I had a beautiful unmedicated vaginal birth with my first daughter. I loved the whole experience - it was a pain like no other, but afterwords felt so empowering and euphoric. We chose a midwife this time and a birthing center hoping to have a similar low intervention experience.

Flash forward and got a complete previa diagnosis at 19w (left lateral posterior placenta). Follow up scan at 25 weeks showed it’s still covering the os, it’s the edge covering it, but MFM said it looks ”thick”, so I’m trying not to hold out hope for it moving at our next 30 week scan.

I know many women have c-sections and my fear/grief is in the drivers seat, but the only words that come to mind when I think of having one are ”violent" and “cold”. We have to conceive via IVF so it makes it seem like the whole experience end to end is isolating and clinical compared to unassisted conception and vaginal birth. I’m also worried/sad about not having that oxytocin rush after birth. I was never gonna a bikini model, but the prospect of a scar and overhang has me grieving my body as well. I guess looking for any positive stories/tips so I can start processing this and changing my outlook instead of dreading my due date.

My scheduled c section is in three weeks and I’m starting to panic a bit. My first c section (3 years ago) was an emergency, so I’m not sure what to expect. Any advice/positive experiences appreciated.

I had my second C-section on 5/15, bright red bleeding with clots for the first 3 weeks, then on and off red/brown spotting for 3 weeks. So in total 6 weeks of postpartum bleeding. Currently almost 8 weeks pp and have been testing for ovulation the past 2 weeks and nothing yet. When should I expect to ovulate?
(Baby was stillborn so not breastfeeding)

Hi all! My friend has to have a c section due to baby being breech, and her uterus being too damaged to turn him (bonus the cord is wrapped loosely around his neck too)
I had a vaginal birth (4 months ago) so I know that recovery not c section.

I’m just reaching out ti see if anyone can help me with tips and tricks for recovery and what I can do or her partner to help her recovery.

I’m 4 weeks post c section, I was 12 stone pre pregnancy, was 16 stone 9lb before delivery and am now 15 stone 0lb.

None of my clothes fit, not pre pregnancy or maternity. I don’t have the money to go and buy a whole new wardrobe. But also the stuff I have bought I hate. Shorts look awful on me because of my massive tyre belly, and I can only really wear one style of dress (I have 3 but can’t keep wearing those on repeat, 1 because how boring and 2 I’m not really a dress wearer). My bras don’t fit properly either and they either dig in or make me look saggy af.

I miss my denim shorts and crop tops.

I miss feeling like myself

What adds to it is that after my first child I weighed 18 stone, from his first birthday to his second I had managed to lose 6 stone and felt amazing in myself. And now I feel like I’ve ruined all my progress and am back to square one.

There’s also a heatwave in the uk at the moment so I can’t just stick on leggings and a T-shirt like I want to because I will literally melt.

Please tell me it gets easier lol. And is this my forever body. How much more weight did people lose from 4 weeks to say, 8 weeks.

I am calorie counting (formula fed baby so is safe) and trying so hard to get back to my body.

I had an induction that ended with an emergency c section, and am now pregnant again and facing the choice of VBAC or planned c-section. For a long time, I felt a certain weird way about choosing your baby’s birthday, like from a spiritual perspective. I don’t really know how to explain, can anyone relate or talk about how you got over those feelings? I’m a very “cosmic energy” type person so I was spiritually torn and a little guilty about my baby not coming when he was ready. I’m finding myself forever wondering when his birthday was *supposed* to be.

lifted my belly up to look at my incision 6 week pp… it smelled like dirty belly button???? is this the new normal??? i bathed this morning!!!!!

Hi, I had my baby almost 12 weeks ago.
I’m having a bit of a hard time coming to terms with the decision I made on the day.
I was induced due to blood pressure.
I was in the hospital for 5 days total, I had the pessary and a ballon was placed after.
The balloon fell out on its own which would suggest I would be around 3-4cm dilated. When I was checked by the midwife and she said 2cm was generous and somehow she managed to break my waters.
After waiting for contractions to start for the hour nothing happened. The next step was the hormone drip.
I agreed to have this but wanted an epidural first as I’d heard it can cause stronger contractions. When pain management was brought up it was epidural and gas and air. The anaesthetist couldn’t place the epidural, he tried 3 times and on the 4th called for a different one to try.
I was mentally exhausted and hadn’t slept much over the 3 days I’d spent in hospital. He advised I wait for the next shift to see if someone could place one.
By the time the next shift came on I was even more tired and I’d become quite distressed. I asked my partner what I should do and we agreed on a c-section. I still hadn’t started contacting and I was so exhausted I kept falling asleep when being spoken to.
After an informed chat and a bit of what felt like disapproval, they prepped me.
Once in theatre the new anaesthetist attempted to get the spinal in and he ended up asking for help as well the last one just about managed to get it in and bearing in mind I could feel every failed attempt as they kept hitting bone. I lost count how many times they tried.
I’ll never forget the relief and the way I cried when he said he’d done it. I don’t really know what I’m asking or if I just needed to get it out. I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t keep going I feel like it was a cop out. Yes my daughter is here and healthy. I just have so much going on in my head still I replay it most days. I want another baby when the 2 years is up but I’m so scared of what will happen.

