How Painful Was Your C-Section Recovery?
One of the things that worries women the most about having a c-section is how painful the recovery will be. 
The c-section procedure itself is not painful, however your c-section recovery can be quite painful. But having a c-section is different for every woman. Some women breeze right through their recovery while others experience a lot of pain.
If you’ve had a c-section, how painful was your c-section recovery?
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I had three c-sections. One in 2004, 2006, and 2009. The first two were VERY painful. Recovery was HORRIBLE. So for the third I expect the same. The first two were in Turlock, CA. The third was in Snellville, GA. Well Southern Hospitality won!!! First I dreaded getting the catheter because that was HORRIFIC PAIN. Well not the last one. They put it in AFTER the epidural! Made all the difference in the world. Next they gave me oxygen during the last c-section. SO RELAXING. Didn’t get that the first two times. They made me get up 24 hours after having the baby and walk the third time. Sound awful? No! The longer you wait, the more painful it will be. Yes it was painful to get up but I was helped by two nurses, slow walk, help to use the bathroom. The next day, I felt great and did it all on my own. I walked on and off the remainder of my hospital stay. No one could believe how great I felt by the time of check out except for one thing. My first two c-sections, no solid food for the first 48 hours. Boy was I hungry, but it was better than my third c-section. They gave me solid foods right away. The result???? PAINFUL and SICKENING CONSTIPATION AND IMPACTED BOWELS!!! I thought I was going to die. Needed and enema to fix it. So a few more laxatives later at home and all was well. I didn’t want any of those c-sections, but had to have all of them according to the doctors. Hope some of my pain, gives you information you need to have less pain during your c-section. Oh get plenty of rest while at home and don’t go up and down steps like I did. It will eventually catch up with you if you don’t rest and do no lifting and no steps!!!
Hey Theresa, thanks for your great comments! Ah, southern hospitality, I love it as well
But you touched on so many great points 
You’re so right about the catheter, getting it after your epidural is important, I’ve preached that so many times but hospitals just seem to do it the hard way. That’s why it’s so important for moms to have an idea of what happens so they can request their needs, just like with the catheter.
Thanks for the insight!
My emotional recovery was worse than my physical recovery. I was scared into a c-section by my OB, and as a result, was not able to breastfeed, and I felt like a failure as a mother, and a failure as a woman. The left side of my incision gave me tugging, and burning pains for about a year, but thank God that has gone away completely. Now 16 months later, I am feeling great physically, and emotionally, I am doing much better, but still feel a little regret. We have been talking about having another, and more than anything, I hope my next birth will be a VBAC.
Jessica, so glad you are doing better, really, that’s got to be a tough thing for you. If you really want a vbac make sure you pursue it. Most doctors are hesitant if you’ve already had one c-section. I’m curious as to why your OB wanted a c-section in the first place. But never, never feel you are a failure, you did the best you could to look out for your baby’s health and that makes you a great mom. Good luck with your VBAC
I was terrified of having a c-section, but it ended up not being bad at all. I just wasn’t prepared for the recovery afterwards. The c-section was my first real surgery and I didn’t realize that I would need as much time to recover as I did. That wasn’t part of my plans. Everyone said the big thing would be to get moving afterwards and I just didn’t realize it would be as hard to get moving as it was. I was up and moving in the first 24 hours and kept at it afterwards, but it took a good 1-2 weeks of healing before things got a lot easier. I’m having another child in a few months, and this time I am planning things better and planning on taking more time to focus on my own recovery, which I didn’t do last time.
Hey Susan,
It does take you by surprise, my c-section was also my first surgery and it really does take you by surprise and it helps so much to prepare. Will you be having another c-section?
My c-section left me with post traumatic stress disorder. I am still recovering. The epidural was administered by a trainee under supervision. She injected the wrong type of anaesthetic by mistake. I had no pain relief whatsoever and when I tried to tell them this they dismissed me and told me that it would start working soon. The pain of the surgery was unbearable, I thought I was going to die. I eventually went into shock. They tried to top up the anaesthetic, dowse the wound with topical anaesthetic and the list of drugs they gave me was a whole sheet long. The only effect this had was that I was too drugged to tell them how much it hurt. I was paralysed on the table, cut open with people dragging my baby from my body and I felt every part of it but couldn’t talk. My partner thought I was not going to make it and the trainee looked very scared too. There are no words for how much this hurt me. I felt violated. Being able to feel four hands inside me drag my baby from my body is a nightmare that wakes me many nights. Counselling and medication is starting to help me to heal but I don’t think I will ever be the same. Our plans for other children will never be realised and at times it is a struggle to deal with the ongoing trauma and reminders of the most horrible day of my life.
Lisa, there are no words to express how awful I feel for you. I completely blame the hospital for their negligence and then dismissing you was worse still. I’ve never heard of an anesthesiologist, training or otherwise, not ask the patient or test for complete numbness. Obviously it happens but it’s completely mind boggling. I’m glad that counseling is able to help you. Thank you for letting us hear your story.
I am at home on day 3 after my emergency csection. The pain is horrible, but most of all not being able to do the things I had wanted to with my daughter is the worst. I hate asking my husband to do EVERYTHING for me. With my emotions up and down it is even harder. I tried to walk to much (which was really only a few feet at a time, three times a day) and split open the left side of my stitches. ouch. I definetly didnt realize how much recovery is involved since I usually heal from anything pretty quickly. I am reading everything I can on the internet to try and find out how long until I will be able to actually walk again, but so far no luck. I just read Lisa’s post and can’t even believe what she went through. I am so sorry Lisa, this should never have happened to you and I couldn’t even imagine. That is like a worst nightmare and you actually lived through it. Horrible. I am so happy you are okay and I even if she was a trainee, every single person in that room should have there licenses revoked. Totally Barbaric.
Hey Tiffany, I’m so sorry to hear you split your stitches open. Walking is good and I’m proud of you for trying your best. Usually walking a few feet isn’t enough to split open your stitches but unfortunately it happened and that must be so discouraging for you. You are really going to have to take it easy now. I’d limit your walking to just once a day, but you may have to wait a week or so before getting back into it. I’m sure your doctor can advise you on that.
Try not to feel helpless and discouraged. Keep your daughter in bed with you and try to enjoy those moments as much as you can. I know you hate to be so dependent on your DH but unfortunately it can’t be helped at the moment.
I can tell you are a trooper though, so try to stay encouraged. This too shall pass and you should be feeling better as each day passes.
***hugs***
My first c section was terrible,,,,had a general anesthetic, was shocked with the whole experience and lots of pain afterwards ( some owning to extra back problems I got with the pregnancy). All in all it took me months to recover both emotionally and physically.
My second pregnancy I wanted a vbac, but beause my son ended being 4.5kgs I was not given much option. I let the pains come naturally at 39wks and went strainght to hospital when they arranged for a c section ( epidural this time).
Nevertheless it was a way better experience. My pain was minimal and by day 3 that I left the hospital I felt great.
One week after arriving home I took up again redecorating my flat!
Thus now I am more at peace with the idea of c sections and if I would require a third, I would go in without hopefully too much trouble.
Hi Gigi I’m so glad your second c-section was better. Having an epidural helps and with less pain that makes it a LOT better
Thanks so much for your feedback. Elizabeth