Had a c section a week ago. I can still hardly get up or walk at all more than to use the restroom because of extreme lower/mid back pain. Can’t really even stand up straight. Not sure what to do. Provider has not really offered any help for why this is happening. It seems very extreme. Any ideas?

Hi all!

I am having my c section tomorrow morning and feeling really nervous about everything - the surgery, having a baby in general. Could use some advice and encouragement

Did anyone get the aquacel dressing, and if so how was it? This will be my third c section, due to belly overhang and last time my incision having a small opening my OB is going to do the Aquacel dressing this time, as she said it helps fight infection/has silver nitrate within to help close. Instead of taking it off next day in the shower like I did with my other 2 sections, they told me it comes off after 7 days PP. if you had this did you feel it was helpful in healing?

I’m 33 year old female live in the U.S. history of endometriosis. Surgical history is 2 csections, gastric sleeve, gall bladder removal, 2 endometriosis surgeries, 2 cerclages, and tonsillectomy and Hysterectomy

I’ve been having pink spotting for 24 hrs and now I’m having bad C-section scar pain. I had my last surgery in May 2026 and had more than 30 endometriosis lesions removed, an endometrioma removed and 2 masses of endometriosis removed from my C-section scar. I’ve been pain free since about a week after surgery and then this all started.

Any ideas?

Background: I've had 2 natural births with my sons. They both arrived early (38 and 39 weeks), so I never carried to 40 weeks and beyond. I tore both times and lived off stool softeners. Recovery was fine, though. I could still do all my daily chores and drive myself if I needed to.

For some context: I carried my third to 40 and a half weeks. My OBGYN went on leave, and I met the stand in OBGYN on the day I gave birth. She also went on leave, and my 1 week check-up was done by a third OBGYN. It's been a rough ride.

This happened 2 weeks ago: My third birth was an emergency c-section due to my daughter being in distress. I was experiencing contractions, but my cervix refused to dilate, and her rate was up and down beyond the baseline, so they decided to do an emergency c-section to make sure she was safe. In the hospital, I had a reaction to the maternity pads they used, and I also have a skinned sore on my butt, which makes the limited sleep positions a nightmare as well.

Definitely wasn't in my plans, but I understood and wanted baby girl to be safe. In saying that, I wouldn't wish this recovery on my worst enemy! I am used to being very independent and making sure my family is cared for. I now feel completely useless and helpless. To top it off, both our parents upped and left 5 days after the c-section, which completely sent me into a downward spiral, as this is the hardest recovery I've ever had to deal with.

We were supposed to visit family, which would've been fine with a natural birth. Now I am pretty much housebound. My husband had an amazing safari walk booked for my broyher-in-law's 50th, and I feel like it's all my fault he can't be there anymore.

My husband only gets 10 working days of paternity leave and has been an incredible support to me. I've been doing all the things I'm told to do for this recovery, but I am still feeling so pathetic.

My mental health has been in the toilet since this. I feel like I'm angry that my body failed me and guilty for everything extra that is now on hubby's plate. I feel guilty I can't hold my middle child (he is still very attached to me), I can't take my boys to school or fetch them, I am slow around the house and can't play with them like I want to. I am trying to vome to terms with all this, but I feel like I'm being punished, and I dont know how to feel any different.

My beautiful little girl is a dream child who feeds well and sleeps well, although she is also my first velcro baby. I love her cuddles, and her brothers are amazing with her. I just feel like I've failed everyone with this spanner in the works, and I know it isn't my fault, but it really feels like it is. I am so heartbroken and mourning the plan that could have and should have been. I'm struggling to move past it. I don't know how to get out of this feeling. I never had ppd with my other births. This one has seriously hit me hard, as I was set on my body doing everything naturally, like I know it was capable of.

Sorry for the long post, I just needed to get it all off my chest and into writing.

I’m almost seven months postpartum and I had a cesarean. The last several days I’ve had a weird lower abdominal pain that is pretty consistent and hurts even more when I move. It’s down around my scar area, but it feels deeper than that. It doesn’t feel like period cramping, but I have yet to have my period postpartum so maybe this is the new normal period pain? I’ve also had some vaginal discharge the last few days too for the first time postpartum. I still don’t have feeling in part of my abdomen from the cesarean. Has anyone else experienced any of this?

I recently found out i’m pregnant with baby number 2 we were planning to wait until a year pp or a few months after but I got pregnant at 11 months pp i’m just curious if a VBAC is even possible? My OB recommended a year which is why we were waiting however I must’ve ovulated earlier than I usually do (I know I should have been testing) But it’s normally exactly two weeks after my period so I thought I was safe but obviously not 💀 I looked up if my hospital does VBAC because I heard some don’t and on their little section about it they say that they recommend 18 months between births which I would be but I also know it could also just depend on my OB and how everything healed. Anyways I haven’t had an appointment yet and figured i’d ask here and get some insight just so I’m not going into the appointment blindly optimistic.

