I am annoyed by my cesarean recovery. I am more than 5 months post partum and still have pain and tenderness on the left side of my abdomen. I’m sure I must have a number of adhesions that need to be broken down. I did attend ICAN’s webinar about scar care and have been doing some massage. I use a few drops of Young Living’s lavender oil – I recommend a therapeutic/medicinal grade essential oil – and massage it into my skin. I have to massage all along the left side of the top layer of abdominal muscles (rectus abdominus), and it’s tender from pelvis to ribs. Not good.
I am also annoyed that so many people are resigned to putting themselves, their babies, and their patients through this major abdominal surgery without a really really good reason. Fetal distress, small pelvis, cephalo-pelvic disproportion, maternal demand, and previous cesarean are the usual suspects and are not necessarily indication for a cesarean. <sigh> I recovered easily enough from my first cesarean, but this time around it’s a different story.
I’ll end v.1 here. To recap, I am not pleased with my recovery because I still have significant tenderness and pain more than 5 months after my surgery. Does that sound like fun to you?
I’m glad to see you posting again!! I can only imagine how hard that is with twins at home, wanting all your attention, but I’m pleased to hear your voice again. I’m sorry you are still sore, though: hope the exercises start helping soon.
kmom
It amazes me that people PLAN to have a c-section. I talked to my brother, yup–those poor muscles are going to be tender for a while. Biking-swimming-yoga are probably all good to help get those muscles back into working order. ( do the twins like to bike yet?)
: )
((hug))
Em
3 years and HBAC later, my c/s scar is still really hypersensitive. I also get stabbing pains there every now and then. When I do ab exercises, I can feel “pulling” too. Yuck.
Hey you! I have missed reading your posts. The yucky recovery sucks… I’m sorry.
I apprecaite your thoughtful, educated blog about c-section. My wife had one, so I know something of the recovery involved, but not the pain. I hope your wounds can heal, and that your message will be heard. I wrote with my wife a book about childbirth for men which might interest you: http://www.birthnavigators.com. Men need educating as well as women to help change the c-section rate the U.S.A. current has. The overuse of technology is ridiculous. We have a review of our book coming out in the California Association of Midwives Newsletter, June Edition.