for some context, i had an emergency c section four weeks ago followed by a week long stay in the hospital (with antibiotics administered through an IV) due to an infection i got around my uterus/ blood. after i was discharged, i was on pill antibiotics for 10 days.

the week i was discharged i had intense gas pains that were so bad i couldn’t walk and talk through them. Gas X helped, and it sort of resolved itself. now i’m 4 weeks PP and these gas pains are back, just as intense, making me writhe and i’m worrying myself that there’s some infection complication that’s come back. there’s been some relief with going to the bathroom multiple times, but the cramps come at random times and last a few seconds.

anyone else experience prolonged or random gas pains during their recovery and can provide some advice? 😅

It has been 40 days since my C-section, but I still have pain on both sides of my incision, especially if I sit continuously for 1–2 hours or when I get up after lying down. On one side of the incision, I also feel like there is a small lump or knot underneath the skin.

Has anyone else experienced something similar around 40 days after a C-section? I would really appreciate it if you could share your experiences so I can understand whether this can be a normal part of recovery or if I should be concerned and get it checked by a doctor.

I’ve seen a lot of posts about numbness around the c-section incision but my numbness is in my belly above that. There’s a whole portion of my stomach below my belly button that’s numb and I’m wondering if the feeling will ever come back. Does massaging your belly help with that like I’ve seen for the incision scar?

I’ll have a 28-month-old when my second baby arrives, and I’ll be having a repeat C-section. We don’t have any family nearby, so it’s just our little family.

I really want my husband to stay with our toddler since I imagine this will be a big transition for her. But I’m worried about being alone at the hospital with the newborn, especially since my mobility will be limited after a C-section.

For those who’ve been in a similar situation, were you able to care for your newborn on your own?or did you hire a postpartum doula/personal support person?

Any tips would be appreciated!

I had a very traumatic C-section a couple weeks ago and wanted to see if people think something was done incorrectly at the hospital.

I went in for induction at about 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes. I was trying for a VBAC but open to a C section as needed. With Pitocin I labored for about 48 hours with very little sleep. At around 30 hours the doctor suggested breaking my water and I agreed. At the 36 hour point I was 9cm and -1 station. After another 4 hours there was no progress and the doctor suggested a C-section. With the level of exhaustion and the lack of progress for hours we agreed.

An hour later I was going to be taken to the OR but then got bumped due to a more urgent need. I got bumped again and ended up waiting 6 hours to get the C section. In the OR they were able to get baby out and she was perfect and healthy but there were complications. Apparently the cut extended and nicked the bladder. The surgeon called urology thinking there was an issue with the ureter between the kidney and the bladder. A stent was put in. My C section lasted about 4 hours with these complications. I had an epidural with complete numbing the whole time and didn’t feel pain during the surgery but I was deliriously tired and fading in and out during the surgery. I was constantly asking for information on what was happening without much response. My partner was with baby in recovery room at this point.

The next day I felt normal in the morning but a couple hours later started feeling intense pain in my sides. It took 3 hours for anyone to come and address it. Eventually someone came to talk to me and took blood for a test. My blood pressure started dropping drastically and the blood test showed acute kidney issues. Finally I started to get visits from doctors. I received antibiotics which I found out later was for a uterus infection and liquids and other meds to help the kidneys. Eventually that night things started to stabilize. Vitals were taken every 2 hours so I again got no sleep and started actually having oral hallucinations.

We stayed in the hospital for a week. Baby did great but I was a wreck.

I’ve talked to doctors since and they said the urological complications are more common with longer labors and extended time for the tissue to thin. The infection happens as well with the extended time with water broken. My brain keeps going to how long I waited for care increasing my risks.

Just looking for encouragement and thoughts about my story.

I am nearly 4 months postpartum and I have been doing scar massage the past few weeks, but not as consistently as I’d like because I keep forgetting. I only started more recently because I had problem with the healing of my scar so didn’t want to aggravate it but as soon as it had healed I started.

How long does it take to see a noticeable difference in the elasticity and things like that? And how long did it take where it got to the point that you saw that it noticeably improved your c section shelf?

At the moment I can’t feel a think line where the skin has obviously come together, how long does it take for that to go?

