Im Still Sore from My C-section 6 Wks Later

Different women will have different answers -- some women recover from surgery (including C-section) very easily, while others are plagued for a long time. Check out the International Cesarean Awareness Network [http://www.ican-online.org/], as well as looking for ICAN groups in your area for more information and mother-to-mother support and C-section stories.

Just remember you just went through major surgery. Are you trying to do to much to soon? Like lifting too much at once, bending over to much. Your body heals from the inside out. People see that the incisions are healed on the outside, but it doesn't mean that it's completely healed from the inside. Try to take it easy as much as possible. It's hard - you feel like you can do everything and anything, but it's not best for your body to heal.

After that said - I would call your doctor and find out what he thinks about the fluid. Just to make sure. But I think that your body is trying to heal and maybe having a hard time. Let us know what happens. Hugs

I've had two c-sections. And i truly believe that heal time is based on your support system. My first c-section was really bad. The father was so unsupportive and never around to help out. My heal time was 6 months! It was a horrible time for me, the pain and post-partem depression were unbearable at times. But, my second c-section was a breeze. The father was so supportive. He was always there to encourage me and help out when i needed it most. My heal time was one week! Sure every now and then I had a few lapses in pain, but nothing unbearable. The area around my incision is still numb after 6 years, but it isn't painful.
Try not to do too much work and find some relax time. Having a new baby and motherly chores can be a bit too much even with help around the house. That's why it is important to have alone time to recoup and clear the mind and soul.

You may need to have your incision checked. It shouldn't be leaking anything. That could indicate you have a serroma, which is a collection of fluid that needs drained. I had it with my first section and it's not something you want to ignore, as the skin will not heal properly and you'll be left with a cavity where the serroma was. It was no big deal to have mine drained, the longer you wait the worse it could be. It could also be nothing, but I would at the very least give my OB a call if I were you. Good luck feeling better, once you get that issue resolved, just give yourself time. :)

My first c-section seemed to take forever for me to get back to normal. I think a big part of it was that I pushed myself too hard to get back to normal. I still had some flinches of pain once in awhile even a year later and still had numb spots when I had my 2nd c-section 2 years later. I seemed to recover from my 2nd one quicker but it was still a little sore/uncomfortable when I went back to work after 8 weeks. Don't push yourself. I know it's hard not to but it is major surgery.

I don't know about the fluid. I've had two and neither of mine ever leaked. I think I'd call the doc and check about that. You're going to be sore for awhile. What kind of pants are you wearing? I would suggest that you wear your pants higher for a few more weeks yet. I wore elastic waist band pants (basketball shorts and work out pants and yes..even maternity pants) for about 8-10 weeks after both my c-sections. Anything else rubbed on my incision and made it sore and really uncomfortable. If you HAVE to wear lower waist band pants, put a maxi pad over your incision. It will keep the pants from rubbing it raw. You can expect to be sore for a few more weeks, at least. My first c-section took me a really long time to recover from, but that was mostly because I had complications before and after my surgery. I think it took me almost 3 months to feel "normal" again. My second one was much easier. Just take it easy and make sure you're resting.

Yes, "typical" recovery is 6 to 8 weeks, you are just at the beginning of that window. Keep in mind that not all women have typical recoveries from a cesarean or any other major surgery. Some women have pain or other complications for months. The fluid I would be sure to mention to your doctor. The numbness may not be temporary. While my kids were not born by cesarean, I did have a tram flap operation which is huge abdominal surgery and I've got an area that is still numb - 7 years later
Good luck, don't rush your recovery, it doesn't happen suddenly, it is a process and you had major surgery.

I wanted to add I was still very sore at the 6 week mark with both my c-sections. I never leaked so I would get that checked out. The numbness is very normal. It has been over a year for me and I still have no feeling in some areas. My OB told me this is normal and I may never get it back. It is a very small area.
After each of my births I slept in a recliner for well over a month because it was too painful to lie flat. We all heal at different rates.
Congrat on the new one and I hope everything is ok.
K.

