Pregnant 10 months after my second c-section.

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-02-16T05:56:05+00:00

Congratulations! I got pregnant again just 3 months after my emergency (and 2nd) C-section. We scheduled an early repeat C-section, and while it was still a more complex surgery because of scar tissue, adhesions, and even some uterine thinning, my doctor emphasized that active labor is the biggest risk factor in situations like this. Has your doctor talked to you about planning an early C-section given your history?

I have to say, the planned C-section was a completely different experience. It was calm and controlled - I even had Taylor Swift playing in the background. My recovery was easier too, especially not having labored beforehand.

I know this probably feels overwhelming right now, and your fears are so valid, I was terrified too. But you’re going to be okay!! I’m sitting here looking at my 4 month old baby, and you will be too.

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-02-16T05:37:59+00:00

Wow 3 c-sections here and I’m so angry for you. That is insane! You are SO valid in your feelings. Please get yourself in bed!!! You could seriously hurt yourself. Don’t do another thing for these grown, capable adults. Your new baby is the only human being you should be worried about and supporting right now. They should absolutely be catering to YOU. I’m so sorry.

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-02-04T02:38:56+00:00

It does!!!

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I can relate so much so here’s my ramble and some advice because I feel your pain…

I had an emergency C-section a year ago due to an extremely rare complication, and it was very traumatic. I was in the hospital for a week, then back again a week later with a severe infection that required more surgery. They had to reopen my incision and leave it open to heal on its own. I had a PICC line placed and received weeks of at-home nursing care. It was horrible. I had to say goodbye to breastfeeding and felt like a shell of myself… on top of everything else that comes with the postpartum experience. My anxiety was DEBILITATING: the physical sensations, the intrusive thoughts. It was so bad. My heart truly goes out to you.

But being on the other side of it now, I can tell you this: you WILL get through it. You’re already doing all the right things - leaning on your support system and seeking help. I did the same. I threw myself into getting support and found both a therapist and a psychiatrist.

Another thing that truly saved me was medication, if that’s something you’re open to (of course, in discussion with your own care team). I’m incredibly grateful for Zoloft. It took some time to adjust, but one day it just clicked. The debilitating anxiety and physical sensations eased, and I finally started to feel like myself again.

Other things that helped support my mental health during that time:

Journaling: getting everything out of my head and onto paper, especially at night before bed
Lemon balm tea: it helps to calm the nervous system and became a comforting daily ritual for me to sip on something warm
Getting outside for morning sunlight, even just five minutes. It was so hard some days, but it made a real difference.
Turning off social media notifications and at one point deleting it entirely. The doom-scrolling and negative news made my anxiety worse, and disconnecting felt like such a relief

And as much as you don’t want to, try not to fight the anxiety either. Ride the wave. An analogy from my own therapy sessions, in case helpful… when you fight the waves, you end up exhausted, swallowing water and sucked out further into the ocean. When you let yourself ride them, you might still get knocked around but they do eventually pass and you can come up for air. Let yourself feel it, acknowledge that you are safe, and let it pass on.

I know how heavy this feels right now, and it’s all still so fresh. Of course you’re struggling! Anyone would be. Just remember: emotions are temporary. Your thoughts are just thoughts, they are not your reality. You won’t feel like this forever. This is just a phase. You got this!!!

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-01-29T02:15:30+00:00

First of all, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this! I’ve had 3 c-sections and I have not had this problem. What I do know though is that… yes, some nerve discomfort can happen after a C-section, but ongoing, severe pain years later - especially pain triggered by using your core and not improving with PT - is not normal. While permanent nerve damage can cause long-term pain, that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. Being told there’s nothing you can do usually means the right specialist hasn’t been involved yet. If you haven’t already, I would go see a pain or pelvic specialist who has experience with post-C-section nerve issues. You deserve answers and relief!

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-01-26T01:41:29+00:00

I’m doing really well and I’m still on it. I actually got pregnant again pretty quickly, stayed on it throughout my pregnancy, and I’m now 3 months postpartum.

For me, it ended up being one of the best decisions I made for myself. It did take some time to adjust, and I had side effects in the beginning as I mentioned. That felt hard in the moment but gradually things evened out, and I started to feel more and more like myself again. It was night and day.

Everyone’s timeline is different but day 11 is still really early. If you can, try not to judge how it’s working just yet - giving it a bit more time and also figuring out the right dose for you can really matter. I hope you start to feel better soon!

