Surgical Birth Recovery?

[Kylahroo]

I'm not finding a good spot at MDC to ask these questions so I thought I'd post here. The mods may move this post, I guess, but here I go!

I'm on day 5, post-op. Everything's been going pretty well. The incision is healing very well, no signs of infection. Not too much pain except when I am changing position after an extended period of time.

Swelling - how long can I expect my feet to be swelled up? Thankfully, it just seems to be my feet.

Burning around incision - after I've been laying down (sleeping at night) or sitting for an extended period of time, getting up is really, really painful. The incision literally burns, almost keeping me from walking sometimes. But, once I'm up and about, it's fine. Can't even feel it. Is this normal? How long does it last?

Staples - had them removed yesterday. Do the holes leave scars?

Incision - how do I care for it? They said don't wash it, don't lotion it. But, I'd like to make sure it stays soft and doesn't get tight. It just occurred to me that I'm going to have this for the REST OF MY LIFE and I'd like to start out caring for it well. I'd like to put Arnica and Vitamin E on it. The nurse said no, not now. But when? Will it help?

Baths? Swimming? When?

Exercise? When? What are good options? What should I avoid?

Anyone who has any advice (BTDT either years ago or recently), please pass your wise thoughts to me! TIA!

[Jlse]

I'm not a regular poster but am due with a June baby and been lurking the last few days as I'm 40+ weeks. Anyway I had a c-sec about 4 years ago so I'm not positive on my times with everything but thought I'd share since I had lots of questions at the time as well. For exercise I remember being told 8 weeks - which was also true for swimming and baths as well. I did however start walking the halls in the hospital as much as I could and then walking around the neighborhood once I was home and kept it at that. I remember being told this was fine but to avoid stairs which I mostly did (went up to bed at night then stayed downstairs during the day) My neighbor who has done this 4 times now turned her dining room into a bedroom to make it easier for herself. I found I had more pp bleeding with the c-sec than a natural birth but I've also heard differently from others so may be personal. The scar - again different people have different experiences with this, for me (and some others I talked with) it took nearly a year to fully heal and get feeling back to the area. It was very sensitive for several months and then a funny numb feeling after that. I did use some vit. E oil but not for a very long time later - maybe 6 months or a year. My scar is very soft and not very noticable - though yes that realization that this is permanent and each birth after is a Vbac and so forth was a little difficult to get over.
Burning - I remember that so I think it is normal - I was in lots of pain for at least 2 weeks and then it started to subside after that. The staples didn't leave any scars. Oh and I think leaving the tape on for as long as posible will help minimize the scar as well. I was told to let the tape fall off on it's own. I just let the shower run over the area without really washing it.
If you have more children the first vbac preg. made the scar sensitive again - felt pulling and tugging at the area and some pain. The next preg. didn't feel anything.
I read your birth story and it is somewhat similar in that my c-sec was also for face presentation - I got to 10 was told not to push, the baby had meconium and the airway collapsed. It took him a week in the NICU to recover and about two years to get his airway strong enough. Even so I had trouble 'letting go' of the birth experience since I had planned no drugs etc. Be gentle with yourself and be sure to get lots of rest.

[kltroy]

Originally Posted by Kylahroo

Swelling - how long can I expect my feet to be swelled up? Thankfully, it just seems to be my feet.

Swelling should go down in a week or so. They put a lot of fluid into you during the surgery esp. when it's for awkward baby positioning (because it helps "float" the baby out). I think I read they put something like 2800 ml of saline in via IV during my c/s for James, plus whatever went in after the actual surgery. Also, the hot weather doesn't help this.

Burning around incision - after I've been laying down (sleeping at night) or sitting for an extended period of time, getting up is really, really painful. The incision literally burns, almost keeping me from walking sometimes. But, once I'm up and about, it's fine. Can't even feel it. Is this normal? How long does it last?

Hmm I don't remember this one but I do remember it being pretty painful for a while. I took lots of ibuprofin for the first few weeks post-op. Make sure you're taking enough to take the edge off.

Staples - had them removed yesterday. Do the holes leave scars?

Nope. To my surprise, my scar healed really nicely. After a few weeks - maybe 4-5 - you can actually start gently massaging the scar with some body butter or something similar and that will help break up any adhesions that are forming under the skin. They put steri-strips (like tape) over my scar after they removed the staples and those stayed on for about 10 days for me. I took them off in the bathtub once the edges started to peel off.

Incision - how do I care for it? They said don't wash it, don't lotion it. But, I'd like to make sure it stays soft and doesn't get tight. It just occurred to me that I'm going to have this for the REST OF MY LIFE and I'd like to start out caring for it well. I'd like to put Arnica and Vitamin E on it. The nurse said no, not now. But when? Will it help?

