Pain after a c/s

[kas3]

I had an emergency c/s under general anesthetic five weeks ago. It wasn't a 'true' emergency (as in "get this baby out NOW") but due to complications I had to have a general anesthetic rather than spinal block as originally planned.

I expected recovery to be painful, but even so, I was quite surprised at how much pain I was in those first couple of days. Getting off the bed was quite tough, I had to go super-slow, and wanted to give up on more than one occasion. (By the time I left the hospital five days later, I was able to move around etc. quite well.)

My question is this, would a c/s with a spinal block be less painful? Or pretty much the same?

[kadownie]

hi,

I'm not sure.. I am assuming that you were in labour before you c-section- when you labour before it does take a lot longer to recover.. I too had an emergency c-section, but with an epidural.. after labour- I had a hard time with pain and recovery.. it was awful!

I hope you are able to rest and recover both physically and emotionally!

[TwoGems]

I had an epidural and spinal block and I felt the same as you have both described - very sore first few days (and lots of drugs to boot) and slowly got better.

[twinmummee]

Hi,

I think I must have been really lucky. Had an elective c/s for our girls as they were both in breech position. Had a spinal block done and to be honest did not have much pain at all, by the Sunday I was only taking Panadol and that was twice a day morning and night - more to keep the midwives happy than anything.

Everybody is different, and like I said I think I was lucky because I wouldn't say I have a high pain threshold or anything....

Leanne

[JabberJaw]

I had a C/S with a spinal block in march. I have to say, the pain was quite unbearable! By the time i left hospital ( day 5 ) i was able to get round but i think after 4 vaginal births i wasnt expecting the pain, lack of mobility i had....
Plus i didnt move around as much as i was suppose to because i was lapping up the attention from hubby and the inlaws :laughing:
But after about 2 weeks i was hanging out washing sweeping etc, just couldnt lift the washing to carry in nor mop (side to side hurt!)
I also had my tubes tied at the same time so maybe this is why i was in alot more pain.

[kas3]

Kylie - I only had very mild contractions. So mild that I didn't even notice them until the midwife pointed them out.

I guess I was just hoping that if I decide to have a second child, and I get the elective c/s I want, that the recovery would be easier. Sounds like it might be a case of wishful thinking lol.

[BazzasMum]

Kas - yor recovery sounds pretty much like mine. I had the spinal block with the morphine - spent most of the first day :barf:. Can't say it was the best way to enjoy a new baby... And don't forget you ended up with other complications which wouldn't have helped your recovery.

I would much rather have VB than another c-section any day!

[mumof2brats]

i had a emergency c/s with seth i was given a epidural,i recovered quite well, the first few days were hard.
but when i had my second c/s with brock they gave me a spinal block and i think it was much harder recovering from that,but after 5 weeks i had no pain and was doing exercises like sit up's and getting on the exercise bike.
i was determined to heal as quickly as i could.
i hated not being able to move around.
i drove dp up the wall as he kept telling me that i should be taking it easy and that i was pushing myself to hard,but i had a 2yr old and a newborn to look after and i cant do that laying in bed all day....
i honestly would not do it again as i dont think my body could hack being cut open again.2 kids is enough for us.

[yummyyumyums]

Bub #2 was an em. c-sec. I was given an epidural during labour and then topped up before the c-sec. Recovery was painful and slow. Bub #3 was a planned c-sec. I was given a spinal block this time and recovery was fast and basically pain free. I went home on day 3.

[squiglet]

I had a spinal with my cs, after a longish labour. It took me a long time to get around and not look like a cripple. I took all the drugs they gave me and then weeks later I was still into the panadols.

[just her chameleon]

I had a long labour, DD was distressed so I had a 'true' emergency CS. They gave me a spinal, as I refused a general (scared the hell out of me to go completely under).
I went home on day 3, but was quite shocked at how much pain I was in. The first night, i couldn't move - it hurt too much. Couldn't roll over in bed for about 1 1/2 weeks, even when I could it hurt like hell. I had no idea how much it would. BUT thats the main thing i had trouble with - turning anywhere side to side... Like getting in and out of the car. But getting straight up, like from a chair at home - I was fine.

[Aleesha]

I had a spinal block with my c/s and i was the same as you! the first 5 days were so painful i didnt think i would ever feel pain free again ;) but i did.
i was the same with bed would just want to stay there instead of even attempting to move cause it felt like i had been attacked by a shark :yes:

[SPC]

Hi,

I think I must have been really lucky. Had an elective c/s for our girls as they were both in breech position. Had a spinal block done and to be honest did not have much pain at all, by the Sunday I was only taking Panadol and that was twice a day morning and night - more to keep the midwives happy than anything.

Everybody is different, and like I said I think I was lucky because I wouldn't say I have a high pain threshold or anything....

Leanne

I was amazed how little pain I was in, and how quickly I was up and about. I'm 2.5 weeks now and taking no pain relief. I only took panadol last week, and that was because I had a wound infection. I suspect they are slightly more 'gentle' if you are awake than if you are under a GA too. I think my midwives had excellent pain management protocols. The dosed me up for the first couple of days, but got the balance between pain relief and fuzzy headedness just right. It's the only good thing I have to say about them! I was fairly fit beforehand, which I think helped. The woman in the bed next to me was obese and had a much harder time of things. But then I think they probably give the same dose of pills to the 60kg people as the 120kg people...

[quitecontrary]

I had an "emergency" c/s with dd. I had a spinal block. My recovery was okay. It is a major operation whichever way you look at it, huge incision into the abdomen. As one book I read put it, it the equivalent (for our bodies) to recovering from a major car accident.
I was out of hospital on day 4, but luckily we all went down to stay at my parents for what ended up being 6 weeks (we were in the process of moving into our house, it wasn't worthwhile to go back to our onebedroom laundry free apartment). I remember walking very slowly in the ward, and making it about 200m outside one day. At "home" I didn't have to do any housework and was able to take it slowly in my recovery.