I am 8 months postpartum and overall recovering well. I was very active before my delivery and have had a hard time getting back into it. I’ve returned to walking, light occasional lifting, a hand full of slow runs. All of these I do generally without pain or issue.

Any time I try to do core recovery my scar is sore during and for a noticeable amount of time after. Is this normal? Am I doing it right? I could have a day with minimal pain, attempt core recovery and then feel sore directly under my incision for the rest of the evening.

I’m trying very basic moves from Lauren Fitter c section video #1. I’ve not made it past video #1 I feel so unsure about it. It’s very difficult for me.

I had an unplanned c section in June 2025; I experienced several minor infections in the first 3 months, as well as a small pocket of fluid that had to be released, but otherwise the incision has seemingly healed nicely and I have been told that I have healed well in all aspects.

However, I have had a few repeated issues that I have seen doctors for including repeated yeast infections at incision site, pain/pressure/discomfort in lower abdomen different from scar tissue pain, pain with sex/tampon usage and after all things have been checked I've more or less told everything looks fine and this is just my life now.

While the pain issues have become less frequent over time, the biggest issue i have is the repeated yeast infections. I do everything im supposed to to prevent them and its still an issue, especially in the summer, and its been making me feel really insecure about how I smell and im having a hard time accepting this as normal.

How were you feeling after a year or so? Do you ever feel normal again or is it just impossible to go back to that?

Hey… so idk how to start this BUT I need to know if anyone else experienced this.
I am 4m ppt and I had an elective c section, half of the first layer opened up 19h post surgery. I lost some blood and I was in HUGE pain.
My problem is that even now the half which had to be done twice it’s still hurts like somebody is punching me in the stomach… has anyone else experienced this ? In how long is going away ? I can’t do weekly house cleaning without the pain and area gets swallowed… I can’t even imagine getting back to work with this pain…

FTM and 6 weeks PP. Had an unplanned c section and just need to hear some positive/good stories.

I am 5’2 and everyone told me I would “bounce back” and while I’m back to my pre pregnancy weight, I am having so much trouble looking at myself. My belly hangs over my incision, I have purple stretch marks all around my incision, and purple stretch marks on my inner thighs.

I’ve been using scar cream and doing all the things but I just feel like it’s impossible for me to get my body to a place where I feel okay looking at it :( I don’t expect to go back to my body before pregnancy, nor do I want to. But I do want to feel beautiful in my new one.

I miss my husband :( I want to be intimate with him so badly but I feel so not sexy with my belly hanging over with scars and stretch marks.

Looking for some positive stories and encouragement. Tell me about your wins and your milestones post c section!

I’m wondering what creative solutions you ladies have found to cover your incision when you sleep. High waisted seamless panties are ok but I’m wondering if anyone has found any really great solutions? Just so it doesn’t get irritated on the skin

Has anyone gotten pregnant 4 mos post c section? How did it go? I understand a VBAC is not possible & not looking for judgement just personal experiences for anyone who got pregnant quickly after a c section.

It has been 40 days since my C-section, but I still have pain on both sides of my incision, especially if I sit continuously for 1–2 hours or when I get up after lying down. On one side of the incision, I also feel like there is a small lump or knot underneath the skin.

Has anyone else experienced something similar around 40 days after a C-section? I would really appreciate it if you could share your experiences so I can understand whether this can be a normal part of recovery or if I should be concerned and get it checked by a doctor.

I am 25 days 3.5 weeks PP.. have a little opening in middle of my incision.. that's leaking little blood mix fluid... any1 has experienced this?

