How soon after a c-section can you go on holiday?

[allhailtheaubergine]

Did you have a section? How soon afterwards would you have felt up to going on a trip?

The trip is longhaul, but I wouldn't have to do anything but lie / sit and feed the baby once we got there. In fact would be easier than being at home with 5 ad 3 yr old to look after as well as the baby.

Currently planning to go between 4 and 6 weeks afterwards depending on arrival time of baby and all being well.

Not so much AIBU as AIBUnrealistic?

[valiumredhead]

I wouldn't book anything - some people bounce back and some (me!) take ages - bit like a vaginal birth, you just don't know.

[Yummygummybear]

I'm not sure you'd be allowed to fly before the Dr gives you a 6 week check as the brace position would be almost impossible in the early weeks.

[AnotherJaffaCake]

We had a holiday 10 weeks after. That was plenty of time to recover and I felt fine.

[acatcalledbob]

The problem with a c-section is that it can be unpredictable. Most are fine (I was driving 10 days after mine with a green light from my doc and insurance company) and traveled long haul (13 hour flight) 3 months later - it was fine but I don't think I would have wanted to go much before that as it takes such a toll on you with jet lag etc - it can be stressful and tiring, which is what you don't need after major surgery.....

Where are you going and what are the insurance / healthcare arrangement like in case you have complications with the healing? Remember that some mums can't drive / climb stairs for weeks after - it's so unpredictable. I wouldn't book anything....

Agree about the brace position - why not ask your mw / gp?

[AngryBadger]

Will you have someone to help you while you are travelling? If you have help with carrying buggies, bags etc. then all you'll have to do is sit there, so I can't imagine the c-section being an issue at all. This is only based on my experience though (1 emergency section, 1 planned) and it sounds as though other people have had difference experiences.

I found the emergency section hardest to recover from, but was out and about from 3 weeks and went on a 10 hour train journey at 6 weeks to visit a relative ( I did have someone helping with luggage and baby). I was tired out on the train journey from lack of sleep but wasn't having any problems from scar.

The planned section was far easier to recover from (my midwife said this is often the case) and I was out walking and feeling totally fine after a week (still on painkillers though, I took co-codamol for around 3 weeks each time).

In my local hospital, a midwife forces you out if bed the day after a section and they encourage you to walk up and down as much as possible to help you heal. I've always found this part very painful but after pushing through it for a few days, it really does get easier.

Based on my experience, it sounds like you've left lots of time to heal before you travel - as long as you're not walking for miles or dragging heavy bags with you!

Hope it all goes well for you.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I flew two days after surgery to remove an ovary (similar surgery with similar wound/scar) but it was through necessity not choice! I had a note from the surgeon to say I was fit to fly, but she warned me not to show the airline unless asked as they would have the final say in wheher I could fly or not. I just tried to stand up tall & act fine as I got on the plane! It was only 3 hours & the flight itself was fine, but the walking round the airport etc was hard work!

I'm seven weeks post section now & would happily fly. Wound is totally healed, no pain etc, but I know each person's recovery is unique. A friend who had a section (& needed transfusion, drain etc) five weeks before me still wouldn't feel strong enough to do it.

To be honest, I'd be more worried about flying with a newborn! Are you mad?

[sun1234]

Not within three weeks anyway - just in case you get an infection or something. But there's deep stitches involved so i wouldn't look at doing anything like lifting suitcases until they were out.

I think its more an issue of the amount of baby stuff you'd need to take! It will be a lot more relaxing to stay at home for the first four/ five months!

[AngryBadger]

P.S- I don't know why people worry about travelling with newborns - they're asleep most of the time!

[TattyDevine]

The most important factor is your increased risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). There will be an official medical guideline or recommendation on this. You are at increased risk of this soon after c-section and a long haul flight will increase you more, as will other factors which may or may not be relevant like obesity, etc etc.

Brace position is also a good point.

