Is this normal in late pregnancy after CS?

[Luvmykiddos03]

**UPDATE #14**

I tried to find the answer to my questions, but can't seem to find it anywhere. So I'm hoping you ladies can help me.

I am 39 weeks pregnant. Over the last four weeks, maybe six weeks, I've noticed some sudden, sharp pains come and go, which are painful enough to stop me dead in my tracks when walking. It has continued over these past weeks to the point that now I just walk a lot slower in order to avoid it, because when I walk normally, the pain is certain to come and stop me in my tracks. It's a quick sharp pain that goes away fairly quickly once I stop moving. Once in awhile, when I feel my baby moving, I will feel these same sharp pains when I'm not walking, but it's not nearly as often.

I've considered this to be probably normal, so I've just monitored it and put myself on limited walking/movement over these past few weeks.

However, I felt my scar tonight and it felt so puffy that I asked my husband to just look at it and tell me what he sees. The look on his face concerned me and I just asked him to get a mirror for me to look myself. As he got a mirror, he told me it was completely black and puffy. Sure enough, it was as he described.

Are these things normal? Has anyone else experienced this? With the sudden, sharp pain, and a black scar, it slightly concerns me about why these things are happening. However, baby is still moving as normal, and I feel fine otherwise, so I don't know what to think.

At this point, I'm still not worried, per se, but I am curious if anyone else has experienced this and would greatly appreciate anyone's input! TIA!!

[prancie]

I know that feeling like your scar is really stretched is normal, and some pain even. What you are feeling may be in the range of normal, but I think you should be talking with whoever is your health care provider for this pregnancy as soon as you can. I would personally be concerned about a ruptured uterus. Most ruptures actually happen before labor begins.

I hope someone else comes along and can offer more knowledgeable advice. All I can say is that I would be concerned if those were my symptoms.

[Oonah]

that does not sound normal to me - I think I'd get that checked out asap.

[leavemealone]

I think the sudden sharp pain can be normal due to all the stretching that has happened in the pelvic area. I have had sudden sharp pain in all my pregnancies, even my first. I was told it's usually round ligament pain and it can be sharp enough to stop you in your tracks. However, I have never experienced the black and puffy scar. I don't know that I've ever heard anyone mention that before so I'd get that checked out and mention the other pain as well. I hope all is well, but it probably can't hurt to give your dr or mw a call and ask what they think.

[elisheva]

I would also talk to your hcp. However, your outside scar, AFAIK, bears no relation to what's going on inside. Have you visited the ICAN forums (www.ican-online.org) or yahoogroup? Maybe someone there has more info.

[Luvmykiddos03]

Thank you to all who have responded so far!

After a nights sleep, I checked my scar again, and it appears the puffy, blackness has gone away. It's pink and "normal" looking now. I had been on my feet more than normal yesterday, so perhaps that is what caused it to appear puffy and black.

I'm not at all concerned it's a UR for various reasons. The moment I suspect UR, I will be busting my behind to get to the nearest hospital, no doubt about that. However, that is the least of my concerns right now. I just didn't know if it might be something else I haven't even thought of or come across that someone else may know about.

Everything else is normal and when I spoke to a couple midwives about the sudden, sharp pain when walking, they were not concerned.

I'd still be curious to know if anyone else has experienced the sudden, sharp pains while walking in late pregnancy. By the way, I believe those began to happen when baby began to descend downward. So it could just be baby pressing against my scar and causing pain from that (nerves being pinched or something, perhaps?).

Again, thank you, ladies, for your input! It's greatly appreciated!

[prancie]

I am glad to hear that all seems well. I hope your VBAC goes well too! I never had round ligament pains while walking, but even now at 24 weeks the round ligament pain can be very severe, especially when I am rolling out of bed.

[kltroy]

black puffy scar - only thing I can think of is that you have had a little bruising/tearing near the skin and the blackness was a blood clot - think of it like a blood blister. but then why would it go away so fast? either way, at 39 weeks you're probably going to be seeing your Dr/MW soon, so I would ask when you do, or sooner if you're worried. Best of luck with your birth!

[rlmueller]

Scar related.

Two new surgical scars on my ankle turn black and puffy if not elevated often enough. Blood flow/venous return issues post injury/surgery doctor said.

If the sharp pain was at the incision site--I would worry. If not and more general/labor feeling related--I would not.