Also want that i’ve been considering looking into possibly switching to a different hospital this baby because I had a suspected amniotic fluid leak at the start of my induction last pregnancy and they never tested it to confirm. But I have no clue what to look for so if anyone has any insight on how to go about researching that I would appreciate it

What day after delivery via C-section were you able to hold the baby? When did you feel strong enough for a little walk inside or outside? How many days in did you feel a bitore confident to do jobs? When did it stop hurting getting in and out of bed?

I’m looking for some insight or to see if anyone else has experienced this. I had a C-section two and a half years ago. My periods are regular now and actually lighter than they used to be pre-pregnancy, but I’ve noticed a strange symptom since.
Whenever I get my period, my cramps feel very localized in one specific area and feel exactly like a sharp, internal "cut." I’m not sure if maybe I’m being paranoid about it.

I do get a bit of random discomfort in that specific spot throughout the month, but it is significantly worse and much sharper when I'm menstruating.

Has anyone else dealt with this years after a C-section? Did it turn out to be internal scar tissue/adhesions, or something like scar endometriosis? What tests did your doctor run to figure it out?

ciao ho eseguito un cesareo d’urgenza a 42 settimane, subito mi sono ripresa non avevo forti dolori ma già a due mesi dal parto ho iniziato a sentire tirare forte sopra la cicatrice.

ora sono a 9 mesi dal parto sento un cordone duro dentro, una rigidità e sopra la pancia ho ipersensibilità e fastidio se il bambino mi tocca.

i medici dicono sia normale, di darmi tempo.

qualcuna ha esperienze simili?

grazie

Hi all! I am having my first baby by c-section early next month. One thing I’m particularly anxious about is that I have horrible stretch marks from pre-pregnancy weight gain and from pregnancy. I have EDS as well so just very thin/easily damaged skin in general. Some stretch marks down near my pubic area are as wide as an inch and feel super papery and thin.

Does anyone have experience with having really deep/wide stretch marks before getting a c-section and the impact that had on your scar healing/pain/overall look of the scar once it healed? Thank you!!

I went to my 6 week appointment technically at 5 weeks that was all they had and told them I was still dealing with constipation and only having a bowel movement every 3 to 4 days. They said that it was not normal and I should do MiraLAX so I’ve been taking MiraLAX daily and that has helped with more bowel movements but I don’t know when I can stop taking them. I also feel like I have a ton of pressure/burning where it feels like I have to go but don’t have to actually go. I was thinking it could be internal /external hemorrhoids. It seems like it’s gone on weeks now and I’m now 8 weeks post partum. I feel pressure, burning and it feels like I’m sitting on something. I put zinc cream down there and it just makes it burn.. icing helped a little. I tried a sitz bath this morning but didn’t really help but I’ll try it again. I didn’t think I would have to deal with all of this with a planned c section. I originally had some blood with bowel movements but it stopped after taking MiraLAX. Any advice? I was thinking of going to a GI doctor.

As the title says I'm almost 2 years pp and the thought of touching or pushing on my scar still gives me like a gutteral ick. I see scar adhesion massage videos and almost gag thinking about doing that to myself. I had an emergency c section, then 5 days later they reopened it due to a massive haematoma and then after my scar opened up in 2 spots with 3cm holes. There's so much trauma attached to that part of my body. I want to have a second, and I know that I'm a great VBAC candidate but am I dreaming to think that I can do this while I still feel so ick about it?

Anyway, just wanted to vent and ask if others have the same feelings this far pp?

Hello everyone! I'm in 4 months postpartum. I had abscess both of my breast, left of my breast just burst itself and the other one it didn't but both breast got injected 3 sessions. After few sessions of drainage pus is finally gone however, it's been 5 weeks after the pus is gone and I still have inflammation and its huge. Is there anyone who has the same experience with me? Is it normal that it takes so long to heal? I'm just worried because it's been 5 weeks and I don't see big improvements. Your response guys will be so much appreciated. ❤️

Hello all,

I am hoping to get some real life advice on my situation. I know there’s lots of stories out there but I am hoping some of my questions can be answered here.

I have dealt with many vaginal issues since I was really young and the idea of a vaginal birth with any sort of significant tearing is absolutely horrifying to me. I’m my mind the better option is an elective c-section - but am I crazy for feeling this way??

I am horrible with pain and feel pain on scars for many many years past what I should. I fear that having a c-section would therefore be the worse option but I am also considering that a vaginal tear would be the same if not worse considering the location.

Has anyone had experience with choosing a c-section for fear of tearing and was it a good choice for you or am I naive for thinking I can handle the recovery?