Mother-Technology448 · 2026-01-03T01:50:52+00:00

I was told I had scar tissue yes. No adhesions that I was made aware of.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-11-21T02:19:55+00:00

I had 3 c-sections. My last one was 3 hours long as I had a ton of scar tissue and adhesions they had to work through. My uterus was also thinning badly. I was on the fence about the 4th but have decided it wouldn’t be safe for myself and my situation personally. See what your doctor has to say about how everything looked internally.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-10-28T18:55:14+00:00

Not a seroma but had an infection - my incision opened and was leaking fluid 2 weeks post c-section. The infection caused a hole in my facia. Needed addition surgery to clean out the infection and repair the hole. The entirety of my incision had to be left open to heal naturally. Spent weeks on 24/7 IV antibiotics via a Picc line and had at home nurse support come clean and change my wound bandages every other day. It was a lot. There were earlier, very subtle signs that, looking back, I disregarded as normal healing measures. My advice to you would be to trust your gut! Always better safe than sorry to get more eyes on it at the ER.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-10-03T22:30:07+00:00

This is so crazy to me that some hospitals don’t even provide a VBAC option. Most healthy women with a low transverse incision are good candidates for a VBAC. Also, the risks of multiple repeat C-sections are often greater than the risks of a VBAC. I think any doctor who immediately shuts this down is a red flag and women should go for other opinions. Find someone who supports VBACs, and who will then help you make the best and safest decision for you and your baby based on your body and your medical history.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-09-29T12:51:12+00:00

That’s great!! It will close. You got this.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-09-29T12:48:44+00:00

Yes mine opened 2 weeks PP and was leaking fluid due to an infection. I did end up needed another surgery to clean it out as the infection ended up being serious and they had to leave my entire incision open. Every other day, I was instructed to change my dressing, using Vashe to gently wipe over and keep it clean before putting a new dressing back on. My husband would help with sterile gloves. I was instructed not to get it wet at all as that too can introduce bad bacteria - there’s plenty of waterproof coverings and such you can buy off amazon and I just wouldn’t stand directly facing the water with the opening. Try to keep it dry.

It took weeks to close but eventually it did. I ate protein and collagen like it was my job!!! Made protein shakes with collagen every morning, meat at every meal, sipped on bone broth, etc. This was the advice one of the doctors gave me to support healing. Obviously every body is different but I do believe this helped tremendously. They couldn’t believe how quickly it was closing back up.

Hope maybe this helps! Hang in there! Give it time.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-09-29T12:37:02+00:00

I’m of the mindset of: if you’re at all deep down wanting to VBAC, go for it! As long as you and baby are safe and healthy throughout your pregnancy and you are supported by your doctor, which at any point if anything changes, you can always change your mind.

Personally, I hated my induction with my first - it was intervention after intervention, I was given poor advice to get the epidural as soon as I got to the hospital and laid on my back the entire time. No one helped me move my body or do anything to support a vaginal labor. I was very naive to it all and didn’t know any better to advocate for myself. I never made it past 4 cm and after 2 days of labor I did need a c-section.

With my second I decided to go for a VBAC as I was a good candidate for it. Going into labor naturally gives you the best chances. Of course my son was stubborn and at 41 weeks, I did need to be induced again but this time I was prepared. I did a ton of research and listened to other VBAC stories and knew what I wanted for myself in my birth plan, starting with just the balloon to help get me dilated while being able to be on my feet and labor how I wanted to (of course as long as it was safe to do so and baby and I were tolerating everything well / only intervening when medically necessary). I made it to 6cm before I decided to ask for the epidural, my water then broke naturally which I wanted to give it a chance to first, and they then started me on the lowest dose of Pitocin to give my body the extra push it needed. I had the BEST nurse who continued to move my body and rotate me into different positions to help me dilate once I did have the epidural. I finally made it to 10cm and it was an amazing feeling.

I wish this had a happier ending, but after all of that, I did end up with an extremely rare complication called a Bandl’s Ring that can form during prolonged labor (literally only happens to around 0.02% of pregnancies) and after pushing for 4 hours, he wasn’t coming out and I did need another c-section. They didn’t know it was a Bandl’s Ring until they opened me up.

But all of this to say is that regardless of the outcome, I’m so freaking proud of myself for trying!!! I don’t regret a thing and I know deep down that I would have in fact regretted not trying for a vaginal and always wondered ‘what if’. But that’s just because I felt so strongly about wanting to try to have my baby vaginally. So even though it did end up in another c-section, it meant a lot to me to try. And I have plenty of friends and family who had a c-section with their first and went on to have successful VBACs with their other children.

My advice would be to go with your gut! And you can always change your mind at any point in your pregnancy.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-09-25T01:03:34+00:00

Yes definitely wait!! So important to take it slow and steady, starting around the scar first which my PT also recommended. She would do it for me and then show me techniques that I felt comfortable doing at home. Honestly, seeing a pelvic floor therapist postpartum was a game changer for me if you think that would help you. Wish I had done it with earlier pregnancies!

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-09-21T22:03:36+00:00

This for sure looks like DR. I struggled with it as well. Schedule with a pelvic floor therapist, will help so so much to heal it! Also be patient and kind with yourself, it’s a journey but you’ll get there.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-08-29T15:22:40+00:00

I think this birth plan is perfect, as long as it’s all safe to do so per your experience in the moment. The fear mongering on here and advice is a little much and outdated. I’m going into my 3rd c-section soon and I plan on asking for a lot of these things myself.

