C-Section second time around - your experiences with post operative pain

[~mamaspice~]

Hi there,

A coupleof my friends who have had elective CS with the second bub have commented that they were in a lot more pain in the few weeks afterwards compared with the first time around. I'm just wondering if this is normal? The pain I had after my first CS was very minimal but I'm worried that if I have a second one I'll be getting a rude shock?

So, what was your pain like second time around?

[feeb]

I had minimal pain post cs but I believe this to be due to taking regular analgesia even when no pain.
Panadol 6 hrly for 4 days, voltaran 8 hrly for 5 days
I took the strong ever 12 hr ones for 48 hrs, the strong break thru pain ones for 36 hrs, after that tramadol 8 hrly for 3 days.

[Nai]

I had 2 emergency c/s and I think I recovered way better second time around. Like feeb said, I continued with my pain relief though and slowly weaned myself of it when I was ready. I was walking up to 2km at a time at 6 days after birth and found that I recovered much quicker second time around.

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks for your replies Feeb and Nai. So keeping up with pain relief is the key!

When I had my first CS I was given voltarin suppositories for about 3 days and was on capadex tablets regularly and they seemed to work well. I think I took the capadex for at least a week or so.

Thanks again

[DaintreeDream]

I had very minimal pain with my first CS and I recovered very well, second time I had even less pain and recovered even faster.

Best of luck for your upcoming birth.

[aussienic]

I found I was a lot better 2nd and 3rd time round.. First time round I had no idea what to expect but I did the next time so knew what my body needed me to do

It still hurt mind you but as I knew that standing the first time was really going to hurt I held my stomach took a deep breath and got on with it.. (I had a panic attack the first time) plus you know you need to move and to hold your back straight..

[Arimeh]

I found 2nd time round was easier to deal with the pain because I had already been there, and knew to keep on top of my drugs.

However, my recovery was complicated by my SPD and the fact that my hip had rotated around, plus I got a uterine infection afterwards.

[~Kim~]

I have to say the pain physically was worse for me the second time round, but it was easier to deal with because I knew what I needed to do to minimise it.
Or maybe that's because it was 3 years between mine and like getting your legs waxed you do forget the extent of the pain.

[ladybird11]

The day after my second c/s I was up making my own hossy bed - I found the pain much more manageable.

I kept moving (by no means anything excessive), as we have to with a newbie and another ;-) - I certainly wasn't trying to break any fitness records lol.

I kept up the pain meds and weened myself off within three weeks. GL

[PlonkeeMumma]

i agree with most - 2nd and third c/s were a lot less painful - in fact i didn't feel any pain with my third and kept asking if the morphine was going to wear off and they said it probably had 24 hours earlier :-) kept up with normal pain relief though

Best wishes for your new arrival and hope you have a great experience

x

[DaintreeDream]

I was changing DD1 the day after my CS and packing my bags, I only had meds on day 1 and day 2 panadine only. I was very active walking back and forth between NICU, I personally think this is why I had min to no pain, because I kept moving, if I have another CS I will definately make sure I am up and moving even if I am lucky enough to have my baby with me in my room (rather than NICU).