Your c/s and pain?

[berrme]

Another fairly pain free recovery from emergency c/s here. I never took anything other than paracetamol and was up and about as soon as I was let off the magnesium sulphate for my pre-eclampsia.
I actually found it really frustrating not doing more physically as I felt like I was capable. I also found out the hard way that too much exercise or laughing was not a good idea, even if it felt ok at the time.
It still wasn't something I wanted to repeat.

[Eluned]

Sterla, my c/s was the same, very little pain. Mine was planned initially (placenta praevia) but I went into labour 3 weeks early and laboured for about 2 hours by the time I got to hospital and the OB was called in etc to do the emergency c/s.

I utilised the self-administered pethidine for the first 24 hours which helped alot then it was just panadol and tramadol for the rest of the stay and sometimes I went through the entire night without it. Some of the nurses were suprised that I hadn't had much. They sent me home with some as well but I never used it.

For the 6 weeks after, I did what I had read and not to do any lifting, driving, housework, etc. I took that very literally and only lifted DS and took it real easy. I think that helped ALOT in the recovery. I also believe that as I was doing pilates and water aerobics right up until he was born, that really helped in my recovery also because my tummy muscles were already strong.

I would say that when I had my appendix removed when I was 17 weeks pregnant with DS, the pain from that was a lot worse...I think because of different muscles being cut, etc

[HollyC]

My c/s wasn't painful either. I had an emergency c/s after 6 or 7 hours of labour.

I didn't get up for almost 24 hours afterwards because I still had a catheter and a drip. I was up and about after that, but I was moving slowly and sitting up was difficult, but I wouldn't say painful.

I was given painkillers, but I didn't think I needed them. The midwives said that I would be in pain if I stopped taking them, but I did stop because they were putting me to sleep.

[Gigi]

a c-section is regarded by the hospitals as "major abdominal surgery", you are cut through multiple layers of stomache muscle.

i laboured for 29 hours without ANY pain relief (just kneeling in warm water, in a birthing pool), i think i have a high pain threshold, to have managed that.

I had no choice but to only use lower dose pain relief after the emerg c -section, because i asked, every time, "will that drug be passed to my baby thru the breastmilk", and usually the answer was "yes", so i couldn't take those stronger pain relief options.

i don't think every person's experience will be identical. i wouldn't wish the experience i had (emergency c-section with the complication of Bandl's Ring discovered during c-section) onto anyone.

i do wish i had been more prepared for the variety of things that CAN happen, once you are in labour. i was so focussed on my homebirth, i didn't research c-sections at all, and then in the emergency, i was being asked to make all sorts of decisions, about things i knew nothing about, i cannot tell you how stressful that was (after being in labour for 29 hours already, awake the whole time).

If other people sail thru their c-sections and somehow manage to lift their arms above their heads, lift heavy washing, drive cars (not covered by insurance for first six weeks), do handstands, whatever, - good luck to them, but from the many women i have spoken to, if that happens to you, i'd go and buy a lotto ticket, it's not the most common of experiences.

the gist of this thread seems to be, if you were in pain afterwards, you are a wuss. i find that incredibly insulting.

i had no family backup. My dh went back to fulltime work after one week. i struggled by myself, with my nb each day for months, (i only ate when dh got home, i coudln't stand long enough to make myself a sandwich) it was hell - and i aged alot during that period. it was hell and i am not a wuss about pain.

[Heaven_Sent]

I was in labour 14 hours and would rather that pain anyday ova the pain i had with my c/s, as soon as i seen my little boy it was love at first sight, i was so happy, on cloud 9, didnt get 3 day blues at all, breastfed but still didnt take away the pain.

[Heaven_Sent]

Originally Posted by Gigi

a c-section is regarded by the hospitals as "major abdominal surgery", you are cut through multiple layers of stomache muscle.

i laboured for 29 hours without ANY pain relief (just kneeling in warm water, in a birthing pool), i think i have a high pain threshold, to have managed that.

I had no choice but to only use lower dose pain relief after the emerg c -section, because i asked, every time, "will that drug be passed to my baby thru the breastmilk", and usually the answer was "yes", so i couldn't take those stronger pain relief options.

i don't think every person's experience will be identical. i wouldn't wish the experience i had (emergency c-section with the complication of Bandl's Ring discovered during c-section) onto anyone.

i do wish i had been more prepared for the variety of things that CAN happen, once you are in labour. i was so focussed on my homebirth, i didn't research c-sections at all, and then in the emergency, i was being asked to make all sorts of decisions, about things i knew nothing about, i cannot tell you how stressful that was (after being in labour for 29 hours already, awake the whole time).

If other people sail thru their c-sections and somehow manage to lift their arms above their heads, lift heavy washing, drive cars (not covered by insurance for first six weeks), do handstands, whatever, - good luck to them, but from the many women i have spoken to, if that happens to you, i'd go and buy a lotto ticket, it's not the most common of experiences.

the gist of this thread seems to be, if you were in pain afterwards, you are a wuss. i find that incredibly insulting.

i had no family backup. My dh went back to fulltime work after one week. i struggled by myself, with my nb each day for months, (i only ate when dh got home, i coudln't stand long enough to make myself a sandwich) it was hell - and i aged alot during that period. it was hell and i am not a wuss about pain.

Great post, im feeling the same, like i shouldnt be saying i did suffer pain after a c/s but its totally normal too, it is major surgery, ur stomach is cut open, ouch! but im not ashamed to say i suffered alot of pain, i laboured drug free too for a long time and for that i must be strong.

