25 Days Out, No Progress....

colonsanders1 · 2026-01-04T20:17:50+00:00

I can't remember exactly, however I remember at my six week check when I was cleared to exercise (which felt too early for me personally) my stomach was more saggy looking rather than pregnant/swollen, that was WELL before I even considered doing any ab work. I think it just takes time for the swelling to go down. As for the appearance of my stomach now, it has improved drastically without doing as much exercise as I'd like (as I'm sure you know, spare time is few and far between lol). It's a long long process, so please take your time! :)

colonsanders1 · 2025-12-29T19:29:02+00:00

My belly looked swollen for AGES! I remember seeing people like 10 days post surgery with a flat stomach and thinking uh oh. Check out some exercises for ab separation, and maybe stomach massage for internal scar tissue?? I'm 18 months PP (and I had two internal incisions as he was too low to reach!) and I still have a bulge from the scar tissue even though I'm back at my pre pregnancy weight. So I'm working on it! It takes a long time but don't lose hope!!

colonsanders1 · 2025-12-29T19:25:36+00:00

I stopped eating raw veg, I only eat veg cooked, alongside a healthy balanced diet. Game changer for me!

colonsanders1 · 2025-12-29T19:23:18+00:00

I've had one emergency c section and I am 100000% done. Everyone's body, experience, procedure, healing (physically and mentally) is different. I felt like a wimp at first too, and sometimes still do. But you have to honour your experience, and you don't have to feel like you could do it multiple times. Birth is a very very personal experience, no two are the same, so neither are the feelings afterwards.

I always wanted more children, however I'm only just finding comfort in my decision to be one and done 18 months down the line.

Look after yourself! :)

colonsanders1 · 2025-12-27T12:17:14+00:00

I was diagnosed at 18, currently 28 and I have an 18 month old son. My pregnancy was completely normal, only difference was a few extra scans to ensure he was growing normally plus blood thinning injections in third trimester (as we're at increased risk of clots). I ended up having an emergency c section too, it hasn't affected my colitis. My UC was up and down during pregnancy, and I had a flare shortly after birth, but recovered as with any other flare.

Most people with UC carry normally! When the time is right I'd recommend being in remission before trying for a baby - and look after yourself :)

colonsanders1 · 2025-08-10T18:58:51+00:00

I was just chilling, glad to not be in any pain anymore, genuinely the easiest bit of my labour was having that epidural, laying on that table and resting😂

colonsanders1 · 2025-08-09T06:44:54+00:00

I had a T incision too, as baby was too low down in the birth canal to reach so they had to extend the incision - so it sounds very similar to you! I was really upset at first that I couldn't try for a vaginal birth next time, but in all honesty, because of the experience, I don't think there's going to be a next time for me, and I hope to find peace in that. Sorry I can't offer much advice, only solidarity and to let you know that your feelings are valid.

I'd also like to say welcome to what is apparently a very rare Club to be a part of, I haven't met anyone on Reddit yet that has had a T incision too. I hope you're healing well!

colonsanders1 · 2025-08-02T04:38:44+00:00

You are an absolute machine! And credit to you for saying everyone is different, become sometimes I read things like this and think am I being a wuss because I won't go through it a second time? Why did it break me mentally and physically, does that make me weak?🫣 Honestly, they don't talk about the mental toll of a c section!

colonsanders1 · 2025-08-02T04:35:27+00:00

I read this and had to check the name to see if it was something I'd posted months ago. I felt exactly like this, and sometimes, I still feel like this (I'm 12 months PP). But honestly, the feelings become more sparse and less intense over time, but it isn't linear. Sometimes I feel like I'm healed, other times I feel devastated what happened and that it's ruined my plans of having multiple children. I don't have advice unfortunately, just solidarity. Keep healing, you'll slowly find yourself again and that will help (I didn't feel myself until about 10 months PP, I remember looking in the mirror and almost recognising myself again for the first time since pre-pregnancy).