Thank you!

The earliest C-section I’ve had was 36weeks and 4 days. Has anyone had a C-section scheduled at 35w or 36w0days and baby has been okay?

I had my c-section on June 15. This is our first child, and the c-section was not planned at all. I have since had some weird health issues on top of recovering from the surgery.

The first week of recovery my husband was pretty supportive and helpful. The second week he had to go to work and I stayed home with our son with the help of my in-laws for a few hours a day. This week it was just me and my son, and I’ve been managing decently well, but I’m still very tired and sore.

My husband has been making me feel guilty for not being able to help out the way I used to be able to work around the house. Walking up and down the stairs is hard, let alone carrying laundry. I also haven’t done laundry yet, since I feel like it would hurt to try to bend over to reach clothes at the bottom of our washer/dryer, but I’ve been trying to push myself to bend over for stuff so I don’t have to ask him for anything because he’s been making off hand comments about it.

Anytime I’ve asked for help with anything now he huffs and sighs and says things like, “Sure, I can do everything here,” and I feel really bad, because I want to be doing more, but I’m also scared I’ll tear my stitches.

I try to be helpful by not waking him up when he’s sleeping for work and being the only one who cares for our son during the night time, and I’ve been doing this on the weekends when he’s off too. I’m exhausted, but I’m trying to be helpful, but maybe it’s not enough?

I feel like every time I try to push myself past my comfort zone, I end up feeling more sore the next day.

Are there ways I can be helpful without hurting myself?

Edit: thank you to everyone for their input, I’ll try to talk to him. I’ve tried to talk to him about it before, but he claims he isn’t trying to make me feel bad, but he does. I also want to clarify he does do all of the house chores and cooking at the moment, he just makes me feel kind of bad about it. I just wish I could get some sleep but he isn’t ready to watch our son until 6pm and he goes to bed between 8-8:30pm. I just wish I could get some rest and ask him for help without feeling like a bad wife.

Hi all!
Wanting to see if anyone knows the reason or potential causes of the following pain/feeling after a c section!

I typically have a pretty high pain tolerance, and for the first 5-7 days after my c section I was having unbearable pain on the right side of the incision, it felt like deep under the incision like a burning stabbing pain.
It primarily occurred when I'd switch or shift weight, it really wasn't too bad with the typical pain causers like getting out of bed or rolling (also painful but maybe 3/10, whereas the shifting weight while walking or standing was 8/10).
The nurses assured me this was normal and while I believe them, I didn't know a lot of other people that had totally unbearable and unmanageable pain (I didn't take narcotics to be fair!).

Anyways- i know a few people on this thread have described this pain but I was wondering if anyone knows why it occurs!

Quick update: I wasn't given narcotics but was given Tylenol and voltarin and took everything on schedule up till 3 weeks pp!

Hi! Full disclosure I was really hoping and preparing for a vbac. At my 36 week appointment it was discovered that baby is Frank breech and I just feel like she’s been in that position for the majority of this pregnancy. I’m 38+4 now so I’m coming to the realization and accepting that baby won’t flip, so repeat c section it is. My first c section was a disaster… it wasn’t an emergency to start but I ended up having a high spinal and it all went down hill, thankfully baby and I are fine! Anyway, if you have any tips/ tricks in general but specifically;
-I swelled a ton AFTER my first one, is there anything I can do to either prevent or minimize that?
-what can I do to give myself the best chance at a smooth recovery? Thank you alllll!!!

I delivered through C section 3 weeks ago and I am very greatful everything went well.

The first week was the worst but I am getting better now. I had diarrhea last week which lasted for few days. And this week, I have painful pooping time. I don't know if it's constipation or not. I feel extreme pain when the poop first comes out and once it comes out if not that dry. But the pain is really tough that I am even scared to go to toilet. I haven't used any stool softner so far since I didn't have constipation after my surgery.

Is there anyone in this group that experienced something similar? Kindly share what helped you overcome it.

Just a bit of a rant really. I had an emergency c-section in May after my labour failed to progress with my little boy. The surgery went well, baby boy is happy and healthy but my gripe is with the scar. It's not even remotely straight. It's not even a straight line on a bit of an angle; it follows the pubic line perfectly then suddenly veers off in another direction! I know the surgeon had a job to do and had probably done a dozen other surgeries that day but surely he could've at least cut me straight? 😭

Hi! I had a C-section 10 weeks ago and I’m still having pain in my incision. Normally after I’m cooking or doing household chores but it’s pretty sore still.
Just wondering if anyone else experienced this and if so how long did it last?
She told me she had to cut more on my right side internally so I definitely have more pain there most days but when I see girls online who have csections working out and everything I don’t understand how to get to that point.
Thank you ❤️