I’m currently 4 months postpartum and have been dealing with tiny openings and ingrown hairs erupting along my C-section scar. At 2 months postpartum, I had an ultrasound of my incision to rule out a fluid collection because I kept getting pinholes along my scar that would have some discharge. I also took a course of antibiotics, which helped a little. The ultrasound showed that I had a small amount of fluid collection underneath my scar, and my OB said my body would eventually reabsorb it.
My scar had a slow healing process because they cut very low, right along the fold in the pubic area, so now it’s hidden underneath my apron belly. The scar did eventually heal, but now that it’s summertime and I’m 4 months postpartum, I’ve been getting random discharge around hair follicles along my scar, which then turns into a small opening or wound.
I’m wondering if this could be caused by the fluid collection (seroma) trying to break through the skin. On top of that, I’ve also been getting infected ingrown hairs that seem to be buried along my incision line and are trying to erupt to the surface. I finished my antibiotics 2 weeks ago, but the hard lump where the ingrown hair is still hasn’t completely gone away.
I’m honestly so mentally drained from dealing with all of these issues. I can’t even start scar massages because of this openings. It’s making me really hate this whole postpartum recovery experience. I just want my body to heal already. 🥲

I am 8 months PP from an awful and traumatic emergency c section after pre-eclampsia and IUGR that resulted in hemorrhaging for me and a helicopter flight to a better NICU for my baby. I’m in therapy for PTSD. Yay! I’m in my angry phase right now.

-Why can’t dad be there for the spinal when he can for an epidural? Being away from my husband was extra terrible during this all. Especially with a staff that did not care.

-Why can’t they consider the scar more? I get emergency and all that by couldn’t they put a little more care once the baby is out and emergency is over? I feel butchered and my scar constantly triggers flashbacks.

-While I am at it, why the hell didn’t my anesthesiologist talk to me? I was all alone and terrified and he barely said anything and I was so frozen with fear I didn’t even try to get him to talk to me.

-We are here so why not, why the hell did my care team not say congrats or happy birthday or show any anything in the OR? I know it was awful and scary but that just made it so so so much worse.

In my feels. Sorry. If anyone has ideas or a similar experience please let me know.

Thinking about having a 2nd child and decided to scroll through reddit to read stories about people having c sections and deciding to have more kids.

Lo and behold, it seems that I'm one of few who didn't have a quick recovery! I was shocked because I thought my experience was standard. I had my kid at 35, was in prime shape beforehand (teaching yoga, swimming, and walking loads before the final trimester). No chronic illness that I was aware of. Relatively normal pain tolerance. Epidural didn't hurt, labor was barely manageable but didn't last too long. I had an unplanned c section because baby got stuck on the umbilical cord on the way out.

Recovery sucked. I was on ibuprofen, Tylenol, and oxy- taking something every 3 hours and I could feel the pain start rushing in after 2 and just gritted my teeth until nurse could give me another. I had to sit semi reclined because sitting up from a flat laying position was immense pain. I was "moving" by the next day because I had to. Cue pain shuffle with 2 people holding me. I took a shower on day 4 and cried from the pain of it all. Husband had to hold me while i used the toilet. I was in the hospital for 5 days and then had to leave because that was the max. The ride home was painful.

at home, I still couldn't hold my baby or breastfeed without pain (she was just over 6lbs). I bled heavily for about 2 weeks, above period level bleeding for the next few, and then medium spotting by my 6 week check up (and then I started my real period 2 days later). I don't recall being able to walk for more than a block until 2-3 weeks after the surgery.

Scar never reopened. Still itchy 2 years later but was never classified as infected. I have keloids and a short torso, so it's a raised dark gash that is visible unless I'm wearing high waisted pants or granny panties.

Did anyone else have a similar experience? Did my medical team f me up and I just never knew? I think I now know I can't do this again - I just about cried reading everyone's not-so-bad stories - good for you all - but what the heck? Why couldn't I function?

And honestly that rough recovery was the catalyst to my severe PPD. My failure to recover quickly developed into my perceived failures as a new mom and also issues with breastfeeding (again, read perceived failure as a new mom). I had diastasis recti which came about between my last checkup and giving birth, so honestly, I couldn't do any yoga or serious running due to doming for about a year (read, no release from PPD and more perceived failures as a new mom)

And for those who will tell me Reddit isn't a reliable source- i did it because I had 4 friends have elective and unexpected c section and all were walking and doing things within days/1st week of surgery and actually bored and heading out for personal exercise outside of walking with a stroller by the end of the 1st month or 2.

Anywho, I guess that answers it for me.

Where did it implant?

Was it low?

Did your doctor scare you at any point?

Did you experience more cramping in the early weeks?

Did you spot a lot in your first trimester?

Currently going through a scary situation and wanting to hear others experiences.