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 had an emcs with my twins (also prem). I would discuss this with your gp or nurse and get anything cleared before starting it is very individual how people recover after surgery. All advice now is to start rental movement asap after surgery. Its very hard to take it easy if you are someone who is usually busy. There is certainly some exercise you can do though. I was doing long walks with twin pram after two weeks and got cleared to scuba dive at 6 weeks. Worth checking again about swimming as I am sure I was told after a couple of weeks that was fine. However there can be issues with abdominal exercises so maybe take specific advice on those? There are quite a lot of resources on post-natal yoga but I think usually they advise 6 weeks after op - might be worth checking out though if something you fancy. Hope your little one is doing well in NICU.

Gentle not rental stupid autocorrect

walk! If you are very lucky there will be some specialist classes (find out via hospital / health visitor) with qualified instructors - things like Pushy Mothers or post natal pilates where you can take your baby. Even with those, they're unlikely to allow you in the class until after your 6 week check and that's for very good reason.

If you are walking in the meantime and using a push chair - make sure teh handle is nice and low at hip height to reduce strain on your scar. Avoid steep hills. Take hob nobs. Light hand weights from a seated position would also work but I'd really get a trainer to show you how to do that safely without putting any strain on your scar / separated stomach muscles. I recall the warnings that if you don't allow them to knit back together fully, you'll always have a gap - it was a long time ago and someone who is actually medically qualified may well be able to call me out on that one?
It took me a while to get into the swing of maternity leave / having a baby and I'm guessing you've come from a busy job? go easy.

OP 4 weeks is probably too early but when you do get back to it (I did after 6 week GP check) then definitely book yourself into a post-natal recovery programme. There are usually loads about ranging from buggy runner type things in the park to Pilates/ studio based stuff. But the main thing is to get on their recovery course to begin with a proper post natal instructor who will check for diastasis recti and build up from the ‘inner core’ muscles. Total pain in the butt if you’re used to being super active but it really is worth doing recovery right if you want to get full fitness back.

Walking, increasing length and speed according to how you feel is fine but you really must avoid anything which could cause damage. You feel well but you are still healing inside and out.

I walked DD to school 4 days after having her baby brother and took it very slowly. Then again the next day but a little faster. Then took a longer more scenic route a few days later. And so on. I was back running at 9 weeks (short and easy) but no core, intervals or resistance until 12 weeks.

Congratulations.

I really wouldn't. Maybe some gentle walking for cardio and a bit of light yoga.

I was competing in a fairly gentle equestrian sport by 4 week's, but I had a v easy op and in retrospect it was a crazy thing to do!

Listen to your body, do what feels OK for you, but err on the side of caution, would be my suggestion.

Congratulations!!

Joining Downtheroad for the crazy rider perspective I also got back on the horse after both ELCS at 6 weeks, but do consult your doctor.

@GoldenOrb I think you're probably bang on with your analysis, I've never been able to 'talk it out' or similar if I have a crisis, I bury myself in work, housework or a project. I've done everything down to buying, writing and arranging all the birthday/wedding cards we need for the next year.

Thank you for all those who've replied, it's a reality check I need, but it's bloody hard when there's nothing to distract you from the situation. Back to the drawing board for ideas on keeping my mind active that doesn't involve ripping stitches or long term damage

Learn to knit? Find an addictive app or game to while away the hours?

best of luck to you and your little one OP. I hope they’re home with you soon.

Don’t do it .
Your pelvic floor has take a beating from pregnancy (it does for us all c section or not).
Your Have had major surgery.
I really wouldn’t advise.
If you must do some excercise before your six week check, maybe get the clear from a woman’s health physio. And if you do I personally would steer clear from high impact for a while.

Wouldn't exercise but why not get the girls round? A few drinks, some chocolates paint each other's toes and talk shit?

I know what you mean about dealing with stress I do it too but I always feel better after reconnecting with those I care about and who care about me. don't shut yourself off. It's easy to do but your friends will want to be there for you too xx

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Don’t feel you need to be productive with your time. Cut yourself some slack. Watch a box set, learn to knit through you tube (v addictive and challenging!), bake and freeze cakes, set yourself some creative writing exercises eg write a short story. Buy a ‘life’ book from amazon and write in it your little one’s start in life. Or just read trashy gripping novels!

Going against the grain here; I have a cross trainer and was back on it around 3/4 weeks. I ran five miles at nine weeks. I had no problems whatsoever but it is personal to you and your body and underlying fitness I think. The way I see it is that everyone says walk. Well I would rather be in the gym and walking on a treadmill when I’m in complete control than on the streets where if I’m struggling then it might be two miles home. To me the cross trainer on a low setting is much the same as walking. So I wouldn’t rule it out as only you know how you feel.

I asked about exercise at my six week check. I was told I was ok to run and do other cardio at that point but absolutely no ab exercises until after 12 weeks. This was once the consultant was satisfied I was healing well. As it was, I went out for a run at 7 weeks, was horrified by how it felt (like my organs were loose inside a bag being jiggled about) and then parked myself in the sofa for a good while!

@StylishMummy I had an emcs and began exercisng at your stage. Felt fine, all good. By nine weeks I collapsed in the bathroom, found by my mother in law half naked, covered in vomit. Turns out I'd ripped my internal muscles, and done a shit load of damage and ended up being blue lighted to hospital on a morphine drip. The drip was fairly pleasant, the pain was not. The bit I had ripped was then infected, as my scar had opened up slightly, I hadn't noticed, bacteria got in, etc etc. Yes, is is severe, but it can happen.
Please take care of yourself. My stomach is a right mess now after having to go back into surgery after that incident. It will never be flat due to the scar tissue and it looks awful. But it's a constant reminder to me that my vanity nearly took me from my family.

Sorry. Absolutely not. I'm a post natal personal trainer and it's totally contraindicated at 4 weeks. Walking is fine but get signed off by your GP and go see a qualified professional before you do anything else. Congratulations on your little one .

I wouldn't. I felt great after my EMCS and went on long walks etc about 4 weeks after, each time I felt fine at the time but the scar ached a lot the next day and I think it set my recovery back. Just because it's healed on the outside it won't have healed on the inside.

There's a book callesd Caesarian recovery that has a progressive series of movements that you can work through - at your stage it's (rightly!) a long way from a workout but is a nice gentle way of starting to get mobile again.