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Childbirth

Tips for moving after a c section

15 replies

dylsmimi · 14/09/2016 04:12

Currently in hospital after a c section and finding it hard to work out the best way to sit myself up and get out of bed especially when holding the baby
Any top tips on how to move about - or what not to do!?

OP posts:

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LuchiMangsho · 14/09/2016 04:15

Put a pad over the wound. Take all and every painkiller available. Put a pillow over your tummy when getting up. Use the button on the bed and allows you to move it up and down. It is much easier to get off the hospital bed than the flat bed at home.
Don't bend too much to change when you get home, get someone else to do it.
And I found it easiest to leave the baby on the bed/in the crib when getting out and then picking her up. There might be 20 seconds of squawking but that's fine.

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kiwiscantfly · 14/09/2016 04:18

Congrats on your new baby!
Has the Physio come to see you? I found their advice quite helpful for this. I also didn't get up holding the baby for a few days at least. Remember you've just had major surgery so take it easy! I would roll onto my side, swing my legs down and then press up with my arms, does that make sense? Are you in the UK? Just asking because of the time - 3:20pm here in NZ.

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Teapot13 · 14/09/2016 04:20

I just had my third CS. Only this last time did they provide something like a corset to go around my tummy tightly -- I felt it made anything using my stomach muscles way less painful.

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SlinkyB · 14/09/2016 04:21

Congratulations! Things I found helped:

Holding your hand firmly across your abdomen wound when trying to sit up or rollover. (Or cough, sneeze or laugh!).

Do you have bed rails? Hold onto those when trying to change position.

Take it slowly! Do all movements in super slow motion, and really listen to your body.
Rolling gently onto your side then using your arm to pull to sitting.

Keep on top of your pain meds for a good few days yet - you will need them.

Ask for help - especially when it comes to holding the baby. Ask someone to help you get comfy first.

Oh, and not c-section related specifically, but remember to lift the baby with your arms and not your wrists. I hadn't realised I was using my wrists too much with dc1 and ended up having cortisone injections a few months later. Quite common in new Mums apparently.

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dylsmimi · 14/09/2016 04:22

Thanks - good and simple tip about putting baby down while getting up! And pillows. I am keeping updated with painkillers and will keep that up once I am home - which will probably easier than catching the elusive drug trolley at the right time!!
Yep kiwi I am UK based - one of the many night feeds and mumsneting to come!

OP posts:

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LuchiMangsho · 14/09/2016 04:25

When I got home I took it v v easy. Easier to do with one kid. I let DH, MIL, my mum do all the nappy changes. I just lay in bed and fed and slept. So as a recovery timeline I was able to walk to the GP on day 19 for some meds (UTI from the catheter, v v common) and by day 25 I didn't have a twinge and by the end of the first month was pushing a buggy. I ended up healing faster than some of my friends with third degree tears. So hang in there!

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LuchiMangsho · 14/09/2016 04:26

I could walk before that by the way, but I attempted a 15 min walk on day 19 and didn't feel winded/ouchy in the slightest.

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kiwiscantfly · 14/09/2016 04:28

When I mumsnet in the afternoons here I try to keep an eye on these boards, just to answer thing quickly. I had DD via ELCS five years ago in the UK, and MN was a lifeline in the middle of the night, kept me awake and kept me sane! Have had two more ELCS's here in NZ and its def about keeping on top of pain meds too. Don't underestimate the power of paracetamol, I really felt it worked well with the last baby (7 weeks ago), just have to remember to take it on time.

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Twodogsandahooch · 14/09/2016 04:34

Take it easy. I overdid it the first night after my second section and regretted it. Don't feel bad about calling someone to help you put the baby in the crib and get them out again.

Second the other poster who suggested rolling onto your side. Alternatively I used to raise the head of the bed as far up as possible and then swing my legs round.

Decent painkillers are a must too.

Many many congrats.

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Gribbie · 14/09/2016 04:37

I felt broken after a 2 day induction, emergency section and massive blood loss. Took a few days to move without pain. 2nd planned section was so much nicer - a bit hard day 1 but moving ok day 2. Congratulations on your new arrival.

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Canyouforgiveher · 14/09/2016 04:42

I had nurses who helped me pick up the baby for the first couple of nights. Are you seriously expected to pick up and deal with the baby by yourself immediately after a c-section? (I didn't give birth in the UK)

Is there any other major abdominal operation after which you would be expected to pick up a 7 pound weight and carry it around as well as breastfeeding? Sorry - rant over.

But second those who say don't do two movements at once. Get out of bed (holding wound) and then pick up the baby. Put baby down and then get into bed and reach out and get her.

I recovered from both c sections really well. First few days were hardish (well on second I discharged myself after 1 full day and night) but after that recovery was good - I was walking, driving back to normal very fast (but maybe that was helped by the fact that no one expected me to be in sole charge of a newborn immediately after major surgery)

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SlinkyB · 14/09/2016 07:46

Is this your first baby OP? What did you have? (Just being nosy!)

Another tip about pain meds when at home - set an alarm on your phone as a reminder, as it's so easy to forget when you're dealing with a newborn and sleep deprived!

I've had two c-sections; first was emergency and second was planned. Had good recoveries from both, as didn't over do it at all.

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WellErrr · 14/09/2016 07:51

REST.

Ask the HC workers to do nappy changes and pass you the baby - you can get away with this for a couple of days easily. Ask for help getting out of bed for the first 24 hours at least - don't do it alone.

And don't try and get up from lying on your back - roll onto your side, swing your legs slowly off the bed, then use the electric thingy to lift up your top half et voila! You're sitting up!

Congratulations by the way! And remember, it really does get better each day. I'm currently 6 weeks after my third section and feeling fine

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hopeful31yrs · 14/09/2016 14:28

The roll on to the side method is the one used by physios. You should absolutely see these before you leave - so don't go until you've had their advice

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dylsmimi · 14/09/2016 22:31

Thank you everyone! First section and it was a planned one but third baby.
Back home now and all your tips are coming in handy. Our bed is a lot lower than a hospital one which is helping and I am ensuring dp does lots.
Plus he now owes me big time as I asked him to ensure his mother left before we came home from hospital or at least so we could have the first night on our own and she is still here apparently leaving 'after tea' was met with the response 'well I don't like to drive in the dark I will go in the morning' words have been said!! But it means I have hidden rested upstairs most of this afternoon and evening!