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 )

It's very individual and thus risky. I was fine walking around pretty quick after mine, and stairs were ok. But couldn't actually lift the baby by myself, never mind anything heavier, for about the first week.

Stock up with about 3 weeks worth of absolutely everything you could possibly need for yourself and the baby. Shopping, meals in the freezer etc.Lots of black Primark full briefs in huge size.Suitable pain relief. Buy a litter picker grabber thingy and one of those plastic mobility chairs you can put in the shower to sit on.

Of course you can do it. But plan not to be too particular about housework etc.
My DH was working 500km away when I had my baby and I had no friends or family to help. I did eventually pay someone to come for 2 hours a week to help with housework.

If there’s any way you can get help, then get it. Postnatal recovery is so important.

You don't know how it's going to go. But can't get up to pee for a week? That's rare. Can't lift a kettle? Thats just ridiculous.

I was up the next day walking around after mine. I went home on the third day and was getting around fine at home, took it easy but fine for all self care, care of baby and light housework. I was fine to take a walk in the park after five days, and drive after a week (could have done it earlier if it was urgent). I had a light pram (6kg) so I was fine to lift it in and out of the car at that time (without baby, I don't use a travel system).

Its good to keep moving and walking around, while taking it easy of course. The one thing that was a bit uncomfortable was lying down, so I didn't want to lay in bed anyway.

Just my experience. Good luck. Its amazing what your body can recover from!

Will there be no other adult in your home or very nearby, calling regularly? If that is the case, I definitely agree with the advice about telling your midwife now. And I agree to him should push for (and they should facilitate) several days stay in hospital. It’s not just about section recovery per se. it’s also about the fact that there are rare but really serious post-birth complications that can happen regardless of means of delivery and you need to have another responsible adult checking in on you yourself. Things like late-onset preeclampsia, retained placenta, delayed post-partum hemmorage, sepsis, can all come on quite suddenly and make you rapidly very debilitaed in the days after birth. I don’t mean to frighten you as these are very rare but you should be aware of the risks. At an absolute minimum, something like additional community midwife/health visit calls in the dats after your release would be a plan.

You should also be aware of the risks of deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in the first six weeks after birth so you need to balance the need to rest and recover with adequate and regular mobility to avoid blood clots. This could be a particular risk if you are planning on confining yourself to a few rooms downstairs.

Overall, it’s clearly not impossible and you obviously can’t magic up a supportive partner out of thin air. However you do need to be aware of all the possible risks and the signs to watch out for. You should also tell your medical team now of your circumstances and make a plan now. And ask for as much help as possible from everyone.

For example - how will you get home from hospital? If a taxi, how will you manage car seat, your bags, etc? Can you already ask a neighbour to be available to help you? It’s tough to ask for help, I know it is. But you will have to do just go for it.

The other thing to remember is that is it much easier and more effective to control pain by taking painkillers regularly than waiting until you are in agony. Have a really detailed chat with your doctor before you are discharged about pain management.

Best wishes for a lovely safe delivery.

As long as you have no other children at home it may be doable but probably a bit tough.
I've had 3 emergency sections and the hospital get you up and walking about and going to the toilet asap.
It is painful and although I slept in bed at night the sofa is probably easier as trying to go from lying to sitting was the hardest for me. During the day I was sitting on sofa with legs proped up and baby in moses basket next to me so I could just lean over to get to baby.
Have bottles of water within reach so you don't have to get up more than you need to. If you can't manage to batch cook get in lots of nice ready meals you can just pop in the microwave - having DH cook was one of the biggest helps early on.
Good luck

Sorry I don't understand the kettle thing? Do you all have enormous cast iron kettles with ten litres of water inside at all times. A normal jug and 1-2 cups of water weighs less than 2kg!

I had a C-section with twins - had the op on the Monday, was able to shower and pee by myself the next day (Tuesday) went home from hospital on the Friday. I was able to go up/down stairs from the Friday but not carrying the babies, was able to dress, shower, etc by myself.

Obviously had to be careful (no rushing around, take it gently) but I went for short walks the next week with pushchair (but couldn't lift the chair, just wander gently). I drove from 2 weeks afterwards with no problems. I have to say I wasn't fit beforehand, I was overweight, and I was fine - but everyone's experience is different. Good luck.

Please tell the hospital and the community midwife team. They may be able to keep you in an extra night or arrange for extra visits at home just to make sure you're doing OK. Best of luck

My first, emergency section, i had problems with the stitching being so tight on one side which caused problems until my second section. This meant getting out of bed for the first week was painful but achieved, after the first time, on my own. On return home i did a full shop and cleaned the house, carried the baby in car seat and did everything but drive. Just be aware and pace yourself rest as much as you can. Don't overstretch yourself and know your own limitations.
My second planned was a breeze back to doing everything after a few days. Again be aware and have someone who can help if you need it and someone on call just in case any thing happens.
All the best.

Like other posters above if there is really no one he can stay with you try and stay in hospital as long as you can just because of risk of post surgery complications alone.

