ELCS Pain Question

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Hi,

I will be having an ELCS in April and have been looking lots on here for other people's experiences. I've seen a lot of threads where posters have said they were 'sore' and had difficulty moving, sitting up, standing etc after c Section but am wondering what kind of pain it is? Is it comparable to deep down muscle ache of having overdone the sit ups? Or stinging? Burning? Does it hurt when you're sitting/ laying down or just when moving around? I know it sounds like an odd question but I'm more worried about the unknown than the actual pain itself!
Any advice appreciated!

[Mrswellyboot]

I had an EMCS and the pain is bearable if you take pain relief four hourly. On the second night I didn't have it on time and I was really,really sore.

It was like a pulling sensation for me, also tender. I couldn't bend etc. you will need help and railings to get in and out if bed.

It is manageable pain though. Try not to worry,

[bellablot]

April will see me having a 3rd ELCS and not looking forward to the pain at all. It's definitely not like any muscular post exercise pain. It's harsh and you need to manage it with the painkillers they give you. It does get better however and I was off the painkillers altogether after two weeks on both occasions. It hurts to move, full stop, you don't realise how much you use those stomach muscles until they've been cut open.

I would take peppermint tablets into hospital as the trapped wind after is excruciating. And also I nearly fainted twice when taking the 'first' shower 24 hours after so make sure your DH is there supervising baby and keeping an eye on you too.

I will say the ELCS itself is a great experience, very calm and relaxed, enjoy every minute!

Good luck OP!

[Mrswellyboot]

When you are lying down, it doesn't hurt as much. Plenty of rest is my advice. I was a lot better after four nights than the first few. Really took ten weeks before I could think about swimming. Went for a twenty min walk one week after.

[TheAuthoress]

I didn't really have any pain after my elcs. The area is really tender and you can't make any sudden movements but that was it. I still took the pain meds though so I assume they covered whatever pain there may have been. It's more debilitating than painful IMO.

My emcs (3yrs before my elcs) was horrific so I do have something to compare it to, and don't just have a really high pain threshold or something. That felt like my insides were about to fall out and that I'd done a million sit ups. But IMO that was from going through 20 hours of contractions and labour before having the section, rather than the section itself.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Thanks! I've never had an operation, broken bone, severe injury or anything like that so I don't really have any experience of pain which is a bit daunting!

[Gingeroo]

After my EMCS I was off the hard core drugs and only taking paracetamol, and only when it got really bad, by the 3rd day.

I found the most painful bits sitting down, standing up and walking up any sort of incline. That was a real strain on the stomach muscles. Oh yes, climbing into the bath to have that first shower was VERY tricky.

Just take it easy and if it hurts don't do it. Best of luck!

[MyDarlingClementine]

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot


Get this cot or one like it, so you can relax in bed and not have strain of sitting up to put baby in and out of moses.

I would have been painless but I did a turn put all my weight on my side and pulled something and that caused nasty burning. if it wasn't for that I would have been pain free.

It was more tiredness for me. But I made my life as easy as possible, I researched cots, got a v pillow which was also in valuable. and so on.

put a step by bath to help you climb in and out. worse thing for me was a nasty faint I had, when I first tried to walk to loo in hospital which is quite common, thank goodness i had help.

[MyDarlingClementine]

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot

[KristinaM]

I also found it very hard to turn over in bed and get in and out of bed. You mustn't do anything that involved lifting and twisting.even something light like a full kettle or a baby.

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

I've had two emcs and no pain afterwards. No painkillers required. May not be as bad as you imagine. Trapped wind was the only discomfort.

[watchingout]

My ELCS was 17 years ago and I have forgotten the details of the incision pain. BUT...the trapped wind was like nothing I have ever experienced. Take LOADS of mints and fart lots

Good luck for the birth - your baby will help you through it