Compression stockings after c section

[KatieKat88]

How long were you told to wear them? I've been told 6 weeks which seems like forever! Currently 16 days in... still spending a lot of time sitting down so probably should continue? (Also I hate breaking the rules!)

[Shelley54]

I took mine off the next day with the blessing of the staff both times. But I was up and walking around, and despite high blood pressure, I had no history of clots or other risk factors.

By all means ask your midwife / GP, but if you've been told to wear them so long I'm assuming there's a reason or risk factor you have?

[TrashKitten10]

I was told to keep wearing them until I'd finished the injections to prevent clots, which I think was 10 days after birth. Admittedly I ditched them a few days before then as I was quite quickly on my feet but really struggled getting the wretched things on and off and they kept rolling down my legs in the night. You'd be a trooper to get to six weeks still wrestling those things on and off.

[Stormblessed]

I wore mine day and night (with a few hand washes between) till I could move about properly and get out for a walk with the pram. Probably just over a week.

[Deadheadstickeronacadillac]

Not to be scary but have suffered a DVT after c-section, but also haemorrhaged.
Are you on heparin injections too? The socks are a necessary evil...I wore them for 6 weeks after 2nd c-section and was on twice daily fragmin as well as fragmin throughout pregnancy.
The hassle I have encountered over the past 10 years following the post op DVT makes me realise that if it could have been avoided by wearing the socks, I happily would have done so! Travel insurance is higher, I have to take fragmin injections every time I fly, and any surgery becomes very stressful for the surgeons.
You will be fine, but try to wear them day and night for at least 3 weeks?

[KNMom]

I was on heparin injections for 10 days, and was told to wear the stockings for 6 weeks, 'or as long as I can manage it.' I managed just under 3 weeks. Once the swelling in my legs went down and I stopped bleeding, I felt comfortable no longer wearing them. But this is a decision everyone needs to make based on their own circumstances and it is of course always best to follow medical advice.

[Celebelly]

I was told six weeks but I took them off to wash once I got home and never put them back on again In my defence, I was very active from the minute I got home but I should have worn them I know!

[Ketomeato]

6 weeks. And I was on heparin post haemorrhage and high risk of clots so wasn’t taking any chances

[TiceCream]

Six weeks. They’re horrible. But I wore them because I know a lady who died from a blood clot shortly after giving birth.

[KatieKat88]

Thanks all - I'll persevere! Was just confused as I assumed everyone would be told 6 weeks and then saw some conflicting stuff from other people. I had pre-eclampsia and then was re-admitted to hospital on day 6 as my blood pressure was sky high, so I'm fairly anxious to make sure I keep heading in the right direction anyway!

[KatieKat88]

And yes I also had the heparin injections for 10 days too - fun bruises from some of those!

[BlodwynBludd]

Has the fragmin injections but the socks came off 24 hours later, before I was discharged the second time.

[RandomWok]

6 weeks minimum. It is really not worth the risk. My first one I didn't even get sent home with a pair. Nobody mentioned it. 2nd I did the full 6 weeks. I was very active and back on the school run by week two. There is a history of blood clots in my family. I did taken them off for some breathing time though!