To ask for your tips on c section recovery?

[tickyticks]

Sorry, posting for traffic. I've had to make the final decision of another vaginal birth vs c section after lots of damage following dc1's birth. It appears a section would be best in order to help prevent the long term issues another severe tear would cause.

I'm very scared and wonder if any of you ladies have any tips for recovery? DH is always very supportive, will happily do everything around the house and is taking 4 weeks off work as we have an 18 month old too.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

I'm having my second c section next week!

My advice is MOVE as much as is comfortable, but don't overdo it - you'll know when you're overdoing it, believe me!

For the first few days potter around the house/garden, and intersperse that with periods of rest. After a few days you can do little walks - round the block, to the corner shop etc.

Try not to lift your larger child if you can help it, and have a cushion over your stitches when in bed/on the sofa so that they can't bash into them.

Don't touch the stitches, just let the shower water run over them and let them air dry.

Take painkillers for as long as you need.

For me, both times the pain in my back from the spinal was worse than the wound which was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

Salt baths helped the wound heal. I was off painkillers within a couple of days of being home.

What helped me was finding something the right height to change ds on which ended up being the dining room table!

Dd was 16 months when ds was born. I took all the help I'm was offered and spoilt her with new toys that kept her occupied in fact I think that's when I bought her a toy kitchen.

Scrupulous hygiene beforehand - our hospital sent out a detailed list of instructions on clean bedsheets the night before, serious scrub in the shower for both you and dh night before and night of, clean clothes, no shaving or depilation etc.

Good hygiene after - keep the wound clean and aired. Don’t touch it, let water run over it

When in hospital make sure everyone who touches the area has washed hands properly. No visitors to sit in bed. Etc.

Move but don’t overdo it. Gentle pottering.

No lifting

Batch cook before to stock freezer.

Get on your feet as soon as possible. It will hurt but the sooner you're up and about the sooner you'll get home. Take it easy though, gentle walks. I used to just stroll around the ward.
Take painkillers for as long as you feel you need to.
Get a changing table for the new baby if you haven't already got one, being stood upright to change a nappy is a hell of a lot more comfortable.
Minimal heavy lifting including your older child, sit on the sofa with them if they want a cuddle.
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it even for the most basic things.

Drink peppermint tea/water to help with trapped wind.

Get mobile. Try not to hunch over even though you’ll want to. Movicol so you don’t need to strain to poo. Take the painkillers. If possible ask for traditional stitches with a bead at one end and a knot at the other. Rather than dissolving ones. I’ve had both and had far more trouble with the latter. If you formula feed, I found the ready to feed sterile bottles for the first couple of weeks meant I didn’t need to haul myself out of bed for night feeds. I kept these and changing things and clean clothes in a bag hanging from the bed post so I could feed and change without moving much!

Huge knickers that go to your waist - the elastic should sit above the scar. Same with leggins/pj bottoms.

Hi OP... I’ve had two C-Sections (DD1 then Twins) and recovered very, very well. To be fair, it’s all I know. I had time to read up about them and am pleased that it wasn’t a big shock at the time. I knew I had to have C-Sections because of a previous spinal injury and it also meant that I had to have general anaesthetics, which is not ideal either. Your experience will probably be different because you will probably be awake. Meanwhile... my advice will be to get up and move as soon as you possibly can. Walk around as soon as you are able. (Even if it’s just to the loo to begin with!) It will help you avoid internal scar tissue adhering where it shouldn’t. It will help stop you from tightening up and help you avoid DVT. You will feel more confident and natural about picking your baby up and moving about with him or her. I had barely any bleeding after both of my births and my midwives said it was because I was up and around so quickly. I would say that the pain was manageable after the first day with paracetamol for me, and I don’t claim to be a hero. It is a very individual thing though.... what matters is that you are healthy and so is your baby.

Keep your pyjamas on for a week and rest, potter, rest. With dh at home for a month you will be just fine. Overdoing it in the first week or two = slower overall recovery. That includes keeping the visitors under control.

It sounds really lovely and hopefully it will be a happy time to look back on.

I've had 3 sections.

Pillow over your lower abdomen to press against when you cough, sneeze or go for a poo.

Hot water with peppermint oil (or peppermint tea) is good for the trapped air that you will have afterwards.

BIIIIIIIIGGGGGG pants. Proper apple catchers that go right up over your tummy button as normal ones rub on your wound. Wearing leggings or loose dresses is easier than anything snug on your waist.

Potter. Don't lift anything heavier than the kettle or the baby. No hoovering, no picking up the toddler.

If your DH is home for 4 weeks you'll be well over the worst of it; I was pretty much back to normal after 3-4 weeks.

Don't be guilty if the toddler watches a shitload of CBeebies for the first few weeks, it won't kill them and you need to prioritise yourself and the new baby for a bit.

