against your stomach otherwise you will be in ALOT of pain!

Message edited 1/22/2009 4:59:15 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Honestly........for me, it S***ed!!!!!!

It was the most uncomfortable I've ever felt in my life. The first week was the absolute worst, I felt like I couldn't do a thing. Walking was torture. Showering was torture. Getting in and out of bed was torture. I was MISERABLE!!!! (not to scare you) It was a long'ish recovery. By about 6-8 weeks I felt back to my old self, each day got a little better but early on it was h@ll!! Good luck!! And don't worry, everyone's experience with a C-section is different.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

It was painful, but not that bad. I had my c-section on tues. evening. They kept the epidural pump in until the following morning. It was an on demand pump, so if I started to feel a lot of pain, I would push the button and it would deliver meds. It kept me slightly numb, but I could still feel my legs. With the pump in, they have to keep in the foley catheter. The next morning, they took everything out - the epidural line, the IV, and the foley. I was finally able to eat at that point too!! I also had a pump of pain meds that was inserted by the incision (they put this in when they were closing me up) - it was a numbing med that eventually ran out on its own They put it in a little pouch and I had to walk around with it on. My dr. took it out a few days later when the meds ran out. I was able to take perkiset and motrin for pain. I was up and out of bed that morning. Did it hurt? Yes, but for me, it was totally bearable. I do think I did too much that day - walking around and sitting in the chair, because I was in a lot of pain that evening. You should get up and walk around, but also spend time in bed, it helps to be stretched out.
I had to an old lady shuffle for about a week after, and then I started to feel more normal. I still feel it a little bit, especially if I walk around, and I am 3 weeks PP now. I haven't taken any pain meds since the weekend after the surgery though.

This is my experience, everyone is different. I have a very high tolerance for pain. My roomate also had a c-section and was in a lot more pain than I was. She had the epi in for an extra day and was crying from the pain she was in. So everyone reacts differently. For me, the worst part of the whole thing was getting the epidural. For some reason he couldn't get the catheter in, and I was stuck many times. This 10 minute procedure wound up taking over an hour - the whole time I was hunched over my huge belly while having contractions and terrible heartburn. This made my back VERY sore along with the pain from the incision.

Good luck! Seeing your baby is worth it!

Sorry this got so long, but its still fresh in my mind!

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

OK, Well now Im secretly thrilled my mom is coming to help me.

I have to go up stairs to my apt, but then thats it. DH will be home for 2 weeks, so that helps. Im just going to take my time and hope for the best. I cant force it. Thank You all.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I didnt have a great experience with my c section. But I honestly believe thats because I pushed for so long before deciding I needed an emergency one. My body was just done by that point. During the actual procedure, I had the shakes really bad and couldnt get warm. I felt tons of pressure and threw up once.

Recovery, I shook the whole time too. I didnt feel any better until I was taken back to my room. Next day when the epi was taken out, it was pain. I took the percocet and the motrin and it took the edge off. I didnt want to walk but they made me and it was better in the long run. After I showered the first time, I felt like a new woman..so definately make sure you get to do that as soon as your allowed.

One of the worst parts of the c section was the gas. It was horrific. Take gas pills! I thought I was having a freakin heart attack one night and it turned out to be just gas. Never thought gas could hurt so much.

Overall, I think it has to do with the individual person, how they recover, what they went through prior to the surgery.

I hope everything turns out well for you..no matter how hard it is..you get to meet your little one and its the best feeling in the world no matter what the pain! It truly takes a lot of the painful experience away!! Good luck!!

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I really didn't think it was too bad. I had been warned about alot of it ahead of time from friends who had c/s. I was almost relieved when we decided to do the c/s after my progress stalled. My DD was still very high up. They needed to use a vacuum to get her out. So, I had been warned of the "pressure" when they were taking her out, but it was much worse than I expected. I was also warned of the shaking and oh, boy, were my arms shaking ALOT. I really didn't like that. The thing that no one warned me about that really bothered me was the smell. It smelled like something was burning. I have never heard anyone else mention this, so maybe that is not normal. I had some complications at the end, which they said happened because I was in labor all day. You shouldn't have to worry about that. My recovery was so much better than I expected and it definitely helped me to get up walking around asap. At first I really didn't want to, but I had a great nurse who pushed me and I really think that helped. Good luck!!! Enjoy your little one.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Honestly my recovery was wonderful as was my entire c-section experience. Yes you feel sore but nothing unbearable IMO...at least not for me. I was walking the next morning a little hunched over but fine.