[roadfamily6now]

I have no suggestions about the black scar area. I would definitely be asking a care provider about that.
The pulling, pinching, sharp pains sound like your round ligaments stretching.
That does sound normal and I have experienced that many times.

[etsdtm99]

i have not had a c-section, but i do have a scar on my belly (from a piercing, so not the same, i know, but its still scar tissue..) it is the only place on my belly that gets dark during pregnancy, it turns brownish, not usually black.. my OB said the scar tissue is more likely to get extra pigment the same way some women get that line on their belly during pregnancy? (linea negra i think?) .. maybe the same thing would apply to a c-section scar?

i also had very sharp pains around the area where a c-section scar would be, from my DS when i was in the last 3-4 weeks of pregnnacy i was told after an u/s that the pain was from his hands being by his face and he was so low .. it HURT and was very sudden and random, worse when i was walking a lot and would let up when i stopped.. round ligament pains are another possibility but for me they were always on the sides closer to my hip bones..

[DocsNemesis]

The pain sounds normal to me. I've had a lot of scar pain in this pregnancy. It seems to get bad for awhile and then chill out for a few weeks and then it kicks in again. I think its just when she grows a bunch, it starts pulling again.

The pain is either A.) ligament pain or B.) adhesion pain. In my case, I can definitely tell the difference. The ligament pain is concentrated on the sides and up a bit. It also feels different. The scar/adhesion pain is very low and SHARP. It really hurts a lot sometimes

Anyway, my midwife said that its normal. When you have a cesarean, you have all of those layers of tissue cut through, including the abdominal wall which has a thin membranous tissue (I cant recall the name for it atm). As it heals, all of the tissue-and apparently that tissue in particular-scars. Then when you get pregnant again and it grows, the adhesions/scar tissue have to pull and separate to allow the growth. Unfortunately that doesn't feel good!

[Luvmykiddos03]

Thank you, again, ladies for responding!! It really is very much appreciated!! I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one to experience this with those of you who have shared the pain! I kind of figured it was normal and the midwives I've spoken with aren't concerned with it, but it's still very nice to hear I'm not the only one.

I agree with DocsNemesis that there is a difference between round ligament pain and adhesion pain. (Thanks, Docs, for sharing your experience with me.) I remember round ligament pains from my pregnancies before the c-section and this is not at all like that. I've had a few round ligament stretching in this pregnancy and I agree that it's more upward than down where my scar is. The scar, however, is where the sharp pains come from. And since baby is dropping down, it probably has some to do with the baby sitting on my scar. Babe has been in the same spot for months, so I'm sure the constant pain has to do with babe never getting off to give me some relief!! Nevertheless, baby is moving just fine, I feel fine, and so I highly doubt there is any UR, which is, of course, what I'd be most concerned about.

Etsdm99, I know you haven't had a c-section, but yes, that absolutely makes sense! I'm glad you shared that with me, because I wouldn't have thought about that. And rlmueller's doc basically said the same thing I did about being on my feet all day, so I'm sure that just added to the darkness. So with a good nights rest, it was elevated and wasn't as dark come morning.

Really, ladies, I do appreciate your input, so thank you very much to all of you who responded! I hope if anyone else ever has this problem in the future, they are able to find this information helpful.

If I remember, I'll come back to this post and let you all know how the birth went. I should be seeing my baby any day now and I can't wait!

[Luvmykiddos03]

Originally Posted by Luvmykiddos03

If I remember, I'll come back to this post and let you all know how the birth went. I should be seeing my baby any day now and I can't wait!

*Update* using one hand, so I'll make this quick.

Had our baby, everything went perfectly, and we are all doing well! Had a successful UBAC. Not even a tear...it truly was wonderful!

Ty for all your help, ladies!

[JayJay]

Oh wonderful! Plus I think if it had been a UR, the pain would have been constant, searing, blinding pain. Not stabbing - which I have as well. Actually I walked into a door frame three days ago and had just God-awful sharp pains for the next two days whenever baby put her foot or her butt on that spot...

Can't wait to hear the birth story! And pics!

XxX

[Luvmykiddos03]

Thank you, JayJay!! I read in another post of yours that you lost your first baby girl and are about to give birth to your second child. I'm very sorry about the loss of your baby girl. I truly am. I buried our twin girls last year, so the birth of our new child has been bittersweet, but a true blessing! (It's been 15 months inbetween, too.) I pray everything goes smoothly in the coming weeks and you're able to hold your newborn blessing soon!