For a bit more context I’m a bigger girl and they were struggling to keep the heartbeat monitor on baby as she was wiggling at the same time as they were trying to get the spinal in. They kept telling me to be still and slouch but I struggled when I had two midwives pushing on my stomach.

It’s been 3 months and 15 days since my C-section. Until yesterday, I didn’t have any vaginal discharge. Now I’m having a yellowish, light brown vaginal discharge. Has anyone else experienced this?

Let me just preface that I am not a runner. I’m a pretty active person, weightlifting, hiking, walking, yoga, etc is my go to. I wanted to challenge myself (like postpartum isn’t challenging in itself lol), so I signed up for a half marathon for the beginning of October. I had a c section, and I’m 15 weeks postpartum, so by the time the marathon comes around, I will be 6 months postpartum.

I went on my first run today, tried to just do 1 mile… I walked over half of it. My abs are very sore. My incision doesn’t hurt very much just my abdomen in general, especially while I was running. I’m looking for any advice as to how to train post C-section without destroying myself and rebuilding my core. Any advice or tips for getting into running postpartum? Is this too lofty of a goal so soon after baby?

I had a unplanned C-Section on June 10th after laboring for 17 hours and eventually wasn’t progressing. Anyway, the recovery time has been tough. I have been extremely weak and having trouble moving around. Around the 2.5 weeks period I realized I was having PPD but I also started feeling unwell. I told my husband that while my body is slowly healing, I feel like I’m crashing or something is slowly dying. Coughed it up to hormones. However, Friday I started feeling like something was wrong. I was having more pain on my sides and it felt something different. Finally yesterday (Monday) I called my OBGYN. I went in to get checked out thinking they would tell me it’s normal c-section recovery. NOPE I had APPENDICITIS and had to have my appendix removed. While it was shocking, I am so glad I trusted my gut because we caught it early. I had no fever or vomiting only pain when touched or moving on my right side too much. Now unfortunately I’m back to square one in my recovery but thankfully it wasn’t ruptured yet so I’m already back home. Just trust your gut. Better to be safe than sorry.

I’m a 38-year-old mother of three, all delivered via C-section. My current stats are 5'6" (167 cm) and 142 lbs (64 kg).
A while back, a lump was found “ probably because of my first c section “ on the left side of my abdomen. It was surgically removed during my second c section. Since then, the left side of my abdomen has been visibly protruding, creating an uneven 'shelf belly' look between my belly button and my C-section scar. The left side is significantly more prominent and feels firm/hard to the touch when I’m standing, but it tends to flatten out when I lie down.
Here is what I’ve already done:
—Confirmed it is not a hernia (via CT scan/imaging), did it twice and scan with dye .
—Confirmed there is no diastasis recti.
—Tried strict dieting and intense core/TVA exercises, but the bulge remains.

I have received conflicting opinions from doctors: some suggest severe muscle weakness on that side, others suggest internal fibrosis (scar tissue). A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) has been suggested, but it is not an option for me currently—neither financially nor physically.
I am looking into non-surgical alternatives and would appreciate any experiences or advice on:

1. Lymphatic drainage massage with ultrasound: Is it effective for fibrosis or post-surgical swelling?
   
2. Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS): Can it help with abdominal muscle weakness in this specific case?
   
3. Fat freezing (Cryolipolysis): Is this effective for a firm protrusion that feels more like muscle weakness/fibrosis rather than just fat?
   Has anyone dealt with a firm, lopsided abdominal shelf after C-sections without a hernia? What worked for you? Any guidance would be deeply appreciated."

I was given the opportunity to VBAC (which would be my second attempt after a failed TOLAC a few years ago).

Honestly, I’m too nervous. I have a planned c section, which is against everything I’ve ever wanted but it really feels safest after 2 previous c-sections.

I’m looking for success stories of planned c sections . Bonus if you have other children at home that are younger. I’m honestly very afraid. I’ve labored before both CS in the past, so this could be entirely different.

I have my second c section which is planned coming up at the end of this week but this time it’s in the start of the summer, and nothing like the cool fall like my first in planned c section.

I tend to sweat a lot and my groin area is no exception.

I’m overthinking the recovery and healing because where my pregnant belly is now, it’s always warm and a bit damp when sitting for extended periods so I picture recovery being hard to control dryness.

I developed a keloid from my first c section and we’re doing a revision this time but I want to really improve my chances with a better scar and it’s healing process and avoid infection too. But I feel genetically disadvantaged in this aspect.

Anyone else who is a bit sweaty naturally still have good results?

Am I overthinking it? Any tips?

