Hi all! FTM and had my c section about 4 and 1/2 weeks ago. Was not expecting to have a c section (not emergency, baby boy just wouldn’t come out in time from when my water broke) so I was not prepared for any of the healing and recovery aches and pains- didnt know what to expect. But majority of my bad pain and soreness probably stopped around the 3 week mark and I stopped bleeding as well. After that it just felt like I had done a core workout everyday.

A couple days ago, my abs and uterus (actually not sure which one it is) started to feel super crampy and sore again. Not first week recovery pain, but more sore than how good I had been feeling. I did start bleeding again, but it’s not heavy- not soaking a pad every hour like they say to lookout for. I would say it’s like the first or second day of your first period. And I don’t have a fever (again I know something they say to lookout for). Also started having those uncomfortable gas pains associated with this wonderful process.

Was wondering if anyone has experienced this or if this is normal part of the healing process?? Maybe I just overdid it, or it’s everything still healing/contracting…I know I had major abdominal surgery so I didn’t think healing would be that quick, but I just thought I finally got over the majority aches and pains of this process.

I’m 4.5 weeks post c-section and most of my days are just sitting around. Every time I try to do any kind of activity, I end up sore after for hours. While it is slowly improving, I’m getting so frustrated that my level of physical ability is constantly impeded every time I try to live my normal life. Today my husband drove us into town and I went for a walk outside - nothing intense, just leisurely strolling and stopping in a shop or two along the span of two or three blocks - and I spent the rest of the night hobbling and sore. Before I gave birth, I bartended right up to the night before I went into labor. I’ve always been active and enjoyed being active even while pregnant, but it was admittedly taxing on my body, and I think it was part of the reason I ended up going into labor five weeks early. I mentioned to the OBGYN I saw at my three week postpartum check up that I was concerned about returning to work 8 weeks after my c-section since it’s a physically demanding job, considering the level of pain I’m still currently in. His response was that “well no woman wants to go back to work after giving birth”, and that he could give me an extra four weeks if I claimed to be emotionally unable to return to work, but then I’d have to talk to a social worker. I don’t want to do that, I feel fine mentally, I’m just worried about hurting myself at work if this is how I feel almost five weeks after surgery. I’m feeling a bit like post pregnancy my physical wellbeing is an after thought, and just needed to vent. I still haven’t had my 6 week check up yet, and my husband keeps reassuring me that pain is normal for such a major surgery. But I wish someone would tell me this is normal, it’s okay, that it gets better.. or if it isn’t normal what I should be doing to feel normal again.

I’m 10 weeks postpartum from my second C-section and have been dealing with a small area of wound separation directly in the center of my incision that doesn’t seem to be healing properly.

My first C-section was uncomplicated, and I had a very easy recovery. This time, I had a different surgeon who uses an older technique of suturing all seven layers, including reapproximating the abdominal muscles, with dissolvable stitches.

Timeline:
September 22: Noticed a small opening in the center of my incision.

October 8: Went to the ER because the wound wasn’t healing. They documented approximately 1 cm of wound separation without surrounding redness. They only measured the surface opening and didn’t assess the depth. I was advised to use antibiotic ointment (the is was the wrong advice) and follow up with my OB

October 10–14: The opening continued to scab over, but it wasn’t fully healing underneath.

October 15: Saw my OB, who recommended dry gauze to absorb moisture because the incision sits within a skin fold. The scab was still intact, so the cavity underneath wasn’t visible. He mentioned that cauterization during surgery could potentially have contributed to the delayed healing.

October 16: While gently patting the area dry, the scab detached, revealing what appears to be a significantly deeper cavity with yellowish tissue and some darker material inside.

The rest of my C-section incision has healed normally. This is the only area that has opened.

I’m experiencing mild stinging and burning at the opening, particularly when the scab falls off and I’m moving around. I’ve noticed occasional clear drainage, although the area was dry when the most recent scab came off. I haven’t noticed obvious widespread redness or signs of infection

I’m concerned that the wound is getting deeper rather than healing from the bottom up. I’m also wondering whether this could be a reaction to a dissolving stitch, tissue damage from cauterization, or something else.

Has anyone experienced something similar or is there a medical professional who has any insight into what may be going on? Progression photos attached - NSFW

Helloooo! I am 9 days post c-section. Yesterday morning I woke up in absolute agony, it felt like I was burning from the inside out. I went back to the hospital & they told me it was potentially a hematoma in my rectus sheath(?), they gave me pain meds & antibiotics to ensure it doesn’t become infected.

