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 )

Other top tip: dabbing the wound with salty water (add boiled water to salt, let it cool) with clean cotton wool a couple of times a day will help prevent infection.

I did a full Sainsbury’s shop after 4 days, was driving after 10 days. And that was an emergency section, totally depends on the person.

My second c-section I was home alone for 12 hours a day with a toddler as DP had to go back to work after the first 5 days
I was fine! Bollocks that you can't get to the toilet for a week. I had to lift the toddler around a bit (impossible not to to put them down for nap etc) and it possibly did impede my recovery slightly but I just got on with it - had no choice. Had a bit of pain in my scar area for a few weeks but nothing I couldn't cope with. And I am a wuss with pain!

I'm surprised how many people ignored the advice about how much to lift, driving etc. I followed all the guidance to the letter! It was different as I did have my dh to help. Without him it would have been ok - just ask others to help eg bringing shopping round, cleaning. I healed without complications but if you're used to driving, think about how you'll get around e.g. if you have to take baby somewhere. I had breastfeeding problems and had to take dd back into hospital a couple of times.

Best of luck and do update you. I'm sure you'll be fine but do ask for help!

I did the stairs from day 1. They don't make you leave in a wheelchair! I walked to the car etc. Didn't drive but slept upstairs and went for little walks. It was fine.

I didn't ignore the advice re driving, rang the insurance company and everything

This is the NHS advice Only start to do these things again when you feel able to do so and don't find them uncomfortable. This may not be for six weeks or so

In terms of recovery you need to play the long term game. Don't try to lift the car seat and twist to put it in someone's car for example. This is the sort of thing that you must have help with to try and allow your wound the speediest recovery possible.

^ this is important. It doesn't matter how much determination you have to power through or how high your pain threshold is, that is all irrelevant. You will have had major adnominal surgery and need to follow the guidelines for 5-6 weeks iirc around lifting/twisting/wound care/driving etc or you risk hurting your wound (internal or external stitches can and do burst if put under pressure) and ending up in a worse situation.

I had to stay in hospital for 4or 5 days as another child was ill but once I was home I was fine. Quite honestly I was as well as after 2 normal vaginal deliveries.obviously one can't lift much and bending isn't easy but I could have managed as long as shopping done. Guests will have to fill and empty washing machine and do any changing of beds/ vacuuming but you will be able to sweep/ wash up at sink/ wash baby in the sink/ change baby / pop baby out for a walk if you are not traipsing a pram up and down stairs.its not for long. Obviously I was lucky but you are having a planned section so have a better chance of straightforward recovery than if you have an emlscs.
At the end of the day you will need a back up plan because there are no guarantees and I am just talking about physical issues. It is scary looking after a newborn and there are hormones!!

First one I was so weak I couldn't tilt the water jug to re-fill my glass of water, let alone do anything with a baby. Second one I had more strength but a LOT of pain. I was in hospital at least 5 days with both - nowadays I think they throw you out earlier. Climbing the stairs and having a short walk with the pram aren't the major issues - the major issues are whether you can hold the baby for a feed or change him or settle him to sleep.

Xmas it might vary from trust to trust but I was told every time to take it easy but resume normal activity when I felt well enough. I drove 3 days post section one of the times, which was less strenuous for me than going up the stairs and my insurance company told me that there is no 6 week limit on driving post section as is often quoted. The only time you are not covered is if you have had in writing that it is not safe to drive (with your name on it, rather than a generic leaflet).

You could Be ok, albeit being v careful. Depends on your body and how it goes for you. I was in the hospital for 2 days after my section, which I found v helpful, and walking around in hospital the morning after, walked home from hospital. I actually had a blast and loved my section, I did have help. Being organised will make a huge difference, as will really doing the absolute minimum. Good luck, wishing you all the very best xx

I’ve had two ELCS and the recovery for both was insanely different. I’d say it’s luck of the draw.

First one I lost 1.5 litres of blood and didnt have a transfusion. Stayed in hospital 29 hours. Was terribly unwell afterwards and struggled enormously - was in lots of pain (despite taking painkillers), couldn’t lift baby, struggled walking around/up stairs, needed help getting up and down into bed/chairs - for four weeks. Didn’t feel properly well for about 12 weeks. Wound recovered badly as a result, confidence suffered also. Could not have done it on my own.

