https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 16:56:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-experience-and-recovery#post-342596 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:06:30 +0000 mrsjazz 342596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a great experience, but I'm hearing that my experience is not normal (based on my friends who have had c-sections). </p> <p>Mine was not planned and that definitely affected me mentally. I thought the drugs would totally numb me but I felt pain and they upped the meds in my epidural twice during the procedure. Because LO had meconium (lots of it) I didn't get to see her until she was all wrapped up. It was weird to have the nurses and then my husband hold her first when that wasn't how I envisioned it.</p> <p>We were able to do a little skin to skin in the recovery room but only after my midwife and the doula had to basically yell at the recovery room nurse. I didn't see my baby again for hours :(</p> <p>Recovery was painful for me and I didn't start to feel ok until about 5-6 weeks after the surgery. Although I still have pain when I work out or walk too much. </p> <p>It was very traumatic for me and I ended up seeing a therapist who specializes in birth trauma after delivery. 6 months later I don't feel as bad about the birth experience as I did before, though I am still scared to have another child. I want the baby without the birth!</p> <p>But like I said, I've heard that my experience is not the norm--one of my friends just had a c-section and she said it was completely pain free during the surgery and she was out of bed practically running around the hospital soon after! I wish! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-experience-and-recovery#post-342541 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:36:33 +0000 LivsMama 342541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: my experience was, for the most part, great. Since you are having a scheduled section as opposed to laboring first, the recovery is much easier. For me, the worst part was right after, but I had an allergic reaction to the synthetic morphine they used, so I was vomiting violently. Thats a rarity though, dont worry. The spinal was nothing. I was up and moving around within 10 hours. and my pain was minimal. When there is no emergency to get the baby out quickly, they can make it a wonderful experience. </p> <p>I was totally pain free within 4 weeks of her birth, and completely cleared by 6 weeks. I was only prohibited for driving for a week after being released from the hospital (so a total of about 12 days.)</p> <p>I managed the pain in the hospital with alternating doses of advil and percocet, then just advil at home (Id take an occasional perc when I needed it, but less than 2 a week for the first 2 weeks Id say.)</p> <p>I know you might be scared, but it truly wasnt bad at all, and I had an elective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-experience-and-recovery#post-338456 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:08:43 +0000 yoursilverlining 338456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience was fine/great. The worst part was the shot before the spinal, the spinal itself didn’t hurt at all and I couldn’t feel anything during the section. I couldn’t believe I had been so worried about the part! My husband was right there with me, holding my hand, once they got me all prepped, and my OB talked to us through every single step. As soon as LO was born, she held her up for us to see and then LO had to get checked by the nurses because she had some fluid in her lungs they needed to remove. As soon as they did that, they gave LO to me for skin-to-skin contact and I held her while they stitched (well, stapled) me up. Then we all 3 went together to the private recovery room where we were left alone for 1 hour (or more if we wanted). A couple hours after that the meds wore off and I could feel my lower body again. They gave me oxycodine for pain management (very low dose, still safe to BF), and the next day I was up and walking and able to use the bathroom on my own, etc. After a few weeks I was comfortable enough to take long (slow lol) walks of several miles, and after 6 weeks was cleared for basically all activity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-experience-and-recovery#post-338359 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:35:42 +0000 travelgirl1 338359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's looking likely that if my little breech baby doesn't turn round by herself, I'll be having a c section. My doctor told me today that I could still have her placed on my chest, and she would come with me to recovery so I wouldn't be parted from her at all. She said it could actually be a very positive experience. That said, I'm still a little worried about recovery.</p> <p>If you had a c section, how was your experience? And how was your recovery? </p>