Okay, so I just gave birth to my 2nd child, a healthy baby girl 10 days ago. This was a repeat c-section. My first section was perfect, no complaints...this time around..not so good! This is a 2 part question.
1. Have any of you have severe abdomnial swelling? I had severe edema when I was pregnant, my legs and feet and hands and face were horrible. The last month of pregnancy, my lower stomach below the belly button, got really hard, started to sag real bad (to the point I actually had to lift my stomach just to close my legs a little bit when sitting!). I got these really big channels on the side of my belly (I thought they were stretch marks, looks like they were like rivers of water) Anyways...I had my c-section, and the swelling was horrible, they ended up putting a drain in my belly during the section to help get rid of some of the fluid, that didnt help one bit! Now that I am home, it is horrible! I cannot lay down on my back because the pressure of the water feels like it is suffocasting my internal organs, I cannot lay on my side because the wweight of the water pulls so bad it is excruciating. Well, to my actual question! Has anyone had water retention in their belly like this and what did you do? How long did it last? What steps did you take to help get rid of it? My doc gave me a few water pills but they are not really working!
2. Has anyone heard of a bowbi (spelling not right) burn? During my c-section, aparently, I got a 3rd degree burn on my stomach from the tool they use to cauterize the insicion. They called it a bowbi. The docs said the wire that was laying across my stomach had a kink in it and in turn was arching against my stomach. The docs didnt notice until they were cleaning me up and getting me ready for recovery because it was under the sheet and of course I didnt feel anything. I was just wondering if anyone else has gotten a burn like this? It is about the size of a half dollar. It didnt hurt at first, looked really gross, all black and scabbed over but the cream they had me put on it made it all soft and the scab endedup coming off. Ever since, it has been pure hell! It burns REALLY bad! My clothes irritate it. I cannot cover it with a bandage because it makes it all soggy and goopy and gross, my doc told me to start putting neosporin on it to help it but that did the same thing, made the scab come off and hurt even more! Now, she has referred me to a wound clinic to make sure it isnt worse than she thinks it is.
Sorry to be so long winded, Im just in a lot of pain and really tired and just looking for other moms out there so I dont feel like Im the only one going thru this hell!
Thank you everyone for your advice and well wishes! It has been a trying couple of weeks but my daughter is worth it! The swelling in my stomach has gone down some, not entirely though. I ended up going to the wound clinic and they had me putting Promogran stuff on my burn and in my drain hole, It helps promote skin growth. After 1 week of doing this, he has decalred my burn healed and my drain hole is now closed! Yeah!!! ALthough the burn did leave one nasty looking scar, good thing im too big for a bikini! He did do a culture of both the burn and the drain and it turns out I have MRSA and im on a months worth of dioxicycline and im supposedly going to be cured after that! I hope no one ever gets burned during a c-section because this has been horrible! Thank you all!
This does NOT sound normal to me.
I would get second opinion IMMEDIATELY!
Do NOT take any chances.
You need to go back to the doctor honey. Good luck and I hope you get back to 'normal' soon. (I laugh when using the word normal to describe my body after a baby! :) )
hi H., i am a perinatal nurse and just had some suggestions. the water retention can be normal but usually goes away within the first few weeks at most. i do not know however if the swelling in just your abdomen is considered "normal"... the burn on your skin is from a "bovie" which is an instrument used to make vessels that are bleeding, stop bleeding. as far as the best way to let your burn heal, i'm not sure... you would probably be better off going to see the wound specialist. if your burn is truely a 3rd degree burn it may need to heal in a moist environment. i always tell people to follow their gut instict. you are the only one who has your interests truely 100% at heart. if you feel there is more going on ask for a second opinion from a different doctor. i hope that helps...renee
I agree with the moms that said, go back to the doctor! This does not sound normal at all! You need to get help immediately, this sounds like a serious condition. I would listen to the one mother that said it could be eclampsia. I had 1 c-section and had no problems with it at all. If you plan on having more children in the future, I would get a different doctor.
Hi H.,
I didn't experience any of these issues, how horrible, I am so sorry this is happening.
What I did have was an infection, with my 1st c/s, it came back 3 times and they finally had to open the wound back up to drain it. My hubby had to treat it daily, 3 times a day, it hurt soooo bad, it was a horrible infection too, I was in so much pain, swollen, fever....
The second time none of this happened though, thankfully, and I recovered much faster.
Hope this gets resolved soon for you, I am sorry I can't be any more help...
Sorry to hear that you're going through a rough time. There is a homeopathic remedy for burns called Cantharis that I have used many times. Raisin Rack would have it.It is tiny tablets that you dissolve under your tongue. Really helps with burn pain and speeds healing. You are in my prayers.
Please bug your dr. about the swelling! My sister had a c-section 2 years ago and had horrible swelling, so much that I almost didn't recognize her, but because her blood pressure was fine during and after pregnancy the dr. didn''t suspect anything and told her it would go away. Four weeks after her c-section she had a seizure and we nearly lost her. SHe had eclampsia, like preeclampsia(I understand it's pre only before birth after it's eclampsia)I don't want to scare you but please call your dr. again and again. I hope you feel better soon! Congrats on your baby!
