Two-plus months after a C-section
You may still have some tingling and numbness around your incision. This can take months to years to go away, as the little nerves in the skin take a long time to heal. There's nothing to do to expedite the process, but it's perfectly normal.
Itching and Numbness
It is common to experience itchiness and numbness around your C-section scar, usually caused by damage to the nerves during your operation. In some women, numbness begins to improve after 4-8 weeks, whilst for other women, their scar remains numb for life.
Numbness of my Caesarean Scar
This occasionally happens and is unpredictable. It is due to the disruption of the nerve supply in the abdominal wall because of the Caesarean section incision.
One month after your C-section:
The incision may be a reddish color that will fade over the next six months. There may also still be some pinkness and swelling around the incision. You may still have some pain and bleeding at the incision. It may itch and burn, and you may feel a twitching sensation around your scar.
Signs that may indicate you have suffered nerve damage to small branches within the skin include: Burning, shooting, stabbing, shocking and searing pain around the scar and in the groin or inner thigh.
It usually takes about 6 weeks to recover from your c-section but this will depend on your individual situation. If you had any problems during or after your c-section, or if you're looking after other children at home, you may feel you need more time to recover.
Loss of feeling near the incision is a side effect that many women experience after a C-Section. It's because small nerves are severed during surgery and it takes time for them to regrow, usually within several months but it can take longer. It's a strange feeling but one that should pass.
After a caesarean, you are not advised to sleep on your front. Your incision is across your abdomen, so putting pressure on it will be painful and risk interfering with healing. Usually, doctors recommend avoiding sleeping on your stomach for six weeks post-C-section or until you no longer have any pain.
It is important to understand that any time an incision is made, there will be disruption of the tiny little nerves (in fact microscopic) that connect to your skin. These small nerves are temporarily disrupted but will regenerate. Various procedures cause numbness at the incision site.
We know that every patient has a different labor and delivery experience, but in general, it takes around six weeks to completely heal from your C-section. “We realize many of our patients also face the challenge of caring for the baby while they're recovering,” said Dr. Son.
Increased risks during future pregnancies.
Having a C-section increases the risk of complications in a later pregnancy and in other surgeries. The more C-sections, the higher the risks of placenta previa and a condition in which the placenta becomes attached to the wall of the uterus (placenta accreta).
“So, every patient is different and every case is unique. However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Sensation at an incision site should return within a few weeks, depending on the location, while other areas may take months to return to their former sensitivity. In general, if sensation does not return within one year of the surgical procedure, it is unlikely that sensation will return at all.
In most cases, a single nerve is damaged resulting in a numb area of skin on the leg or limited muscle weakness. In most cases, these effects are temporary and will completely resolve within a few weeks. Permanent nerve damage resulting in loss of the use of your legs is very rare.
Prevention and Treatment of a C-Section Pouch. The best way to prevent and get rid of mummy tummy is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding activities that may put too much strain on the abdominal muscles.
After you've been home from the hospital for 3 weeks or so, you might be walking for up to 15 minutes, gradually building up the time if it feels good. Keep up your daily pelvic floor exercises too.
Side sleeping may be what you've gotten used to during pregnancy, and it's a great option post-birth, too. It may be the easiest way to get in and out of bed while you're recovering from the surgery, and you may find side-lying an easier way to breastfeed as it doesn't put strain on your wound.
It often takes six to nine months to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight. But it can take a lot longer, even 10 months to two years, especially if a woman gained 35 pounds or more during her pregnancy.
A number of nerves are cut during the procedure, and it can take up to six months for all of the nerves in the abdominal area to heal completely. Some women continue to experience numbness, tingling and odd shooting pains around their scar for months after delivery.
In one study about c-section scar pain, women reported it hurt when: *At Rest: Most women reported mild pain when at rest. *They move: Moderate to severe pain with movement was present at 3 months and tended to decrease for some, but not all women, by 12 months.
Back pain normally goes away on its own within a few months. For some women with back pain after a cesarean section, the pain will continue or with changes in weather or seasons, the pain will return.
One of the main causes of belly overhang after c-section is abdominal muscle separation, also known as diastasis recti.
Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching. Four of the five remaining layers are stitched with a single layer of stitching, but one layer is not restitched as it heals better – with no buckling and reduced chance of scar tissue developing, without restitiching.