What is it like after a C-Section? Please share your experiences :)

[ButteryJam]

Hi,

I'm having my 1st baby and I'm far away from family and close friends I could sought for help. I'm not keen on having my mum or mil come round to stay - they have both offered and will want to especially if I have a C-Section, and neither am I too keen on going over to stay with my parents, even though they would love me too. I'm just wondering, realistically how difficult/not difficult is it after a CS? DH will be on paternity leave for two weeks, generally he is hands on (when not distracted lol), he will happily put washes on, clean up, heat up food etc and do nappies if need be.

Will I be OK or will I need help? How was it for you after a C-Section? What kind of help did you need? Apologies, it is my 1st time and I'm clueless

[fairypangolin]

Hi - I was really incapacitated for two weeks after my caesarean (couldn't walk to the end of the street, no housework) but it was an emergency cs after 48 hrs of active labour, followed by a post-partum haemorrhage. Hopefully you will not be so unlucky! My mum stayed with me for 2 weeks and I would have been happy to have her around for another 2 if not a month to be honest. But DH was working throughout so I didn't have much help from him.

I would say on balance don't turn down any offers for someone to come and stay but explain that you want to see how it goes first. You may be fine.

[50shadesofmeh]

Hhhmm don't expect to walk any further than your couch and lift anything but a baby in the first few weeks, my recovery with an emergency c section was pretty crap but getting an elective this time which is meant to be better.

[BambieO]

I had an emergency c-section, was put to sleep urgently and woke up with a whopping scar. I didn't find it too bad really, I was up and about showered in clothes etc the next morning and when I got home was pretty active too. I do think looking back I did a little too much and should have taken it easier while I had an excuse

I think everyone copes differently. I had my DH around to help where necessary but I am a clean freak so had to be up and about making a nuisance of myself.

You may be great after or you may be sore so do what your body allows and rest if you need to

[BambieO]

DH also went back to work after three days :( so I had to be active, if you have a choice take it easy

[lucybrad]

I think I have been lucky with mine. 2 x cs with easy recovery. Midwife turned up on day 5 to find me vacuuming. i was told off. these were both elective - so no labour trauma or complications. I know its not always that easy and I am starting to get nervous of number 3. the first 48 hrs is pretty hair raising though, so not to be taken lightly.

[dashoflime]

Mine was not too bad. I was up and walking about the next day. I would certainly have felt able to cope by myself after two weeks.
The thing I found most difficult was the night immediately afterwards, on my own and off my head on Morphine.
Mine was an ELCS.

[AmandinePoulain]

I've had 2, one emergency and one elective and it was fine.

My emcs was on the Tuesday, I was home on the Thursday and dh was back at work on the Friday! (He had only been in the job a few weeks so no paternity leave ). My parents live 2 hours away and my ILs are abroad so I just had to get on with it but it was fine. The only thing I struggled with in the first few weeks was pushing the pram. I waited 6 weeks to drive because I thought I had to, but I honestly didn't need to.

I was discharged the day after my ELCS. Dh had a week off but again we had very little help and it was fine. I drove after 3 weeks, but I was out and about on the bus and walking long before that. The worst part was lifting myself out of bed, once I'd managed that I was fine

[BambieO]

I agree amandine getting out of bed is definitely hardest. Especially as in hospital you have the sides to lever yourself up so it's a shock at home to realise its your tummy muscles you normally rely on and they have unfortunately been trimmed :)

Good luck OP you will be just fine

[bonzo77]

Everyone's experiences are different. After My first emergency CS I was pretty much back to normal after 10 days. My second ELCS it look less than a week. Obviously I was careful with heavy lifting for several weeks, but dealing with the baby was fine as was light housework. Once DH was back at work, the combination of his help when he could, a weekly cleaner and slightly lowered standards meant things really were fine without constant help from my mum or MIL (perish the thought)!

[curiousgeorgie]

I discharged myself the day after my c section and stopped at Starbucks on the way home

I did have my ELCS at 9 in the morning though so by the second day was feeling pretty good and up and walking and just wanted to be home!

