For women who have had c-sections...?

Question

What was the recovery time like? What about scarring? How big a scar, where exactly is it, how noticeable is it now?

Answer 1

Okay, let me answer each one of your questions for you one at a time. The recovery time varies from person to person, but usually the first csection is the most uncomfortable, and takes the longest to heal. Mine hurt for about a week or so after the surgery, but only a few of the days were bad. Two or three days after I got home from the hospital it was more sore than anything. Just be sure to clean it as they instruct you to and watch for signs of infection such as redness, and a yellow or green discharge coming from the incision, and a fever. You probably won't need any medicine after the first few days home.
The scar is skinny ang long at first, but after it heals, it will shrink in size and become alot thinner and shorter. Within the first year, it will turn a purplish color and then fade into your natural skin color and you will hardly notice it there at all. Some scars will be flat but mine is raised because that's the kind of scar I always get.
The scar is located right across the top of the pubic bone, where the hair line starts, and it's about 5 or 6 inches long. Your underwear or bathing suit bottom will cover it fine. The only reason I can even see it is because when mine healed, I developed freckles in it for some odd reason, and that's how I can see it.
I hope this has helped you. Good luck in your surgery. I am glad that I had mine and I wouldn't change anything.

Answer 2

Hi there. I would be happy to share with you what my situation was like. I had four C-sections and I guess that I would have to say my experience was different with each one of them. They were all planned and scheduled, I knew well in advance that I could never have a vaginal delivery.
The only real pain before the baby is born is the epidural and there again it varied from uncomfortable to "I did not even feel it!". Once the epidural is in place tho you do not feel a thing until much later. I watched my babies being born and it was wonderful! There is nothing icky or gory about it, you are draped and all you see if your baby being pulled thru a small curtained area. Like all new mothers you are too busy looking for that little face and counting fingers and toes...you know what I mean. They always let me breastfeed my babies while they were putting things back together. I understand that this is not always the case tho.
As far as pain, it returns so slowly and if you pay attention and ask for medication before the pain is actually bad, you can easily stay ahead of it. The thing is that, it only hurts when you do certain things. Dumb as this sounds, don't do what hurts! Really, you can usually find a way to do things that will not hurt and you will figure it out. Use your arms to pull yourself around, do not use your stomach muscles!
My scar is little. I don't know, I never really paid any attention to it. I was not a person who would wear a bikini anyway but the scar never bothered me. My scar is the old fashioned kind which means it goes up and down. They seldom do it that way anymore.
One thing I would say about recovery is that breastfeeding is a HUGE lifesaver! No bottles to wash, no formula to make, no nipples to sterilize, no getting up and stumbling around with a sore tummy to fix a bottle while the baby is working itself up to a real frenzy! So much easier to just reach over and pluck the baby up and cuddle down to nurse. Just change sides now and then, change diapers now and then and everyone can sleep all night from the first night. I literally never missed a nights sleep while I was nursing my babies. Nursing them at night was no more disruptive than getting up at night to go potty ten times a night! I really thought it made all the difference in the world. Especially with the first one. We could just cuddle up in bed when he was hungry and I got lots of rest and he got lots of good milk. We were a very happy twosome! With subsequent babies it was the same way. Breastfeeding makes everything much easier and less complicated. Anything that is a labor saving device in those early weeks is a good idea.
That is the key to recovery. Don't try to do too much too fast. Take care of the baby and other than that let someone else do the other things. Start recruiting before the time comes. Even a high school girl that would be willing to come over after school and do some laundry, dust and vacuum, maybe straighten up a bit and pop a casserole in the oven would be a big help!
Take care and enjoy your baby! If there is anything else I can help with just feel free to write to me.
Oh, and if they are offered in your area, take the C-section Childbirth classes. They are a huge help.
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 3

I had a C-section in September 2005 which was not planned. It took me a good month to feel better when moving around, sneezing, or coughing, but I still couldn't lift heavy things or go quickly up or down stairs for almost two months. It felt like my insides were going to come out for the first month.

My scar is about 6 inches long, about four inches below my belly button. Since they used staples to keep it closed, it did open up a little on one side a few weeks after the surgery, but is only a dark pink line now.

Answer 4

I had a C-section in 1996. The worst I experienced was a couple of days later when my legs and feet swelled up really bad. They were like that for a couple of days.
The scar is about 9 inches long and it's at the very bottom of my stomach. I barely notice it, it's a very soft pink line now.
For almost a year afterwards, I had some itching as the incision healed, but it wasn't bad. Are you facing a C-section?

Answer 5

Everyone's body is different so recovery times vary... my recovery took about 6 weeks. I went off pain medication after about a week. My scar looked pretty bad at first but almost 2 years later, it is about 6" across (at my bikini line) and a pinkish-light red color. It depends on your skin tone how it will look when it's healed (I'm really fair skinned). Hope that helps some!

Answer 6

Well, I haven't had one, but I have an aunt who has. Healing time is two to three weeks, and there will definitely be a scar. The scar's appearance will lessen over several years. It is located low on your abdomen, usually below your bikini line. You can still see her's, but she has to pull down the top of her pants to show it off.

Answer 7

The recovery for me was about a month and a half. My husband can bearly notice my scar. It is hidden by my panies. You will be okay.

Answer 8

recovery time 2-3 months fully. scar is small and hidden, its below the bikini line. the tiniest bikinis hide it even, mine is a thin line if you didnt know i had one you could never tell, mine was 4 years ago

Answer 9

Does it hurt? I knew that someday I will have to give birth to a child, but I am extremely worried. I am very scared of pain. I can't stand the fact that I am being cut. It'd make me crazy. I am so worried about what the affects I'd have to face afterwards. But I love my own child(ren), if I am lucky enough to have have any.

Answer 10

about 10 weeks to fully recover. scar is hidden by my panties..it's a very light straight white line across my bikini line.