Yes it's normal at 6 wks is when I culd move around with being in pain. Give it a couple more wks. My stomach stayed numb/pins n needles for like a yr. Talk with the dr at your 6 wk ck up. Goo luck

I've had two C-sections, and I never had any leaking!! By six weeks, the incision spot was totally healed but a little tender--more like a muscular thing-- but not sore nor numb. Call your doctor--something is not right. You should not be leaking anything!

i have heard that it takes MUCH longer to recover from a c-section than a regular labor and delivery; and it takes at LEAST 6 weeks for that. so i would really assume yours would be anywhere between 8-12 weeks. i mean, we are talking about serious major surgery here.

hope you got some good answers from other moms who've been there. im sure your doctor gave you some good information on watching for infection or something, so im not too worried about that i guess because it doesnt sound like you are having that problem.

i hope you feel better soon.

T.,

Each person's recovery time is going to be very different. You will eventually get back to yourself when your body is ready. I have had two c-sections with the last one two years ago and still do not feel my lower abdominal region has recovered. I also exercise several days a week and train my abs. Hang in there, c-sections are a major surgery.

I walked funny for a solid 6 weeks after my first c-section so just give yourself time. The good news is that my second c-section was completely different. I actually went home a day and a 1/2 later because I was up moving so well and really not taking much for pain at all. Of course I still had to take it easy and be careful but it was night and day!

Six to eight weeks really isn't the "norm", it's a minimum amount of healing time. For some people, it can take several months. I was still having pain and numbness at my scar 8 months after I had my c/s. I had actually just been checked out by my dr, who said it can be normal to have occassional pain for up to a year as the scar stretches to accomodate your daily activities. You could also possibly have adhesions, where the scar tissue ends up connecting your body parts together in spots, which can cause pain. This is easily remedied with a short surgery to revise the scar tissue. We found that I had adhesions when I went in for my u/s for this pregnancy, so my scar will be revised when I have the c/s with this pregnancy. Try doing some abdominal lifts and some stretching daily to see if it helps with the discomfort - these can be shown to you by your dr or by a physical therapist, and are relatively easy to do depending on how much pain you are having. As far as the numbness, I still have a whole section of my belly that is numb, and probably always will be. I am just hoping it won't get worse this time around!
Good luck to you!

Hi,
I remember thinking the exact same thing after my c-section. Due to the lack of sleep at the time, I can't remember for sure but I know I was "abnormal" for at least 8 weeks. I think I started to forget about it (i.e. it started feeling better) around 10 weeks or so. Hang in there, you can do it!

T.-
I have had two c-sections. Because I started out pretty in-shape and I started up my work-outs as soon as I could after the six weeks my c-sections have given me no problems. However, I have noticed both times that the stretching and exercising have helped out immensely. have you checked with your doctor? My incision was completely closed at six weeks and certainky not leaking any fluids, clear or not. I had a co-worker in the past that had scarring problems as a rule with her body. Due to her c-section scarring really badly, she had chronic pain. Evidently the scarring was from pelvic bone to pelvic bone and was bending the bones because it was so tight. She wound up having to have electricity run thru the scarring to help limber it up. My recommendation is that if you have checked with your doctor to make sure nothing is physically wrong, then at the very least you should start some form of stretching or exercise - if you have not already. Hope this helps!
J.

I have had 3 abdominal surgeries. 6-8 weeks is the length of time that I had to stay home and off work. I couldn't even do light duty, a desk job. I think that around 6-8 weeks it's OK to start lifting something over the weight of 10 lbs. or so. 6 mos -1 yr is the total length of time before one is fully recovered from abdominal surgery. For me the soreness didn't go away for several months. Part of my incision still itches from time to time 20 or so years later. Parts of my incision are also still mildly numb. It feels weird; not entirely numb. Nerves are cut and sometimes they don't grow back together.

Your incision will probably feel normal in a few more months. I think probablyf the reason for the itchiness and numbness is that with 3 surgeries the incisions overlap. Please do keep in mind that a c-section is major surgery. Skin, muscle, nerves are all cut and your abdominal organs are moved around. I just takes awhile for your body to get back to normal.

I would talk with your doctor about the discharge. This seems a bit late to still have that.