C-section Complications?

I am havign weird sensations with my scar but I feel it on the inside. My boys are premees born at 24 weeks.

Hey J.,

I am not a preemie mom but do you really have to have a c-section again? In other words did the doctor tell you there is a chance of that happening again? I ask because my cousin found out she was 10 weeks pregnant with her second baby when her son was only 5 months. She too had a c-section for the first one but with the second one she had her son vaginally. Her doctor had informed her that she would also have a c-section with the second one.

I had the same thing although my oldest is now almost 4 and my baby is 11 months. So they were almost 3 years apart. But I had the same sensations and sometimes still do. My first c-section was emergency as well at 5 weeks early I had toximia. I lost a lot of blood myself. But the second c-section was SOOOOO much better. It is very different when it is controlled. Just relax. I was so nervous because the first one was all that I knew. But the second one went smoother. I felt better. My stay in the hospital was shorter, and most importanly my baby was healthy and was able to go home with me. I don't think those sensations ever go away. I still get tingling on my left side, but I also get them on my right. You should talk to your obgyn about your fears. My dr was great at putting my mind at ease. And what made it better was that I truste her competely. Good luck, it's not as bad as the first!!!

I still get weird tingly sensations in my scar (though not down to my foot) 27 months post-op. (I also lost a lot of blood - they never told me how much, but I had 2 units of blood and 2 units of plasma transfused about 8 hours after delivery.) Given that nipple stimulation is linked to uterine contractions, I'm not surprised that you feel it while nursing (I know I felt it a lot while pumping!).

Good luck with this next pregnancy!

(Oh, my daughter was born at 25w3d gestation - she's now 27 months.)

my name is A. i had my daughter at 32 weeks due to emergency c-section. few months later i have pain in lower back it goes down my right foot my doctor told me i have sicata. how is your daughter doing?

Hi J., You are so brave to be having another baby already!! My daughter is 2 now but was also born prematurely by emergency c-section at 27 weeks. My incision just recently stopped stinging occasionally. My gyn said it was normal and that some women will actually feel it for the rest of their lives. It's really weird, isn't it? I wish you a healthy full term pregnancy this time. I would love to hear more about your daughter and how she's doing. My little girl is amazing. At this point you would never know she was a preemie. She caught up and actually surpassed the normal expected developmental milestones for her age. She is a true miracle.

J.,

I know others have responded and you've gotten a lot of advice, but I wanted to chime in as well.

First off, to address whether or not you can VBAC with this pregnancy - your doctor may have told you you could not VBAC, but you should know that part of that sentence is missing. It should read, you "cannot vbac _with this particular doctor_". Many doctors are leary about VBACs because they have concerns about malpractice and such. There may be other choices, such as a midwife or a family practitioner, and it might be worth it to you to explore other options, especially since it sounds like your previous cesarean was rather traumatic. VBACs are *usually* safer than a repeat cesarean - there is plenty of info out there to back that up - so it's a good idea to be your own advocate and do your own research before getting up on that table again.

As for the tingling, I don't have any explanation for you. I know (and this might sound a little weird, but bare with me) some women who have had similar sensations and have used accupuncture or reiki to try to alleviate those symptoms. Some have also used massage, and in some cases are able to do it themselves. It *could* be psychologically linked as well, but when an incision is made, it effects all kinds of nerve endings, so that is why the techniques I mentioned may help, as they would stimulate the nerve endings and hopefully provide some healing.

I hope that's a little helpful. I run a cesarean support group in the area of Buffalo, NY, so please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. My email is ____@____.com.

-R. Z

Dont be worried about this next C-section, it will probably be very different then the first. I had 3 C-sections, after my second one I swore I would never have another child because of so many complications during the birth BUT I had baby #3 and it was a wonderful delivery. My youngest is about to turn 10 and Im still numb by my scar. I also had weird sensations and that "tingle" feeling for a long time. I know its hard with a little one but try taking time to take care of yourself...best wishes

My daughter is 17 months old also delivered by emergency C-Section...I still get those same sensations of the tingling and things and the numbness at my scar. I thought something was wrong so I asked my mother who had my brother 18 years ago by emergency C-Section she states that that sensation took a couple of years to go away due to them cutting through all the nerves and muscle all that had to work it's way back up to be strong again. I do not know if this helps but my tingling is not as strong now as it was and my daugher is almost two so maybe she is right.

First off, OMG having two kids so close together in age.
Next, please know I do not mean to scare you with what I am about to say, so please understand that first off.

