Emcs and recovery

[shadack]

Last Monday I was taken in for an emcs after my waters breaking 46 hours earlier and failing to progress past 1 cm
I came home two days later and did very little for the first day however now I feel able to do so much more but I keep getting people say I shouldn't be doing anything at all
Should I be listening to them or my body? I'm not doing anything stupid like lifting heavy things or walking my giant dogs who are rather bouncy but I have pushed the pram, fed the cat and made sandwiches for lunch etc and felt fine
I've also done loads of walking as Iv been called back to hospital almost every day and had to get from the car to the ward which I did find a bit much but there is only so close DP can drop me to the ward and I felt much more comfortable leaning on the pushchair after the hour long car journey than without it
Should I just keep smiling and nodding and just do what I feel up to or do I need to start calling relatives to pick DD out of crib and to make my lunch for me?

[ExBrightonBell]

If you feel ok then keep doing what feels comfortable for you. Of course you don't need to call relatives to do things for you that you are able to do.

Everyone recovers at different rates, and in different ways. I went to watch the Olympics about 3 weeks after my EMCS, which involved plenty of walking and moving about. I was also up and about daily when I got home from hospital as I had frequent visits to the GPs etc too.

However, if you get fresh bleeding or a lot of pain in the scar area then that can be a reminder to slow down a little. I found that it was often the day after I did a lot of physical activity that I felt the effects.

I think a lot of people are simply trying to be kind by suggesting you should be taking it easy. I think all new mums, irrespective of delivery method. should take things entirely at their own pace.

Congratulations btw!

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

I have had two emcs and easy recoveries. Second time round, I had a school run to do from 4 days post op and DH was back at work. It was a 4 mile walk in total. Was back running at 8 weeks.

Just listen to your body. I had no pain and no problems.

[LotsaTuddles]

I was the same as you op. Felt like I could do more than people we're allowing me to. We were living with PiLs for a few weeks before we moved into our house though so couldn't argue too much.

I did manage to walk into town around 6 days after, but SiL came with me and we walked unbelievably slowly.

Saying that though, I think I may have done too much too soon as 7 months on my scar is still quite sore (DS's favourite place to poke/stand on/elbow is, typically, my scar) and tender

[rallytog1]

Sounds fine, as long as you slow down if your body starts complaining! One thing I would suggest is keeping on top of your painkillers - it's easy to think you're better, stop taking them and quite quickly feel rubbish again.

[shadack]

Glad I'm not the only one then
DPs cousin recoverd much slower which I think is what colouring their opinions
I think I'll stick to doing what I feel up to we're going to register DD later on in the week as DP back to work after and wants to be there but that may be a whole days activitys :)
Unfortunately I can't keep up with painkillers as I'm severely allergic to almost all of them and the only ones I can take are controlled drugs which they refuse to perscribe so paracetamol is as strong as it gets for me :(

[Inglori0us]

I'm on day 9 after EMCS and I'm feeling a bit sore and achey for the first time in a week. I did very little for first week as baby was in SCBU and I was still in hospital.
Last 2 days I've pottered around, washed up, done odds and ends and gone to friends house and I'm back on the Diclofenac now.
Scar is looking great, the pain is right inside. Remember it's major surgery and don't do too much!

[TransatlanticCityGirl]

I was similar to you OP, I was up and about as soon as the epidural ran out and when the midwives brought around a bucket load of painkillers I was completely perplexed as to why I needed them.

I followed the guidance of not lifting anything heavier than baby, but otherwise I just listened to my body and my midwife who said she knew she would never convince me to take things any slower but if ever I was out and about and didn't feel 100%, just to sit down for a bit and take a rest.

When I had my 6 week check I was very keen to get back into exercise and my GP very unhelpfully told me it was too soon without any guidance in terms of when I could or what were the signs of me being ready (after examining me for a whole 2 minutes). I obviously didn't want to damage myself and found myself putting off exercise for several months until I came across a personal trainer who specialised in post c-section pilates - and she amazed me in terms of what I was already capable of doing. I so wish I had sought better advice elsewhere and started exercising again earlier. The long gap between stopping and starting again made it that much harder to get back into it.