Coughing and C-section how did you cope??

Hi girls, I am booked for an elective C-section on the 10th September and have a really bad tickly cough which has exsited since the 24 week pregnancy, there is no ryhme or reason for it or when it comes but when it does I cough for anything from 15-20 mins up to hours even with cough lollies, sipping on water etc, I have been to the doc's on numerous occasions and had a couple of scripts of penicillian which helped get over the really bad stuff but it still lingers on, to the point (TMI) I dry retch and sometimes heartburn stuff comes up.

So my ??? are has anyone had a really annoying, dry retch type cough they can't control and been under the knife and how did you cope afterwards with the pain from the coughing.

Yup sounds exactly like my last c-section.

My advice - drink lots of water after the operation. Take all the drugs offered to you afterwards. When you cough - try to relax as much as possible - and brace your tummy for support.

I won't lie - it hurts!!! But you will be ok.

Cuddle a pillow when you cough as well.

3 words darl...... pelvic floor muscles.... mine have been really strong for years! so if you havent been doing your exercises i suggest you start, you'll be amazed how much you need them after csect. For moving, sitting up, getting out of bed...peeing etc

Pillow held up close to your tummy.. This happened with my 2nd c/s.. oh it hurt.. but you soon learn a way of keeping your tummy still..

yes i have had a cough after c section I suggest you cuddle a pillow applying pressure on the scar when you cough. This is the best i can suggest after 3 c sections. I have found this to be quite usefull my most recent c section was on 31st july 2 and ahalf weeks ago.

My last c/s was 7 weeks ago and i found it alot easier to cough or sneeze if you just bend over...lol...at about a 90 degree angle and arch your back....never felt a thing when i needed to cough

I had a really nasty cough come on after my C=Section which was a problem because you CAN cough so hard that your burst the wound open (internally or externally). I saw a dr who recommended taking codeine as it is a cough suppressant. It works an absolute charm.

I suggest you see your dr again to discuss this as you may need more or a different type or ABs or even to be checked for asthma as well. Like the other ladies said, make sure you brace before you cough, but you may need to use a suppressant as well.

The nurses told me I needed to cough every half hour after mine to help get the anaesthetic out of my system. I did this after mine - Draw your knees up in bed and brace your wound with a pillow and switch on your pelvic floor muscles.

yep, I did what the others suggested and tried to put a pillow over my tummy and brace it a little. I would do lots of short little coughs instead of big ones too.

Nic

I second the Codeine suggestion, it works like a charm...

Hi Ladies,I also recommend the codine,and besides holding onto my belly with my arms,the physiotherepist that saw me after my c section gave me a long bandage type thing,similar to a tube,had lots of stretch, but heaps of support for the belly after surgery,I just don`t know what they call them,because I`d had baby number five my tummy had sagging near to my scar,it really helped me out pulled my tum in and kept a firm hold of everything,you could probably ask the doctor,for some advice too. good luck.

Hi Blackduckies

i had a cough for 6 weeks until a few weeks ago and my c/s is booked for tomorrow so i was really worried about this also - i went to my ob and he gave me this inhaler thing - called Spiriva which is actually for people with Emphasema (sp?). I was worried as it said in the instructions that pregnant people shouldnt take it unless their dr had fully discussed the risks vs benefits before - mine hadnt mentioned anything about risks.... anyway after 4 days of taking it (once per day) my cough had disappeared. Maybe ask your doc about it .... they may have more info than mine did!

good luck

Julie x

Thanks for the replies girls,
Plonkeemumma hope your CS went well, I will be asking about the inhaler, as the codeine has'nt worked very well for me. I am trying to cough gently but it is nearly impossible when it comes it is voilent.
Mum of many I may look at the bandage option as well afterwards it sounds like a really good plan.
Marydean:(excatly what I am afraid of tear the stitches.
Gudism it is a really scary thought of top of everything else, I am trying to stay away from sick people but it's nearly impossible. I am still hoping that I go into labour beforehand and it all just happens smoothly and there won't be the need fo the cs:doh:(wishfull thinking) but you just never know, I guess.
Thanks heaps again girls!!!!