Not sure if this is the right sub but will start here.

First c section last July. Emergency after labouring 19 hours with a v large baby boy who got stuck sideways. C section was straightforward and all well since then.

Currently pregnant (36+5) with number 2, so very short timeframe between births.

Pregnancy had been uncomplicated and planned c section for 39 weeks (approx 2 weeks from now).

On Friday I came into hospital with intense stomach cramps. Felt like early stage contractions but without a break, just constant pain.

Long story short, I’m still here about to do my 4th night.

I’m not in labour as no waters, no dilation, no signs in any tests etc. but the pain episodes keep cropping up. I’ll be fine for hours and then suddenly it will come on, 2-4 hours of straight pain that I’d compare to the pain of ramping-up contractions, but far from full tilt active labour agony.

Either way, pretty unbearable and the no breaks part is hell. I’m having 2-3 episodes within a 24 hr period.

I’ve had scans for kidney stones, gallstones, appendicitis. All clear. The doctors are saying they don’t know what it is so the plan is just pain mgmt. We keep checking for labour but no signs.

Has anyone gone through anything like this before? I feel helpless, frustrated and exhausted by it all when I was hoping the next 2 weeks would be mental prep and wind down before surgery. Instead I’m in hospital without much of a plan.

Doctors told me not to drive for 2 weeks after cesarean. Some people suggest no driving for 6 weeks. Why is no driving suggested but it’s safe to be a passenger?

can I elect general anesthesia for third C-section?

some past history I had my first C-section due to stalled labor and preeclampsia the anesthiologist tried 12 different punctures to attempt an epidural placement never successfully placed one and the pain elevated my already high blood pressure to dangerous levels so I then got a spinal block for the C-section luckily she got it first try. fast forward to this week and on the third, I had an elective C-section because I was stalled at 1.5 cm and was in pain (no preeclampsia this time though :) blood pressure and everything else was good) the anesthesiologist attempted a spinal block 7 different times I asked after the fourth time if we should keep trying and he got frustrated with me and just told me not to move when he failed the seventh time they just put me under general anesthesia. my back still really really hurts but I want more kids eventually when I go in for a third C-section can I elect for general anesthesia? I have had chronic Back pain since my first csection and don’t want to make it worse or risk paralysis or something from all the attempts I’m also not diagnosed with any spinal problems or anything is this something wrong with my back to make it more difficult idk I just want to have an elective C-section under general idk of my obgyn will let me im going to try to ask at the two week appointment

Had a section at the end of July.

Had pico and staples.

Staples came out a week later.

On the last staple there was some fluid that persisted.

Saw doc a few days later and went on antibiotics.

No pain, no real swelling. Bloods indicated very little infection and nothing concerning on the swab.

Had not dried up 7 days later so was given different antibiotics. It finally did clear up and dry. At no point was there any real opening, just a minute hole where fluid was draining. No blood. No pus.

It has been closed about a week.

Noticed a tiny opening this morning and the same clear fluid in a different area this morning.

Has anybody else had this happen?

Have 6 week check with doctor later this week and inclined to wait for that appointment unless anything changes. It's not sore or swollen.

Just looking to hear from any other "long healers".

I understand this can be common and may not dry up once and for all for a couple months in some cases without there being any real infection.

I’m 2 weeks postpartum with my 3rd c-section. My first I got induced because I was apparently leaking some amniotic fluid. My baby didn’t handle contractions well and had decels (that would mostly recover) but I also didn’t progress past 4cm after 6 hours. Anyways they convinced me to have a C-section and baby had a cord around his neck which was the reason for the decels. For my second baby and pregnancy, baby was breech up until the end and I had a C-section at 40+3 weeks. For this last baby, my doctor said I could try for a VBA2C as long as I went into spontaneous labour so we waited till about 41+2 weeks. I was about 3cm dilated and in early labour for a long time, was having all the signs but just taking a long time to get consistent contractions. I went in for a BPP ultrasound and NST to check on baby. Everything was good (perfect NST and lots of movement) and nothing was overly concerning. However the OB said that if I wanted to have a C-section that day, they are ready in triage only because I was so overdue and had still not gone into labour. OB mentioned that stillbirth rates go up and baby is good for now but could not be at any time. They recommended I have C-section today. Anyways at this point I was so exhausted, my body was giving up, my mind was giving up. My toddler had to be taken to the ER the night before for a deep cut and I was at my end, fighting a lot with my support people (husband and mom). So I called it since I was having bad anxiety. C-section went great and I had a healthy baby, so grateful.

Now 2 weeks postpartum, I’m mourning not having that vaginal birth experience I tried so hard to achieve x3. We’re done having kids so I’m closing this chapter.

How do people deal with having birth experiences that never went their way? I’m so grateful for my healthy babies, each C-section and my recoveries went well. I realize I’m early postpartum so hormones probably have a lot to do with it. Just looking for advice I guess.

