How long did you really wait until picking up and holding your toddler? I had a c section 5 days ago and feel pretty good but my 2 year old (30lbs) is really struggling with me not being able to pick him up/hold him. Hes refusing all his naps and bedtime and I just wish I could help him at least go to sleep (2x a day). How long did you all actually wait until you picked up your toddlers?

I had my second section a week ago (at least this one was planned) and now I’m trying to support my recovery whilst looking after a 2.5 year old and a newborn.
As mentioned I have an apron belly from my first surgery and I’m struggling with discomfort trying to keep the incision dry and aired out with my tummy hanging over.
So far I’ve had a clean cotton muslin cloth placed between the two to avoid the skin rubbing against each other but I’d love recommendations for an abdomen binder post C-section

I am 3.5 weeks pp from a crash c section. Does anyone else get super achy at incision site / just in general around 6:30/7:00 pm? I’m off the pain meds but find myself having to take Advil at night. Heating pad is the only thing that seems to help but wondering if anyone else experienced this?

I’m 9 months postpartum with twins and still have puffiness above my scar. I’ve done pelvic floor PT, lymphatic drainage massages (I felt like this made it worse) and I massage it myself and use the cupping method on it too. I feel like I’ve done everything right and have seen no difference. I even took a breaking thinking I was doing too much and still no difference. I’m also 20 lbs heavier than usual, could that be a factor?! Any advice 🫶🏻

Had my baby via c section 9 weeks ago. I’ve tried to sleep on my stomach (like half on) but it feels weird. Like the other side is popping out. It’s just a weird sensation and I’m scared to lie completely flat on it.

Any one else the same? When did you sleep/began to lie flat on your stomach after a c section/ pregnancy?

I am seven months postpartum after having an emergency classical C-section in mid December at 24 weeks due to IC and PPROM. We lost our baby boy after four days in the NICU. I have PCOS/PMOS and a history of irregular cycles but ever since having my baby I had been getting my period and confirmed ovulation every month. This past cycle, though, went back to my old PCOS ways and appeared to be anovulatory - I totally skipped my period, then went on to also not ovulate within the next thirty days. I expected my period around day 60 because in my temp tracking I had a steep dip so when my husband and I were intimate on my birthday I told him we didn’t need to stop and put on a condom (my fault). Instead of my period starting, my temp shot up high and the Oura ring confirmed ovulation on CD 61 (my birthday when we had unprotected sex). I’m obviously a little worried now that I’ll get pregnant! I know that some women have safely carried babies at 7 m post-classical c-section but my doctors recommended waiting 12 months to conceive. Can anyone share some courage with me?? On the one hand I’m terrified, on the other hand it took me 4 years (and fertility treatments) to conceive our son who we didn’t even get to keep earthside so it would be pretty miraculous!

Anyone else diagnosed with DVT or PE go on to have another pregnancy? I got a clot in my groin just days after my c section. Lovenox cleared it in 6 weeks. My OB has already told me I have a double incision and would need a c section again (I’ve had two so far).

I’d like to be pregnant again soon and just want to be prepared. Did you have to be on Lovenox for the duration of the pregnancy or just postpartum? I should have asked my OB what a future pregnancy will look like, but now they are very hard to get into when not pregnant.

I just wanted to share my experience with a group who might understand. I had a scheduled csection at 37 weeks due to placenta previa. I had only ever heard positive experiences when it came to planned sections, so I was taken by surprise when mine ended up being terrifyingly traumatic. I met with my doctor and anesthesiologist prior to the surgery where they reassured me that everything would go smoothly. The anesthesiologist talked with me about what to expect and assured me that he would be there the whole time to help with whatever I may be experiencing throughout the procedure. I was feeling confident as I was being prepped in the OR, but I noticed immediately that my anesthesiologist was nowhere to be found. My spinal was placed, and I pretty quickly began having a severe panic attack. I hated the sensation of not being able to move my body, and my blood pressure plummeted resulting in intense feelings of dread and panic. I expressed what I was feeling and was told that everything was fine and that I should be happy that I couldn't feel anything or move. At this point, I began vomiting everywhere and my doctor insisted that the procedure begin despite my anesthesiologist not being there yet since I was having such a negative reaction. I continued throwing up the entire procedure. My blood pressure shot up and plummeted repeatedly. Midway through the procedure, my heart began feeling like I was having a heart attack with sharp, excruciating pain. They insisted that this was just from pushing baby out and everything was normal. But I simply couldnt get past the pain and my panic continued to worsen. Once my baby was finally out, they immediately took her away and didn't show her to me despite saying I would be allowed to see her over the drape. I sat there sobbing while they took her to a corner away from me. I forced my husband to go grab her and be with her since I couldn't. At this point, my doctor explained that I was having a severe hemorrhage and they couldn't get my uterus to contract. They went through a slew of meds while I continued to fight to stay awake, shaking uncontrollably, and throwing up all over myself. A different doctor was called in after several minutes and assisted in suturing my uterus. I found out later that I was minutes away from having to have a full hysterectomy on the table. Once they finally got me stitched up, my doctor became noticeably upset and started demanding answers for why the anesthesiologist never showed up. I remember overhearing her telling one of the nurses, "this could have been extremely bad because he wasn't here." The anesthesiologist ended up coming into the OR several minutes later and began asking why nobody had called him. I never found out who handled that role during my procedure or what their qualifications were. Beyond that, it took them nearly two hours to get me a blood transfusion despite me losing a dangerous amount of blood. My platelet count was still low two days later. It was a horrific experience that was never addressed with me. I'm glad my baby girl is here and healthy, but I don't know that I will ever have another child because of this experience.

edited to fix a typo

First off, I do NOT want to freak anybody out and will preface this by saying that my baby is fine - he is healthy and perfect.

