Post C Section Recovery Advice

[Fevs]

I had an elective c-section last Monday and all went well. I was home after 3 nights with my boy and I already have a 2.5yr old.
Generally I feel ok but my stitches are very painful which makes it hard to stand/walk and really do anything for my toddler. My husband has a couple of weeks off which is great but I guess I was wondering how long did it take people to gradually back to normal?
Ie when is it ok to go for a walk? To go out for lunch? I know driving is usually about 6 weeks but I think I might go stir crazy if I don’t leave the house soon! How did others find the recovering process?
Also did people take anything apart from paracetamol and iburophen? It helps but it’s not really enough!
Having complete Mum guilt about not spending as much time with my toddler is a whole other post! But ways to combat that also appreciated :)

Thanks so much

[ptwmummyof2]

Congratulations!!! I had an EMCS a few years ago and I didn't go for a walk until 2 weeks after, and even then it was only round the block. I'm a terrible patient and the healing process was so frustrating but it's important to remember that you've just had major surgery and it will take time to heal. I managed the pain with paracetamol and ibuprofen but I'm sure I've heard some people were prescribed Co-codamol. If you're really struggling it may be worth seeing your GP who may be able to prescribe something stronger.

Failing that, take the time to rest on the sofa, watch tv and films with your toddler and enjoy snuggles with your newborn. It won't be long before you're back to normal and rushed off you're feet. Good luck!

[Situp]

Rest rest rest OP, particularly if you are in pain.
If you push yourself too early you will pay for it later.

It is deceptive because you are on your feet quite quickly but it is still major stomach surgery.

I had elcs with 2nd amd emcs with 3rd and put myself on bed rest for about 2 weeks and recovered very quickly. Your toddler will be best served if you recover properly.

It won't be long but be patient and let DH focus on DC1. Your priority has to be your own recovery xx

[MonkeysMummy17]

Hi @Fevs congrats on the new addition! When you say your stitches are painful do you mean all the time, or when you move around/cough etc?
If they are painful all the time it might be worth getting checked for infection just to be safe.
When you're moving around, are you standing up completely straight? I know it hurts like hell but hunching over will prolong the pain, you need to stand up as straight as possible and grit your teeth through the initial pain - it does get easier!
Really avoid any lifting in the first couple of weeks, listen to your body for when you are ready to start doing longer walks but remember it's not a race, go at your own pace and don't feel the need to push yourself to do more as you can slow down your recovery.
Make sure you're taking your pain meds before you start to feel sore, otherwise by the time you realise you're sore and take them it takes a while for them to work.
As hard as it is, don't try to pick your toddler up or you will really hurt yourself, encourage your toddler to bring toys to the sofa so you can play together or at the dining table if you have one, avoid getting down on the floor because getting up again will hurt!
Also make sure you're drinking plenty of water, it really helps. Also Arnica might help with the bruising, you can get arnica pills 😊
Hope that helps, I can't think of anything else 😬 I'm nearly 4 weeks post section and started driving again yesterday, listen to your body for when you feel ready to do stuff, and accept help from friends and family 😊

[Fevs]

Thank you all. I think deep down I knew it should be at least a couple of weeks but I’d heard of people getting out and about earlier so I was interested to know!
I thought I’d have no problem being ordered to rest but it’s actually a lot harder then I realised! I feel so helpless and admittedly getting a bit bored! But yes it is good to take advantage of the time with cuddles, it’s just trying to stop my toddler from jumping on me that’s the tricky bit!
My stitches hurt mainly when I stand up/ sit down and walk but when I’m lying in bed they seem fine. I am trying arnica but not sure if it’s doing much! Was going to ask my MW about something stronger at next visit.
Did you all feel guilty that your relationship had changed with your other kids or that you couldn’t do what they were used you to doing with them? My husband is great with her as our both of our parents so she’s not going without lots of attention but I feel like things have changed with me and her! But I could just be an emotional/hormonal wreck haha