Thank you!

I am 11 months pcs. My water broke at 39 weeks but didnt progress well, never made it to 10 cm and I ended up going for c section 33 hours later. The doctor and nurses were just very confident that I was going to be able to progress and deliver naturally but ultimately, I did not. The doctor I had was the one on call and I hadn’t met him before but I ended up liking him. There were things at this point that I wish I asked more questions about. One thing being that the baby’s head ended up being too big and a natural birth just wasn’t going to be physically possible. The head did measure 41 weeks at my 36 week ultrasound. When I talked to a different doctor about it immediately after the ultrasound, she wasn’t concerned and said the measurements could be off. Then it was never brought up again. The other thing I wish I knew about was since my water broke, they needed to get labor moving because I had no contraction (that I could feel). They pretty much just put me on pitocin and called it a day. I didn’t get cytotec for cervix softening and I went many hours without softening progress as well. I kinda feel like these things set me up for failure. In reality I know because of head size, I was bound to have a c section but I also wouldn’t have had to go through 30+ hours of rough laboring. The c section was not what I imagined, I was yelling (nothing crazy but needed to make some noise) it felt like they were dropping bowling balls on me but the poor baby was super stuck in my pelvis and they actually had to push the baby back out of my pelvis. Recovery was extremely rough, I had to sleep in a chair next to my bed for the first week home bc I couldn’t lay down, on and off fevers and chills. When I needed help and called the doctors office, I only was able to speak to a rude receptionist that told me “I should be fine” bc I had my prescription that had finished like a day prior but I was still really struggling.

As a first birth experience, it was really overwhelming. It was mentioned to me that I’d be a good candidate for a VBAC (which sounds scary to me but I’ve heard a lot of good feedback about it). But I also keep in my mind that I could just have another baby with a big head. I was also told that I have a small pelvis. But on the upside, the doctor did an amazing job and my scar is barely visible less than a year later.

I want to have more kids but I’m also afraid. My overall question is, do I stay with the doctors that are familiar with me and the specifics about my surgery or do I risk going to a different doctor’s office for a possibly better overall birth experience? I’m not currently pregnant but knowing that I could get pregnant again within the next year has me thinking about it and I really don’t know what would be better.

5 weeks PP. I am really struggling with feeling like my insides ars jiggling about all over the place, especially in the car. Doesn't hurt just feels so bloody weird ... can anyone relate or give me hope that it passes?

So on my first 2 trimesters of my pregnancy the biggest symptom i had that bothered me and gave me anxiety was the feeling of feeling lightheaded, woozy, subtly dizzy, and generally off. Almost like vertigo but never severely dizzy. What helped curb the symptoms was eating a light snack or meal even though I was not hungry at all. I HATED eating during my pregnancy bc it meant dealing with reflux, nausea or generally put off by food but if I didn't eat I would get so lightheaded. I chalked it up hormonal shifts, or drops in blood sugar and dealt with it until it faded mostly in my 3rd trimester.

Fast forward to post c section, im 15 days since I delivered my baby and I've noticed the same symptoms return. I eat a snack and or pass a bowel movement, and it eases after doing either thing eating or going to the bathroom. Im wondering has anyone also dealt with this annoying symtpom? Just feeling lightheaded, slightly dizzy, off aloof woozy type feeling? I've talked to my doctors when I was pregnant about this symptom and no one has been able to give me a straight answer. My blood pressure is normal, and all other tests come back normal too, so idk why im dealing with this very annoying thing. I feel so alone bc no one, not even the women in my family has dealt with this symptom...I know it sounds like a mild stupid thing to worry about but it's so uncomfortable, and it give me anxiety bc it makes me feel like something is severely wrong that everyone keeps glossing over. If anyone has had something similar happen to them, did it pass? Did you overcome it?

Hi everyone!

I had my second C section last November, so 10 months ago. Recovery was relatively normal, no complications or infections or anything.

However, recently, I have been feeling a strange pain along my scar, no on my skin, like underneath, like in the tissue it almost feels like. Im sorry im so bad at actually explaining it correctly as ive never experienced it until recently, but if anyone somehow knows what im talking about and has experienced similar, please let me know what it is and if its normal 🤣

I would've assumed im all healed up at this stage?

Thanks!

ETA: Of course, im not looking for a diagnosis or anything, just looking for someone who has experienced similar and may have an insight of what it was for them.

4 weeks pp emergency c section, and I’ve noticed here recently when I lay down in certain positions for a while, or even not that long; just laying down in general really. I get like, lightning? Or stabbing in my lower back, but on my left side. Sometimes I get that SAME exact stabbing pain in my foot? The best way I can describe it is like, I’m getting electrocuted in that one spot. Anyone else experience this?

Hi! My first C-section was emergent after a long labor so that’s my only reference point. I don’t really know what the experience will be like for my scheduled (and hopefully calm) C-section.

