r/CsectionCentral

I am having our fourth and possibly last baby in September. I went into labour on my due date with my first and it ended with a c-section due to fetal distress and meconium. I also never progressed past 4cm. I was told to have another c-section at 40+5 with my second because I never went into labour and they didn't want a uterine rupture. Then I was taken in for a c-section with my 3rd at 39w for the same reason as my second. My body never went into labour after that first time. Anyone else never go into labour? Will I never get to have that experience again?

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.

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!

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?

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?

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!

Im a couple days away from my five week mark and we have plans to travel im hoping to get an appointment with ob this week will they be able to let me know if i can swim at 6weeks and all the othrr stuff sex tampons ect. Or will it be too early to know if ill be good in a week? will traveling be a concern? Road trip 20hs stopping halfway aswell

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! 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 ❤️

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! 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!!!

Wondering if anyone else experienced this and maybe has suggestions to help.

I’m 2 weeks out from my c-section. My incision is actually quite low below my bikini line (eventually the question I ask will be about how to use silicone patches and manage hair growth,’ it’s that low). I’ve had some tingling and pulling sensations on the actual incision, but overall so far it doesn’t really bother me.

However I’ve found that the skin on my abdomen, about 4-6 inches above my incision, feels very tender to touch. Kind of like what sunburn feels like. If anything brushes against it, it hurts. It’s the actual skin hurting, not anything underneath (pressure doesn’t matter, just anything even grazing my belly bothers it).

Has anyone experienced this and, if so, is there anything that has helped it?

I am day 5 post op for reference, this is my second cesarean. I saw a dark spot on the honeycomb dressing so I took the bandage off to see what it looked like underneath.

Does this look okay for day 5? No popped stitches or anything? I feel like the sutures are so much messier than my last cesarean, and that was an emergency!! This one was planned. If I got a botched scar at 23 years old I’ll cry forever

https://preview.redd.it/nurbc7yeovah1.jpg?width=2127&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=00b8a0335a667bea08a2bb18b3559ef2d9396c38

My elective c section is in a few weeks and im starting to get cold feet. Im going with c section due to baby measuring very large and not wanting to worsen my grade 2 uterine prolapse. Anyway baby has dropped and im now feeling so much pressure in my pelvis that im getting discouraged about how much pain I can actually take.

I know c section recovery is hard but im wondering if someone can try to describe what it actually feels like when youre recovering? Was anyone confident about c section recovery and then humbled by worse pain than they imagined ? Im mostly looking for answers from those that have had planned/elective c sections please, but anyone is welcomed to give their input.

My due date is August 1st and my doctor will be away July 28th to August 5th. So right in the middle when I am most likely to go into labor. I am so conflicted now. Maybe this is a sign to just schedule a c section. He told me today that a scheduled c section would likely be on the 25th or 26th. When I’m right at 39 weeks.

He doesn’t like to induce for VBACs, so it doesn’t sound like that is an option and I would really rather not induce as well. I’ve also been dealing with some borderline hypertension, so he doesn’t want me to go much past my due date, so waiting for him to return on the 5th also doesn’t sound like an option either.

For my first, labor started at 40 weeks 4 days, so I have a history of going past my due date. That resulted in an emergency c section due to fetal distress. It ended up that the cord was wrapped around his neck. I also had postpartum preeclampsia.

One more element is that I’m 18 month postpartum. So right on the borderline of what’s recommended.

I was ideally hoping to go into labor naturally on the 28th - 1st. But now that would mean getting a random doctor at the hospital who may or may not have much VBAC experience. I’m also worried about getting postpartum preeclampsia again if I go past 40 weeks.

What would you do in my situation?