This morning, I have noticed a leakage through my pants, and it turns out my scar is weeping yellow-y fluid, I called up the hospital again and was assured it’s normal and it’s called a seroma. They weren’t overly concerned & said if it would help my peace of mind I can pop up and they can take a look, but I’m seeing my own midwife tomorrow anyway so I’m not overly concerned right now.

I have noticed that since this leakage my pain has subsided massively, I’m thinking maybe the pressure and build up of the fluid was causing the pain? Has anybody else experienced this?

I am scheduled for an elective c section next week after a traumatic first vaginal birth with forceps. I don’t feel comfortable risking the possibility of forceps again and further damaging my pelvic floor as I am a long distance runner.

I have been reading about potential long term complications from c sections and am most concerned about the problems adhesions can cause such as organs sticking together and potentially causing bowel obstructions. It seems as though this is pretty rare? I am planning one more child after this so would have 2 c sections. But I am wondering if anyone has personally experienced this. I am concerned about this as obstructions are very serious.
I will be going to pelvic floor therapy after delivery just like after my first.

Tried to crop out my pubes as best as I could.

My incision looks gross and feels irritated. I constantly think my underwear must be digging into it or something but they’re not. It smells weird and I can smell it as soon as I lift my belly but no one else can smell it apparently. My family dr looked at it a week ago and said it looks good and my OB nurses line said it’s probably fine.

It makes me feel like I’m crazy when I say it’s not right and everyone else says it looks great. Like … look at it! That does not look good. wtf.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced similar or has any suggestions because this is really annoying.

I am not sure if my scar looks normal or not. I had my 2nd C-section on September 12th, so I am about 5 weeks post op. Any thoughts? Reassurance? I am so lost, my first c section I never had any concerns

I went back to work this week at 3 months postpartum and I noticed my abdominal muscles are sore similar to how it was just after the c section. Not as bad, but in the same spots along the scar and into my right hip. The only thing I'm doing differently this week though is sitting at a desk more so I'm confused where the pain is coming from.

Just curious what other people's experiences were!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice or to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar.
I had an emergency C-section on September 5 due to preeclampsia. I recently started experiencing heavy, bright red bleeding, and at first I thought my period had returned.
Today, I went to my OB-GYN. The doctor examined me and said everything looked okay internally, but they think it could be retained lochia (postpartum bleeding). They prescribed tranexamic acid 650 mg, three times a day, to help reduce the bleeding. I was given 30 tablets.
The bleeding doesn’t have a bad smell, and I haven’t been experiencing any pain. However, today, after my OB-GYN examined me, I started feeling some internal soreness.
I also have an ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday and a follow-up appointment on Wednesday to check what’s going on.
I’m wondering:
● Has anyone experienced heavy bleeding around 5–6 weeks postpartum and initially thought it was their period?
● Has anyone been prescribed tranexamic acid for postpartum bleeding? How long did it take for the bleeding to decrease?
● Did your ultrasound show retained lochia or another cause?
● Did anyone experience internal soreness after an OB-GYN examination?
I’m following my doctor’s instructions and will be going to my scheduled appointments. I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you! ❤️

Hello everyone! I delivered my baby via classical C-section at 28 weeks back in March due to severe early onset preeclampsia. She was IUGR and breech so my OB said induction was never an option. I was on the Mag drip twice for my 10 day hospitalization prior and after delivery so I am hazy on the details but I do remember multiple specialists came into my room during my stay and told me I had to wait 18 months between deliveries NOT pregnancies. I have no desire to conceive anytime soon but I have seen a lot of people say they were told it had to be 18 months between conception, so I was just wondering what the general consensus was?

I had an emergency Csection after a failed induction and developed bandls ring and needed the t incision to get baby out since he was pretty stuck in there. Anyone else experience this and how was pregnancy and recurring csections?

My husband and I are talking about getting pregnant again. This will be my 3rd c section, I’m looking for input from the mamas that have had 3+ c sections and maybe close together?

My story is different. I’ve only brought one baby home.

My first baby was born when I was 32+4 Jan. 2024, my second baby was born at 37 weeks electively Feb. 2026 and we got to bring him home. Last c section was great, recovery was great. My OB had said after my second baby that I could start trying again in 9 months.

We desperately want an earth side sibling for our second baby. I know my story does come with elevated anxiety. But I’m looking to hear from other moms that got pregnant quickly after multiple c sections and what they’re experience is like. I’m 35 years old so time feels like it’s not on my side. I know having 2 under 2 will not be easy by any means. I have expectations of it being hard.

Thank you for your time reading this, as well as answering if you can.

