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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

C-section recovery

92 replies

Yahdayah · 14/01/2018 09:08

Not quite AIBU but I’m after as much advice and as many suggestions as possible.

Second c-section is imminent and I’m so scared of the recovery. Does anyone have any advice, tips or suggestions? I struggled first time round so would like to be more prepared.

OP posts:

Eyeroller100 · 14/01/2018 10:26

Oh and ask a dr/midwife before you leave the hospital what time to take your meds at and set alarms on your phone - missing a painkiller is a big no no!!

Also if your a bit squeamish get your OH to give you the clexane injections, I couldn't do it myself!

Original poster

Yahdayah · 14/01/2018 10:30

You’re all amazing, thank you!

I’ll see if I can get some peppermint pills tomorrow, Tuesday is THE day!

Last time I was only given paracetamol and ibuprofen, I nearly cried when they said that’s all I could have; I take that for a bad headache . Our hospital also now likes you to go home the very next day and be up the same day as you have it. Very worried about this but I’ll give it a go and only do what my body can do.

Would a feeding pillow be suitable no matter what method I use for feeding ? If so I’ll make sure we get one.

The PICO sounds great, I’ll see if they use them at our hospital. I had the dressing off after my first shower last time and then nothing was put back on, it was just left to ‘air’.

I don’t scar too well so am reluctant to put anything on the wound but we have honey in so I’ll make sure I eat some

OP posts:

ArfInch · 14/01/2018 10:32

I've two sections (an emergency and an elective).

Yes to big comfy knickers and stretchy, high waisted yoga pants.

Also agree with the pp who said 'take the drugs!. I was religious about taking painkillers for a fortnight post-op both times and had no pain at all.

Hospitals are good at getting you to get up and mobile asap, these days, but I would also balance that out by not doing too much once you're home. Gentle movements, very short walks, plenty of rest (or as much as you can manage). I treated my second section like recovering from a major operation (which it is!), enlisted/accepted more help and massively lowered all standards around the house - and I recovered more quickly.

Lukeandlorelai4Ever · 14/01/2018 10:35

Good luck! I'm also having my second elective section soon. I recovered very well. I took arnica tablets, I can't remember when I started taking them?
I also suffered with that awful shoulder pain. I had brought the peppermint tea with me but the nurses were so busy I didn't like to ask them to make it for me! The capsules sound great, il get some of those.
Also yes to all the drugs!

demirose87 · 14/01/2018 10:38

I've had four. Take all the painkillers you are allowed and don't be afraid to ask for something stronger if needed. Make sure you rest but as soon as you're able, get up and walk around and have a shower, go to toilet. Drink plenty of water and eat enough to get your digestive system moving again and ask for peppermimt tea if you're gassy. I made sure I was up and out of bed and showered and in fresh pjs for when my partner went home in the evening and I had the baby to myself.

bossbabymomma · 14/01/2018 10:39

Drink lots of water, I mean gallons afterwards. It will help with bowel movements.
Take arnica tablets
Lie flat with your wound exposed as much as possible to let air get at it
Bath twice a day with a few drops of tea tree oil (less than 5 as it is VERY strong) and lavender oil
After getting washed, dry your wound with a hair dryer... means it will be bone dry without the irritation of you wiping it with a towel.
MASSIVE knickers, I mean huge. Normally I'm a 16 and I got size 26.
Soft jammies
I attached a maternity pad to the front inside of my knickers so that it went up against my wound, almost like a protective pillow lol!
Eat as well as you can... they seem to give you a lot of toast in hospital which can bung you up, bring in some fruit to help balance it out
And good luck!

Eyeroller100 · 14/01/2018 10:40

@Yahdayah I ended up formula feeding as my birth was an EMCS and I was quite traumatised so it was easier for my MH to fF. I found a feeding pillow was great as it meant DD wasn't lying on my scar for her feeds

Howsthings1234 · 14/01/2018 10:41

Can I ask what arnica tablets are as I'm due my second c section in a few weeks too and don't recall these? Also will be following the advice on the peppermint as the trapped wind was one of the most painful thing about recovering from the emergency c section!!

NoWordForFluffy · 14/01/2018 10:48

My first section was a rather physical EMCS (wedged DD). That took a fair bit of recovering from.

My second was a lovely, calm ELCS (DS was an unstable, sideways, lie). I stopped taking painkillers with a week and was thereabouts doing everything for myself (including lifting my toddler DD) in the same timeframe. Sneezing and coughing hurt for a while, but that's standard!

The benefit of a planned section is that there's no hurry to get a distressed baby out, so it's not quite so smash and grab as an EMCS! Therefore you've not been battered about in the hurry.

My tip re pooing? Dried apricots. Loads of them. They'll get you moving alright!