[Foggymist]

We went for lunch the day after we got home, when ds2 was 4 days old. When he was 6 days old we went to a Christmas Market, that was a slightly ambitious idea on my part :) Walking so much hurt my stomach and thighs and I was very sore that evening. I walked to breastfeeding group at 8 days (all of these were with baby in sling and about a 10 minute walk), 2 week gp check up and to breastfeeding group pushing 3 stone toddler in buggy when ds2 was 3 weeks. It was my second section and I find the recovery much easier the more I do, if I sit still for a few hours I really stiffened up. I mostly took just paracetamol but took Difene a couple of times, I was given a massive prescription for that which for me was unnecessary. I was in more pain/discomfort when I got a respiratory infection when ds was 2 weeks old than in the entire cs recovery, that was truly miserable.

[ittooshallpass]

Make sure you check your car insurance policy before you drive. Mine didn't allow me to drive until 6-weeks after c-section.

Get some support pants! I wish someone had told me about them. I could have helped prevent an overhang scar.

If it's sore please get it checked out. My c-section was sore. Got it checked and i had an infection. I couldn't stand up straight for 5 months

Don't feel guilty about your toddler. No one expects you to jump around after major surgery.

Congratulations on your new arrival.

[frumpety]

It was three weeks before I felt 'normal' physically after a EMCS , by that I mean I could get up off the bed without performing what looked like a interpretive dance routine

If your stiches are hurting , is the area around them red or hot ? is there any discharge coming from the wound ? If you are concerned then contact your GP.

[Foggymist]

Oh also I went back driving at 4 weeks, out of necessity, alone all day with ds1 who needed to get to creche and the paths were lethal by our house with slushy snowy mess. My insurance company just need a letter from gp saying you're OK to drive if something actually happens.

[scrivette]

I didn't drive for 8 weeks in the end and at 6 weeks I still felt 'wobbly' inside.
It's still very early days and you need time to heal (although it's hard to stop toddlers climbing all over you!)

We used to read lots of books together so he was snuggled next to me when I was feeding the baby so he was getting 'his' cuddle time too.

[Bellamuerte]

I was told to stand tall and stay mobile but for no more than 10 mins at a time. I was also allowed to exercise my tummy muscles by lying on my back and pulling my tummy in. After a week I took a short walk round the block every day with the pram, and I could go out for lunch if someone else drove and we parked nearby. DH had to look after me and do housework for two weeks (even after that I only did light housework). It was a month before I could drive and walk for a slightly longer period. It took about a month to be pain free although there's still some mild soreness. I'm still in recovery and not allowed to do any heavy housework or aerobic exercise until 10 weeks. No heavy lifting until 10 weeks either.

In terms of pain relief I had paracetamol for the first two weeks. Codeine was available but I avoided that and other painkillers because I'm breastfeeding. A certain amount of pain is good because it prevents you overdoing it.

[stealthbanana]

Just to offer an alternative perspective, I had an emcs and was told by my doctor to start walking ASAP to avoid adhesions and help the blood flow. I was in hospital for 6 days as lost 2l of blood but on discharge was told to go for at least an hours walk every day. The first week I wouldn’t have won any power walking contests but it was fine. So if you want to, go for it! Just don’t lift anything heavier than the baby for the first 6 weeks.

[MsJuniper]

I found that when the stitches were removed it made a massive difference. I was much more able to follow advice re walking tall etc. I was also advised to spend some time laying flat each day and to tie something to my bed to pull on when getting up.

[PetraRabbit]

I had an elective and struggled to walk more than a few metres at a week. It felt so worrying at the time. But I turned a corner almost overnight around 11 days post section. By 2 weeks I was comfortably going out for hour long walks with the pram. I went into the surgery very fit though. Take it easy. I would say a more full recovery for me took 4 months. Until then my muscles were fine but I had a lot of soft tissue soreness. That seems to be longer than average. It is very individual. No two women will have the same recovery.