Is a C-section really that bad?

Hi

I know you want advice in terms of a C section and recovery, but I would like to offer you some information in terms of a natural birth and my experience as well

I had a natural birth and it really was not bad, I used Hypnobirthing techniques and gavve birth to my little girl without an epidural or any pain meds and managed just fine.

I also had a very quick recovery, I was up and walking one and a half hours after having given birth and although I tore and had a few stiches, this was never painful, I dint take single pain killer after the birth.

I had my little girl on the friday afternoon and was home by sunday morning. Able to drive, bend, sit ,walk etc straight away.

Good luck with your decision.

Dont want to start an e-war herE as thats not the purpose.

@Vix - I believe Laliek asked about personal experiences so I dont understand why you think that the people that had no pain from a c-sec are lying or have forgotten the pain? Why would you think that they are lying? I truly have had no pain from my csec and it went well. It was tender but not painful. I ceratinly am not lying or have forgotten because that was the one thing that stayed with me after my csec. I kept saying to my DH that I cant believe I have no pain because I was actually expecting to be doubling over since its a major surgery. So clearly that cannot eb because I have forgotten.

Think each one of us must speak for ourselves instead of calling others liars or mushy brains. just because we had no pain.

Hi Laliek

I had my c-section 3years ago..

The whole experience was wonderful (even though I would have loved a normal birth).

Look it is a major operation so it must be sore, but it really wasn't that bad for me. I was really lucky i guess.
They took the catheter out the next morning so that I could go take a bath and walk around. The first steps was kind of sore but after walking around alot it begame more comfortable.

The day after the birth i actually sat on my bed with both my legs bended and crossed over each other near my body, like a child would sit in ring a ring a rosies lol.
It was itchy and stiff, and the main rule is take your voltaren when they offer it even if you don't feel like it. It helps a lot.

My tummy was back to normal and flat within 2/3weeks, but I have always been flat so i was really lucky.

Although I didn't experience horrible pain, I did start to bleed internaly where my c-sec scar was and I had to go back to theatre for them to re-open the wound and drain all the blood, and had a drain tube in for 2days. This op was definitely more painful than my c-sec. But I must say i was a busy body and 6 days after my c-sec, me and DH went to watch rugby at loftus and i walked that whole time to the parking and climbing stairs with no problem. I started to drive just before 2weeks, so I think me being so busy, probably made me bleed internal.

So I would definitely say rest as much as you can, and look after yourself.

I am still pro natural and would try and do VBAC second time around if I can, but at the end it's your decision and not every women or every c-sec is the same.

Hi, As Vix said c-sections are really painful and you will have to take pain relief. Even though you are mobile from the next day, you will still be in pain.

I also had to 2 c-sections. The 1st one was really bad, as my baby was in NICU for 12 days. I couldn't rest as I was with her most of the time, sitting in a chair.

Your tummy also doesn't go back into shape quickly. You will have to use a tummy belt to help you tummy go flat again.

Laliek,

There are women who will tell you they had a wonderful C-sec and no pain, they're either lying or they forgot the pain. I'm sorry but the recovery is sore.

I've had 2 C-sections, the first one wasn't too bad but it is very sore and the recovery is hard for the first week at least. Everytime you cough, laugh, sneeze etc you feel like your wound might just burst open and it's sore!

It makes it very difficult to bend over to bath/change baby in the first few days, you loose all control over your abdominal muscles so you have to use your arms to push up from chairs or beds, it's tough I'm not gonna lie but by 6w i had forgotten all about the pain and carried on with my life.

Before i found out i was having twins the second time i already knew i wanted a VBAC, not to be righteous or because i feel i 'missed out' on something but because i was sure the recovery of Natural birth was going to be much easier.

However i had to have a C-sec again. Now this time made me even more pro natural because i developed a clot on the wound at 2w, that was way more painful than the C-sec recovery. it doesn't happen to everyone but it is a potential issue to every C-sec recovery. I cried hard tears when that clot developed, it was one of the worst pains in my life.

so having had 2 C-sec and no naturals i would still say go natural if you can, you might have more discomfort at birth but you heal quicker which makes it more conducive to looking after a newborn.

Good luck with your descision

Hi Laliek,

I can tell you my experience (however I cannot comment on which one is better as I have neevr had natural)

Here are the answers to your questions based on my experience:
1. did you ladies that had a c-section really find it that sore and bad?
My csection went really well and i can truly say that I never felt excruciating pain. I had a morphine pump for the first 24 hours and I was taking my pills regularly so thats probably why I never felt the pain. It was tender but not painful. I walked up straight the next day and had a shower by myself. I was walking up and down the corridors with no hassle (obviously I could not sprint but I had no hassle in even taking stairs)

2. Was the recovery process difficult?
I recovered very quickly and the tenderness went away at the end of week 2.

3. How long did it take for you to recover?
By the time I got home, I could do everything that I used to do. I did try and rest but I could do the cooking cleaning and I even bathed my baby by myself with no hassles. The scar was already healed by the time I had my 6 week checkup. The scar on the inside takes a bit longer to heal but I dont know how long that took as I felt fine all the time.

3. How soon were you on your feet?
Day 2

4. Does it really interfere with getting back into shape after the birth?
I got back to pre-pregnancy weight when my baby was 5 months. However I was not really following any diet plans and allowed myself time for the weight to fall off. I did put on some weight after that but was totally urelated to the csec (it was more because I was pigging out at the midnight feeds ) Lol!

I trust that you will make the right decision for yourself.

Hi ladies

Now I know that this topic caused major havoc before so please don't reply on here if your looking to start a war regarding c-sections vs natural etc. It's not my intention - I purely want to know from personal experience.

I've been pro-natural all the way ever since I tried to get pregnant, however lately I've been considering a c-section. Now I'm well aware what the risks and pros and cons are. But from personal experience, did you ladies that had a c-section really find it that sore and bad? Was the recovery process difficult? How long did it take for you to recover? How soon were you on your feet? Does it really interfere with getting back into shape after the birth?

Just want to hear some general replies!

Thank you!