See above comment. I'd give it 4-5 weeks to heal at the skin before you do too much to it. But basically, go with how it feels. If it feels ok to rub on it, it probably is. I think my MW specifically *told* me to start massaging it at my 6-week checkup.

Baths? Swimming? When?

Proabably a couple weeks. Baths in about 2 weeks, swimming maybe a little later (I'm assuming lake?) just b/c the water isn't as clean.

Exercise? When? What are good options? What should I avoid?

I started doing some really light pelvic tilts on my back after around 4 weeks. (My stomach felt like a black hole! I have no idea if it always feels like this postpartum or whether this is specific to a c/s - guess I'll find out soon enough!) I actually went for a slow 10-mile bike ride at 5 weeks. I wouldn't do aything that engaged your abs until you are not taking any pain killers and until it doesn't hurt to do.

Happy healing! Sounds like you're doing great. It amazed me - thinking about how rotten I felt a couple days after my c/s - how much BETTER I felt 2 weeks later. And then how much better I felt 2 weeks after that.

[PiesandAbrosmama]

Never had one, would ICAN have resource information for you? Or the birth proffesional threads? I hope some of the other c-sec mama's can help you down this new road of postpartum. I bet you NEVER thought that you would have a c-sec. i know after reading your birth story the thoughts that went through my mind as a homebirthing only mama that I never really think about it. but it can and does need to happen. I hope you recover quickly and well

[PiesandAbrosmama]

double post

[Oonah]

Originally Posted by Kylahroo

I'm not finding a good spot at MDC to ask these questions so I thought I'd post here. The mods may move this post, I guess, but here I go!

I'm on day 5, post-op. Everything's been going pretty well. The incision is healing very well, no signs of infection. Not too much pain except when I am changing position after an extended period of time.

Swelling - how long can I expect my feet to be swelled up? Thankfully, it just seems to be my feet.
I only had swelling with my first of 3 sections...it lasted about 1 week

Burning around incision - after I've been laying down (sleeping at night) or sitting for an extended period of time, getting up is really, really painful. The incision literally burns, almost keeping me from walking sometimes. But, once I'm up and about, it's fine. Can't even feel it. Is this normal? How long does it last?
I don't know if it's normal but I had it too. I am 7 days post op and I don't feel that pain anymore. The only pain I still have at 1 week is some aching if I cough

Staples - had them removed yesterday. Do the holes leave scars?
no help here, never had staples

Incision - how do I care for it? They said don't wash it, don't lotion it. But, I'd like to make sure it stays soft and doesn't get tight. It just occurred to me that I'm going to have this for the REST OF MY LIFE and I'd like to start out caring for it well. I'd like to put Arnica and Vitamin E on it. The nurse said no, not now. But when? Will it help?
They told me to gently wash it with soapy water in the shower...I don't do any other care.

Baths? Swimming? When?
I didn't get any direction on this but I wouldn't think twice about doing either now at 1 week post op....I probably wouldn't do laps but I can't think of a reason not to get in the pool with my kids

Exercise? When? What are good options? What should I avoid?
some say no high impact for 6 weeks, I think that's so generic and as usual people should follow their body's cues. I feel like I can handle some walking/biking for short periods right now at 1 week...I wouldn't even dream of jogging or doing anything high impact right now...but next week...who knows.

Anyone who has any advice (BTDT either years ago or recently), please pass your wise thoughts to me! TIA!

Sorry...I don't have a lot of great/solid advice for you...just some personal experience. I am glad you're healing well.

[mamaspirit]

I'm going through the same thing you are except that I am a little more than a week ahead of you, and I've done this before.

I had horrible swelling from all the IV fluid they gave me. It lasted a little over a week. It's pretty much gone right now.

I am still having the burning feeling in my incision, especially in the evening. If I remember from last time, I think it's pretty normal and it gets better with time.

I had staples last time and I had no scars from them.

They told me to both times to wash my incision with soap and water as soon as my staples were out and to pat dry. Once it was healed up good, after about 6 weeks I started having dh do message with coconut oil - I couldn't stand to touch my incision myself, and could only tolerate dh touching it for a short amount of time at first (it felt creepy). After we messaged it every day for a few months I started getting feeling back in the skin around it (it was numb at first) I have also read that message helps prevent adhesians from developing. Message is really important to help heal the tissue and muscles around, but i wouldn't start it until at least 6 weeks after.

They told me both times no baths or pools until 6 weeks post...

For exercise, walking is fine, but the doctor said to wait until at least 6 weeks pp for more than that and to wait 3 months until heavy lifting... although I have a 35 pound toddler and I can't help but pick him, LOL.

I am 2 weeks post c-section now and I am still pretty painful by evening time. I also tire really easy. That is all normal...

Remember you just had MAJOR surgery mama... take it easy!