Numbness on stomach post c-section

[*Infinity*]

DS was born by emergency c-section in June (undiagnosed breech).

I have varying degrees of sensation on the skin from my belly button down to my scar. It just generally feels numb. I must say its very disconcerting, and along with my permanent 'smiley face' it provides a very real reminder of a birth experience I am trying to forget.

How long did it take to get back to 'normal' sensation for you....or will the numbness generally stick around.

TIA

[LimeSlice]

It is perfectly normal to have that numb nothing sensation between your belly button and the scar, if not all the way down to the top of your vagina below the scar.

They have just cut through all your nerves and muscel tissue, severing EVERYTHING. This will take years to come back fully.
However, even though it feels weird, the more you touch it and stimulate the nerves, the more they will grow. On average your nerves grow about 2mm a year (from memory) so it will take a long time, but stimulaation with help encourage them to grow, b oth from the top down adn the bottom up.

A c/s can be a traumatic experience, mine was an emergency c/s and not a pleasant experience either Own that scar hun, it is the emblem of your right of passage, and that of your son also. Be proud of that scar! It took me a long time to be proud of mine, but I am, because I am proud I brought my daughter safely into this world, albeit by a mode I wasn't happpy wit at the time.

The sensation in your belly will come back, keep rubbing and stroking the area and encourage the new nerve growth, and as the muscle kntis and heals so too will the nerves.

[Bridg]

Lolly- Sorry u didnt have a nice birth. After I had the c/s wit Jake and Zac, it took about a year or so for all the feeling to come back. Even now (5years on) I still have a few numb patches, and I still get twinges every now and again. The Docs told me that because all the nerves have been cut, it will take a while to heal.

[Indadhanu]

My emerg. c/s was just over 13 months ago, and I still have numb patches around my scar. I have to say it has gotten ALOT better over the year. So I'm hoping it'll keep getting better.

[Me+him+bub]

i had one 3 weeks ago after a 30 hour failed labour, it was the worst thing i have ever gone through! I have NO feeling on the top of my vaginal region all the way across to each thigh and up to my belly button, i feel itchy there sometimes but when i scratch i get no relief coz its completely numb and its awful! midwife said the feeling will return but it doesnt feel like it will! also some surgeons inject a numbing agent around the scar after the op and it can take along time to dissolve from the body.

[Indadhanu]

Lydia, I know how you feel! Be patient though, you're still healing, give your body time

[Miss E]

I also had an emergency CS, but in early July. I have the numbness too. I just wanted to say I understand the disappointment you are feeling, the labour I had before the CS was pretty traumatic, as reading between the lines I'm guessing yours may have been also. So here is a big for you.

I wanted a natural labour, but ended up with the exact opposite. Afterwards one of the midwives at the hospital was counselling me about my experience. There was one thing that she said that has helped me to accept that my body didn't do what I wanted it to. She told me that in third world countries where they don't have the medical system we have, one in six babies die during birth. She didn't actually say it, but I suspect that if I hadn't have been able to have a CS chances are we could've fallen into that category. It's an awful thought, but for me it made it much easier for me to accept the way things went.

[Ryatha]

I've just had my second c-section and i have numbness as well. It lasted a while between belly button and scar and gradually got feeling. The scars still have numbness (the first one is 6 years old now) but everything feels fine. I think my strech marks also contribute to the problem

LB - So what you are feeling is completely normal and it will gratually return.

Lydia - that itchiness sounds frustrating! Hope it gets better for you soon

[julie_ann_jules]

sounds like what everyone has said is normal. I have had two c/s in 2002 and 2004 (7 and 5 years ago)
After 5 years I still have numbness just above and just below my scar. It dosn't bother me anymore as its such a small area.
I have spoken to people who have complete feeling around their scar but it does take time. Take care and allow your body to heal. It will get better

[HollyC]

I'm still numb 18 months later. It is only along the scar itself and it has become better during that time.

[sazzafrazz]

I've been thinking about this a lot recently too.

My emergency CS was 20months ago. I still have a largish area of numbness but it is far reduced on what it was a year ago. I found the "stabbing pains" stopped around the 9month mark and the itchiness is quite rare for me now. My scar is a strange, very uneven shape due to the urgency with which they "went in" and I had a large overhang due to messy suture work, but that healed itself just as I was going in to have it repaired. I'm lucky in that I heal very quickly.

It sounds like the severity and the duration are varying from person to person but that we should expect the whole healing process to take several years? I think massage would be beneficial to stimulate healing in the area. I wonder if accupuncture would help also, especially if there is pain involved?

[{sarah}]

Yep same here & my first was 4.5 years ago. Sorry to say it though guys, my mum's last (she had four) was 24 years ago next month & she still has numbness. Sometimes the nerves just don't recover from it It's just anothr one of the unmentioned after effects of c/s.