Hello reddit, I have a few questions about planned C-sections. I had an emergency C-section about a year ago with my first born. Is there a difference between the two? What should I expect if so? what should I pack? When did they give you, your date? Also if you had 2under2 how did that effect the healing process?

Thank you for your help 🙂.

the best thing for me was never looking at it, until now.

Is anyone else wondering why there's so many C-section surgeries being pushed/forced? I was searching for a DR willing to let me try pushing naturally or vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) I was under the impression I had found one since his staff was telling me it's fine to try pushing since he pulled my files from my previous 2 C-sections. He said they had cut my uterus in a way which would've allowed me to push again. However I was still scheduled for a C-section. I was under the impression that was if pushing failed but now he's telling me I have to transfer to a different facility if I want to try pushing. I only have 4 weeks until my due date and feel trapped. I've had high WBC count for my entire pregnancy and I've had to ask my dr to keep investigating bc he doesn't seem too worried about it. I'm considering a switch in Dr so late now because I'm uncomfortable with the surgery being performed by him. If my WBC is already high before going into surgery and I do get an infection or something happens would be just ignore that since my WBC (White Blood Cells) are already high and have been throughout my entire pregnancy? After doing some research at the beginning of my pregnancy I found out that Drs/hospitals will make up to 50% more money off of C-sections vs Vaginal birth. C-sections can cause several complications and for it to be pushed the way it has been is disconcerting. Many first time mothers are being offered C-sections just because it's "easier" however the recovery time is 4-6 weeks longer and it allows other complications to arise. Child birth in and of itself is not easy, but I hope a new mother out there being told C-section is the best way to go can please look into it. Do your research and trust your gut. Get a second opinion if you want to but just remember that this surgery is incentivised much more to Drs and hospitals. When looking for a Dr be sure to check the hospital they're affiliated with and check their C-section rate. Many hospitals are hiding their rating from the public but from what research Ive done about 1/3 pregnancies will end in C-section. Be careful ladies. God bless.

I have had 2 c sections, during my last, the doctor said my uterus was binded to my bladder. I would like to try having a 3rd baby but concerned about the long term effects of them having to cut through my bladder and uterus again. Has anyone else been through something similar? Thinking about making an appointment to talk to a doctor but wanted to see if anyone has had a similar experience 🙏🏼

marking as NSFW so people aren’t alarmed by my belly 🥲.

7 days post c section

does anyone know what these white / lighter marks on my belly could be from? i’m worried there’s restricted blood flow happening that could cause me harm.

i just noticed them today after showering. they have since faded about 20min after the shower.

i tried googling, nothing came up.

i saw my OBGYN today for my 1 week c section follow up, and of course this showed up tonight so i didn’t have the opportunity to ask her this morning.

i went to get in the shower and my whole stomach and back are covered in hives. i called my triage line two hours ago and haven’t heard anything.. has this happened to anyone else? my last shower was about 24 hours prior and i haven’t changed soaps or laundry detergent so i don’t think i’m having a reaction to those things..

They want to induce me between 34-37 weeks, due to high risk of preclampsia etc. Should I ask them for a csection or will induction go somewhat smoothly? Im a first time mum.

I’m 10 days pp and over the last week my bleeding got lighter and subsided Saturday. I just got up to make a bottle and felt like I was peeing myself and it was blood. I now have a fresh heavy flow and am passing clots. Is this normal for the bleeding to stop and start again? Im going to call the office in the morning but was just curious if anyone else experienced this.

Beyond the obvious, I’m on day 6 post c section and I’ve had this vague feeling of being unwell. Like…I could be a functioning member of society, move around etc and it’s not devastating, but I constantly feel dehydrated, cold to the bone, my stomach is unsettled and I don’t have much of an appetite. Has anyone else experienced this? Do I just need to ride it out? It’s almost like I’m coming down with some illness but…never actually coming down with anything lol.

My supply is suffering greatly, probably due to the dehydration and non-appetite. Could it be the pain meds? Only taking Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Colace, and Senna laxative. Probably dropping the laxative because it’s definitely adding to the stomach being unsettled.