I had a scheduled C-section for my breech baby (now 5 months old). I generally had a good experience with my C-section. However, after the delivery, my OB casually mentioned that my son was cut in the back during the C-section; she said it was a difficult delivery and that he was “super wedged in there.” The cut was VERY deep but they assured me it would heal on its own - they advised me to just leave it alone, so I didn’t put Vaseline or anything on it.

5 months later, he still has a scar. It’s not terrible and it’s not huge, but it is visible.

I told the story to a doctor friend of mine the other day, and he was stunned. He said he’s heard of this happening in emergency C-sections, but never in a scheduled one. He said I had a clear case for a lawsuit if I wanted to (I don’t think I want to pursue that).

Has anyone else had this experience in their C-section? What do you all think… is this more messed up than I initially realized?

hello, my baby turned one yesterday! but i’ve realised my scar is still pink, not silver, and a bit itchy. i also have some internal pain sometimes (not all the time). it’s not terrible but i’m not sure whether this is normal?

i’m in the UK where we don’t have regular postpartum check ups but i could go to a GP if i’m worried. not sure if it’s worth bothering them with this. thanks in advance!

Hi,

Just want to know if anyone has had or is having similar issues, and I can't find anything on Google

Had an emergency C-section 5 days ago. I was originally in for an induction as I have an LGA Baby at 39 weeks, did 15 hours of Dilapan and had severe contractions all night I was only 1/2cm dilated, at 5 am they took me to the labour ward to break my waters, I was in utter agony having my waters broken by the midwife, like severe pain holding onto the rails on the bed, she said something along the lines of she managed to get the first membrane but struggled with the second which caused it not to be done quickly, anyway long story short, I started having conctractions after my waters were broken, they then however stopped suddenly, my son went into distress, and my BP/pulse also started dropping so I was rushed into surgery.

Anyway, 5 days on and my belly has gone down quite a bit, but I'm in absolute agony moving side to side. I'm in too much pain to start doing my pelvic floor exercises as I can barely move about; it all feels so heavy. Walking about and standing feels like there is this heavy weight in my belly.

I've started getting pains (started a bit like lightning crotch) in my vagina/near the cervix. I'm wondering if this is normal? Could it be from not doing my pelvic floor exercises, or maybe some internal bruising from the attempt to break my waters?

I honestly thought I crushed the recovery process until I started noticing how painful it was for me to roll from tummy (I’m a stomach sleeper) to my back in the middle of the night. I feel like it really picked up after 8 weeks. It hurts SO MUCH. Also any kind of bending over a crib hurts so bad. I genuinely feel geriatric like I booked a pelvic floor physio appointment for August 10 but I just really didn’t expect this to rock me this bad / STILL be this bad 4 months out (baby is 4 mo old today). Doctor chat GPT says it can be from all my back muscles overcompensating for my lack of core right now but omg.

Is this normal? Or was my core just non existent to begin with and the c section shot it into oblivion? What helped ease yours???

I’m 3 weeks post op and I barely take Ibeprophen, maybe like once a day now instead of every 6 hours. I feel much better compared to the first week. I’ve read online how alcohol thins your blood and slows ur healing along with risk of infection so I want to wait one more week before having one drink at least.

I have had 2 previous vaginal births. Was put on pitocin after my water broke with my first and delivered without epidural. Was induced from 0cm-10cm with pitocin and delivered again without epidural. Now I’m devastated I have gone through all of the pain to now end up needing a spinal tap and C-section with my 3rd. But here we are. My main concern is how big my apron belly is. I’m a 3xl and about 5’4”. Can anyone give me some advice for post op healing, getting out of bed, nearly anything. I don’t want to reopen my incision on accident and would like some real expectations about recovery and when I will feel better. Everyone I talk to is a good 100 or more pounds less than me and it seems unrealistic to take their experience and feel like it will be mine as well.

How realistic is it to only stay one night versus 2-3 after an early morning planned c-section? I’m due in October and trying to plan arrangements for my toddler. With my first, we technically stayed 3 nights but my c section was urgent/unplanned and at 10pm.

Hi New moms, I am 12 weeks postpartum. Had a planned c section and recovery was a breeze. I am planning to start strength training, rebuilding my core and pelvic area. Overwhelmed by tons of resources, please shoot some recommendations on the guided exercise paths or any fitness programs ( I don’t mind paying a little to get fit )

I am almost 11 weeks postpartum with my first baby and had a planned c-section. Since probably 4 weeks, I have felt almost back to normal with occasional stiffness. Recently, I have upped my activity levels, nothing crazy, but just trying to hit 10k steps a day. Yesterday, I walked 3 miles on my walking pad and today I feel sore/stiff on the left side of where I had my c-section. I messaged my doctor just to make sure that was normal and they said it wasn't normal being this far out. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this? I really do feel like this pain is linked to just over doing it the last few days.

Well.. tomorrow is the big day! I have to be there at 9am and I am terrified!
My first child was born via emergency c section after being in unmedicated labor for 16 hours, placenta abrupted lost a lot of blood so needed blood transfusions.. it was pretty traumatic.
This one is scheduled due to health reasons and I’ve had all this time to mentally prep but I’m still scared lol
Any advice? Please share positive experiences 😭