24 hours post-surgery
I promise, the Frankenstein-ish pictures I’ve been posting lately are not a sign of what’s to come on the blog in 2013! But I wanted to document this because frankly, I was not prepared for what the incision would look like and I’m more than a bit curious to see how it looks in a week, a month, 6 months from now… I may have called my mom freaking out a bit when I first took off the bandage. I’m pretty sure my bikini-wearing days are over, no? Oh, maybe not. I do have one very high-waisted retro-style bikini bottom that just might cover this silly smiley face scar. I am trying not to be vain. After 3 pregnancies, I was able to avoid c-section scars and major stretch marks, so really I consider myself lucky?
Anyway, I’m feeling much better, and despite my strong aversion to taking my pain meds (is anyone else kind of freaked out by the way Percocet makes you feel?) I have been good about lying around in bed reading blogs and thinking up ideas for the boys’ new shared room. We are considering bunk beds and moving them to one of the bigger rooms. I think a major shift is in store for our home. It’s good to reconfigure now and then. NOT that I’ll be moving furniture anytime soon, but… you know.
Oh Lauren ouch! That really looks like it’s painful. I’d never heard of the complication that you had, but I was hoping it was one of those deals where they could use a laser or at least go through your belly button. Still, it’s amazing how well the body heals and I’m sure by the time bathing suit weather is upon us it will barely be visible. And you are lucky that after three babies you still CAN feel good in a bikini, we should all look so good 🙂
Rest up and feel better soon.
Yowch. That does look painful. Don’t despair, keep some olive oil or other moisturizer on it for now and slather sunscreen on that bad boy in the summer and you’ll be good to go. Bikini or no. And at least it isn’t a scar on your chest if you know what I mean. It’s a badge of motherhood. But feel better soon, Oliver’s stitches should be about out, right?
I say that you wear that smiley scar with pride! (It is an oddly happy looking scar isn’t it?) This scar’s a sign you made it through the war and that you’re one tough lady.
Just so you know, I’m having a hard time taking my hydro-codone painkillers too. They make my thoughts race and make me anxious. At least we know we’ll never be drug addicts, right?
Heal fast my friend.
I agree with Ami. Wear it with pride! And it will totally fade over time. It’s been almost 10 months since my c-section and I’m amazed at how it’s progressed to almost invisible!
Glad you’re feeling better. And your boys will go bonkers for bunk beds, I bet!
(that was A LOT of ‘B’ words! 🙂
And PS… Today I’m making your slow cooker beef stew from Seasoned! Can’t wait to taste it! XO.
Actually…The sewing looks really good! Subcutaneous sutures? If so, it’ll heal to a thin white line within a year. After sutures are out massage the scar to get the “puckering”to lay flat. Shea butter, argan oil, etc will help it heal.
& yes! Zinc up in the summertime!
It really looks quite good & the curve is beautiful.
Careful of that Percocet… Eat lots of fruit!!! & no bread. : )
Gentle hugs
Wowza! You know what though, scars are sexy. I have a big scar on my forehead from diving into coral rocks and you know, I don’t regret having it there. Plus, this puppy will fade. Vitamin E is great too!
Feel better!
It looks awesome! Jamie’s stitches were waaaaay more gnarly. (At least you don’t have a metal rod bracing your stomach together. 😉 It looks like this will heal up really neatly. So sorry you had to go through with surgery, but I do hope it helps you feel better this year.
It gets better- all of it. How it looks, the worry about how it will look down the line, etc.. You will make peace with it! Remember it’s at its worst right now. Once it has healed I doubt you’ll even be able to notice it. I have c-section and appendectomy scars on my stomach and both are barely noticeable at this point. Take all of the excellent advice above and I’m sure it will be like nothing ever happened. And try to get some rest, woman!!
Ouch! I second everything people said wrt drugs messing you up, scars fading (before my 2nd C with Caleb, you couldn’t even see the scar from when Avery was born), and how fantastic you look after having 3 kids! Don’t make the mistake I made after Caleb was born & go off your meds too soon. I hate percocet so I stopped taking it before I was ready and then about 36 hrs later I just felt *terrible*. Had to go back on it for a few days & that was no fun. Rest up and feel better soon!
Well, let’s just say that I have a newfound respect for all of you c-section mamas! I can’t even imagine trying to take care of a newborn after major surgery! Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement. I am off pain meds, feeling like crap, and just hoping to get through the next couple of days…
Oh, and Miralax is the best if the percocet is making you feel … bound up. 🙂
Ha, ha! Thanks, Amy! I only took 2 Percocet, so luckily I didn’t have those kind of… ahem… problems! 🙂
Oh my. Poor thing! I hope you heal quickly! It is so hard being a mama and recuperating from surgery. Take good care of yourself, and soak up some of that good care your family is giving you 🙂
Lauren!!! It’s been absolutely nutty over here with the business of the Christmas break, and then my family visiting from out of town, and I haven’t kept up with any blogs lately.
I am glad your surgery went well, and that you have such awesome support. I think your scar is going to look pretty awesome (it’s a cyclops smiling!), so you should still totally be able to rock a bikini.
High fives and love to you guys.
Ouch!! I hope that wasn’t/isn’t as painful as it looks, Lauren! I’m sure it will heal well, but if you’re concerned I do make some great scar therapy oil 🙂 One good thing – you have no choice but to rest!
Just getting a chance to comment, but I’m glad it all went well. I’m impressed at your stretch mark free belly after three kiddos! 🙂
Oh, that does look quite painful. But I have to agree with the chorus that it will probably make a rather happy looking scar! (The bright side, right?) It will most definitely fade significantly with time. After 18 months my cesarean scar is almost invisible. There is hope for bikinis, I promise!
I have a scar right under my belly button from when I got my appendix out. It’s just a line coming from my belly button and going down about two inches. My mom says it looks like my belly button is drooling. It was weird too cause I had the dissolving stitches so i had a string coming out of the scar for awhile. Now you’ll just have to call your stomach Polyphemus… but at least the cyclops is happy!
I’d say the weirdest thing is my scar itches, but not on the surface, it itches like inside my skin. It’s weird. But my scar is now over ten years old and it’s faded a bit. But god I’ve still never been a bikini wearer. Damn Lauren, three kids and that stomach?! That’s crazy!
Anywho, glad it went well. I feel your pain.