First thing I did when I got home after my C-section was put on a load of washing I recovered from that better than I did The forceps and episiotomy I had with DS one.

I was lucky after my section and could have managed alone, but I know a few who were fit and healthy whose recovery was very different and couldn't manage on their own. Even if your somewhere in between, I would try and have someone on standby. You just dont know how your body will react as you have your hormones bouncing and a baby to take care of so its not just the section to cope with, what if your baby is hard work too?

To echo others everyone’s recovery is different plus it really depends on your hospitals policy.
I found the first few days much more painful than expected but I was packed off the next morning with Paracetamol. Someone who stays in for longer or has stronger pain relief won’t find it anywhere near as hard. I was up showering & could walk but it was more of a hunched shuffle. Stairs shouldn’t be a problem but getting up, bending over can be a problem. I also really avoided lifting even when I felt strong enough. Can you see how long you can stay in hospital or pay for some help?

I would do everything you can to have a vaginal delivery.

Failing that - stay in hospital as long as possible. They should keep you in for a few n

I’d say it’s doable, but the first week or two will probably be quite hard. The worst bit is getting up from lying/sitting down, I found that very painful. Make sure you keep yourself topped up with painkillers for the first week or so.

I’d second the advice to stay in hospital for as long as you can, and when you have visitors get them to do everything so you can have a rest. Good luck!

Tell the hospital you will be totally on your own when you get home. If they try and discharge you before you could cope at home, remind them of this. They do have to keep you in until you can manage, but you will have to really emphasise that you have no one to help.

My first I would have really struggled. Mainly with picking baby up out of Moses basket.

Second I was doing everything by myself straight away, felt fantastic!

Coincidentally my scare from my first was horrendous and the surgeon cut loads of it out when she closed me up after my second and now it’s beautiful.

Can you take co codamol? Ibuprofen? Take that with ibuprofen (or similar) together for the pain. See if you can get some 30/500 co codamol prescribed. Ask your gp/ the hospital before the c section as you won’t feel like fighting for it after. Nb codeine causes consipation. I was told by the nurse in hospital the combi is as strong as morphine. Not sure about that myself having had a lot of different meds but they work pretty well.

I didn’t have a c section but a hysterectomy and it was a lateral scar, which went well above my belly button, which is more painful, longer recovery etc etc. With decent pain relief you should be fine. The people talking about getting on and off the loo will have not had effective pain relief. Having had ops with no pain relief offered at discharge, I realise how getting some is the absolute key.

If you are concerned about feeding, I breastfed dd whilst taking these meds and cocodamol whilst pregnant. You can look up info online about the amount of medication (not much) transferred into milk.

I was kept in for 5 days after my emcs section, then dh had a week off work to support me, after that I was ok at home alone , just took things slowly but I still wouldn't have been able to do a shop and carry it home etc.in week 3, I couldn't drive until week 5.

Make sure your regular HV and midwife, and the staff at the maternity unit know your circumstances so they can make sure you are safe.

Try to make life as easy as possible those first couple of weeks got are home. start stocking up with essentials, frozen homemade food that can be easily reheated. check out supermarket home deliveries, especially for nappies etc. If you are going to ff a supply of ready made cartons and disposable sterile bottles might be good to have available for the first week or so just in case (or if bf doesn't go to plan). Buy a few extra cheap multipack vests/baby grows.

What are you sleeping on downstairs? You need to have something comfortable and supportive so you can roll out of bed without using your stomach muscles much.

I would have struggled to look after my older child as well as the baby on my own after section but just the baby would be doable if everything is straightforward.

I found the recovery from my section not too bad. Mine was 'semi-elective' as it followed 5 days of failed induction. That was the worse bit as I got hardly any sleep in the hospital and then had a newborn to look after, so if you can rest as much as possible before hand that could help. I left the hospital the next day, no problems with stairs. I found the worse bit was going from laying down to standing, so had to roll out of bed. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol religiously, it helps a lot if you keep it topped up so stock up on those. I went for a slow, short walk the day after we got back, within 10 days I could walk about a mile with the pram. I didn't have any problems filling the kettle, I was also doing the washing once DH went back to work after his 2 weeks paternity. It's a myth that you can't drive for 6 weeks, you can drive as soon as you can do so without being in pain.

Thankyou so so much for all the advise ! A lot to consider

My dad will be picking us up from the hospital - he lives close.
He works but I know if I need anything he will be able to pop by after work with it.

I am under the enhanced midwife team and I absolutely love my midwife. She knows I live alone etc. She hasn’t mentioned a prolonged stay due to recovery but I presume she will cross that bridge when I get there!

I really really hope I can report back with a positive recovery story in a couple of days !

And you can't lift a kettle full of water. But you can just put enough in for 1 drink and lift that.

Everyone's different I know but from my experience I was up and walking round the ward pushing baby about 6 hours post section, was home about 18 hours after having him and pottering about up and down stairs just took it easy, went out 3 days after to the supermarket and for a coffee in town and then drove after 10 days from memory. Was much better than I expected