Second section was so so much better. Stayed in hospital for three days/nights. Was able to go to the loo, shower, walk upstairs, etc, relatively easily (although sore and doing it slowly).

I’d recommend having somewhere to lay baby down that is of a decent height (like a Moses basket), so you don’t have to bend over with the baby. Get freezer full of nutritious food. Have a changing station upstairs and downstairs to save walking stairs unnecessarily. Each morning fill up a jug of drinking water to save you getting up and down (you’ll be thirsty afterwards, especially if breastfeeding). Buy a wedge shaped cushion (from amazon) for your bed - it is terribly hard to sit up on your own from laying flat. Ask for help if and when you need it - it’s important that you recover well.

Good luck and enjoy getting to known your new baby!

I think I was over cautious tbh and my dm encouraged this as she used to be a nurse and midwife. My dh was cautious too. It was easy to avoid driving so it didn't occur to me to try sooner than 6 weeks, although I'm aware you can. My recovery was actually far worse with dd1 who was a vaginal birth - the forceps put my hips out and I needed physio to walk properly again.

Make sure you have a small bag or something that you can put your phone in, go no where without your phone that way if you have a fall you can get help immediately.

It depends how your body responds and on the surgeon who does the procedure. I was in hospital for 4 nights after DD was born but that was because she was in intensive care.

I remember the day after being in pain so make sure you have some painkillers handy. DP was around to cook meals for the first couple of weeks so if you won't have anyone to help with food make sure your freezer is packed too.

I was able to go out walking a few days after the birth and I don't remember problems with the stairs. I would advise a supply of big knickers and loose waistbands for comfort.

I'd take everything you thing you will need downstairs.

All the best.

Everyone’s different but as long as I was careful and didn’t twist too much etc I was fine. I stayed in one night and then on the way home was walking around mothercare looking for a breast pump. The hardest thing was getting up in the night and having to shuffle down the bed and around the attached snuz pod to get baby out.

I will answer properly when have two hands. But in short I was fked for weeks, as we’re the two other people who had sections from my NCT group. You will need someone with you for at least 4/5 days post birth. AT LEAST!

Actually how are you going to get home from hospital?!?

I had an elective c section and dh went to work for the first few days I was home, he'd booked his paternity leave for when we throught I would be discharged but I was out very quickly. I could manage the stairs carrying just dd, slowly but we were both safe. A place to put baby down safely upstairs and downstairs is useful. We moved the moses basket with dd but had the travel cot set up down stairs for ds.

I was comfortable out for a very short stroll with thw pram on day 4 and wearing in a sling day 5. I wouldn't have been able to fold the pram so hopefully you can leave it open.

The things that I struggled with was bending to do in /out the oven and washing machien. So if you can heat things in the microwave for the first few days and ask people to load thw washing machien for you or taking washing away. I couldn't comfortably manage to carry the car seat with dd in it for quite a while either.

Has any one surgested taking arnica to help reduce brusing? Also pepermint tea or oil to help with trapped wind post section.

Could your dad request some annual leave?

Cosy up in the bed with your newborn, try and breast feed your baby so you don’t have to get up to prep bottles & work out a system for visitors to let themselves in so you don’t have to keep going down the stairs. Good Luck, follow your instincts.

In my experience recovery from sections was very dependent upon my level of fitness during pregnancy. First pregnancy I rested a lot due to bleeding problems and found recovery very tough. With the second two, I was so active running around after toddlers that recovery seemed much easier. I got up and walked to the toilet around 7-8 hours after the third section but needed helping off the bed. Showering etc from the next day.

I haven't read the whole thread but ideally if you can afford it, hire some sort of mother's help or newborn nanny for the first two weeks.

Top tip absolutely do not rub or dab anything into your scar!!!
I've seen many people use a hair dryer on their scar, bio oil, all sorts and then wonder why they get infections
You will more than likely have a rubber dressing on for a week anyway, once this is off showering as normal and then air drying is honestly the best thing for your scar.

@redross the midwives told me to dab salt water on my wound. I guess maybe ask them about it, possibly better to leave it until a certain point of healing. I agree it's not wise to whack any old thing onto it.

Given how many women have crap husbands and kids when they have them
...

But try and get visitors and helpers lined up please ? Just in case

And get painkillers (paracetamol /ibuprofen) and be prepared to hunker down for a few days

Have ample supplies of nappies and food for you

Good luck