The first night by myself in hospital while I couldn't reach the baby was pretty horrible but only because I felt bad to keep buzzing the midwives. I ended up bundling the blankets together to pick her up like a parcel and have her in the bed next to me. Then got told off when a midwife did come in!

[BikeRunSki]

2 emcs, 2 c different experiences.

DS - Was up and about and walking a couple of miles after 2 weeks, driving at 4 weeks.

DD - still needed help to get out of bed after 2 weeks, still had discomfort and difficulty walking until 9 weeks.

[TTCmay]

I had a emergency cs after failed induction for 5 days. Left hospital 2 days later. I was up and walking round the block 4 or 5 days after cs.

Will probably end up having cs this time also and am hoping to be back doing the school run within a few days- wishful thinking perhaps?!?

[TTCmay]

also for me, if you have DH off for 2weeks I don't think I would want/need a further adult to help out. The baby primarily needs you (if you are Breastfeeding) so your mum and DH are probably both not needed- unless you really want them both around 24:7!

[TTCmay]

also for me, if you have DH off for 2weeks I don't think I would want/need a further adult to help out. The baby primarily needs you (if you are Breastfeeding) so your mum and DH are probably both not needed- unless you really want them both around 24:7!

[gardenpixie32]

I had EMCS with my twins 5 months ago. Despite 3 sets of anti biotics and a section of the scar that took ages to seal up, I was fine. I had the c-section at 6pm on the Saturday, taken to the NICU at 11pm that night to see the babies and was up walking the next morning at 8am. I walked up to the NICU on my own. It was uncomfortable but I managed. I stayed with my babies when they were moved to the transitional ward at day 6 and cared for them 24 hours a day with the help of a nurse, if I needed it. I also had surgery to have my gall bladder removed 6 weeks later.

You will cope, your baby will need you and you will find the will and the energy.

[GirlOutNumbered]

I've had an emcs and an elcs.
With both I was back to normal within 4 weeks. The first was slightly harder though as I had been in labour for a long time and had been induced. The first 10 days were sat in bed while DH did everything. It was quite wonderful really!
They get you up and about the day after for a shower.

The worst bit for me were stairs, but luckily lived in a flat then and so I didn't have to bother with any.

The elcs was fab, really easy to recover from.

Realistically if your DH keeps the house in order, and look after baby while you sleep, he is all you really need.

[Procrastinating]

You shouldn't need anyone else if your DH is off for 2 weeks.

I have had 3 CS, recovery was a bit different each time but I felt well after a week or so. I was coping with the baby & other small child/ren on my own after two weeks.
The worst bit is the first night, mostly because you are left with a new baby & unable to move much. Once you get that over with it is fine.
Good luck.

[TheOriginalLadyFT]

I had a c-section after pre eclampsia, and unfortunately had a serious haemorrhage in the recovery room (which I'm guessing didn't help how I felt afterwards) I also, thanks to the filthy hospital I was in, got an infection. So I'm not a typical case

However ... I did need help for a few weeks afterwards - getting out of bed was very difficult (I rolled out sideways and landed on my knees) and anything beyond bumbling about the house was not happening. I remember trying to go out for a walk with DS in a pram and managing five minutes then wanting to lie down on the grass verge and fall asleep!

I co slept with my baby, and after a tough start, managed ok with the breast feeding - this made a big difference, as I could lay in bed and just feed him as and when, instead of lots of getting up and down etc

It makes me laugh when I hear the old "too posh to push" thing trotted out. I looked and felt like I'd fallen down a flight of stairs for weeks afterwards.

[FishfingersAreOK]

Elective at 9am - up walking to the loo by about 2pm the same day. They kept me in 2 nights to ensure breastfeeding established.

Tried for a VBAC for second - but after 12 hours labour had a non-urgent "emergency" as nor progressing. This was about 3pm ish. Up walking to the loo about 10pm. Went home 6pm the next day.

