Duration of pain after a caesarean section
If no complications such as infection or wound healing disorder occur after the Caesarean section, the pain usually lasts for about 2-8 weeks. The duration of abdominal pain depends on the quality of the operation, the wound healing and the patient’s behaviour in the weeks following the operation. If painkillers are used, patients usually only feel the pain to a minor degree over the entire duration. If complications occur, such as wound infection or adhesions in the abdomen, abdominal pain can continue to be felt for months or years after the Caesarean section, depending on the condition.
Associated symptoms
Depending on the cause of the abdominal pain, various accompanying symptoms can occur. If the pain is caused by the operation wounds, there are usually no or only minor secondary symptoms such as itching or twitching in the abdomen. If, on the other hand, wounds are inflamed, the surrounding skin may show redness, swelling and overheating and the wound may produce a lot of wound secretion.
Fever can also occur, as with any severe inflammation or infection. If the peritoneum becomes inflamed, the pain can increase significantly within a short time. Due to the strong pain that may then occur, a so-called “board-hard abdomen” can occur: even the slightest touch of the abdominal wall causes the abdominal muscles to become involuntarily tense.
If an inflammation of the peritoneum is not treated quickly, the disease can lead to severe circulatory problems and ultimately even death. If flatulence is responsible for the abdominal pain, a severely bloated abdomen can be noticeable. If a constipation occurs, in addition to abdominal pain, the patient usually has no or very hard bowel movements, which can only be squeezed out with great effort. If bacteria settle in the uterus during the Caesarean section and cause an infection, an increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge can occur in addition to severe abdominal pain.
Treatment / Therapy
Abdominal pain after a caesarean section is treated with painkillers for at least a few days. It is important whether the newborn baby is breastfed or not – some medicines should not be used if breastfeeding is taking place. The reason for this is that some drugs can pass into breast milk and then be administered to the baby unintentionally.
Commonly used painkillers for nursing mothers are paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac and acetylsalicylic acid. Morphine derivatives can also be used for severe pain. If a bacterial infection of the wound, peritoneum or uterus is identified as the cause of the pain, antibiotics must be used.
Which antibiotic is used depends not only on the pathogen but also on whether the patient is breast-fed or not. After using an antibacterial agent, the infection should improve significantly within 2-3 days and the pain should subside. If intestinal inertia occurs after the Caesarean section – medically known as “post-operative intestinal atony” – enemas can be administered or abdominal compresses applied to get the intestines moving again.