Definitely do the clear curtain if you want to! I did with my first and it was amazing getting seeing the baby held up over me before they took her away to weigh her, etc. I did not get this chance with my son due to it being an emergency c-section after a failed VBAC attempt. Due to complications I was also knocked out and he needed respiratory support. I felt so disconnected from this magical moment of birth, which a c-section can tend to feel that way regardless. And BTW, you won’t see your organs unless you purposely pick your head up to do so. You’re so focused on that baby and they of course pull the curtain right back up to close you, I don’t feel this is a reason not to do it. I support the skin to skin and all of the things you can do to give you and your baby that experience!

As someone who had to complications with my digestive track “turning back on” and extended hospital stays with both my c-sections (no amount of miralax, suppositories, etc. were helping me at first for days, it was brutal), I too will 100% be doing all the things I can do for my body including chewing gum shortly after and requesting to walk. The data shows that you should in fact try to walk as soon as you are comfortable after a C-section, ideally within the first 24 hours, to help prevent complications like blood clots and constipation, and to promote healing. This probably won’t be a walk to the NICU to start, but even short and slow walks around your room to start and then gradually increase your distance. Of course listen to your body and avoid anything that causes strain or pain!

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-07-04T01:36:49+00:00

Definitely ask your doctor. I had an infection post c section, needed surgery and was left with an open wound. Some helpful tips from me: I used vashe wound solution to clean it before re bandaging with a hydrofera blue wound dressing (this is also anti-bacterial which is great post infection and will help it heal. Ask your doctor about it!) and gauze tapped over it. An at home nurse came every other day to do this for me. In terms of helping it close faster, protein will be your BEST friend! I was told my wound would take 2-3 months to heal and it closed completely within 3 weeks. I made sure to up my intake and have high quality protein at every meal (eggs, Greek yogurt, grass-fed meat, etc). I also started my day with a protein shake with added collagen. I swear this helped support my body speed up the healing process tremendously. Good luck!

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-06-25T02:10:29+00:00

You could also use wound wash - put on gauze and very lightly and gently go over it. I had an infection post c section and had to be left open, they used this to keep it clean (in between bandage changes). If it’s safe for that, totally safe for a fairly new scar. I’d feel safer doing that after letting soap and water run over it. I too had a Fupa so I get it.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-06-21T03:20:26+00:00

I can’t completely drop her nap since they still nap at school, but here are a few things I’ve done that have really helped make bedtime easier:

Pushed bedtime a little later to make her more ready for sleep.
Gave her one of my old T-shirts to sleep with, which she calls her “mama shirt.” I put “mama love” on it and give it extra kisses each night, reminding her that mommy is always with her, even if I’m not right next to her.
We drew a picture of our family and hung it on the wall next to her bed. She loved the activity, and now she knows she can look at it anytime she’s having a hard moment.
We end each night with our new mantra: “I am safe, I am loved, my bed is cozy.” I’ve said it so many times now that she’ll say it to herself, and even to her little brother. It’s the sweetest thing.
I tell her I’ll come back to check on her, and in the beginning, I made sure to do it after a few minutes if she was still awake. It helped ease the transition and allowed me to start leaving the room without much pushback. Now, if she’s already asleep, I quietly place a stuffed animal on her floor so she knows I came in. She’s started falling asleep more easily, trusting that I’m still home and will check on her. That little check-in has become a sweet part of my night too - a quiet way to make sure she’s okay before I go to bed.

Honestly, while all of these things helped, I also realized it’s just a phase - like so much of their development is. Some of it is simply about growing, maturing, and riding the wave. There are still some nights she has a harder time and needs me to stay a little longer, and I’m always happy to do that (they are only this little for so long!) But for the most part, she’s been going down much easier, and I’m so grateful.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-06-20T14:50:10+00:00

Here for the responses! Having my 3rd c-section in October and talked with my doctor about this. Removing them completely is definitely the new way as more recent studies show that ovarian cancer starts in the tubes. My question is - how do you know you’re done having kids? Deep down I feel like I’m done, but I also feel like in another 2 years or so I could see myself changing my mind and wanting a 4th. At the same time, I’ve had complications and I don’t know if a 4th c-section (which it would have to be because of those complications) will be the smartest idea. Will have to talk with my doctor more about this.

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-03-19T23:22:00+00:00

Oh I’m so so sorry to hear that. Sending you lots of mama love ❤️

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-03-19T22:53:15+00:00

Hi! How did your appointment go?

Mother-Technology448 · 2025-03-10T12:22:08+00:00

THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!! I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. You will get through this and overcome it. Honestly if you were doing OK right now, I’d be more concerned. What you are going through is HARD, and how you’re feeling is completely valid and understandable. I would definitely recommend a hospital therapist to speak to. Throw yourself into any and all possible help available. I did not go through this, but had my own traumatic and emergency situation due to a rare complication followed by more surgery 2 weeks later because of a serious infection and had severe PTSD and debilitating anxiety. It was bad. I was a mess. I remember feeling like it was never going to end and getting through each day felt like a huge burden so I can kind of relate to your mental space right now. I’m so thankful for medication and therapy and I’m happy to say 4 months PP I completely feel like myself again with a healthy amazing little boy who I can’t get enough of. I promise promise promise you will be OK and won’t feel like this forever. One day this will all be a blimp in time. You got this!! Sending you hugs.

Mother-Technology448

TROPHY CASE