I’m 7 weeks post partum and my stomach besides some tenderness hasn’t really bothered me much in the last few weeks and js healing well. My period started a few days ago and my abdominal muscles are very sore and tender where I assume they were separated. I read you can have endometriosis if your actual scar hurts and that’s not the case here. Anyone have something similar? How many cycles did it last? Also when did the swelling and numbness above c section scar go away?

I’m 7 weeks post partum and my stomach besides some tenderness hasn’t really bothered me much in the last few weeks and js healing well. My period started a few days ago and my abdominal muscles are very sore and tender where I assume they were separated. I read you can have endometriosis if your actual scar hurts and that’s not the case here. Anyone have something similar? How many cycles did it last? Also when did the swelling and numbness above c section scar go away?

Hi guys don't usually post. I have a went to the doctors at the beginning of the week cause there was some pus coming out of my incision line I'm 6wks pp got antibiotics and it cleared up. Today I was looking at my scar and noticed more of the same things squeezed one if the red bits and more pus came out asked the docs about the possibility of ingrown hairs and was blown off To me it looks like ingrown hairs and I pulled several out today. Just wondering if anyone else has had this and what they did to resolve it

I'm heartbroken after having my third C-section due to a stillbirth when no heartbeat was found. I have three children: two via C-section and one VBAC. This would have been my husband and my first child together, and I’m overwhelmed with grief and anxiety.

My husband wants us to try again, but I'm terrified. During my last pregnancy, I faced serious complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, high blood pressure, and even kidney issues that put me at risk for a hysterectomy. Thankfully, the surgery went well, but it was complicated by adhesions in my organs that took extra time to address.

My doctor has warned that attempting another pregnancy would be risky, and we’re scheduled to discuss it more next month. Until then, I’m filled with panic. I love my husband deeply and want to give him a child, but the risks of a fourth C-section weigh heavily on my mind. I would appreciate hearing any experiences others may have had in similar situations. For context, I’m three weeks post-surgery and recovering well.

This is more of a vent but curious to hear other people’s experience!

During pregnancy the right side of my belly became numb, I assumed due to my baby favouring my right side and compressing on the nerves.

Post c-section I had numbness in the entire lower area of my belly. While recovering from my C-section I realized the pain I was experiencing was not my incision, but my nerve endings!

I am now 3 weeks post surgery and I’m still having the nerve pain. I think the nerve endings are recovering because I can feel more than before, but it is so annoying and I’m a bit worried this is going to last forever. This is something I’ll bring up with my OB at the 6-week appointment, and I plan to see my pelvic PT as well after this.

If anyone has experience with this it would be so appreciated!! 💕

I was never a super slim person, I always had a little belly from indulging in too much sugar. When pregnant, I gained a lot of weight in my tummy. I had a c-section three weeks ago and I can't see my incision cause my tummy hangs over it. I know I'm not the only one so how can I see my incision and make sure it's healing okay? i can kind of lift my tummy up and get a little peek at it but not enough to really feel confident that everything is healing nicely and it's not very comfortable to do so. How are we checking on our incisions if we're not slim enough to see it clearly?

Terrible GI issues 2 years after C-Section

Hi, my wife and I had a baby almost 2 years ago. She had to do a C-Section because she was not dilating after 36 hours of trying so we called it. Anyways everything went fine and we have a beautiful healthy baby girl who is now a toddler. In the past year her stomach has been giving her lots of trouble. She always describes it “they did not put me back together right”. She is basically now in stomach pain 10-15 times per day and she has diarrhea from it and it’s really hard for her to hold in. She doesn’t get on Reddit so I decided to post for her. What do you think could be the culprit. Just to clarify she has had these GI issues since day 1 of the c-section but in the last year they just keep getting worse and worse. Just wanting to go in the right direction.

I’m 8 weeks post section and directly above my incision is still significantly swollen and my lower stomach is still quite bloated. Having such a bad flare up of IBS symptoms and I’m just wondering if anyone else has had this/when it gets better?

Mamas give me some positive outcomes and stories!! I had 3 amazing c sections (tough recovery) but no hiccups. Any advice for a 4th?

