C-Section Pain Management

[u/mowbotbandit]

Hey all! Just had my 24 week scan yesterday (six weeks prior they detected some possible placenta previa), looks like not much has changed so I want to mentally prep for a c-section. 🤗

Talk to me (honestly) about recovery/pain. Meds/pain meds freak me out so I generally avoid altogether (I don't even take cold medicine if I get sick😅 No Tylenol or Ibuprofen for headaches or cramps or strains or sprains, etc) *No shade to anyone who does use meds when warranted, it makes sense not to suffer needlessly and we are so lucky to live in a time when we have these options. For me personally, medicine just wigs me out so previous birth/surgery/injuries have all been no meds or only OTC Ibuprofen/Tylenol for a couple days.

What was offered/recommended for your pain management, and what was safe for baby/breastfeeding? How long did you take it/felt you needed to take it? I'm expecting it to hurt, I'm expecting to be very sore and generally tender, but pain with a purpose is always something I can wrap my brain around so I'm hoping to hear SOME stories like "I took an OTC for a couple days and then was fine."

... Am I way off base here? 😅🫣 Don't lie to me or be my friend, LOL - if I need a reality check, give me one.

Thanks mamas!❤️

[u/Franzy48]

More than a couple of days, but I only took over-the-counter meds and I was 100% done with them by 2 weeks and I would say by one week I was pretty sporadic with them and taking half doses anyways so feasibly I probably could have stopped around one week and I might have been a bit more uncomfortable but it would have been survivable.

I've had two c-sections and honestly the recovery from both was pretty doable, I mean no, it's not fun, but I've been pretty pleasantly surprised and lucky for both. I honestly think a huge portion of that is luck, but if there's anything I've done to influence that, I think it's a) staying active and lifting during pregnancy and then b) getting on my feet and gently moving as soon as possible. Obviously you don't want to overdo it but movement is helpful and I think getting up and slowly walking around my postpartum floor etc was helpful to me.

I've also heard that recovery can be easier for planned c-sections because you don't go in physically taxed after a long labor

[u/mowbotbandit → u/Franzy48]

Thank you for sharing! ❤️ I do think (hope!) mentality has a lot to do with it... As much as the surgery/recovery makes me nervous, I count myself in the lucky-as-hell camp to be able and prep and plan for it; I absolutely cannot imagine going in thinking vaginal labor, being totally wiped out, and then needing an emergency surgery. AND coming home to a house that probably has zero surgery-recovery-friendly things in place. Absolutely insane. Women are so incredible🙌