[Sunseed]

I went to Barbados 3 weeks after my 3rd c-section. It was do-able but it was very stressful and tiring, even with family milling about to help look after the 2 & 4 yr old DSs. It was not nearly as relaxing as it should have been and probably raging hormones had a lot to do with that. Was determined to go if at all possible as was MIL's 60th birthday celebration and had been booked just before I found out I was pregnant.

My HV was a bit concerned and she did seek guidance from my GP, but ultimately she was happy that I would know from previous C-section experience whether or not I felt fit to make the trip. Had I had any doubts about baby's or my well-being I would not have gone.

What made the flight bearable was travelling in premium economy and having a skycot so had plenty of space, and helpful cabin crew who were happy to bring me endless bottles of water and hold my meals back until DS3 had stopped feeding.

In retrospect, I would have enjoyed it all much more if it had been more like 10-12 weeks after the birth.

[youarekidding]

I flew Tenerife to UK when DS was 6 weeks after ECS. Mindyou I drove 6 days after as no-one told me not to and DS was 4yo when I heard of the rule in the UK.

[complexnumber]

I don't know anything about C-sections but it might be optimistic to think you will be able to get the birth certificate and baby's passport done in 4 weeks.

[frutilla]

I got an infection and had to take a couple of courses of antibiotics. I would say it's not really doable for the first month....

[allhailtheaubergine]

I won't necessarily be having a section. In fact hopefully I won't, but obviously I have to consider the possibility. I have had two vaginal births but both have been somewhat tricky and a possible section has been discussed during both labours.

I would have husband with me and would not have to lift anything heavier than a cup of tea. Husband is 100% brilliant and we will be with friends who also have small babies and young children.

Am not worried about the going away with a newborn aspect - all being well they just sleep and feed at that age. Nappies, babygros and boobs are all I'm planning to pack for the baby.

I am fairly confident that if I am healthy and the baby is healthy is will be an awesomely relaxing and restorative trip. What I need to weigh up are the health implications and the timings.

I really appreciate everyone giving me their views. It's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions, obviously.

[MrsBuntyCuldeSacFunnyLady]

I would be a bit cautious. I've had 3 cs and had infected scar after 2. You may not be able to get your trip refunded even with travel insurance if you had to cancel. Also, I agree the passport thing could be long winded. It sounds like you are travelling to see family - can they not come to you to help?

[MrsBuntyCuldeSacFunnyLady]

Sorry X-post with you OP!

[tyler80]

Some travel insurance policies will not cover you until 3 months post c section even with a fit to fly certificate. Something to bear in mind.

[mrsravelstein]

first 2 sections i was doing the school run on day 3 very happily, and would have had no issue getting on a plane within a couple of weeks.

3rd section they trapped a nerve in the stitches (apparently this is fairly common) and i was in absolute agony for 6 weeks.... i literally could barely walk, and have never experienced pain like it, no way i could have got on a plane.

[TattyDevine]

That's a good point about the passport, can you even book without the name and passport number, or on behalf of someone who does not yet officially "exist" in a legal sense? (sort of - hopefully you know what I mean)...

[blackteaplease]

You can book a flight for an unborn infant, I was looking into this yesterday. If you feel fit to fly then why not, you could always get a last minute deal and a passport only takes 2 weeks to sort out. A friend of mine has done the same when both her newborns were approx 6 weeks (short haul though) and she had c-sections.

[sun1234]

first passports arranged via an embassy often take longer than two weeks. I don't think you can even get a renewal within two weeks at certain embassies that i know.

[tyler80]

I know my sister couldn't book a skycot until the baby was born.

[blackteaplease]

I don't know about the embassy, I got dd's first passport through the post within two weeks earlier this year.

[sun1234]

we lived abroad and had to use the embassy for a child's passport renewal. it took two months minimum because of some extra requirement (retina scanning??).

As the OP lives abroad, she should contact her embassy and ask them what the procedure is. Ditto for registering the birth. I hope her embassy are better than mine were. I left with a distinct impression that British embassies exist to promote trade with the UK, not to help ex-pats.

[blackteaplease]

Are we reading the same thread, I can't see any reference to living abroad in the OP's posts.