Good Luck!

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Suzy - I asked who was smoking a cigarette Then I realized they started and it was me that was smokin --- I then said "I am going to my happy place now, let me know when its over."

I really was against a c-section - I wanted to try to labor at least and I couldn't (no amniotic fluid, failed induction, distressed baby) - not one labor pain ... so emtionally my recovery was pretty bad. But that is a personal issue.

For the physical part - I almost threw up on the operating table when they were touching my organs, but it subsided. I then proceeded to throw up on my husband and my MIL on two separate occasions in recovery! I throw up for anesthesia every time though, so that may not be the 'norm'.

I had the shakes pretty bad for a few days - again, that is my 'normal' reaction to anesthesia.

The first two days were very painful. You literally feel as if you cannot move. That is how painful it is. Once you get up and get moving (which I suggest you grit your teeth and find a way up) it feels so much better. I was up in 12 hours walking and walking and walking. I did so much better stanbding than sitting or laying. Every time I had to use the muscles in my stomach it was like square 1 again, so I spend most of my time in the hospital standing or sitting on a chair. I avoided the bed and putting my legs up until I had to.

I was on percoset for 24 hours then motrin for 6 days. That is it. It was manageable. It was still sore & painful but definitely manageable.

The bleeding --- the first time you step off that bed is going to scare you. I thought I was hemoraging. It just pours out of you. Apparently it is normal. I bled heavy for 3 days then it tapered to spotting for about 2 weeks. Then it was gone.

Watch for any 'bumps' or raised areas on your scar while it heals --- they may have to cut a stitch or drain it. It shouldn't be a big deal but you should see a doctor if you notice any bumps or fluid collecting. You don't want an infection.

Remember it is MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY --- so your ONLY job for the first few weeks is to take care of you and baby ... let DH, your mom, or anyone else cook, clean, do laundry. The minute you OVERDO it, you will know --- you will be in pain and you will bleed heavier --- so take advantage of as much help as you possibly can. The best advice I got was to take people up on their offers and to rest - that means when company comes, sit on the couch and let them get YOU a drink, let them bring you dinner, etc... do not try to be superwoman - you will have years to be superwoman - this time is for you to heal and bond with the baby - that is it!

Also, if you want to BF, make sure you tell them in the OR - and make any wishes then - DH to cut the cord, footprints on shirt, etc, before SURGERY STARTS - once it starts you get very foggy and very emotional!


Hope that helps!


GOOD LUCK

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

You'll be fine. You'll be in some pain the first week and a half. Take the pain meds, they help a lot. It will also be uncomfortable to walk, but walking is what actually helps you to heal. You won't be able to pick up anything heavy for the first six weeks. You will feel good in two weeks time and great in six weeks time. It is a major surgery and it will require that you take it easy the first couple of weeks.

Also, tmi, but I had terrible pain the day after my surgery. I was dying. I finally relized it was gas. Ask for a gas pill, it was miraculous (i'm not exaggerating).

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Mine was an emergency. They wheeled me into the room, and had to do the Spinal ( DH was not allowe din at this point) The nurse held my hand and held me still.

They use a local to numb the area, it was nothing more then a slight pinch. then tried to do the spinal. My bad luck, it was hard for them and they had to try almost 13 times...but it honestly was not painful, just uncomfortable bending the way they need you to.

I laid down and the numbness began. After about 3 min's I couldnt feel anything from waist down, couldnt move.

They put my IV in, gave me arm warmers ( I was shaking bad and cold) and prepped my belly a bit and brought DH in.

Took a bit, felt nothing, no pressure, nothing, then he was born.

Then I got the shakes BAD. That was the worse part. Took another 45 min's after he was born to close me up. Then recovery for 2 hours. I felt great in recovery cept for itchy from the anesthesia.

That night I was groggy but ok.

The next day I was in PAIN. Its impossible to move even an inch, but the nurses teach you how to pull yourself up the right way to move on the bed. That day they made me move to the chair from the bed. I thought it was the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. and I cried and cried b/c I didnt think I could move to get back the 5 steps to the bed.

