Your c/s and pain?

[Sterla]

I have been reading a few posts on BB recently where a few members have talked about the terrible pain after their c/s. A few mums I've talked to IRL have also mentioned it. However, I had an emergency c/s, and I have to say I didn't really experience anything I would call 'pain'. Obviously there was the epidural for the actual procedure, but afterwards I didn't experience pain. I would probably label it more as tenderness around the incision. In hospital it even happened a few times that the midwives would forget to give me my pain medication on time, and they'd come in a few hours later and say "You must be in a bit of pain now" - but I wasn't.

I'm not discounting the pain experienced by others who have had c/s... I'm wondering if maybe I'm a bit weird, or maybe I have a super dooper pain threshold . Am I the only one who had a relatively 'painless' c/s experience (physically - emotionally is a whole other story )?

[Arimeh]

I only had pain on the first c section because my pain medication was mismanaged. Maybe you had the pain relief up the bum whilst you were on the table cos that apparently is really awesome pain relief and makes it virtually painless. My second section didn't hurt as much as the first until I got an infection in my uterus. Then it was most painful!

[Sterla]

I would have thought it was painless due to 'awesome' pain meds, except for the numerous occassions that the midwives told me how long overdue I was for them .

Arimeh - ouch! Infection of the uterus doesn't sound nice .

[Indadhanu]

Hmmm, well mine HURT. But I was a bit of a martyr and didn't want the extra pain medication, just paracetamol and ibuprofen, because I didn't want it to interfere with the bfing. In hindsight, I think tht was pretty dumb of me, because I think I really pushed my limits, but yeah, thats what I did.

Though I think my 'pain' was directly related to the fact that my labour was 42 hours, so it was magnified by the fact that I was completely physically and emotionally EXHAUSTED, and there were people poking around down there, they tried the vacuum a few times, I ended up with fairly significant bruising and some grazes, so I was just sore, inside and out and everywhere...

Plus, no one told me it would help to BRACE when I stood up, sneezed, laughed, etc... so I learnt that they hard way... almost ripped myself open...

So I think c/s pain is realy related to circumstances... if I'd had advice on how to deal with a c/s wound, and if I had walked in to a c/s even partly rested, I probably would have dealt better, KWIM?

[black_rose]

Main was pain free too apart from one stitch that was too tight, as soon as it was cut I was fine and frustrated that I couldn't lift anything or drive to see DD as she was in the special care nursery for three weeks. I went and saw my GP after two weeks and he gave me the go ahead to drive. Mine was an emergency cs too so I don't know if it makes a difference? Maybe your mental state has a lot to do with it?

[Heaven_Sent]

I found the pain after my emergency c/s really bad something i never wish to experince again, it was so hard to get out of bed, attend to baby, move around, shower, i couldnt even get dressed without help. When i walked it was sooo painful and slow. I cant wait to have a VBAC next time i hope i get to experince natural birth.

Ive heard the pain with a planned c/s is alot less.

[black_rose]

I did have a morphine block but refused a lot of the meds afterwards as painkillers and me don't mix I throw up constantly and I didn't feel like I needed them either.

[Jakabella]

My Emerg CS was fairly pain free also. I was up and about the next day and lift DD in and out of the basinet and changing nappies and walking the halls. I do have a very high pain threshold the docs told me that. I didnt take much pain meds while in hospital - just some neurofen.
Oh and I had to learn the hard way to hold my scar when coughing or laughing!! I learnt that one VERY fast!!
I was driving after a week and I rang the insurance and my doc gave me the all clear. I acctaully think I over did alot of things because I was feeling so good and I just hope that I didnt do any damage that migh flare up when im preg next time.

Kate

[*Infinity*]

I felt like I'd been cleaved open with an axe.....horrid pain. And I was chasing the nurses for pain meds to stay on top of it. I was up and about the next day....showering, short walks, picking up baby....but VERY slowly.

Makes me shudder.

[Sterla]

I acctaully think I over did alot of things because I was feeling so good and I just hope that I didnt do any damage that migh flare up when im preg next time

I was the same! I was doing almost everything I'd usually be doing. In fact, it was only because I'd read I wasn't supposed to do certain things that I held back a bit.

[ACJ]

I had no pain afterwards just like you said Sterla...discomfort and tenderness is all I felt. I had a emergency c/s with DS and have no choice with this bub because I have placenta accreta.

[Indadhanu]

LOL maybe I was a wus then LMAO... I still blame the long labour though!

[Winter]

Same here, non-elective cs after 22 hours labour and found it relatively pain free. Only really hurt to laugh and then it would kill! So that's my big tip, don't get the giggles!!

As much as it wasn't the experience I wanted, it wasn't horrific or painful or anything scary either. I was up and about the next day and I could have been doing a lot more sooner if my rather over-protective mother hadn't been around. My DH knows what I can do and lets me go for it but Mum watches like a hawk and anything heavier than the baby and she was opening a can of whoop-a$s on me!

[Heaven_Sent]

wow, u ladies are amazing, i must be a sook lol i was really in alot of pain as u would expect tho its serious major surgery.

[Sterla]

I wonder if it's just different people's pain tolerance?

[Indadhanu]

Yeah, theres that, and theres where they are at in their head too I guess. If you are full of lovely lovey hormones after the birth, you're going to feel better than if you don't. I also had other emotional stuff happening, like losing my grandfather the day I went into labour. That whole time kind of sucked, I didn't start enjoying being a mum or feel any lovey hormones for a few weeks.
I thin that makes a huge difference too?

[Sterla]

Yeah I think so. Leasha - sorry your whole day/experience was so awful.

Plus, with mine I had everything happen so quickly that I was in such a daze that I didn't even think of the possibility of pain, IYKWIM? The newness of having a baby and the constant stream of visitors was probably also a good distraction.

[Sterla]

I should also add that I didn't experience any labour (apart from a couple of hours when they tried inducing me) - so I was relatively well-rested, etc before my c/s. I am sure that helped a fair bit.