I am so sorry that you are having this trouble after your c-section. I had two c-sections myself and I never went through any of this. I would suggest doing as your doctor says though and go see a wound specialist because they may have goofed something up inside that is causing the pain. I had a little bit of water retention after my c-sections and all I did was down tons of water to help me go pee. If the water pills don't help by themselves try drinking a lot and I mean a lot of water and see if it helps any. If that doesn't help any then you may need to see a specialist for that as well.
D.
I am 31 and have been married for almost 12 yrs. My husband and Ihave 3 boys ages 10,7 and 4.
I am sorry you had so much trouble! I am a surgery tech student, it was a Bovi that did that to you, and apparently the grounding pad wasn't attached properly or you wouldn't have recieved a burn from the wire. The grounding pad is suck to you elsewhere to PREVENT burns like this from happening. I am so sorry this happened to you!
I am soo sorry about what happen. I have had c-sections too. I did not have any problems though. Just keep positive, take care of yourself(rest, drink lots of water and try and eat veggies and fruits. I just found out that insurance will cover postpartum doulas if the doctor writes a prescription for one. I do postpartum and labor doula. There is also a very good wound care site. I will get from work tonight and email it to you. I hope the hospital is paying for your bills.
Hugs
Jo
Hugs to you, my dear! Congratulations on the new baby girl! I never had a C-section so I can't really help with your question, but you sound so miserable I just want to love on you a little! I really think you need to get back to the Dr. and PUSH for answers. Your pain and swelling do not sound normal. If the burn is still making that much goop, I doubt neo-sporin will help. Is there a health food store nearby where you could ask for tea-tree oil? I know that really stops the pain on burns and would help avoid infection. Get the purest form of tea-tree oil you can (it may also be called Melaleuca Oil). Hopefully someone else will have more answers and I hope you feel better soon!
I first wanted to say I'm sorry you are having a rough time. I have not had a c section myself, but wanted to suggest taking a lot of vitamin c or eating a lot of oranges/grapefruit, which are known to helping get rid of excess fluid. Take care of yourself mama!
Hi, H..
I'm about to have a repeat c-section. Not so thrilled to know what you went through, are still going through. Do you have a pump suctioning your incision at home. My friend had problems with her incision and they put in a pump. Nurses would come every other day to change it and clean it. Maybe that isn't the problem in your case, but it sounds like you need more help getting healed. I'd annoy the doctor until they figured out something to do for you. Can you put pillows under your belly when you lay on your side? Maybe that would help you with the sleeping problem. How on earth are you managing your toddler, too!?
The burn injury is heinous! I think the wound clinic is a good thing, but, wow, I can't believe that happened to you! I feel for you and hope everything starts healing quickly. My best advice is to demand more help from the doctor and keep demanding it until things are better. I hope it is soon. Congrats on your new baby (and the first, too)
J.
Hi H.
I never got a burn from a c-section but did get one when they operated on my shoulder, on the underside of my arm. It hurt so bad, I cried. They finally put a clear piece of material that is mostly water on it, to protect and cool it down and it took about three months for it to completely heal.
Wondering if they make plastic shields you could cover it with to keep your clothes from rubbing it. They make ones for fingers so might check to see if they make ones for other wounds.
Good luck
Hi H.,
This sounds like a very difficult experience. There is an organization that may be a good resource for you. The International Cesarean Awareness Network or ICAN can be found online and may have some beneficial information for you and your recovery. Best of luck to you and your family.
Congrats on your new baby. I too gave birth to a baby girl via C Section on May 20! I am not having any of the issues that you discussed, but I am having some severe swelling in my feet an ankles. I had some swelling during pregnancy that I though was really bad, but now, I would much rather have that back. I had to go and buy some special sandles because all I could put on my feet were my bunny slippers that I wore in the hospital. Anyway, they told me that the swelling is due to all of the IV fluids. I received 8 bags of Saline in 36 hours. Fast forward 10 days, and I am still swollen just as much as I was when I left the hospital. Not sure if this could be your issue too, but just thought I would try to shed a little light on it.
I had a c section and it was fairly uncomplicated. I did have extremely severe swelling when I was pregnant. The nurses at the hospital recommeded that I drink Propel to help the swelling go down. I can't remember why, but it was suppose to help. Stay away from salty foods and snacks. Keep drinking water. I know it sounds weird, if you're retaining water why drink more? It helps you pee and the more you pee the more water you're getting rid of. I think it took my swelling and pitting about two weeks to go down. It was almost a month before it totally went away. I've never heard of the burn thing...sorry I can't help you much there.
It looks like you got some advice on the burn, but not so much on the swelling. My c-section was fine (thank you, Lord!), but a friend of mine had swelling at her incision. It ended up being an infection & she had to get it drained a couple of times (and antibiotics). I'd call your OB.
Good luck!!!
I to had 2 c-sections with horrible swelling! Most of my swelling was in my legs and ankles. My tummy was swollen but it didn't seem to hurt too bad. Do you think you have gas pains? When do those go away? As others have said if you are in this much pain I would go back to the Dr and make sure your incesion and your belly is ok. You need to make sure you are ok to take care of those babies!! Best of luck take good care off you!!
