Advice on recovery after c section

[flumppootle]

Can anyone give me some real advice on what it is like to recover from a c section please? Especially those who also have other children to care for. I am concerned about things like school runs etc?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I've had two CSes. After having DS2 by section, I think I was on complete rest for a couple of weeks, and took a few more before I could do any vigorous lifting.

If you do a lot in the first weeks, you risk having your wound not heal properly, essentially.

Oh, and I've heard some insurers aren't ok with people driving for 6 weeks after a CS? I don't drive, so it wasn't an issue for me.

Are you sure you're having a section? How many older children do you have? Do you have family you can draft in to help? Or is a postnatal doula or temporary nanny an option?

[jampots]

you wont be driving for 6 weeks after c/s so make sure children can get to school by foot or enlist help in this area.

In fact in the first 3 weeks or so its best not to walk too far either - rest as much as you can and dont think you're being a wimp.

[lissielou]

i culdnt even lift ds for 6w following my cs you cant drive or hoover for 6w either, you shouldnt put any strain on your abdo muscles. dont forget its major surgery and you should treat it as such you cant take dc out in a pushchair for a while either so make sure there is someone with you as often as poss, i kept running out of milk coz i couldnt take ds out by myself. where do you live?

[hippmummy]

Agree you should not push yourself. Listen to the recommended recovery times and stick to them. If you try to do too much too soon the recovery will take much longer.

In the first week even things like getting in and out of the shower will be hard.

You will need additional help, especially if your other children are still at an age where they require lifting up.

Good luck though, if you take it easy at first you will bounce back fully with nothing but a big scar to show for it

[blueshoes]

definitely draft in support for at least 2 weeks. My dh took paternity for that period.

6 weeks seems the magical mark but I felt 90% normal after 5 days when my stitches were removed. Did not do any heavy lifting or carry dd for 2 weeks but after that felt so well that I did do a bit of quick lifting when had no other choice. I checked the terms of my car insurance policy which was silent on driving after cs or major surgery. I think their concern is that after major surgery you cannot do an emergency brake.

I certainly could do an emergency brake after 2 weeks and so went back on the school run with a car after 2 weeks. But drove slowly and it was only backstreets.

I agree not to push yourself and if there is any hint of pain or strain, to stop. But you might be surprised to find yourself actually quite well after a week or so

[flumppootle]

Thankyou all for your comments, its so good to hear from people who have actually been there and done it.
We already have 3 dcs (7,5, and 2.5) so not easy. I dont have any family around to help but my dh works from home so will be in the house. He is planning about 2 weeks complete leave when I come home from hosp but we are both really worried about how to cope after that. It is such a big unkown for us because the first three were not cs but complicated deliveries. All advice is very gratefully recieved

[flumppootle]

Also meant to say that I will phone my car insurance crowd for their guidelines.
Lissielou I live in Wiltshire.

[jampots]

I found re: the question of driving that my insurance company said it would be ok if my GP said it was ok, my GP then deferred it onto DVLA who then referred it back to insurance after which time 6 weeks had passed and it was ok.

[LubyLoo]

I was driving 2.5 weeks after my c-section. My insurance company said I just had to get OK from doctor. I saw doctor who just asked me if I felt OK to drive. I said yes (actually felt more OK two weeks post cs than when heavily pregnant)He didn't examine me or anything. It was more of a formality really.

When are you due? Good luck!

[smoggie]

I was driving 4 weeks after my section but didn't realise at the time that I wasn't insured unles I'd had the OK from my GP!

I would say I felt able to get out and about by myself after 3-4 weeks. Take the first 1-2 really steadily because if you push yourself too early to will set yourself right back.
As for lifting ds1 I felt able to do this comfortably after about a week or so. , but certainly no heavy lifting for a while.

[lissielou]

hospitals in different areas seem to have different procedure so speak to your consultant before the cs and stick to what he/she says. i was told not to do any housework coz all the abs are bruised in addition to the cut itself

[TuttiFrutti]

Just take things as easy as you can really, although obviously that's easier said than done with young children.

As other people have said, it's a myth that you can't drive for 6 weeks. Check with your insurance company, but most will let you drive whenever you feel ready, and mine didn't require a doctor's note.

Get help, paid or unpaid, if you can for the first few weeks.

[bandstand]

i was told to "walk tall" .. which i did, and am glad i did though gingerly. I thought you couldn't drive for 6 weeks? but am not altogethe sure.

[snuffy143]

I would agree with all this. I have had two elective sections. Best piece of advice I received was to get up and walking (albeit a bit slowly!) as soon as possible after feeling has returned. I too drove after 4 weeks after the ok from the doc. Recovery varies for everyone and you must listen to your body and only do what you feel able to do. I chose a section 2nd time as the first was so easy and recovery great. I know it is not like this for some. Hope you are a lucky one!

[bandstand]

oops, didnt read other messages!

