...to travel 5 hrs to a family wedding 2 weeks after a c-section?

[plumviolet]

I think I know the answer to this but I really want to go! Am I crazy/stupid to even consider it?

I would have done happily after dd was born, but bf was going well and didn't have a c section, just a sore couple of stitches! I don't think I would want to commit in advance, can you leave it open?

I did make a journey that length 5 weeks after ds1 was born - to BIL's graduation as it happens. All went well although I got very tired and to be honest, was pleased to get home again. But then I'd not had a cs nor stitches and bf was well established.

certainly from being around friends who had c-sections, I cannot imagine any of them wanting - or in fact being able - to travel for 5 hours so very soon after such a major operation. My DIL also had a cs this year and while she was up and around after 2 weeks, the idea of getting in the car and making a lengthy journey would have been a ridiculous one.

I travelled 4.5 hours 10 days after my C-section as my FIL died suddenly and we had to go to the funeral. The journey was fine and we just planned lots of breaks so I could feed. I guess it depends upon how comfortable you think your car is and whether you can factor in breaks. I think I'd be more concerned about the actual wedding and whether you could find it a long day. I'd go with Ninky and ask if you could see how things are at the time as everyone's different.

Aside from how uncomfortable it would be, I don't think I'd be happy with a newborn in their carseat for that long.

Are you talking a journey that usually takes 5 hours, or factoring in breaks? If it's the former then I wouldn't be going, even if I could stay over when I got there.

I travelled 4 hours to a family party 3.5 weeks after abdo surgery and it was touch and go until the day before whether I'd be able to do it. Certainly at 2 weeks post op I struggled to get to the GP 5 mins drive away because the seat-belt was so painful across the wound. And that was without a baby to consider

2 wks post CS I had raging mastitis and wasn't going anywhere thankyou!

Madness - I wouldn't even want to travel 5 hours to a wedding if I hadn't just given birth .

You may regret it, but if you can leave the invite open you'll feel under less pressure if your not feeling well.

Thanks everyone. Think the general consensus is no then eh?! :)

This is my second section, the first was emergency after a failed induction and this one will be elective for medical reasons. I remember my recovery being really manageable last time, scar healed well and was up and about fairly quickly but guess I am looking back with rose tinted glasses and have forgotten how truly hard it really was! Reading some of your posts I got flashbacks....

After 9 months of a stressful pregnancy I would love to let my hair down but realistically I can't do that with a tiny baby anyway. I think I will follow your advice and just see how it goes. If we decided to go we would be travelling down from Glasgow to Leicester, a fair old treck and would stop as needed on the way down for feeds breaks and stuff. Particularly liked the suggestion about the catheter out the window lol! The wedding is in a hall a couple of miles away from the hotel so I could always bail if I need to...

Anyway, thanks again wise and lovely ladies. X

See how you feel, we went to Kent from Dorset (ended up being about 5 hours) 3 weeks after DS was born by section.

I went to a wedding 6 weeks after I had my 2nd emcs...and that was a 4/5 hour drive when adding in the stops. Took forever to get everyone ready including ds 1&2 and then to bundle in half the house for DD as she was still tiny and we were staying over in a hotel too. DD still wasn't sleeping thru the night so we were all still in that horrible sleep deprived state.

The drive home was a nightmare as we stopped in to see a friend on the way. I fed DD and then a few miles down the road she threw up all over herself. So we had to change her & feed her again on the side of the road in the dark...with ds2 crying his eyes out because ds1 was moaning that he was lying on him.

Cant imagine doing it at 2 weeks I was still in alot of pain and dragging myself from my bed to the sofa was just about all I could do. There was also no way I could sit upright on a chair for long.
DD was a very slow feeder and would take up to an hour and 1/2 to feed and I'd get maybe 20 mins break to move and she's be screaming again. And I also had an infection in my scar at 2 weeks. Personally the thoughts of getting dressed and leaving the house were not worth it at this stage never mind going to a wedding.

After two weeks I was still very sore and very shaky and I didn't have an infection or anything. I wouldn't.

Depends how you feel and if you're up to it. I was up and about just about 2 weeks after my C section, but still in my nightdress most of the day with leaky boobs! In fact the C section the issue, it was trying to get it together to even have a shower and the like

I travelled 1 1/2 hours to a family party 8 days after my first C-section. I found the journey quite uncomfortable (could feel every bump on the road), but the actual party was OK as the baby was taken away and passed around to all and sundry and I could just sit there. However, I do think 5 hours is quite a bit of a longer journey and I don't know if I would have been up to that, but if you can take it slowly and rest loads at the actual wedding it may be all right. Only you will know how you will feel. I would leave the invitation open if you can and just let DH take the other DC with him if you can't make it?

I did it. DD was born by section on 19th August, I was at a family wedding on 31st. We travelled a day or 2 before to his parents (4 hours usually, took a good deal longer with breaks aplenty!), then a further hour and a half to the wedding - and back at the end of the day! We left it very open with the bride and groom, obviously they completely understood that we couldn't give a definite answer, especially as it was EMCS not ELCS. Took DD with us (thankfully she was good as gold!) and the bride (my cousin) was thrilled to be able to get some photos done of her in her wedding frock having a cuddle :)

I won't lie, I was exhausted the next day - but so was DD (got rather passed around I think)! It may not be for everyone, and I know my mum was very impressed and said she wouldn't have been able to do it so soon after her first section.

One piece of advice though - take a change of clothes if you DO decide to give it a whirl. DD puked ALL over me within minutes of them finishing the photographs - thankfully I'd come prepared

How about getting the train with LO, coffee and paper?

Let DH/DP drive down and meet you there with all the gear.

That way you can feed / walk about etc whenever, and prob quicker too.

I did something similar recently as my DS suffered horrendously in car with reflux. Was bliss :)

I had my second c section exactly two weeks ago today and could comfortably manage it, so long as I had somewhere there to help and somewhere nearby to go if it all got too much. That would mean no booze for dp. I'm breastfeeding with occasional formula top ups and I'm feeling fine. Bleeding also almost finished.

First section was more painful and difficult but I could probably have still managed if I was very keen to go.

I'd keep the option open if possible and see how you feel, you could be lucky and feel up to it.

I've had three sections and wouldn't advise it. I had infections after two and although this doesn't happen to everyone it can be a setback. I just wanted the comfort of my own home with a new baby anyhow. Be kind to yourself!