They made me do this all day and it eventually got better. Pain, bad pain but not excruciating.

The next day I showered.

The more I walked, the looser I felt and taking the pain pills HELPED. Around the clock even if I wasnt in pain they helped prevent pain.

The first 2 days at home were hard but it got much easier after that.

All in all it was not the worst experience in the world. I would not want to do it again, but could do it again.

And this is from someone who wanted to DIE rather then have a c/s. I was terrified.

It was honestly not that bad in the long run.

Once the baby is here, nothings ever seems that bad again

GOOD LUCK!!!

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I had an emergency c-section in November. The surgery itself was a breeze and I remember feeling good during it. I remember the entire thing and felt 100% myself except for being numb from the waist down. The spinal going in felt like a bee sting and I remember jumping when they put it in, not bad at all! I also remember the smell when they burned my skin, I never knew they did this, DH got sick from this and had to leave the room but came right back in. About 20 minutes after the surgery I became nauseious and was throwing up a little. The nausea subsided later that night.

The recovery was the most pain I ever experienced in my entire life, but I expected this since this is major surgery. It gets better day by day! Just having your baby in your arms puts your mind in a different place rather than focusing on the pain. The first time I got out of bed was extremely painful. The nurses will assist you and help you in the bathroom. Using a pillow on your abdomen definitely helps. The next most painful thing is trying to go to the bathroom. I wanted to die lol, seriously, I can laugh at it now, but owww! The nurse gave me a supository and that helped so much. I took whatever they offered me and I recommend doing this. I didn't want to be a hero, I needed help, and I took the pain meds every 4 hours. My belly blew up with gas, you could actually see my belly moving so the best thing for me was geting up and walking as much as that hurt. I took the gas pills they offered me and tea.

Once I was home I continued taking the pain meds for a couple of weeks. I was going up and down stairs a lot. Take it easy! By 6-8 weeks I felt fully recovered. Looking back I could do it all over again with the next, having your baby here is the most amazing feeling in the world. Best of luck!!!

Message edited 1/22/2009 5:49:29 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I have to say, mine was easy as can be. Didn't feel much pain (a slight burning and pulling afterwards, which was not the norm but still ok). I was up and running around the hospital the next am. I took all the pain meds they could give me and I felt amazing. Honestly, for me, I KNOW it was much easier than if I had a vaginal birth.

The whole c/s took about 45 mins. The epidural/spinal didn't hurt at all. It will be very surreal, you will be numb from the chest down. You will hear everything that is going on and be fully awake just numb.

Honestly, I have nothing negative to say, and mine was an emergency c/s with not even my regular dr. It was just really easy for me. You may be pleasantly surprised.

What else do you want to know specifically>?

Message edited 1/22/2009 6:02:57 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Yay for an end in sight! I had a c/s for the same reasons you are and I just wanted to let you know that it went great and the recovery was not bad at all. Take whatever drugs they offer you, even if you aren't feeling like you absolutely need it. Get up when they let you...it sucked but definitely helped to move around, shower, etc.

The worst parts of my hospital stay were the required poop before discharge (hurt so bad) and getting the tape removed off my back rom my IV! Two silly things!

I posted a similar post to this one two days before my c/s and got some great advice so I bumped it for you (called Can you help calm my fears?)

Good luck!!!

eta: the actually surgery wasnt bad at all. I went in the OR at 7:30 for the spinal and Brady was born at 8:04. Very fast! When they were sewing me up I did feel some pain and they upped my drugs and I was fine. I brought a cd to play in the OR and that really helped me to relax.

Message edited 1/22/2009 6:12:26 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

I ended up with a c-section after a failed induction. The c-section itself wasn't bad. I felt a lot of pressure when they were trying to get DS out. Other than that, I didn't feel anything. I was shaking the entire time, but I think that may have been more from nerves than the drugs. I tend to shake a lot when I'm really nervous.

I was able to hold DS as soon as I was wheeled into recovery. I couldn't BF him in recovery though b/c I felt extremely nauseous when the nurses tried to lift me up.

