Night feeds in days after c-section

[GoodnightLion]

Hi everyone,
I would love to hear what other Mums have done about night feeds after they have had a c-section - does anyone have any examples?

I have a Chicco next to me cot, and once I'm feeling recovered I plan to do night feeds sitting up in bed, and also change any nappies from bed too if I can(!) using a portable mat etc, just to minimise the disruption to baby's sleep and my own. I know this isn't how everyone does it but hoping this is a good plan to start with until I get used to it all.

However - I'm not sure how best to manage the first 2 weeks of night feeds after the c-section, when I won't be able to sit up by myself. Will I be able to pick up the baby from the next to me cot lying down or is this not going to work? How have other Mums managed night feeds after c-section before the pain gets better?

[1Pinkfluffyelephant]

Hi
I don’t know if I was just really lucky but once the numbness wore off after around 4-6 hours. I was able to mobilise by my self straight away. If you use your arms to push your self up rather than trying to use your core. Also someone on here told me about rolling on to side first then pushing up sidewards can make it easier. Keep pain relief topped up and don’t let it wear off (I made that mistake first night) but you might also be ok. Do you have anyone who can help you if needed?

[SunbathingDragon]

I’ve had four c sections and been able to sit up and feed within hours. The numbness doesn’t last long (assuming you are having a spinal, it wears off pretty quickly) and it’s just a case of getting up slowly and gradually for the first few days. If you have something to use to pull yourself up with (eg your partner’s arm) then I’d recommend doing so as you can control the pace but it’s perfectly manageable if you are alone as well.

[mynameiscalypso]

Well, for the first few weeks, I generally slept on the sofa with DS in his Moses basket on the floor as that's the only way he'd sleep but that aside, I was able to sit up pretty much immediately once the spinal had worn off. I got told off for bouncing out of my bed in recovery and wanting to walk to the post natal ward. So long as you take the painkillers regularly, I didn't find it too tricky to move around and sit up. One thing I did do which may or may not have helped was sleep 'top to toe' with DS in his next to me which seemed a little bit easier to me.

[LolaSmiles]

I found I could move around the house slowly before I could lift DS from the side sleeper. I struggled for the first few weeks and DH and I did the night feeds together. I sat up to nurse, DH changed DS and handed him to me. It was a joint effort.

[GirlCalledJames]

You can sit up within 24 hours of a section. I went home after 5 days and was moving around normally and getting up to use the changing table by then. Changing in bed is the wrong height for my back and is really uncomfortable, I don’t know if it’s easier for other people.

[mynameiscalypso]

I also much preferred a changing table to changing in bed (plus if you have a boy, the chances of all your bedding getting covered in wee are quite high).

[LolaSmiles]

I'm glad you said that girl. I could sit up in bed but couldn't twist to lift from the side sleeper.
Lifting out of the crib to a changing table was much easier when I needed to, but I was grateful for DH doing all the getting out of bed to start with.

[Hedgehog26]

I got DD out of her side sleeper. It was a bit sore but I just kept on top of my pain management. I also picked her up and went next door to change her nappy

[Rubyroost]

Hi, two c sections here. You will be able to sit up. Yoh just have to push yourself up very slowly with your arms and slowly shuffle your bum back. I also had to get the changing mat off the floor. The first week recovering from the c section is the worst and night feeds are hard etc as baby is often near wound, but you'll get through it.

[Rubyroost]

Oh and I had my baby in bed with me. He's just gone in cot at 11 weeks

[Rubyroost]

On not in

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

I got up and had a shower 24hrs after having a c section - the midwives encouraged it.

If you're really struggling tie a scarf to the end of the bed and pull yourself up with that. Or another trick is rolling onto your side with your knees bent and pushing yourself up from there, that way you're not using any core or abdo muscles.

Honestly though, recovery wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. Just keep on top of pain relief.

[FruitFeatures]

I couldn’t twist to get my kiddo out of the side sleeper easily for the first week or so, so my husband would get up, pick him up and pass him to me. We had the changing mat on top of a waist height chest of drawers in the same room. Depending on the time of night and who had had the least sleep one of us would get up and change him when needed.

[SnowdropFox]

I had a normal crib in the bedroom rather than a next to me. It was hardest for the first week twisting and pushing myself up from bed. But as long as I did it slowly i was fine. I'd then take my little one to her nursery to feed (in a rocking chair) and change her (on the changing table).
Kept the same routine until we evicted her at 6 months haha

Pain and movement were all fine after about 2.5 weeks for me. I could tell i wasnt totally healed or anything but I could go about my day to day life with a newborn and go on short walks to build up my strength.

[JonbonMoany]

I had my first c-section (emergency) five months ago.

Firstly, I am a chunky monkey (slower recovery apparently) and was expecting to pretty much be a vegetable for a few weeks.

I could sit up within a few hours and I could pick the baby up on my own within 2 days, I am not sure if that is the norm. I also had a chicco next to me and loved it. Do you have a partner? The likelihood is for the first few weeks you'll be up together for feeds, so if you're struggling to lift the baby then ask your partner to do all of the picking up and putting down.

[marvellousmaplesyrup]

We had a next to me crib and DH and I swapped places in bed for the first two weeks. I found I could get up and down no problem but reaching over and twisting to pick up DS to breastfeed hurt like hell. So when he woke up, DH would reach over and pass him to me for feeding, then would burp him and put him back down.

When we went back to work post paternity, I found that it didn't hurt as much so we just swapped back positions and lifted DS out.

[MindyStClaire]

I think we didn't attach the crib to the bed for the first couple of nights so I didn't have to scooch down the bed to get in and out. DH passed her to be for feeds for the first couple of nights home too, although I would've been fine by myself if necessary. I used rugby hold to feed with lots of cushions so no pressure on my scar. It was fine, honestly.

[aimzxd]

Youtube how to sit up from lying without engaging your tummy muscles and try not to pick baby up while your torso is twisted (ouch). I had to stand up, face cot and lift him out for a bit. I was mobile 3 to 4 hours after but wasnt properly numb. Only needed paracetamol after day 1 and only at night to help sleep. I was on my feet constantly from day one and think it helped me recover. I had no choice my baby was prem and taken to the neonatal ward so was back and forth from my ward day in day out (was kept in too with high BP).

[Bear2014]

Hi there, same as others I was fine to sit up by myself. It does hurt and you feel a bit like a seal at first but rolling onto your side and using your arms works. You basically just have no abs. Tying a dressing gown cord to the bottom of the bed to pull yourself up also works.

Both of my DC admitted back to hospital days 5-8 for jaundice and I would get up in the night to get them out of their light box, feed and change and put them back with no help from nurses or anyone.

We had a Snuzpod and I did like it but found that getting out of bed myself was a hassle s you kind of have to shuffle to the end of the bed so we moved it away from the bed after a couple of months.

[Aprilbaby2020]

Hey!
I had a section and slept with the changing mat right next to the bed with nappies and wipes etc right by me. I breastfed so would prop myself up with pillows and feed that way. Depending on how you choose to feed, you could get a prep machine if you decide to bottle feed and keep it in your bedroom so you aren’t having to go downstairs and prep the bottle for each feed. You’ll be great! The only advice I’d give is don’t sneeze whilst laying flat on your back, or cough - ouch!

[GoodnightLion]

Thanks everyone! I think that's a good suggestion about swapping sides with my partner for the first week or so, then he can hand me the baby.

Also thank you @Aprilbaby2020 that's what I'm hoping to do if possible! I've got a basket full of nappies, wipes and mats etc next to the bed!