After two days of labor, my oldest was also an emergency c-baby. Afterwards, I had those same tingles and also a few twitches and numb spots, as well as a lump under the 'pouch' (that's what I call it) of my belly. I lived with it. Doc said it was just a fat collection from when I was pregnant with my son, and the tingle would eventually go away. OK, so I dealt with it.

When I was pregnant with my 2nd son I had a new doctor. He showed concern for the tingle and lump (fat collection). There was nothing we could do till after the baby was born, so we waited. I had a scheduled c-section with my 2nd because he was so big, there was the chance of me tearing open the old c-scar on my uterus if I went through natural labor.

This is where it is a little scary. Come of find out, the last doctor did not stitch me up correctly from my first c-section. I had scar tissue like crazy. Somehow, when the tissue healed, it also created issues with my nerves, which was causing the numb feelings and tingles. The lump, turned out to be a hernia I developed as a result of the c-section that he last doc never wanted to admit to I guess.

All in all, I had:
1.5 lbs of scar tissue removed; a corrected stitching from the last doctor because of the nerves; and on top of that a hernia removed.

All I'm saying is have someone look at your scar. Maybe the doc didn't cut along the lines or stitch along the lines that were best. If you are getting the numbness or tingles, it's worth looking into.

I know my aunt had a problem with her C-section- it didn't heal properly and took FOREVER to heal. I've never heard of your problem, but have you talked with your doctor? what does he/she say about it? and if you're not satisfied with your doctor's answer, get a second opinion.

Do you have to have another c section because of a medical problem? I have had three c sections, and besides an unsightly scar, belly it has been ok. The sensations sound like some kind of nerve pain, you can talk to a chiro about it.

Please look at this group and send them your story.
You did not say why you needed the C-section- but if you live in NJ - The highest c-rate in the nation, more than likely yours was not needed. MOre than 1/2 are unnecessary surgeries.
International Cesarean Awareness Network can give you some good information to help you avoid the second surgery. Vaginal birth is much safer than surgery. It is called a VBAC- many unethical doctors will not tell you this. Hang in there, go on the site and you will see you are not alone.
www.ican-online.org

namaste,
S.

do you really "need" a repeat c-section? can you ask for a VBAC? (vaginal birth after c-section) explore your options and good luck.

Hi there. Pardon me for being late responding to your question. But I found it strange for someone to have those sensations after a c-section. I have had 4 children by c-section and all I experienced was numbness around the incision area. I understand your worry and frustration about having another c-section. Everything will be alright. Don't worry too much. I had to have my third son by myself because hubby was working out of town and didn't make it in time for the birth. Unfortunately, I won't be having any more children because of my history of complications during pregnancy, the history of 4 c-sections not including the emergency surgery I had on my left tube due to an ectopic pregnancy, and just my health in general. I am blessed to have three boys and my last was a girl. She was born premature by 7 weeks and spent almost 3 weeks in the nicu. She'll be 2 in july. All the boys were full term. I'm blessed to have my kids and I love them so much. My last two are 11 months apart. So I feel like I got twins. But anyways, I hope everything works out for the best for you. Congrats on your soon to be new addition. Bless you. Lele

I had a c-section for both of my boys. The first was emergency and it was a nightmare just like yours. I had my second son only 19 months after my first and he was a planned c-section. It went really smooth and I recovered alot quicker than I did with my first and with alot less pain.
My suggestion to you is talk to your doctor have them tell you step by step how the procedure will go so there are no surprises. Also talk over what will happen in the worst possible situation. That way your doctor can put your fears to rest.
Last thing I suggest is just try and relax stress can play a big part in how a deliver goes. Trust the doctors they know what they're doing. Good luck and congratulations.

I had a nightmare of a c-section also. My daughter was late rather than early, and due to the placenta starting to disintegrate and the amount of meconium(she inhaled and swallowed it) my daughter went into distress and I had to get the emergency C-section. Besides the pain I also hemmorhaged and covered the bed with blood from my incision. My daughter is now almost 8 months old and my incision took 6 months to fully close. Like some women who get c-sections, my lower stomach,right above the incision, is numb. My doctor told me that may never come back. But i also get the "tingling" and occasionally I will get a very odd pain that feels like it runs through my incision area. Also the thing about C-sections is that it really takes up to a year for the inside to heal completely, thats why they suggest not having a baby so quickly. Unfortunately you really don't have the choice to do a VBAC because the births are so close. But I have heard that a scheduled one goes much smoother than the emergency. I wish you the best of luck, and the best of health to your daughter and your bun in the oven.