To think I can recover from a section alone ?

[Coffeeandcaffiene]

Xposted in childbirth wasn’t sure where’s best.
Getting a lot of mortified faces when they hear I’ll be alone at home after my ELCS. I’m not particularly worried it is what it is but I’d love experiences !
Section this week - I am single so I won’t have help at home, friends/ visitors will be popping in during the day evenings to see baby so I’ll have to make the most of them!
( don’t have much family and especially no one I could ask to stay )

I was wondering realistically when I’ll be able to have a short walk with the pram?
When can I climb the stairs ?
( my bathroom is downstairs so can easily sleep downstairs till whenever )

I’ve set up drawers/ changing station downstairs so no bending required
Fridge is stocked with drinks- sports caps etc

Anything else I can do to make this easier ?!
Would love your experiences from your recovery ! ( or if I’m being naive )

Four days after my section we decided to walk to a little place up the road for pizza - that was a big mistake, took me forever and I was in a lot of pain on the way back (it’s a very short walk). But i was going to the hospital every day for long periods whincj involved walking obviously.

I think the post saying the OP is being naive and dangerous is unfair, some people have no option but to be alone and care for baby single handedly after a C section.

You deal with the hand you're dealt be it ideal or not.

In an ideal world she'd have a handful of relatives to rally round but some don't (me included)

OP explain to the hospital you don't have any help after discharge and they should keep you in for an extra day or maybe more

You may find it difficult to push a pram for a while after a section. I found I was able to carry my baby in a structured carrier (for short distances, slowly) from day 3 after ELCS.

You need to prep well if this (not ideal plan) might work

First, tell the hospital staff. They'll be extra viglient to ensure you're going to be safe, I'd expect them to keep you in slightly longer

Second, prep your guests - they're not coming for a visit, they're coming to help a recovering mum who's just had major abdominal surgery - no hosting expectations, ask them to bring easy nutritional food, send them away with laundry so that they can bring it back a few days later. This is entirely serious, you may find that you can barely hobble between the baby and bathroom in the first few days, and many women that feel ok in the first few days massively overdo it then risk longterm damage or greatly slowed recovery times as a direct result. You need to expect the average recovery experience, not plan the unusual quick ones where women are pushing the pram to the shop on day 4!

Most women can't even get up to pee on their own for a wee

Not true ^^

I’ve had 3 sections and whilst you are v sore, slow and hobbling the first few days, getting about in your own house is doable. You need to get some meals prepared & frozen, remember you won’t be able to carrry shopping bags.

Stay in hospital for 2 or 3 nights if you can. That should get the worst of it over. Make sure in the night you get the nurses to pass the baby to you as the movement of picking baby up and then sideways is painful.

Once home you should be fine but keep on with the painkillers even if you feel OK as they do help when taken regularly. I'd get some ready meals in if you can or batch cook something for the freezer.

As you just have a baby to worry about you should be OK. My second and third sections were tougher recovery wise but I had toddlers then. Do you have anyone who could buy you stuff if needed? So I needed nipple shields and giant pants. Happy asking my mum or sister might not have wanted to ask a neighbour though.

definitely batch cook, get shopping done in bulk, have everything you need in one room.

The key is not to overdo it I think and risk your recovery. Can you afford a cleaner or a few hours help a day? Even a local teenager who could fetch and carry and you use that time to do a load of washing, hang it out, put a dozen things away, prep (a prepared) dinner, life baby to the change table and back, stock up nappies and baby change things, take the bins out, give you a hand standing up.

I had an emergency one in April. Lost 2.5 litres of blood. It was hard but I did it alone and that’s going up and down stairs with a buggy as I’m in a flat

I would echo the other comments, it really does depend so a back up plan would be good

I was told after my first c section that I shouldn't have been moving around so quickly ...well noone told me!

And i was discharged after 26 hours with my second

Both times i was walking with the pram and driving at about two weeks as dh had gone back to work

BUT! A friend of mine had a horrendous time and her husband had to take a bit of holiday as well as paternity as she really struggled with the healing and was unaable to stand up straight or do much for herself for a little while.

The very best of luck

Its not too long ago that dms were kept in hospital for 10 days after a CS. Not necessary but please be careful in the first while. You don't want to set yourself back with a baby to care for. Do you have a neighbours number you can call if need help? Really use your friends to full advantage. Even go for a rest when they are there while they keep an eye on your baby.

Two days after having dd i was in mothercare

I was convinced she was going to be a boy and when she wasnt 'SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE A DRESS GOD DAMMIT'

That was a bit painful!

Some very outdated input here! Can't get up to wee for a week?! On the NHS you'll be up within hours, but yes it will hurt. I had DS at 5am, and was discharged the following morning after taking myself for a shower and getting dressed. And I had stairs to climb (slowly but no problems).

HOWEVER. I was not going home alone, and I don't think I could have done so. Even just carrying the baby in his car seat, fitting it in the car, driving... No chance. I think you will need to stay in hospital longer, and definitely need someone on call to get you home and set up. My strong advice is to get a friend to stay for a couple of days, not only because of the risks following surgery, but also just to stop you doing too much and causing problems with your wound.