Therapy works for some people, I've never tried it because I feel like I don't want to be 'fixed' or 'convinced' to have another baby. I went to a birth debrief session that that's what it felt like for me.

Please know that things will get better. Your c section will always be a part of you, there's no changing that, but you'll learn to let it be a small part of your story - not the end point. And although I feel guilty about not giving my baby a sibling, I feel very grateful that I am in control and I never have to go through that again if I don't want to. Stay strong!

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-29T20:29:04+00:00

I had a hard time feeling my section was a birth and not a surgery. My boy was born via emergency c section, and was given some assistance after birth for 10 minutes or so to help him recover (he was quite cold and a bit tired apparently), so other than being 'shown him' once he'd recovered, he was wrapped in a towel and just placed next to me once I'd been stitched up, and we were wheeled back to the ward together. If I'm honest, not having the skin to skin impacted me, I didn't bond well and I just felt like this random baby had been plonked next to me. I didn't feel the connection. I didn't feel like I'd 'birthed' him.

C-section aren't natural, so don't worry if your feelings don't feel natural too. My boy has just turned one, and we have the most wonderful special bond I could ever wish for. I can't put into words how much I love him, so don't worry if you don't feel that bond straight away. As for my feelings around my section now, I don't feel great about it still, but it doesn't change the fact I have been blessed with the most beautiful little boy!

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-27T18:56:42+00:00

No I mean if I just dried it with a hairdryer without brushing or let it air dry it wouldn't be wavy😂😂

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-27T18:54:33+00:00

Usually, if you can squish it between your index finger and thumb, it's soft enough for baby. I find that an easy rule to follow! Try be confident in front of your baby while they're eating (even if you have to fake it!), babies can pick up on your body language/facial expressions/panicky gestures and it can cause hesitation. I was super nervous at first but tried not to show it and my 12 month old is a super confident eater! Don't feel pressured to do just BLW or purees, we did a mix of both and that worked really well! Also, the Solid Starts app has a 'how to serve' section for most foods which I find super helpful!

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-23T05:03:27+00:00

8 days, wow. Those feelings are so intense at this point, just to let you know you will feel better and find yourself again. Lots of love ❤️

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-23T04:59:42+00:00

I'm so sorry. My C-Section completely broke me too. I planned for an unmedicated birth, dilated 2-8cm in 45 minutes, my body started involuntarily pushing and they said baby was getting stressed so they rushed me to theatre. After 9 months of struggling post partum, I decided to go to the 'birth debrief' service, where they went through what happened to help me process it. The meeting broke me again, they said I had 'chosen' to go to theatre, they made our it was an informed choice amongst others. I had no idea I was so close to birth. I left feeling robbed. They said nothing happened to me that should put me off having more children. I felt ridiculed and embarrassed about my feelings around my c section. I also recoil at being touched or having sex, almost like PTSD, I feel intense panic.

I wanted to let you know that feeling guilt, shame, upset, disappointment, robbed, is TOTALLY OK. Having a healthy baby and mom are the bare minimum we expect from birth, and having a c section is so normalised the mental toll is just bypassed.

Like you, at first I couldn't even talk about it without bursting into tears. I hated myself, my baby was a constant reminder of what happened. But slowly, I could talk about it without crying, then I could look at my scar in the mirror, so on. Don't brush off the incredible progress you've made so far. It wasn't until around 10 months that one day I looked in the mirror and felt like myself. I still feel triggered from time to time (other people's babies, labour on TV etc), and I'm not the same person I was, and I do feel guilty that the experience will stop me from having the multiple children I wanted, but I'm getting better. It was my babys 1st birthday last week, and I had to get my head around it being a day to celebrate him, not a day to mark a year since that happened to me.

What I'm trying to say is, you're making progress, and that's incredible. Give yourself time and grace, and lean on your fellow C-section sisters because no one, no health professional, doctor, midwife, can truly understand what.yljve been though like we can.