[STARRYSKY]

I have come to the conclusion that being in the right head space (attitude, expectation, preparedness etc.) can have a huge difference on the outcome on an individuals personal experience of pain in regards to Csections.

In my experience, I had prelabour for 2 weeks beforehand (-= no sleep, couldnt eat properly) so after labouring for 10 hours then being told I was having a c section anyway, well, I didnt cope very well,

I skipped over all those bits in the birthing books and articles I read, I was goin to do it all naturally, I never entertained the thought That I would be having a c section.

All my friends who now are pregnant, I tell them, do you research, do it properly, read all about it, just in case. Because I had the shock of my life. I am still emotionally scarred from my experience.

But the emotional aspect is another thing that can skew the perception of pain as well. IMO anyway.
I pushed myself through the haze of very strong pain meds I was on to do for my baby, I got told off for picking him up out of his crib, getting out of bed and walking around etc. That was extremely hard for me, But I did it, even with the meds I was still in the worst pain of my life, that pain continued for another 8 weeks, progressively getting less, but always still there.

But then again, I was found to be bleeding internally (Basically I almost died, only found that out not long agao!) on day 3, blood transfusions, ultrasounds etc, then I had a bad experience in the lifts at the hospital as I was leaving, the hospital tried to get me to go back, but after 5 days, no matter the pain I was in, I just wanted to go home!
I was also diagnosed with an infection in my uterus at around 2 weeks post op, not a nice experience.

I still have pain, I think its when I ovulate, but I still get twinges, I still have numb spots. I would NEVER choose to have a c section, but thats just me, like I said I do think that having the right kind of head space can make a huge difference to the individuals experience of a C section.

I hope this has made sense and doesnt just sound like a ramble! xx

[Winter]

Originally Posted by Gigi

the gist of this thread seems to be, if you were in pain afterwards, you are a wuss. i find that incredibly insulting.

I'm sorry you feel that way Gigi, but it is not meant in that way. Its just sharing a different perspective. Having a c/s is not a traumatic, painful experience for everyone and I think that our views and experiences are just as valid as yours and others who have suffered pain. It is nice to have both perspectives and share these with each other as we learn about labour & birth.

[Jakabella]

No one means to offend anyone! Sterla was just asking a question in regards to her esperince but Gigi yours is no less valid.

I laboured with a posterior baby for 16 hrs and then had an epi that didnt work down my right side so I felt like my bum was going to explode! I had my epi topped up 4 times and still had feeling in my right side - so much so that I FELT the insicion with the scalpel and they had to stop the surgery and give me a local as well.. In my opinion all that pain was far worse that my c-sect pain after wards. But that is MY experiance and I am only answering the question posed.
I am in no way making other ppls experiance any less valid at all - I am on BB to hear both sides of the coin.

Kate

[Heaven_Sent]

Would anyone want to have a repeat C/S? or do u want a VBAC?

For me, im dying to experince a natural birth but i no some women dont have that desire.

[Winter]

I'd definitely love to VBAC!!! Gonna give it a try anyway and maybe even hire me a doula to help make that happen!! BUT...if I NEED another C/S, then I WILL have one.

[STARRYSKY]

I am definately going to try for a VBac , but, I will be prepared next time, so hopefully if things dont work out the way I want, I wont be such a head case afterwards and hopefully (well, so I have heard!) it wont hurt so bad.

[Jakabella]

Heaven Sent - I will see what happens with my next preg. I will be a high risk preg and while I would love a VBAC i am not dead against a repeat c-sect. I had an emerg and while it was an OK experiance I would think that a planned c-sect would be even better.

[sterla]

Originally Posted by Gigi

the gist of this thread seems to be, if you were in pain afterwards, you are a wuss. i find that incredibly insulting

That was not my intention at all!!!! I'm so, so sorry if it has come across that way! I guess I'd only ever heard of people experiencing pain after their c/s, and thought maybe I was the only one who didn't. But, as I've learnt - as with anything - what pain women experience after their c/s varies greatly. I certainly don't believe anyone is a wuss - sorry again if I made it sound like I do.

[sterla]

Heavensent: I definitely want to try for a VBAC next time too! I felt quite robbed of the experience of child birth , so I want to try again next time.

[Heaven_Sent]

sterla, ive always felt quiet robbed too, disappointed also, i had all these birth plans but it all went out the window, if i didnt have the c/s my baby would have died so it wasnt a choice. If i never got to experince child birth i would be so sad.

Good luck to all the ladies wishing to have a VBAC.

[jasp]

I had an emergency CS after about 8-10 hours labour. I felt quite pain free for the first 3 or 4 days & probably overdid it DH was arguing with me about how much I was doing but I really didn't feel like I couldn't....once the really good meds wore off I felt it

Originally Posted by Heaven_Sent

Would anyone want to have a repeat C/S? or do u want a VBAC?

Had my VBAC in July

[~Mara~]

Originally Posted by Arimeh

Maybe you had the pain relief up the bum whilst you were on the table cos that apparently is really awesome pain relief and makes it virtually painless.

Arimeh! Those would be voltaren suppositories and yes I had them and yes I was pretty much pain free post CS too Up and about and looking after bub on my own form the next day onwards.
I have heard though that sometimes Ob's actually lift the uterus out of the pelvic cavity and sit it on the outside to stitch it up and if you're unlucky enough to have an OB who does this, it can cause more pain afterwards. Youch!

HEAVEN_SENT, I want a VBAC. Especially as my CS was under a general so I missed out on everything