May 26, 2008
- There are many times when I do something strenuous and suddenly think, “OH Shit. I think my incision may be ripping apart.” And I go look in the mirror (or try, the giant floppy belly is cumbersome to move around) and all is still attached. Is this just me or is this a trait of all c-section patients?
- What is up with my bladder? I’ll be sitting there minding my own damn business and then suddenly I’m all, “AAAH. Must. Pee. Now.” And it’s one of those situations where - if I don’t hit the toilet in 7 seconds - I’ll pee on the floor. What happened to the gradual sensation of a full bladder? Will I ever see that again?
- Did my daughter always use my abdomen as a prop when getting on and off the couch/bed/recliner? And am I just now noticing because of the wound? Or is this a new things she’s doing just because she loves me so?
- I must have spent the last few days walking with a weird hunch or stance to avoid unnecessary pressure on my abdomen, because suddenly today? My back is wrenched. And I realized as I tried to straighten it up that I don’t think I’ve straighted it in five days. I’m thinking now that the hunchback walk can only have magnified my post-surgery sexiness to intolerable levels and my poor husband is a saint for finding a way not to jump my sexy body when confronted by such HOTTNESS.
- I’m sleeping better than my first few days home with NikkiZ, which is allowing the days between the nights to be a little more enjoyable. With NikkiZ I spent most of them in tears in the corner of the bedroom. This time I’m crying more in the living room and kitchen. It’s the subtle differences, really.
Lastly…
I had a hard time watching this and not joining in. I hate that about the recovery process. Letting the fun stuff happen with me on the sidelines. Especially when it requires my husband to be prancing around without a shirt on. Sigh.
Your husband reminds me so much of my cousin, that sometimes it freaks me out a little…lol!
The worst part of the post c-section recovery for me was speed bumps. My husband would forget to crawl over them at the slowest possible speed and I would nearly cry because it hurt (and maybe possibly hit him once or twice in my hormonal state). Oh how I hated that.
I’ve been on the fence about regular or c-section delivery. You are pushing me over to the regular side. Lots of pain up front but maybe a little less afterward. Crap - isn’t there a 3rd option where they can just have Scotty beam the baby out of me?
subtlety is key
hopefully in the next few days? weeks? you will be feeling much much more better!!
I haven’t had a C-Section but had major back surgery in March. Trust me, the first time out of the bed after surgery, I felt like my whole back was ripping open!!
I’m with you Karin about the speed bumps. I am ready to just slap my husband when he doesn’t crawl over those speed bumps.
My answers (in order):
1. No, it’s not just you.
2. Maybe. I sure hope so.
3. Yes, she did. And so did my son.
4. Whatever works, girlfriend.
5. Better is better, right? I slept better this time too.
Hope your recovery goes quickly and well!
I’m so jealous of baby #3 but these painful reminders are easing the green monster into the closet. I thought I would die several times a day for at least 10 days post-op with each c-section. And don’t get me started on lifting the floppy roll to see if the incision is still intact. Hang in there hon. Just look at all 3 of your kiddos and remember this is what you dreamed, waited, grieved, tried and hoped for. Best medicine on earth.
Try holding a pillow against your abdomen when you’re walking around the house - that should help you stand up straight.
I could not look at my incision, too squeamish. Had to ask random visitors to look at it for me - ugh.
You know, Elizabeth used my stomach as a launching pad when I got my tubes tied. While I had a less invasive procedure as you did, her little feet always seemed to find exactly the wrong place to be.
I love that you used the word “prancing.”
And believe me, your HOTT husband finds you HOTT no matter what the state of your belly - you just birthed his son. Hell, my HOTT boyfriend finds me HOTT even with my belly - and I didn’t birth anything, I’m just fat!
You’ll be back to normal in no time.
LOOK at the incision? What are you TALKING about? I assumed the doctor was KIDDING about looking at it. I just dabbed blindly with hydrogen peroxide when instructed to, and otherwise I deliberately looked away.
I don’t generally feel like I’m ripping apart, but I sure do hate coughting.
The peeing is happy for me, because instead of the constant “need to pee! need to pee!” feeling of pregnancy (where then I actually DON’T need to pee), post-c-section peeing is ACTUALLY NEEDING TO PEE. And each time, I think, “Bye bye, water weight!!”
I’m sure you’ve probaby already been told this, but after my c-section, my mom bought me an old fashion girdle. Not very sexy, but it sure helps hold your stomach in and lets you stand up straight.
Hang in there, you’ll be back to yourself in no time.
You have a beautiful family.
Yikes. I’m sure glad we forget about most of the pain associated with the C-section, or we’d never do it again! I caught a horrible cold with one of mine (again, I don’t even remember which one now) and found that coughing was punishment for every wrong I’d EVER done (and then some).
((((Big hugs)))))
I haven’t had a c-section but had a breast reduction and know exactly what you are talking about with the fear of rippage.
About bullet #2: Your bladder is situated close to your uterus, so it was one of the things that was likely moved around when they were busy moving things around in there. So I think it’s pretty normal for it to feel irritated for a little while. (I’m a 2-time c-section vet, and that’s what they told me). Obviously if it keeps going on or you think you have a UTI, talk to your doc about it.
Congrats!
I haven’t had a C-section, but I recently donated a kidney. As a take home gift, you get a lovely c-section-ish type scar where the actual kidney gets yanked out. My surgeon told me that no matter how badly it hurt, it was very important to stand up straight so the incision will heal properly. He said if you walk hunched over, you will heal hunched over, and be unable to stand straight EVER AGAIN. Of course, that could be a scare tactic to make me walk straight, but I guarantee it worked.
Also, hold a pillow or some cute stuffed animal against the incision when moving around. It helps hold things in place, and reduces the “ACK! I TORE MY GUT OPEN” feelings. Trust me.