I was in a lot of pain for the first week and was fairly limited in my movement. I struggled to get out of bed or up from sitting down without help. Trying to sit on the toilet was painful. I know from talking to others that my recovery was slower than many others. I’d really underestimated how hard it was.

I found the ELCS recovery part of things really fine and would have coped without my other half there.

What I did need him for though was everything else. Baby feeding every 2 1/2 hours, lack of sleep etc is difficult. It might be worth asking someone to stay the odd day so you can sleep etc, get someone to make you some meals? They don't even need to stay the night.

I’ve had 2 sections - one emergency, one elective. Everyone is different of course, but both my experiences were very good.

Getting up out of bed had to be done gingerly for a few days, but got easier each day- similarly getting on and off the loo for first day or so.

Stairs were not a problem whatsoever and I wouldn’t have thought of sleeping downstairs.

I was in for 2 nights each time but in your situation I would rather stay in an extra night.

I had my first on a Thursday night and could go for a short walk on Sunday with the pushchair. Can’t remember with second child, but I know my husband had to go to work the day after I came home from hospital and I was absolutely fine with a newborn and a 3 year old.

You never know what will happen but I think having a positive sensible attitude (which you do seem to have!) really helps.

Managed to get to loo independently as soon as catheter was out after all 3 of my sections (next day), can't say I noticed other women on the ward needing much help either so not sure where the most women can't comment has come from.

I think I could have coped by myself but glad I didn't have to. My main concern would be getting home, is someone available to drive you? Car journey home was sore and wouldn't fancy bus. As pp have said, let the ward know and stay in longer if you can (and if you can bare it!).

I was in a second floor flat after my first section and was ok with stairs. I have had good recoveries with all of my sections (second/third were close together as well) but not everyone does. If you recover like me I think you'll be ok but maybe prepare a back up plan in case?

I was on my own post section and I propped myself up in bed with my beautiful new baby and enjoyed some lovely quiet time together. On day three I decided to walk a mile with new baby in push chair which was a terrible idea and my section scar came open. That's a cautionary tale though to take it gently and don't be a wazzock like me. Seven years on we're still propped up in bed, eating toast and watching dangermouse.

Wishing you oodles of luck and enjoy your new baby!!

As everybody has said, each body and therefore recovery is different but I do think you may need more help than you imagine.
You could call local colleges and ask if they have a number of child care students who might want to be a mothers help on rotation. They’re not supposed to be left alone with the baby but they can certainly help you do things for the baby/baby clothes washing/helping lift baby etc.

The sheer tiredness that comes with a new baby, aside from the CS, will most likely be great.

The people you do have coming, I’d make sure to get them to he,o as much as possible: “before you come, pls can you pick me up...”. Or “pls can you pop a wash on before you leave?” Etc.

Very often people won’t ask to help unless they’re told/asked.
If you can, perhaps loo at hiring a maternity nurse/doula/family member to stay a few nights over the first few days.

I stayed in hospital for quite a few days, i dont know if that is common nowadays.
the one piece of advice given to me was Walk Tall.
fill the kettle with a small jug,
no washing basket lifting
two pints of milk instead of a six pinter

I had my first section a year ago, I was up going the toilet about 12 hours after it (very slowly and painful) but manageable. Reaching over bed for baby was extremely hard I found, I had section 11am and was discharged 11.30am the next day, but I had a partner for help, it took me ages to walk to the car and he carried baby in car seat. Getting in and out of car was hard, but stairs surprisingly doable if taken slow and a lot of arm pulling on bannister. Toilet again was fine slowly. But I found getting up off sofa and down again quite painful, if you sit still for too long I found it makes things ten times harder and you feel ridiculously stiff. In my honest opinion I wouldn’t have coped those first few days on my own, getting out of bed was hard and took a while but again doable. Is there no one at all who could stay on your first night home? You don’t wanna over do it and end up delaying recovery. I was up and out the house I think on day 5, albeit slowly. Pretty much fine again on day 10. Xx

I've had three CSs - the best advice I had was to keep on top of the pain relief and don't wait until it gets bad. Just do what's necessary, take it slowly and you'll be fine.

It really is imperative that the hospital, your midwife and your HV know you are going to be totally alone post section. Have you spoken to any of them about it? What did they have to say?

If you absolutely have no choice you need to be all on one floor so you don't have stairs, you need the baby right beside you with mountains of nappies and a bin, ready meals for at least a week.

I had no support from my 'D'H but my sister was nearby and came in to help. I spent a lot of time lying in bed crying, and I'm not a very emotional person. So be ready for that.

I think you should let the hospital and HV know that you're planning to be on your own. It sounds very difficult to me.

After an elective you’ll be up and about sooner than after an emergency (have had both). I would say it was about a week before I ventured out but you can’t drive for a few weeks due to pressure on wound/scar from braking. Think it was 5 weeks for me both times. Also you can’t lift a kettle so get your guests to do that. I had quite a bit of help first time - emergency - after dh went back to work, but not as much for the elective (2nd). It was a reasonable recovery.