Hello I’m not sure if this is the right place for this but I’m 2 weeks postpartum from a c section me and my boyfriend take shifts so where able to get 5-8 hours of sleep but I wake up feeling the same? Like I haven’t slept in years or something is this normal maybe from healing or something? Has anyone had this problem I’m still taking my prenatals

Can anyone recommend a good scar gel, one that you’ve used and have had noticeable results?

Hi all! FTM, frank breech babe. I know most FTM go to 40+5W and sometimes beyond, but aside from coming ahead of schedule and becoming “urgent” instead of “planned” are there any other issues you all can think of? Have any of you noticed a larger or more painful incision later on because of baby’s size? The scheduling issue is partly us and needing support to fly into town, we just didn’t expect to be bumped out so far. TIA!

Two days ago my incision started leaking yellow fluid - it’s slippery and thin and doesn’t smell so when I rang maternity triage they said this was normal and to just put a sanitary pad against it to stop it getting on my clothes.

I was still worried so spoke to my gp that afternoon who looked at it, swabbed it to check for infection and prescribed preventative antibiotics, but the swab won’t be back for another few days.

I’m still leaking today and it’s enough that when I change the sterile gauze this evening it dripped a puddle the size of my foot on the floor.

Did anyone else have this and how long did it take to stop leaking? It’s grossing me out and I’m finding it quite upsetting. No one warned me this might happen..

My scar is healing nicely but went from a very faint line to now a slightly thickened darker line.

Anything I shouldn’t be doing to avoid this? Or is it just the ebb and flow of healing?

Cross posted- I am very much suspecting I have this. I removed nexplanon in August to TTC for another and it was like a floodgate of symptoms started immediately. I have a dull ache in lower pelvis most my cycle and the pain is severe days leading to my period and burns around my c section scar BUT my period is very very light , never filling a pad and I have a lot of brown spotting at the end of this weird one/two day period. I have contacted my OBGYN , I have an ultrasound scheduled and will ask for a SIS if the ultrasound is not conclusive. I am having a lot of pain outside my period so this isn’t just “weird my period is light”. Please share anyone that has had a symptomatic isthmocele and if there is anything I should know/ask. I know I am not very far into my TTC journey this time but I also have pku which makes me immediately high risk so I need to deal with inflammation issues right away before TTC. TIA!

My son is almost 7 months old and was born via C-section after a long labor and 3 hours of pushing. I already know I want another baby, and we have been thinking about starting to try again sometime after he turns 1.

For those who had a C-section with their first, how long did you wait before trying again? How long did it take you to get pregnant (my biggest fear is something is going to be wrong bc of the c section idk), and how did your next pregnancy/delivery go?

Also, I’m always confused by the “wait 18 months” recommendation. Does that mean waiting 18 months after your C-section before getting pregnant again, or having at least 18 months between deliveries/C-sections?

Is wanting to start trying around 12 months postpartum crazy? 😅

Hey all, I’m having my second baby via a planned c section in about 3 weeks. My first baby was delivered the same way and I’m becoming very anxious about it. I know what to mostly expect this time and I think the fact I know is causing a lot of anxiety like the spinal being cut through multiplied layers, the catheter etc. My baby was thankfully healthy etc she was however needing to go to nicu temporarily after being delivered for some help with her breathing which even know all was medically okay it gave me quite a lot of anxiety and I’m also scared if this needs to happen again. Also I became very panicked once the spinal became effective making me feel very disassociated from the whole moment.

How can I settle? I have and will discuss some more with the drs about ways to keep me calmer this time round but when the time comes and I need to get this done with I feel I’m going to be very anxious and it’s just scaring me a lot 🥲 did anyone else experience this? How did you handle it?

Hi y’all ! I am currently 11 days postpartum from my first c-section. I would like to start by saying I am terrified of anything medical and the trauma of giving birth solidified that so honestly I’m just scared of my incision or anything to do with it.

I felt like I was healing great and I’ve been moving great, obviously slower than my normal self and taking it easy. Although this morning, I took off my steri strips and I’m SO terrified of something happening that I feel like I can barely walk. I’m not in pain or anything, I’m just so scared I’m gonna open them back up now that I don’t have tape holding it together.

My husband went back to work on Monday so it’s just me and my baby for the next 8 hours and I’m terrified bc she’s been colicky so I’ve had to carry her a lot of those hours this week.

I have my 2 week post op follow up tomorrow so I at least have that to lean on but how was everyone else doing after they took their steri strips off? Am I okay to move at least a little closer to how I was?