To workout 4 weeks after EMCS?

[StylishMummy]

As per the thread title, I had an EMCS 4 weeks ago, DD was 13 weeks early and is still in NICU & she's likely to be there for weeks yet, if not months. I'm expressing milk and spending as much time as possible at the NICU but I can't seem to fill the time at home.

I've been baking, reading, watching Netflix, cleaning and doing everything I can to stay busy without 'straining' myself. I'm bored to tears!

I'm going to go insane if I can't do something to occupy body/mind. All baby prep has been done and I don't do well 'sitting'. Has anyone started working out (light HIIT/cardio) less than 6 weeks post birth? I've been told no swimming due to infection risk. I'm already driving and doing everything else, but I don't want to do serious damage. Any suggestions of other activities most welcome!

I would consult a health professional, isent it 6 weeks recovery.

Can you do some walking?

I would also ask a medical professional. There are certain things you can't do excercise wise. The internal healing process is a lot longer. I think it was closer to a year when I felt ready to do excercise again and that was a modified routine. In fact my scar area still gives me problems 2 years after my cs

No way would I risk this. It can still do long term damage even if it doesn’t hurt at the time.

I’ve had multiple c sections with good recoveries. But the one where I took it easy for longest was the one with the better-healed long term scar.

Nope. Really bad plan.

Don't do it

Don't do it. I did and so regret it years later

Don't risk it.

Good book / boxset

If you had any other sort of major abdominal surgery where you were told no exercise, would you even debate it? Even at 6 weeks, hiit would still be risky

God, I was still a right mess 6 weeks after my cs! It's great that you are feeling so good physically I did a specialist pilates class catering for those who had had surgery or injuries after mine. Perhaps you could find something like that?

6 weeks minimum to Even be able to Hoover my midwife told me and made sure DH heard too. Light exercise only - basically walking only. As for the driving, make sure your insured. My insurance said no driving for 6 weeks unless doctor signs me as fit, doc won't see me until week 8!

Don’t ! We were told 12 weeks fir actual exercise at pre op appt. after 6weeks you can walk drive resume stuff like that but full on exercising leave till 12 weeks at least

If you are up to it, going for some longish walks would be good.

Do not do any sit ups or anything abdominal (particularly because you had a c section but also because you are less than 12 months postpartum)

Phone your GP and ask :-)

Congratulations on your baby and I'm sorry to hear how stressful it must be.

I went back to the gym four weeks after. Very light cross trainer, walking on the running machine etc.

Also doing light hand weights at home. I've been exercising for years and I knew to be careful with what I was doing but I wanted to get back into it.

Congratulations and how great of you to keep being so positive at a tricky time. Agree with pp - is this a coping thing, if it's working that's great, but do make sure you have someone to talk to and wail a bit if you need!
As for other activities, do you do sewing or crafting? Tons of awesome activities on Pinterest, you could get yourself set up with lots of lovely little things for the nursery or your new baby or to be the most organised mum in the world for the next year or two, you'll have age appropriate treasure baskets, quiet books and the like set up for ages!

I wouldn't risk it. I was stupid enough to deep clean the house about 5-6 weeks post emergency CS and ended up ripping the wound open again. It was painful, left a worse scar then it probably would've, made my midwife pretty cross and took even longer to heal properly.

I agree with a previous poster about scar healing. I ignored some of the advice and got active sooner than recommended as I felt fine and well enough to. 2+ years down the track and my scar is still a bit wonky and mildly keloid looking inconsistently along the length. My skin anywhere else has always bounced back from any kind of trauma or marks in the past. I’m sure it’s because I didn’t give it time to settle properly even though at the time it looked to be healing well on the outside.

Check your car insurance policy. Some won't cover you if you have an accident up to six weeks after an EMCS unless you have a doctors note.

Christ no. After my particularly rough EMCS, I was told I could do light yoga and swimming after my 6 week postnatal check but absolutely no cardio until 3 months.

Oooooooo, that came over rather haughty! I should have said it might be worth checking, you don't have to OP!

Firstly congratulations! Secondly, I understand you want to keep busy but you really shouldn’t do anything more than brisk walking at this point. Even if the scar looks good on the outside, remember there’s a lot more still healing inside. My surgeon told me I could start exercise after 8 weeks, if I felt up to it, but no bending until 10 weeks and definitely no ab exercises until 12 weeks post section. You definitely need to have a doctor check your stomach muscles have come back together at the very least. Whatever you decide to do, also make sure you ramp up gradually.

cs aside, if you think of your pelvic floor as a hammock, stressing it before it's recovered is going to stretch it even more.
6 weeks is too early IMO.

I imagine there are some pilates or yoga moves you can do which will really help tone your muscles and get you in good shape for when you are ready to do more intensive exercise.

Congratulations on your baby.

I would do some walking. A lot of places if you Google near you do fitness walks or evening ones or even history stuff. I did loads of them including a night time spooky one when I was post spinal surgery