What’s worse.. c section recovery or being pregnant with twins?

[toniboykin84]

So it’s basically another one of those “I’m dying” posts. 32wks with di/di twins and miserable. So much pain just to sleep and turn over in the bed. I’ve got a 3.5y/o and 1.5y/o and am relying so much on my husband and grandparents right now. I mean, you all understand.. Anyways, baby A is switching from transverse to breech the last few appointments and baby B has been transverse. I delivered vaginally for my other two boys, first was an induction with no complications (minor stitches) and my second was 4hrs and pretty easy recovery. I’m trying to hold out hope that baby A will flip because I feel like having delivered vaginally before it would go smoothly and be an easier recovery than a c section. But as time creeps on, a c section is looking like a real possibility. I’m nervous about the recovery and pain and ability to care for 4 under 4. Then I think about how much pain I’m currently in and how uncomfortable I am and am starting to wonder how bad a c section recovery could be compared to this. Hit me with the truth guys!

 

[viracox]

@toniboykin84 The third trimester was worse than the c section recovery. I mean, I was still wrecked, but at least I didn't have heartburn so bad I puked a minimum of twice a day. It hurt, but I was able to stand up and walk to the bathroom without debilitating lightning crotch. I also was able to take the good pain medication, which helped a ton for those first few days.

 

[toniboykin84]

@viracox Thanks good to know. Yes like why I feel like with twins it goes first trimester then straight to third trimester and now I’m in some hell trimester that’s like a combination morning sickness/nausea with excruciating body pain lol SO FUN

 

[daniel1990]

@toniboykin84 Chiming in with pregnancy being way harder than recovery! Third trimester twin pregnancy is SO HARD. I haven't found either of my two c-section recoveries rough, and I had 3 under 3.

I agree with the other poster about getting up and about ASAP. It was a huge difference between my first and second sections. My first two days after my first c-section were a little rough, then much better. I'm certain it was rougher because I stayed in bed for about 12 hours after the c-section. I have no idea why no nurses came to get me to have me move around, and I didn't know it was something I should do. Big failing on their part, imo.

With my second c-section (the twin one, which happened about 7pm) they had me walking around within 4 or 5 hours and I was feeling so great already that next day. It was really a night and day difference.

Good luck!

 

[iferexo]

@daniel1990 Were you on mag sulfate? Or anything else that might have made you a fall risk?

I was on a drip and stayed in bed for 24 hrs post section. Recovery sucked big time. I have no idea what my fundal height was, but I have a short torso so my belly was way way out there with 6 lb each babies (my abs were stretched so thin as to be nonexistent).

 

[daniel1990]

@iferexo I'm not sure if I was on sulfate, but I had a fall risk bracelet each time.

 

[toniboykin84]

@daniel1990 Awesome! I will definitely do this then!

 

[marysweep]

@toniboykin84 Get up and moving is great. I was moving my legs while still under the epidural. Also, water, water, water. It will help you get rid of the fluid faster.

 

[daniel1990]

@toniboykin84 Added a little more info to my comment, fyi! I feel like maybe it was confusing at first

 

[hodor]

@toniboykin84 Pregnancy was 100% worse then the c-section recovery.

 

[thesaltoftheearth]

@hodor Yup I can concur. About a week of pain/difficulty and then minor discomfort and having to be careful for a few more weeks.

 

[toniboykin84]

@hodor This makes me feel a little better!

 

[hodor]

@toniboykin84 My only suggestion is to get up and walk as soon as you feel ready to. The longer you stay in bed, the harder the recovery. That was the one advise that I was given before I had my c section, and it helped so much. I was able to walk upstairs when we were released from the hospital. Really it was a breeze! I had my girls at 38 weeks so, I feel your pain! Just a few more weeks!! Good luck!

 

[toniboykin84]

@hodor Thank you!!

 

[rjerps]

@hodor This is the correct response.

 

[veyron]

@toniboykin84 I had a triplet pregnancy and it was so much worse than the c-section recovery (and I’ve had two).

 

[daniel1990]

@veyron Kudos to you! I never thought much about triplets before I had twins, but then I thought about it a lot because I truly couldn't imagine having a whole nother baby in there. You're amazing!

 

[chiefhighliner]

@toniboykin84 The pain of a c section just does not compare to the feeling of finally being alone in your own body. I think I had about a six week period in my second trimester where I was fairly happy and then right at 28 weeks I was just absolutely miserable until I delivered at 34. I have never in my entire life had to deal with something so difficult. Nothing compares. I had major back surgery after months of back pain and it was still a million times better than the last six weeks of my pregnancy. Honestly the recovery wasn’t even so bad. I wasn’t in that much pain comparatively but mine was an emergency c section so I had a blood transfusion and was very weak for over a month after that. But I could comfortably sleep on my back for the first time in months so yeah they could have cut me open a few more times and it still would have been worth it. You’re almost there! Freedom is just around the corner!

 

[rbthorne]

@toniboykin84 I didn’t have toddlers so can’t speak to how difficult recovery would be in that situation but my (emergency after two days of labour) c section recovery was a breeze. I was out walking with one of my twins in a carrier a few days after, my incision healed beautifully and I forgot to even take the Tylenol they sent me home with because I hardly had any pain.
The last three weeks of my pregnancy were so awful. I couldn’t sleep, could barely sit comfortably, had terrible heartburn and carpal tunnel. Relief is coming!!

 

[s0ngoku33]

@toniboykin84 I’m three weeks out from my c section with twins. The first week of the incision being sore was rough, but after that it became much more manageable. That said, I’m a FTM so no other littles to be lifting in the meantime. The relief once the twins were out was incredible, I could feel the difference still on the operating table while numb. The heartburn, the hiccups, the hip pain, the peeing, it all went as soon as they were out. I am so enjoying not being pregnant.