[flumppootle]

I am not due until april but the panic has set in!! Although I do like the idea of no housework for six weeks
I did not know that GPs were involved in the driving thing so fab advice from you all, I will ask next time I see him what they recommend.
The dds school is at the bottom of my road and only a ten minute walk, I can do the walk without having to bump up or down any kerbs. How soon do you all think that I would be able to push the pram down there?
Sorry if this all sounds silly and paranoid but I have so many questions that no-one else seems to be able to help with
I am so encouraged that so many of you have positive experiences

[mawbroon]

Sorry, haven't read all the thread, but I would say that for me, the six week recovery time quoted was pretty accurate. As well as the recovering from the CS, I lost quite a lot of blood and said I only would have a transfusion if it was absolutely neccessary so that would have wiped me out for a while too on it's own. I couldn't even really push the pram for ages as trying to tip the front wheels up to get onto kerbs etc was agony on the abdominals, as would lifting my foot for the clutch have been if I had decided to try to drive (which I didn't). Good luck

[LubyLoo]

I was ok walking and pushing the pram after about one week although I was slow!! I think I was walking at my normal speed and fine going up hill by about 3 weeks post cs.

I suffered with SPD when pregnant so I felt far more mobile after my section than before it!

[eidsvold]

i had no choice with my second section as dh started a new job the day after dd2 was born adn so I went home to care for a newborn as well as a 2 1/2 yo with special needs. Dd1 was not walking at that stage or really climbing so while I did what I could at ground level - change nappies, she napped on a little flip out sofa etc - I still had to do things. No family around to help out either. Dh was brilliant and took over when he got home. I did get an afternoon rest every afternoon BUT as to house things - just had to get in and do what I could without being silly about it. That included pushing buggy etc with toddler and babe in.

As to the driving here in Aus I was able to drive at 3 weeks - including lifting dd1 in and out of the car etc..... but needed the GP's go ahead for insurance purposes. GP said my wound had healed very nicely etc.

In contrast - 1st section I took the 6 weeks to recover and I did not have a babe at home to care for in the first three and a bit weeks so did nothing other than rest when at home and sit in ICU/SCBU and I managed to get full nights sleep etc.

Not sure but I took arnica second time round and used tea tree oil in warm water to bathe my wound - everything just seemed to heal so well.

Due for no3 section end of Mar. However this time dh will be having time off simply because I now have a 4yo and a 2yo to be cared for ( again no family help available) and 4yo has school, therapy, kindy and swimming to attend.

[macneil]

I have been very careful, but be aware that you can feel fine very quickly. Within minutes I felt better than I had for seven months because I spent the entire pregnancy puking all day, and this worsened in the last three weeks before birth. So as soon as I was out of theatre I was telling everyone that I was in spiffing shape. Walking is a drag, you can't do it quickly for weeks, you can feel the scar pulling. But you quickly forget, because the non-walking pain can go quickly, that you shouldn't be twisting or lifting, and you definitely shouldn't be twisting and lifting. It's remembering this that's the problem, so make sure your husband reminds you and keeps an eye on you.

[hippmummy]

Agree with eidsvold about arnica - really helps with the healing. Take it to the hospital so you can start using it as soon after the section as possible x

[olivo]

flumppootle (cool name by the way, pootle is my fave flump!!) i had a cs in the summer and i was able to push the pushchair up to the shops, about 10 mins away after the first couple of weeks. like the others, i drove after 4 weeks, the insurance said ok if gp said ok - she checked that i could lift my head from the bed while she felt my muscles(like a mini sit up!!) and said if i was ok to do an emergency stop, i'd be fine!

the thing i found hard was taking it easy - leaping out of bed when the baby cried, turing over too quickly in bed, trying to lift the car seat and carry it too far etc etc - all sometimes made me sore.


by the way, i think you're snesible asking these things! my cs was an emergency and i hadnt read the cs chapters in my baby books so didnt have a clue! ask away!

[Flumpybumpy]

I was driving after 2 weeks as also have DD(3.5) who needed to go to playschool. DS is now 4mths.

I also look after my 2 Godsons (9mths & 5yrs) and was looking after them 2 weeks after my CS. Needless to say I overdid it, my scar opened and became infected and I was put on antibiotics. I couldn't lift anything and found walking painful. I had to sleep sitting up as laying down made my scar hurt.

Moral of the story, just because you feel okay doesn't mean you can can run a marathon! Take it easy and rest! I know easier said than done when you have another LO but your recovery will be a lot longer otherwise.

Good luck with the CS

FB x

[olivo]

sensible

[flumppootle]

Thankyou all again for the advice and good luck with your cs and recovery eidsvold
I am now feeling alot more reassured about things. I had visions of me being strapped to the bed for six weeks! I couldn't cope with that but it sounds like if I am sensible I should make steady progress.
I am very interested in the Arinca, I have never used this before but heard it mentioned. Is it tablets? Where do you buy it from?