BikeRunSki · 14/01/2018 17:58

I got my Arnica tablets in Boots, these ones Howsthings. Conventional medics will say there is nothing in them, but I have used them for bruising after bike crashes and surgery with positive effect (certainly no ill effect).

iismib · 14/01/2018 18:05

I highly recommend Mothercare's c-section knickers, they are amazing! Wore them with both my sections and they are so comfortable. Not cheap but money well spent!

I had my 2nd section 9 weeks ago - it was elective and the recovery was SO much better than my emergency one, I couldn't believe how quickly I recovered! Good luck OP!

Eltonjohnssyrup · 14/01/2018 18:17

Walk as much as you can, but don't push yourself, only as much as you can comfortably manage.

How have you been carrying the baby? I had two huge bumps and recovery is worse if you've had a lot of stress on your back. Try and rest your back as much as possible in the run up.

meredintofpandiculation · 14/01/2018 18:33

I know you haven't asked this ... but do make sure you do your kegel exercises. It's a myth that it's only labour that messes up your muscles. Having that 9lb weight trampolining on it for the last several months also makes a weakens them, so stave off future problems by starting Kegels as soon as you feel like it (don't leave it 30 years like me).

allthecheese · 14/01/2018 18:42

I had my first ELCS on Monday. Was terrified about the recovery, but was only taking neurofen for the pain after 2 days, and I don't need any painkillers now, 6 days later. I walked her home from the hospital (albeit just under a mile away!) and although I'm super slow, I feel great. A planned c section seems to be much better recovery-wise than an EMCS.

People on here recommend big pants, which I 100% agree with. And agree with stand up asap after surgery. I think I was up after 5 hours.

I also tanked up with fibre on the days leading up to it so that the first post surgery poo wasn't too bad!!

DontFundHate · 14/01/2018 18:45

Yup to totally massive knickers, I didn't realise the pain would be above my incision too, everything between the incision and my belly button hurt, so knickers that sit higher than belly button

Google laid back breastfeeding - I found that very comfortable

Good luck!

Rebeccaslicker · 14/01/2018 18:49

PICO that's it!! Amazing technology. Definitely ask OP, I certainly am for my upcoming second c section.

Lots of luck :)

georgie262 · 14/01/2018 18:50

@peachgreen gargh!! You've just reminded me about the gassy pain post op (I'm going to be having third c section in June) that post op shoulder pain was the worst! X

windowSong · 14/01/2018 18:54

A cesarian belt was a real game changer for me. I wore it for weeks, even in bed! It REALLY helped with movement (sitting up/standing up/turning over in bed).

SheepyFun · 14/01/2018 18:55

Once you get home, take painkillers on a schedule (written down; you won't remember!), don't wait until you're in pain. This was suggested by medical friends, and definitely helped.

RatRolyPoly · 14/01/2018 19:01

If you're lying down and want to sit up...

Raise knees
Lift one leg towards you
Link hands together behind the knee of your raised leg
Push foot away from you and down, keeping hands linked

You should have cantilevered your upper body upright and be in the sitting position, having put very little strain on your abdominals.

Good luck!

DailyMailareDicks · 14/01/2018 19:05

Make yourself a 'sausage' pad. Use a clean pillowcase and a face cloth folded in to a sausage shape. Put the facecloth in the pillowcase and roll it all up, tape it up with micropore tape or Elastoplast tape. You should end up with a pad like a really think sanitary towel shape. Whenever you move, put this pad over your stitches to support the wound as you move. You'll find you don't get any pulling or stretching of the wound and very unlikely you will burst a stitch using this support. You'll be able to move more often and healing will then be quicker as you'll be more active.

colleysmill · 14/01/2018 19:09

1st was emcs and I as crawling up the stairs still 2 weeks after.

However elcs 2nd time round and although my insides were a bit slow to come round after at day 7 I was walking round our village and gentlyy swinging on the swings In the park (disclaimer i have no idea if this is allowed but I felt wonderful !)

JaceLancs · 14/01/2018 19:10

My 2 ELCS were very different
First with DD I was in so much pain - could hardly move and really struggled with feeding
DS was second and I hopped out of bed next morning feeling fine - I couldn’t believe it as it was so different - very lucky as DD was only 17months and a late walker
Many years later I had a hysterectomy and that was somewhere between the 2 in terms of recovery - but I still managed with paracaetamol only as anything stronger makes me v sick, I had it IV to start with though

minimonkey11 · 14/01/2018 19:13

I had 2 c-sections and recovery from both was ok actually! Hospital had me up and about that afternoon and that was just how it continued! A friend lay down whilst her husband did everything for her for 6 weeks and her recovery was slow. Each to their own but i say move as much as you can! Good luck x

ThisLittleKitty · 14/01/2018 19:15

I actually didn't find it too bad. I've had 2 emcs my second was abit more painful, even just walking or getting up out of bed but overall it was ok. Not as bad as I expected

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