C section recovery tips?

[Lotsofqueries]

Had my c section. 4 hours ago. Going forward I just wondered if anyone could share their advice/tips on recovery please?

[FaFoutis]

Don't eat much. Gas pains can be terrible.
Walk about as soon as you can.

Congratulations!

[RedStripeIassie]

Just keep loading up on oral morphine. It's lush and you can breastfeed with it.

Also get some family to come round and support you. Couldn't have survived without my mum and sisters afterwards.

[Scentofwater]

Be kind to yourself. It is a long recovery. I still don't feel 100% myself and my dd is 9 months. I didn't realise this at the time and tried to do too much too soon.

Move as much as you can (gently!). Once I could get walking/waddling it quickly improved.

Don't be afraid to ask for help, you will need help picking up baby and doing anything for at least a few days.

Was it an emergency or planned? I hadn't really expected it so I was very poorly prepared.

[FaFoutis]

I have had 3 and they were all easy and quick recoveries, it isn't always long.
Take the painkillers in good time before you start your journey home - I did that wrong first time.

[Lotsofqueries]

Planned as she was breech. Spent all my time mentally preparing myself for the big day, I now need to prepare myself for the recovery!!

[Blahblahblahyadayadayada]

Have a pillow/cushion to hold against your abdomen for the car journey home.

[ShowOfHands]

I had an easy recovery with both emcs. Up within 3hrs, discharged after 12. No painkillers at all and was walking the school run on day 4. I was v lucky. A friend took weeks to heal. There's a spectrum. However...


Get up asap

Walk upright, don't slouch

You'll see a physio before you're discharged. Listen to their advice.

Take painkillers regularly if you need them

Peppermint tea is brilliant for the bloating and cramps which may present as shoulder pain

Listen to YOUR body and accept YOUR recovery

[Gluetap]

Big knickers! I bought a few pairs that were big enough to go over my scar and didn't rub it.

Second the walking upright too and listening to your body.

Congratulations on your new baby!

[Backhometothenorth]

Avoid stairs as much as possible- DD2 and I stayed downstairs for a week ( we have a comfy sofa bed and downstairs loo) and it was great. Do as little as possible even when you start to feel better - just concentrate on baby and you. Gentle walks outside from about day 5 were really beneficial for me. Keep up with your painkillers. Congratulations

[frazzlebedazzle]

Seconding the big comfy pants (I've never gone back! 😬) and I'd go peppermint capsules rather than peppermint tea - I had the trapped gas (less funny than it sounds) and referred shoulder pain, and the capsules really helped. Was up & about pretty quickly but was sore nonetheless.

[SheepyFun]

Take painkillers on a schedule, don't wait until the pain is bad - I kept a diary of what I'd taken when, as I wasn't alert enough to remember.

For me, the first week was bad (walked from the dr's to the car on day 5, and wished I'd asked DH to bring the car right to the surgery), but it got much better the second week (walked a mile pushing the buggy on day 13).

[Eastie77]

Keep taking the painkillers. On time. Finish the course. Do NOT stop because you think the pain has diminished. I ended up back in hospital as I thought I needed to take my pain relief as and when.

Yes to the comfy underwear. I'm still in mine 18 months after my c-sect

[Rockinghorsehay]

Lots of rest at the beginning, but also plenty of walking slowly around with good posture. Don't overdo it though. Painkillers when needed. Drink lots of water. Pelvic floor exercises and very gently pulling in your stomach muscles regularly are what a Physio told me afterwards and I think that helped me not to have any long term scar issues after 3 sections. I felt wiped out for weeks though, so be kind to yourself and ask for help as much as possible.

[Imstickingwiththisone]

Whst happens if you don't walk upright? I remember it feeling very painful to straighten out once i stood up but forced myself to because we nearly always had visitors and i didn't want to look like i was in pain if they hadn't been there i would've walked full hunchback 😂

I second peppermint tea and if breastfeeding then keep on top of painkillers for the afterpains too

[TheLegendOfBeans]

Timed painkillers. Don't be a hero, you've just had a baby lifted out of you. Upright time is key too.

