Double C-Section Recovery

What is it really like to have two surgeries in the same area within a year of one another?

I hope you find this honest, refreshing, and not as scary as it seems if you happen to be going through something similar yourself

Lets get down to the nitty gritty. I was advised by all the medical staff I initially spoke to after my first son, to wait at least a minimum of two years before getting pregnant again. I was told this was to allow time for my body to heal from my emergency C-Section. And I mean I was really really advised, over and over. In my case as soon as we had the baby we had 6 different medical team members give us guidance about contraception post baby. We were given leaflets and mini speeches all about the different types of contraception available to us, as though we’d gotten pregnant the first time by being clumsy mindless morons. I don’t know whether this is normal practice, or if we just looked particularly horny for each other with our 8 hour old baby in our arms, but this advice was drilled into us either way.

Its safe to say, we ignored all said advice.

I felt so strongly that we would try again as soon as I felt better/ healed/ ready. As I wanted my son to have a sibling close in age, and I had always really wanted twins. It had also taken me three years to conceive my first son, so with that in mind I was thinking it might take that long again. So, when everyone told us “be careful, you’re extremely fertile after birth, remember to practice safe sex. We heard, “go forth and get your baby making face on”.

My first birth was via emergency C-Section. It was a mad dash to the operating theatre, and within minutes of signing the paperwork, I held my son for the very first time. I was then in hospital for 4 more days, before heading home (or rather hobbling to the car) with a bag full of meds and a ‘fresh out of the box’ bubba.

I have never had surgery before, although I had looked into C-Section recovery as I was preparing myself for what had turned out to have been the inevitable.

So I knew you may bleed, and I knew you needed stool softener!

With my first, it took me a couple of days before I could take my first steps in the hospital. I showered post-partum day 2, and had my catheter out (wince ouch eurgh). I then spiked a fever so was kept in due to this, and them finding an irregular heartbeat in baby. My stitches came out day 5, they were non-disposable, so were pinched out by the very capable midwife who made me feel totally at ease. To be honest after birth, this was a walk in the park. But for those who want to know, (and that’s what this is all about right?) they are a long singular stitch that go through your skin with little like screw staples on each end to hold it in place. These get undone and then with tweezers they pull out the long cord, like when you tear a strip off an envelope. Very quick and should be painless. I had injections to inject myself into the stomach with for 6 weeks, this hurts, bruises, pinches and really got me down. I hated having to do it every day, but it was because of the amount of blood I lost during birth. (These injections were given out as standard in 2018, but they are not essential now just one year on hoooorah!)

I had to wear compression socks for 6 weeks. This was disgusting, they make your toes poke out they’re incredibly uncomfortable and in July they’re awfully sweat inducing! About as sexy as a toad in a fishnets!

I had made a ‘Baby Station’ at home downstairs, with all the essentials at arms reach. You know, Mini Cheddars, TV remote, family size bar of Galaxy etc. But mostly so I was near the bathroom, so that I didn’t have to tackle stairs all day (I think I would have been fine but it was nice sitting on a lily pad like a frog princess for a few days TBH)

On my second day at home I swelled up like a whale, I couldn’t bend my knees there was so much water retention, I thought this was it, death - certain death - I’d obviously got a blood clot because I’d taken my compression socks off to sunbathe in the garden... Fortunately, all the water retention went within 48 hours. I put it down to just part of the good old fashioned fun after a C-Section.

Also what’s really fun is the amount you sweat. I found out this wasn’t just me, my other C-Section buddies too had real difficulty regulating their temperature post surgery. So being drenched in sweat isn’t unusual for a few weeks post C-Section. Also you bleed. With my first I bled for two weeks. It was totally manageable and didn’t bother me. Cramps weren’t painful. But laughing, coughing, and braking in the car were all eye wateringly horrid for the first few days.

However for me, the main pain was the trapped gas. This is really horrible and no one wants to talk about it because its gross and embarrassing, but it is what it is, and for me it was the only thing that was so painful it literally stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away. On many occasions have I just knelt to the floor in hope of it passing, gripping at my stomach before being able to stand up. It is very, very painful and feels as though your tummy may burst right out of your arse. It can last for a good few months after surgery. Best thing to alleviate? Don’t drink fizzy drinks, and take a stool softener to help. The first poo after a C-Section is scary...but the first wee for me without the catheter was scarier – neither for me were painful, the idea built up in my head was worse than the reality- but I have a very vivid imagination!

For me personally, the pain was very manageable, once I got home. I coped well on Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. I kept my wound clean and dry. I showered every day. I used Bio-Oil on it after a couple of weeks when I had become brave enough to touch it and look at it. (This however did very little to the actual scar). I could walk to and from the shops (very slowly) within 2 weeks. Driving was absolutely fine after the allotted 6 week wait.

As it was my first I was scared of exercising post surgery, and have to admit with a newborn baby at home was the last thing on my mind. But I felt good within myself and happy with how my recovery went.

So when I had my check up with my GP with baby at 6 weeks, I asked the inevitable, “I know I’m meant to be taking it carefully, but when can we try for baby number two?” My GP said, after two periods, you’ll know everything is back and working in normal order, so you can try then as long as its not painful. So 3 months after having my first son, I found out I was pregnant again.

This time, I knew the drill it was as freaking fresh as a daisy in my head. Book midwife appointment , eat well, put down the Gin etc etc etc

My midwife said I would have to have a C-Section for baby number two as the births would be so close together, and my scarring wouldn’t have had enough time to heal. It would be risky pushing during natural labour, and also I had had complications leading to my initial emergency C-Section. So, exactly one week prior to my sons first birthday, C-Section number two was booked.

My second was totally different story. I knew what I was doing. I knew

exactly what it involved. I could plan and prepare my little pregnant, nesting heart out. I was home within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital with my second son. It was incredible. The bleeding lasted a lot longer this time round, but this was probably because I had two surgeries so close together. Also, bleeding for up to 6 weeks is nothing to worry about. I was dressed and walking around within 48 hours of surgery. Compression socks only for a week, and no post-surgery medication whatsoever.

The very difficult thing was not being able to swing my eldest around, and telling him that Mummy couldn’t pick him up for a cuddle was heartbreaking. I lasted 3 days. Then I carried him. This I do not recommend or suggest in any way, it is not advised, they say you should wait at least 6 weeks to pick up anything heavier than your newborn. But I couldn’t wait, so bugger the rulebook.

My scar is wonky. It is about 25 cm long. It was numb to the touch for at least 5 months, the first time. Now, 9 months after round two it is still numb to the touch. It was itchy. It never seeped, or bled. It was like I’d been enveloped shut, leaving this wedge of fat dropping over the scar itself. It made me feel awful. It made me sad. It made me feel empowered. It made me feel brave. It is how I gave birth. It is not how I wanted to do it, but it was my first lesson of Motherhood.

Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t go to plan – just blow in the wind like a reed my friend. I had my babies, happy, healthy, and as far as I’m concerned the only way I naturally could.