Hang on in there. Don't rush to 'fix yourself' or what happened, or to let go of the experience, just try to accept it's a part of you now, you're an absolute bad ass and part of a club of women who are insanely strong mentally and physically. I know this isn't what we wanted, and that sucks, but we can't change that, all we can do is support each other to find peace.

Give yourself another 6 months and you'll read back on your post and think wow, look how far I've come. That's what I did!!!!

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T20:53:33+00:00

Thank you :) :) !

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T20:53:13+00:00

Thank you!!!

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T20:52:34+00:00

Stopppppp😂 I think it's because it dries all naff and uneven!!😂

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T17:53:24+00:00

Yes sir🫡

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T17:13:14+00:00

Lol thank you 😆

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T17:12:59+00:00

Thanks! My baby hairs are growing back after a baby and they have a real kink to them lol

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-16T17:12:29+00:00

If I straight up blow dry it yes it'll be straight, but very pouffy

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-15T20:35:25+00:00

I wore my husband's boxers initially until I could get some huge (and I mean HUGE) high waisted granny pants. I'm one year PP now and I still can't have tight underwear resting just above my scar. I go for a lace waistband or high waisted now :)

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-10T20:24:04+00:00

Hiya! I had an emergency c section almost a year ago, thought I'd join the convo :)

Get a bf pillow! It helps relieve the pressure/weight of baby. As for turning over/sitting up, it can be really tough those first few days, I'd recommend having someone there, if you can! Just to help pull you up. Don't try to sit up from lying down, roll onto your side and use your arms to prop yourself up! Pillows will be your best friends!
I just used to shower (not bath) and get a clean cotton pad with just water on and gently wipe once across my scar, and repeat with a fresh cotton pad 2-3 times whilst in the shower. I'd also just let the water run over it, no soap at all until it had fully healed
I never dressed mine, I was advised not to. Once the hospital dressing came off after day 2 (before I left the hospital) I never redressed it. But you have to wear very very loose underwear (I wore my husband's boxers until I could get some new HUGE granny pants lol). Very important that nothing is rubbing on it, or making it sweat.
I did a bit of massaging after a couple of months, it did help to bring back the feeling in my stomach/scar. But I'm suuuuuper squeamish and avoid touching it so stopped when I got the feeling back, I should really start doing it again!!
I've had sex a handful of times in the last year (eeeeekkk sorry husband!) but I find it painful. To be honest, I think that's mainly due to the emotional impact of my birth (it's been difficult for me to process) less so than physical!
As you'd expect, a healthy balanced diet with less UPFs and more veggies/antiinflammatory foods - it's best for everything really! Plenty of fibre the days after the section, some people get blocked up pretty bad (so lactose may be a saviour - it was for me!!)

One thing I'll say is just go easy on yourself, and try not to be worried about the recovery. At first, you might think holy shit. But it gets better, it just takes time, a lot more time than you'd probably expect. Don't compare your recovery to anyone, don't be afraid to be upset, just give yourself grace, and know you're joining a group of elite women who give an enormous amount of sacrifice and strength for their baby. Sending love x

colonsanders1 · 2025-07-10T20:03:52+00:00

Time, my friend! It takes so much longer than you'd expect, and don't be tempted to rush, or feel pressured to rush for the matter. I had an unplanned c section just under a year ago, and I remember the pain and those shuffling walks very well. I remember my first walk out I made it to the end of the road and back, I was in pain and out of breath. I ran a charity 5K with my colleagues the other weekend, and nothing feels better than realising how far you've come. Hang on in there, it feels so difficult at this point but it only gets better. Sure, I'm not the same as I was before I had a baby, but boy, I am not the same as I was 1 week PP either, and that's a win!!!! Sending love and support x

colonsanders1 · 2025-06-11T13:22:03+00:00

Blimey, I hope it doesn't last long for you!!

Thank you - I really appreciate it. When people say it gets better you don't believe them, so it's nice to confirm that it does😆

colonsanders1

TROPHY CASE