Keep up with the pain relief, but bare in mind opiate based painkillers can cause constipation. Big pile of pillows so you can sit propped up to feed the baby, lying down wasn't easy for me for a week or so. Take it easy with the physical stuff and if your partner really is offering to be on hand for 4 weeks, make the most of it!

i came home at 24hrs and as a PP mentioned was off the pain killers in 2 days when i realised id been forgetting to take them - it was nowhere near as bad as people said it would be however i had awful SPD which went away instantly at birth so to me it was actually much easier than the SPD! The hardest thing will be having your 18m old and not being able to go at your usual pace but your husband has a great amount of time off so im sure that will help immensely.

i changed my DD on my lap or if it was night time i just changed her on the bed with me. I bought tea tree shower gel for the wound. I think i read to put a maternity pad stuck to your pants so you have soe extra cushioning over the wound. Oh! M&S high wasted/full briefs, seriously so comfy and come all the way up past your scar - they were fab im definitely getting those again.

I am having my second section 7w today, good luck OP.

I had absolutely no side effects following my EMCS - you may be one of the lucky ones too. (and I was/am not a 'fit, young woman'). I was up and about walking, doing whatever I needed to as soon as I got home from hospital

Definitely the following:

(a) pillow to put over your scar when you cough or poo
(b) peppermint oil or peppermint tea for trapped wind
(c) massive pants and loose dresses
(d) no reaching up for anything above you, no lifting anything heavy (do not attempt the car seat for the first four weeks - I couldn't even disconnect it from the isofix)
(e) They should give you paperwork on how to get in and out of bed and exercises to do - look at all of it and follow the advice.
(f) Move around
(g) anyone who wants to hold the baby must make you a hot drink, bring you a cold drink and/or prepare you a snack or meal for immediate or future consumption.

Also, if you're breastfeeding put a pillow next to you and try the rugby ball hold: baby lies on his or her back in the crook of your elbow with your hand supporting their head; you can then breastfeed without them getting near your incision.

If it's any consolation, I bloody loved my c-section, which was also planned for medical reasons, and I recovered very quickly.

Biggest piece of advice listen to your body it will warn you when it's had too much.

I've had 2, 1 emergancy and 1 planned. Dd1 was 2.5 when dd2 came along. Dh returned to work the first week due to emergencies so i was back to normal by day 4. But remember everyone is different and can cope with different amounts don't overdoo it.

A) a pillow when you cough and sneeze.
B) pillows to prop you up in bed for first few days, saves straining at your core.
C) hairdryer on low heat to dry section especially if you have any overhang at all.
D) peppermint tea or deflateeze(sp) for trapped gas in your body not just tummy.
E) get up asap start walking as normally as possible.
F) when lifting anything keep it close to your body.
G) remember it can take over a year fpr all the muscles etc to heal so be aware when starting exercise after a section.
Best wishes.

I was given zero advice on how to look after my scar but found tips online after mine became slightly infected

Use a hairdryer on cool setting to dry the scar after a shower or if you get sweaty! Pop a couple of drops of tea tree oil into your bath to help healing (I think you need to avoid baths for a week or two though). These two thing along with the usual no heavy lifting/taking it easy are definitely what helped me most.

Stick to the rules.
Keep it clean and DRY (Critical as someone else has said especially if there is any sort of crease or overhang).
Try not to do too much marching up and downs stairs, hoovering, heavy lifting etc. Get visitors to do it - Anything I could do - oh yeah could you run the hoover round the living room, they find it hard to say no - lol

You can tuck a clean muslin under the overhang to keep it dry.

Avoid constipation at all costs - I ended up with an impaction after first one and essvery careful not to with second.

Twice daily fybogel and lactulose, lots of water and fibre. Try to eat light the week before the section.

I second the ‘get moving’ advice but not strenuously, I preferred a rolled towel to a cushion for support. Use it when opening your bowels for support when straining.

Deflatine did trapoed wind afterwards which was shocking - I sometimes thought I might be able to propel myself into space I was so bloated

I was told not to use a hairdryer.

Being back home is much nicer than being in hospital, and once back home you can look after yourself much better. Now my DCs are adult, I honestly can't remember anything unpleasant linked with the CS once I was back home (except that I've never liked having stitches out - it doesn't hurt, but it makes me feel queasy). So take everyone's advice, but don't be scared. It's much easier having a wound across your stomach than a tear between your legs.

I recommend a basket of supplies in the living room - nappies (for both baby & 18month old) spare changes of clothes for both, bibs, plenty of wipes, cream etc so it minimises the amount of trips up & downstairs.

Listen to your body (not in a "woo" way), if you feel you are pushing yourself too hard then just stop. You've got a child already so i don't imagine you'll struggle to get active, rest when you can and try to keep either upright or laid down - don't scrunch the scar up because that raises the infection risk and the trapped wind is excruciating.

Get your DH to take DC1 out for an hour or two each day, that'll give you a chance to lie down properly and rest. When I brought DC1 home I genuinely thought I had to do so much for him - I really didn't. I just needed to change him, feed him and hold him.

I've had two C-sections. I promise they're not that bad!
My pick of the tips given:
Peppermint oil for the wind.
Keep up the painkillers for a good few days. Don't think, actually I feel fine, I can not take them, because chances are that all of a sudden you won't feel fine.
Don't be afraid to take it easy. DS2 was in NICU after he was born. DH took me to see him and wheeled me there in a chair (there were miles of corridors!). I felt a bit of a fraud in my wheelchair, but the long walk would have really exhausted me.