QuestionHi, I'm 24 and I had my baby girl on 9-11-07 by c-section. about a week and a half later I had my staples removed.
I did try to have her vaginally, but (this parts a little foggy)either she wouldn't move any more or I was too exhausted to push anymore (It had been almost twenty hours by the time they decided I should start pushing and I had no sleep). Well, my real concern is that I'm still experiencing pain. I know it takes time to heal but this is pain limited to only the right side (my right) of my incision and inside, my uterus. I had my post partum check up and my doc said I was fine that pain was normal but I don't think she understood that it was only on the right side. And this past week due to an illness I found out that if I cough too hard or if I have to throw up the pain increases to the point where it feels like I'm getting cut all over again. It's a very literal stabbing pain that I experience. It's not that bad when I don't have to cough or vomit, but it's enough to make me worry. Is it something I should be concerned about? I've never had surgery before and I'm naturally paranoid so I keep thinking they left something behind and that I have a sponge or a pair of scissors or a needle from when they sewed up my uterus floating around inside of me.
Is this pain normal? Will it go away?
Anything you have to offer will be a help and is appreciated. Thank you.
AnswerDear Erin,
Ideally, an incision heals perfectly and equally from one end to the other. This rarely happens. More often than not there is more discomfort in one concentrated area than another. Usually it is because of something very incidental - like the skin or tissue was pulled a bit more tautly in a certain part than another or possibly tissue pulled away from a deep stitch at some point of exertion early on. This doesn't mean that it won't heal completely. It simply makes that area a bit more tender than the rest.
I can tell you that I have had two C-sections and two other abdominal surgeries. All have healed differently and three out of the four times I had one area that was more sore than the rest of the wound.
Now, if you begin to have any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor:
-You use a new maxi sanitary pad for vaginal bleeding every hour for 4 to 5 hours. (If you have a past vaginal delivery to compare to, you may notice that post-cesarean bleeding is lighter.)
-Your vaginal bleeding seems to be getting heavier or is still bright red 4 days after delivery, or if you pass blood clots larger than the size of a golf ball. You may also have lower abdominal pain.
-You have signs of infection, including fever or increased redness and drainage at the incision site.
-The incision gapes open or starts bleeding.
-You feel dizzy.
-Your calves become painful and/or swollen and red (this can be a sign of a blood clot).
-You have signs of postpartum depression (Feelings of despair or hopelessness for more than a few days, or troubling or dangerous thoughts or hallucinations).
-Your vaginal discharge smells bad or fishy.
-Your abdomen feels tender or full and hard.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
