How were you feeling 4 weeks after C section?

[Anonymous]

I’m 4 weeks post-C section - my first baby. At this point I have no bruising but I still have a swollen “bulge” by the incision, which is firm to the touch. This area has kind of a dull ache and it is not comfortable to wear any type of pants (even stretchy pants) because it hurts having taut fabric over the bulge. I’ve been wearing skirts and dresses, taking some Advil, and hoping it flattens out and gets less painful.

I’m seeing my doctor this week but am wondering what other moms who had a C section experienced, and if this is abnormal.

[Anonymous]

It's major surgery, it will hurt for a while. Move the appointment up if you're concerned. It will get better though.

[Anonymous]

I’m exactly 4 weeks out from my 4th csection. I would call your dr of its firm to the touch ? Everyone heals differently of course and that’s probably normal, but I would check. I have a little swelling still around incision but it’s soft and fluid like. And I think you take Advil 4 weeks out seems like a lot too .... but again maybe normal. I stopped all pain meds 7 days post op with it getting better each week. But then again a friend told me she took the full 6 weeks to really feel better after her first csection. I’m sure all is fine but why not check in w dr ?

[Anonymous]

It kind of depends what you mean by bulge - I felt like I could feel the knots on either end of the incision line where the sutures were tied off and they were noticeable and firm to the touch but not particularly big. I remember worrying that the incision would not heal flat because of that (it did), but not that the bulges were more sensitive to the touch than the rest of the incision area - everything was sore and kind of tender. I was able to wear pants with no seam like foldover yoga pants but my maternity pants were not taut more like pajama-level of tightness (just tight enough to stay up, basically).

Definitely bring it up to your doc at your visit and if you get a fever or spreading redness or any sign of infection get in there right away.

[Anonymous]

I would call your ob’s nurse line and describe your symptoms in case they want to see you sooner.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone heals differently but a call to your nurse can’t hurt. I didn’t have what you are describing 4 weeks out, but I did have the tenderness on one end where the OB obviously tied off the stitches.

However, believe me, the nurses won’t think you are annoying them with this question. They hear absolutely everything and it’s better safe than uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

I think the bulge you're describing is just the "shelf" that will be there for awhile and, for some people, forever. Just FYI.

[Anonymous]

There's no harm in calling. I did not have a dull ache, and I was able to wear pants just fine. However, as others say, that "firm to the touch" area might just be the C-section shelf, which I still have 3.5 yrs later. I think it's gotten flatter, but it is definitely not flat flat.

[Anonymous]

How long has it been aching? Is it pink or red? I had an infection on my incision around the 4-6 week mark. I would call your doctor and describe your symptoms as someone else suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long has it been aching? Is it pink or red? I had an infection on my incision around the 4-6 week mark. I would call your doctor and describe your symptoms as someone else suggested.

Wow really ? That’s late to have an infection from surgery! Do you know how that happened?

Hope you’re feeling better op!

[Anonymous]

Agree that everyone heals differently but that sounds odd/worth a call to me. With my first I was wearing loose, high-waisted pants the first week and able to carry my baby up 2 flights of stairs in her car seat when she came home from the NICU at 5 weeks (aka felt totally normal.) With my second C section I comfortably walked 1.5 miles to trick or treat with my oldest at 2 weeks postpartum and could dress normally (although I only fit into maternity clothes but nothing hurt my incision.

[Anonymous]

I’m 3 weeks out from number 2. My insides are still sore. My incision is fine. I’m surprised I’m still bleeding as much as I am. It’s not a whole lot but passing large mucus stuff (sorry, tmi). I should probably call my doctor but I really don’t want to go in for an appointment

[Anonymous]

This definitely sounds worth a call to me. I’ve only had one c section but wasn’t taking any pain meds at all by 4 weeks out.

[Anonymous]

Pain for a year afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Could be a seroma, call your doctor and get it checked out.