But - and I mean this - please please let others do the following for you, please -

Full kettle
Make tea
Pick stuff off floor
Put stuff on shelves
Pass you glasses of water

Please also get used to yodelling for DP/DH/your mum/whoever to bring up/bring through anything from beast pads to a copy of Heat.

Finally - this is contrary to what BackHome says - I went up and down the stairs a few times after 5 days of being in hospital. I was taking it easy and walking like a penguin but I think it aided recovery. That's just me though.

Congratulations! Enjoy your new one and get ready to give out orders and ask for things from all and sundry. Remember - people want to help so use them xx

[GingerGetThePopcorn]

If they offer you lactulose, take it. If they don't, get someone to buy you some!

[paperandpaint]

Congratulations!! I had mine 6 days ago and went home day 3. Here's my tips:

• don't worry about the dreaded weeing/pooing/trapped wind unless it happens. I had been terrified of all of these but could wee/poo fine with no pain and had no trapped wind at all (although I was prepared with tablets and peppermint stuff just in case).
  
• I farted loads around day 2/3 which the midwife said was a good sign as it showed my bowels were working fine....!! No pain though just noise!
  
• I found stairs fine (three flights in my house) but tripped last night going up them and really hurt myself so be careful.
  
• everybody

[Squidgling]

I would reiterate taking painkillers on a schedule. Don't wait until it hurts. I did that and the pain was then unbearable and really difficult to get on top of.

Also don't twist when you are picking baby up. I had some minor weeping one side of my wound because of this and it hurt that side for longer.

Move around and do things but take it easy. Remember it's major surgery!

People will be more than happy to help you, let them!

Congratulations

[paperandpaint]

Oops - posted too soon!

• get your other half to do all nappy changes. Hunching over hurts!
  
• keep taking the pain killers even if not sore, especially the first week.
  
• breastfeeding makes you ravenous. Keep a stock of food and water nearby.
  
• remember the baby blues kick in around day 3/4 and you might cry and feel rubbish. I am on no 3 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'd forgotten about how bad it could feel. Be kind to yourself - it does pass.
  

Congratulations again and well done. A c-section is no walk in the park and reading other people's tips have really helped.

[welshweasel]

Get up and walk around as soon as possible, then keep going. Reduces your risk of blood clots. I didn't find walking or stairs an issue at all. I found getting out of bed difficult but once I was up it was fine. Keep taking the paracetamol and ibuprofen on a regular basis. I should have started laxatives sooner than I did. The post c section poo was the worst part of the whole experience for me.

[CarrieWatermelon]

I recovered much better from my second c-section than my first, because I didn't do too much too soon.

Up and about - fine. Long walks, carrying shopping, up and down stairs constantly, lifting, bending etc - NO. Not for a good month or so.

Lesson learned!

Congratulations [flowers)

[IrregularCommentary]

Go for frequent wees. I found emptying a very full bladder was uncomfortable.

I recovered very quickly though, so it might not be too bad. Just listen to your body and don't overdo things - it's major surgery and that's weirdly easy to forget/minimise.

[paperandpaint]

Great comment Irregular. It's easy to forget the a c-section is far more and far deeper than the scar on your bikini line. I am frequently reminded about this when I do too much!!

[ShowOfHands]

frazzlebedazzle I turned the peppermint capsules into tea with hot water so actually, was still using capsules. It's what the midwives did on the ward (though in restricted doses for bfing mums).

Walking whilst hunching feels protective but hinders recovery and can cause other musular problems and pain.

[Imstickingwiththisone]

Don't lie on your side for a few weeks even if you feel fine. It's painful and the sensation that your insides are about to fall straight out of you is hideous.

Hated not being able to sleep on my stomach when pregnant and then couldn't even go on my side either afterwards.

I've read that from about 6 weeks on you should pull on your scar a little to try to prevent adhesions. Don't know whether it actually helps but i try to do it when i remember. You won't even be able to manage doing that yet though!!