I have a big apron belly and noticed today when I was looking at my incision (via phone camera because I can’t see it myself) that one end looks red compared to the rest. Of course I only have like one comparison picture I took a few weeks ago and it definitely looked red then too but not as much. I have no pain or warmth to the area, it’s definitely closed, but wondering how concerned I should be and if I should get checked out

Hi all, just wondering if this is normal? I had a c section 3 weeks ago and I'm having mild cramping. It's almost as if I'm having mild period pains. I'm thinking it's my uterus contracting but I thought those types of pain would be over by the first week. Also my general abdominal pain has gotten a bit worse (not terrible but still hurts and needing painkillers again) in the last few days.

Is this anything to worry about or normal? Any advice/insight would be appreciated!

I am FREAKING out. In the shower just now I was running my hands along my CS scar with soap to clean the area when my fingers discovered something that didn’t feel right. Sure enough, there appears to be an open spot right along my incision— see photo. Naturally this happens when my OB’s office is closed tomorrow (Friday) for the Thanksgiving weekend so I can’t contact her. What do I do? It’s late at night for me so I’m planning to put antibacterial ointment & a bandaid on it for the time being. But I am so scared. My incision was healing so well and now this happens out of the blue 😭

This is a little weird to describe, but I’m 5.5 months pp and I had a bit of a complicated urgent c section in mid-June. Since then my stomach just seems so… different? Not the bottom part below the belly button (I have the usual numbness, apron, etc but none of that concerns me). But the area above my belly button to my rib cage, it feels hard and I still look super pregnant! Is this normal too, and just not something people talk about? I don’t have any GI symptoms or anything so I didn’t bring it up to my doctor yet…

I did gain a LOT of weight during the pregnancy and still haven’t lost anywhere near all of it - but it doesn’t feel like it’s fat, since it’s hard and not soft and flabby.

Anyone else experience this or anything like it?

I’m going in for a c section on Tuesday - partially elective and medically suggested.

I’m nervous AF, I am in Canada and don’t know what to expect, the only thing they told me was to wait for a call Monday night letting me know what time to come in Tuesday.

Do they give you something beforehand to calm your nerves? I am so nervous and just want to feel high and relaxed during the entire thing. Do I have to ask for something or is it just given?

** Thank you to everyone for all your input, suggestions, stories, reading this thread is making me feel at ease for the big day tomorrow ** I appreciate you all 🩷

I’m currently 3 weeks post c section. Was sitting on the couch and felt some popping sensation internally around the incision area is that normal? It’s not painful just a weird sensation.

A week and a half after my c-section I had to get readmitted for an infection. I was in for 10 days of IV antibiotics and 3 wash outs in the OR. I am now home on a wound vac. A home care nurse comes to the house twice as week to change the dressing and im seen once a week in a wound clinic. The doctor at the clinic very nonchalantly said my wound could take 3-9 months to heal. The nurse said bc I'm on a high protein diet and I'm young and healthy, she thinks it could heal in 6 weeks. Has anyone had a similar experience? What was your healing time like? I just want an idea of what I'm in for.

I’m 3 weeks post partum and I feel amazing. No pain, my incision is healing beautifully and I know I’m not supposed to but I’m moving around better than I was in pregnancy and am able to lift things 35lbs and up with no pain or discomfort (I found this out because I had to change out our water bottle, unfortunately there wasn’t much of a choice). Anyhow, I was very active and did weight lifting a lot before my pregnancy. Naturally I slowed down during the first trimester and now that I’m feeling so good I’m just itching to get back to the gym, I also have an apron belly as I gained quite a bit of weight while pregnant and I want to get back in shape and feel good again. I’m wondering if I should take it slow once I get back (I’ll obviously wait until my dr gives me the go ahead at 6 weeks). Or if anyone was able to just jump right back in without hurting themselves? As someone who’s worked in physical labor jobs and loved exercise being stuck in the house and unable to really let myself move around and be active is driving me crazy I’m thinking of starting to do some light yoga just to move until I can body build again.