As first was an elective (breech) I read up on it in the few weeks before - things to remember

1. Make sure you get given the anti-wind drug. Seriously. Your intestines are all jumbled up and you can get incredibly painful trapped wind. Lady next to me was rushed emergency c-section. She was in horrific pain afterwards for hours. Until she let rip with the most enormous fart and then groaned the big sound of relief imaginable. They had been contemplating opening her up again until that point.
   
   
2. Really try and get up an about as quickly as you can afterwards. Quicker you are at getting mobile the quicker your recovery. But keep the "mobile" gentle.
   
   
3. Not lifting anything heavy does not mean you cannot lift your baby. Your baby is not "heavy lifting
   
   
4. Despite what I put above - do listen to your body.
   
   
5. Keep absolutely on top of your pain killers. You do not need to be in pain. Take the tablets. Get DH to write a schedule so you know when you can take stuff. I may have been slightly out of it mentally the first few days but at least I was not in pain.
   
   
6. Major abdominal surgery - needs rest. Remember this. Yes get mobile. But mostly sit down. Do not fret about cooking/cleaning/laundry for a couple of weeks. Have naps. Recover.
   
   Enjoy your newborn.
   
   C-Sections are not that bad. You have your bundle safe in your arms.
   
   Oh, a nd feel free to punch anyone who asks "Do you not feel you missed out by never giving birth naturally? headtilt" But clearly only punch them once you are fully recovered

[CareerGirl01]

With DD1 emergency CS after 36 hours labour failed ventouse and forceps attempts at delivery and I ended up with a spinal tap because epidural went wrong. Even so I was doing the hoovering within two weeks and back gentle jogging at 8 weeks. My scar healed well and is now non existent - she says 8 weeks before a planned elective CS!

[OddFrog]

Mine was a planned ( non emergency) csection. I was a bit uncomfortable the following few days, much better by the end of the first week. Dh on paternity for a week so that helped.

Set up a changing station in the room you will spend most time, at waist height if possible so no bending. Loads of pillows for various comfort positions. If breast feeding, don't be afraid to try it lying down, on your side or with baby right up on top of you. Your MW should be able to show you how. It's very comfy when you get the hang of it. I lay on a big towel at first so I didn't need to worry about leaks and dribbles!

My downfall was feeling so good I overdid it after a fortnight and got quite sore again. Remember you are healing on the inside too and even when your scar looks good, your muscles are still a few weeks behind!

[Gooseysgirl]

I had EMCS and DD was 3 weeks old when I was on my own with her for first time. I think I would have been fine sooner except I had problems with BF and was pumping on top of having to sterilise bottles for breast milk etc etc. so needed DH and DM's help. YOU WILL NEED.. cotton Lycra passion killer full briefs granny parachute knickers at least two sizes bigger than you normally wear that come up over your scar, trust me...

[freerangelady]

I'm 4 wks post c sec and walked 3 miles and did a fair bit if light housework today. The first 2 wks I couldn't walk much further than half a mile and couldn't have pushed a buggy far either but wks 3&4 I've been almost normal.

Don't underestimate howuch help you might need/want. My dh runs his own business so was around for breakfast lunch and evenings every day. I didn't think I'd want my mum to help at all but turns out that day 6/7 she came and helped when I was struggling and I really needed her and was very thankful for her help.

[ShowOfHands]

There's no way of knowing. Recovery is as different as the actual birth for each woman.

I've had 2 emcs. First was after a 31hr labour, protracted 2nd stage, episiotomy, ventouse attempt, manual rotation attempt, emcs. Was late at night. I was discharged 12hrs later. Needed no pain relief, back to normal pretty quickly.

Second labour was 38hrs but no second stage. Back up walking a few hours post op. No pain again. Had a 2 mile school run to do 4 days post birth and dh was back at work. Took it slowly but was fine. Back exercising lightly by 4 weeks, jogging by 6 weeks, running by 10 weeks.

[ButteryJam]

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, if has given me a good insight and confidence