My c-section was around 2 p.m. I left the recovery room around 5 p.m. Later that night, the nurse had me walk to the bathroom and removed my catheter. Getting up was extremely painful. My incision burned a lot. I needed help getting up to go to the bathroom at least 1 or 2 more times b/c it was too difficult to even try to get out of bed.

Before he ended up in the NICU, DS stayed in the nursery the first 2 nights. DH went home to sleep and I couldn't get out of bed to tend to DS if he was crying. The nurses brought DS in whenever he was hungry and they brought him to me in the morning so I could spend time with him.

Take the pain medication as often as you can. My doctor said it was better to take them even if the pain hadn't reappeared b/c it would be hard to "catch up" and get relief if I waited until I was in pain. There were a few times when I was visiting DS in the NICU and waited too long to get my pain medication. I was in a lot of pain.

Taking a shower was painful and akward. I still had the IV line in my hand so I had to have my hand wrapped in saran wrap. DH had to help me when I showered. I never bled very heavily although I bled for 5+ weeks after the c-section. I didn't have gas pains until 1 week after the c-section. I was in so much pain. Gas-X really helped. Don't be worried if you don't poop for several days after the c-section. Take colace as much as possible. TMI - the c-section definitely affected my ability to poop. I had issues for several weeks after the c-section and I'm still not quite back to normal.

Don't overdo it, but try to walk around as much as possible. I finally started feeling ok enough to leave my room and walk around 2 days after the c-section. I moved very slowly, but it felt good to get up. It will definitely help your recovery to move around.

Good luck!

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

Posted by Bxgell2



The single most painful moment for me was having my first bowel movement afterwards. HOLY CRAP that was the most painful and scariest experience of my life!! That, and of course, the gas pains.

Like someone else said, the key is to get up and moving as soon as you can. I was up and hobbling by the next day. I had to move around quite gingerly, but I managed to do it.

Recovery at home wasn't all that bad. I was able to walk up the stairs from the moment we came home. Within about a week I was able to take short walks around the neighborhood.

I promise, you'll be ok - you'll be so distracted by taking care of the baby that you won't really notice what's going on with your body

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

The good - if you are going to have to be cut open and get stitches anywhere, it's the lesser of 2 evils plus, theres no nervous "ow ow ow" the 1st time you have sex post partum. No peeing when you sneeze.... etc.

The bad- you have a visble scar, it hurts when you cough and sneeze (I always kept a pillow nearby to hug for those occasions) and its major surgery. But it's not bad really - I remember being pleasantly surprised.

The ugly? There is no ugly! You get the best door prize imaginable for all that trouble! Good luck, see you on this side soon!!!!

ETA - I don't remember it hurting when I pooped....

One more thing - Oxycotin I felt like a celebrity on the stuff. I enjoyed it immensely and they were right standing over me when I took it. I think they knew I would horde it under my tongue otherwise!!!

Message edited 1/22/2009 7:39:54 PM.

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

ok here goes...I had a GREAT experience, I was induced but wound up with a section

When they take you into the operating room to numb you up, YOU WILL shake uncontrolably....don't worry, it is normal.....they will strap you to the table so that your legs cannot move.

the section itself takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size, etc

I felt ALOT of pressure as they were dleivering her, no pain persay but LOTS of pressure

once she was delivered, they stiched me up and I went to recovery

if all goes well, you should be able to hold and bond with your baby in recovery

I had no pain after the section as I was still numb from the spinal. BUT, the next day, the nurses will MAKE you get up and OUCH, that hurt

you HAVE to get up and walk around, you will be moving slow but you have to get moving

the nurses will force you to



I was in pain for about 2 weeks and took my pain meds every 4 hours for those 2 weeks...take your meds when you are supposed to, don't be a hero

you will do great, keep your eye on the prize

Re: C-Section Moms, I need the good, the bad and the ugly...

The worst part for me was the recovery. I had pains under my rib cage and was surprised to learn it was my uterus contracting back to where it belongs.

And during my c/s I threw up. I was very nauseous from the anesthesia and just threw up, it was very pretty. After that, I was fine.

Good luck

PS - having a c/s is the weirdest feeling ever. the sheet is up so you can't see, but you feel people working on you, but you don't feel it - very strange feeling.

Message edited 1/22/2009 8:04:53 PM.