C-Section Recovery: My Personal Experience
Every birth experience is unique. Every delivery is unique. I’ve experienced two very different scenarios for my births. For my first delivery, I had a long labor followed by eventual epidural and long hours of pushing for a normal vaginal delivery (yes, HOURS of pushing). For my second delivery, I had a nice long labor which ended in a C-section when it was determined that my large baby was not going to make his way through the vaginal canal. I had no idea what to expect in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead following this major abdominal surgery.
The first days after my C-section:
I had unbelievable swelling of my feet, legs, hands, EVERYWHERE! So much swelling that I couldn’t put my shoes on for a few days. Hello, slippers! The thought of jeans, um nope, I never want to wear jeans again. With a swollen, tender, and downright painful incision just above my pubic bone I figured I’d never wear real pants again. Once things were functioning again in my body (yep, I could pee and pass gas) I was released for home.
The ride home:
Nobody warns you about when the car has to TURN a CORNER!!! Let’s back up, actually getting in/out of the car was a real treat to lift my swollen legs into the vehicle. Once I made it in, I had to adjust the seat belt to avoid pushing right on that tender incision. After my husband made his first turn around a corner, I came to the realization that our abdomen does incredible things. You feel those abdominal muscles automatically kick in to keep you upright against every movement. Every. Single. Corner. I begged my husband to slow down and go 2 mph around every corner!
Home at last:
Getting up from the toilet. Sitting down on the toilet. Lifting the baby in/out of the bassinet (I couldn’t reach far enough into a regular crib). Up the stairs. Turning to talk to my husband. Getting up from the chair. Well OK, EVERY movement I could feel the tenderness of my abdominal incision. I needed to ask for help with carrying things or lifting things. It was a huge adjustment. If I moved the extra, loose, skin out of the way I could see the steri-strips covering my healing incision. I couldn’t help but think that it looks so…..weird! It healed each day a little more and I experienced ongoing soreness, but moving got easier. I didn’t have other incisions prior to this surgery, so I had nothing to compare it to, but it was so strange to see scar tissue forming and creating a strange new landscape to my abdomen.
Weeks/Months:
I had experienced some issues with urinary leakage after the prolonged pushing with my first childbirth which improved after doing some pelvic floor therapy. After my C-section, I was struggling with leakage again - WHY??!! I didn’t even have to push with this delivery, how could this be? It is common for women to experience urinary leakage after abdominal surgery (not just C-sections, maybe it’s a laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder or appendix, or other exploratory surgeries through the abdomen) because our core muscles of the abdomen can shut down after major surgery, and there are often connections between the lower abdominals and pelvic floor muscles making it difficult to contract either one. In addition, the stress of carrying a large baby prior to delivery plays a strong role in stretching and dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles that are necessary to maintain urinary continence.
Recovery:
I would occasionally feel sharp pulls or pain of the abdominal incision with quick movements for months and even on occasion years after the surgery. The incision “healed” within the usual 6 weeks, but it’s never quite looked the same, with one side of the incision being a little thicker and the skin hanging a little differently on one side compared to the other. After the initial 6 weeks of healing, I started performing some scar tissue mobilization (massage/myofascial release technique) to the incision and noticed improvements over time, with my scar appearing smoother and less noticeable. I also restarted some lower abdominal and pelvic floor strengthening exercises, and have successfully been able to return to jumping and running without leakage. There is HOPE! If you’re experiencing changes in your abdomen or pelvic floor after major abdominal surgery, reach out to myself or Jackie to help get you back on track to having healthy and strong abs and pelvic floor muscles! Being moms who have experienced changes in our own bodies after childbirth, and taking additional training to specialize in women’s health, we are the perfect fit to assist you in your journey to gain back CONFIDENCE in your body.
Written by: Renee Hancock, Physical Therapist and Momma of 2!