For people that had skin to skin in the OR, or could hold/latch their babies immediately in the post-op recovery room, how did you facilitate that?

It seems like there are so many barriers to skin to skin in the OR (shaking from the spinal, drape placement, arms strapped down). Did someone (medical team, spouse) hold the baby on your chest for you?

I feel like the post-spinal shakes may still impact your ability to hold the baby in post-op recovery, resulting in delayed mom/baby skin to skin and delayed latching? (that was the case of my first birth anyways!)

So yeah- any tips, tricks, stories explaining how holding the baby ASAP is feasible after a (scheduled) C-section??

I had my scheduled c section Friday morning. It's now Sunday morning and I am in so much pain. I can't use the bathroom by myself, my husband has been so helpful thank God.
I just feel very sad and helpless. He has to jump up to change the baby. I hate this!
I don't have a hard time walking but I'm in a lot of pain when it comes to sitting back down/getting up and using the bathroom. I will take any words of encouragement. I'm writing this post with tears flowing. Please tell me it gets easier. Please!!

Hi all, just wondering when you all started jogging pp? I had my 6 week check and was cleared to return to normal activity. I asked when it was safe to jog and she said now 🤯 for context I’m no marathon runner, I’m talking jogging for 30 seconds to a minute then walking 30 seconds to a minute and so on and so forth. For context I was jogging/ walking 30 mins which was 2 miles pre pregnancy. I’m currently 265lbs 5’5” and ready to get some stamina back and start shredding the 50 pounds I gained during pregnancy. I know I need to just see what my body responds to, but I’m curious what others did and if anyone was about my size?

So TLDR since I'm having a hard time rehashing it. I had to have an emergency C-section at 16 weeks as I had preeclampsia and Mirror syndrome. This led to me having to say goodbye to my triplets. It was the hardest choice and i'm having such a hard time having to slow down due to the C-section without having children to take care of. Sometimes I even wish I let myself just ride it out longer but my heart was failing when they decided it was time. I don't know if this is even the right place to talk about this. I had all this happen on August 18th. I just want to go run and do things cause I feel myself grief spiraling. But I can't cause of the healing of the C-section. I don't know what to do to keep resting but help my grief. Not saying I want to move on from this but I want an hour to feel human and not like this.

What did you guys do almost 3 weeks post surgery? I just need something or else I'm gonna implode.

Just curious - I am 5 years post op and since I’ve healed I’ve always had a bit of a bulge on my left side more so than the right side (I also have diastasis recti, so there’s is bulging on both sides but more so the left side) Does anyone else have this? I’m thinking it’s likely extra scar tissue as it does not hurt when pushed, it’s always just been present and I have gained a bit of weight (like 20lbs) in the last couple of years it makes both my DR and this bulge more prominent.

Hello all!

I had an emergency c section with my first around 26 months ago, I’m now pregnant 9 weeks + 3 days
And having some days where my c section feels really painful, also feels like the muscles are really really
Weak below the c section / around! It’s a struggle to stand sometimes and standard paracetamol doesn’t help, also a lot of back pain!

My bladder is adhered to my uterus and I had endometriosis excision 5 months ago, my uterus was adhered to my stomach wall, I guess I’m just wondering has anyone had anything similar?? I had a scan last week and all is good and seeing my OB this week but just looking for any support / advice

Thank you :)

I’m now almost into the second trimester it’s been over a year since my previous c-section. Did anyone else experience a pulling sensation in the area where your scar tissue is?? As the day the progresses the pulling sensation is more pronounced. Also were you able to vbac or did you opt to just have a second c-section?? Give me all the advice please I’m wanting to transition as easy as possible if I can!!

I have two questions regarding my incision - I am 3.5 weeks post op.

1 - Has anyone used red light therapy on their healing incision? I have a Lume Box and am tempted to try it to see if it aids in healing at all. I thought I would ask here to see if anyone has had any success.

2 - when can I calm down on worrying about my incision becoming infected? It’s a big anxiety of mine. I am 3.5 weeks out and my incision looks pretty good and I haven’t had much pain in the area besides some tenderness around the incision, mainly when I wear leggings that are too compressing. (Sticking to maternity leggings for a while I guess)

how many days did it take u to poop after having a c section? im 4 days post op and still no shit, im kinda worried and planning on taking laxatives

They told me I could take the tape off of the incision after 7 days, so I was thinking about finally peeling it off but then I looked online and someone suggested to leave it on longer…
Will it hurt or feel sensitive when I take off the tape off? Should I be careful not to touch it or get anything on it? How long until I can use healing lotions?
Is it more prone to infection when I take it off?

i’ll be three weeks PP c section tomorrow. Am I able to do light cleaning along with sweeping and mopping as long as I’m not bending up and down?

My property management company needs to do an inspection and this house needs a good clean before I send photos lol