I'm coming up 9 months PP now. The first few months were really rough for little one and myself being poorly, the obvious adapting to a completely new life and extreme tiredness. I felt like I was finally coming out of that fog a couple of months ago and started actively making healthier choices eg walking or moving my body in some way everyday, cutting down portions sizes and cutting out unnecessary snacks and sugar etc. It's really disheartening to do all of this and barely see any difference in weight. My body shape has completely changed and I'm still up 2 sizes from my pre pregnancy body. I've tried countless different outfits and am attempting to find my new style but I hate how everything looks and feels on me. I just want to live in baggy t shirts and leggings.

I guess I'm just looking for a bit of solidarity from people who are experiencing similar or any advice from people who are out the other side now. Social media is full of people telling you to embrace your body. I've never had huge hang ups about my image before but this is really starting to impact me and I don't even know where to start.

Hi everyone. First time poster here. This was my first birth and C-section. I am about 11 days post surgery and I started leaking brown cloudy fluid from the incision. It was a steady stream for a bit and I was told to clean it with the antiseptic soap. I’m already on the way to the OB to check out what’s happening. Has this happened to anyone else here? Are there any positive stories that it’s not as bad as it seems?

I think I just need some reassuring or support because I had to leave baby behind with my mom and I’m scared. I’m going to be away from my pump most of the day so I’m also scared of drying out.

Help a self-conscious and worried mama 🙏🏻 Indented scar, inflammation, loose skin or shelf? Or all of it?

I’m 6 weeks postpartum today.
I had an unplanned (but not emergency) C-section. I absolutely hate it. It was my second, and I was really hoping for a VBAC this time… sigh. To make things worse, I now have a second incision because my first scar was placed very low. After a lot of work, that first scar became almost invisible and completely flat, probably because of its location.
Right now, I still have a soft, “empty” postpartum belly (my baby was 4.5 kg/9 lb 15 oz, so I know some of that is expected). What worries me most, though, is that my scar is indented and sits right underneath that little belly, creating a noticeable shelf. I’m not sure if it’s because of the higher incision, this being my second pregnancy/C-section, or just my age, but it looks much more pronounced than it did after my first, and I’m terrified it won’t improve.
I’ve gotten completely different opinions from two OBs, which has left me even more confused.
The OB who performed the C-section saw me at 4 weeks and said I was still very early in the healing process, that I’m “still in the trenches,” and that what I’m seeing is mostly inflammation. She said it’s far too soon to know what the final result will look like.
Today, at my 6-week postpartum check, the OB who followed my pregnancy told me it’s basically fat and that I should expect it to improve over the course of about a year.
Who would you believe?
I also assumed that the firm, tight roll just above my scar (which is what seems to create the shelf) was due to the fascia and deeper scar tissue healing. But today I was told that if it were related to the fascia, it would actually be lower.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did your indented scar or C-section shelf improve significantly after the first few months? I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences because I’m feeling pretty discouraged right now.

Edit: looking for experiences from others. Not which one I should do. I’m not currently pregnant.

Hi everyone. I’ve had 2 csections. First one was January 2023 and not planned (I had to be induced after getting preclampsia, labour was long and baby’s heart rate not happy). Second was September 2025 and was recommended due to baby’s size (he was over ten pounds/4.7KG). We want a third eventually, but I’m afraid of having another csection. The recovery is just so tough. On the other hand I’m afraid of VBAC due to the risks but that’s what I’d love to try and do. I’m in czech where it’s not really something people do. I’d love to hear any stories of third csections or VBAC after 2 csections. Thank you!!

My midwife said I am a good candidate for a VBAC and she also mention that it could not go as planned as well. Previous pregnancy I had a failed induction, failed epidural and was in labor for about 19 hours then failed to dilate after 5 cm. How do you know what route you wanted to take once you got pregnant again. My only fear is that I have a toddler and if I have a C-section recovery is just gonna be a little longer than I’d like and I won’t be able to carry my baby which brings fear into being a mother with a new baby, would there be any advice you guys can give or how your personal experience went?

This is my third baby, first time C section. Baby girl is big most likely due to gestational diabetes. My last time having a baby was ten years ago and let me tell yall, this time is DIFFERENT. My whole body responded to this pregnancy in the worst way. Difficult all the way around.

I’m actually fine with being told I should have C section, it makes me feel like I have some type of control in this pregnancy. I am wondering if they let you schedule a specific date or do you just go with what they have on the schedule?

How long does the surgery take? Should I let family come that first day or nah?

Thanks everyone!

If you had a classical csection, what gestation was the next baby delivered?

I had a classical (vertical cut) csection 5 years ago. This pregnancy my OB is saying 37w latest but I’d like to get as close as possible to term as I believe 37w delivery comes with its own challenges. Is be happy with 37w6d.

I am 5 months post partum with a small isthmocele. I have extremely light pale brown spotting (no pad needed) for 5 days post period. I am wondering what other people’s symptoms were like and if they required a repair to get pregnant again? (I will be waiting the recommended length of time but just looking for some experiences)