Getting life back after c section

[sweet]

Hi everyone, I had my 2nd baby by emergancy c section last week when I'd had a perfect first birth for my DS, needless to say a bit of a shock, What I would like to know is when did those of you that have gone through the same start driving, lifting toddlers ( mines 2yrs) and generally living life again.

Mine was an elective so not traumatic and I didn't have to go through labour, so I was probably much less tired etc that you are, but I went back to normal very, very quickly. I had four nights in hospital, and was still a bit bent double leaving hospital, but within two weeks was doing pretty much everything. I drove right away - certainly no later than a week after coming home - there was nothing in my insurance documentation to say I couldn't. I didn't have a toddler but carried the baby everywhere. I walked a bit slowly at first, but certainly no slower than my friends with stitches I think I may have been lucky, but I felt fine quickly. I wish you the same luck!

Hi sweet, congratulations on your baby's arrival.

I also had an emergency c/s but absolutely no problem afterwards (but like Aloha I didn't have a toddler) - I was doing housework, driving, etc without any problem (although I faked some discomofort to get a bit to get more sympathy!) - hope that doesn't sound flippant but to be honest I had absolutely no 'after effects' at all following the c/section.

How are you feeling now?

Same as aloha. Two sections, one elective and one emergency. Back to the gym after a couple of weeks and back on a horse in four. Lifted toddler v quickly and drove after a week.

I had emergency section after a very traumatic labour and waited the 6 weeks they recommend before I started driving again (by which time I was going mad!) - I think 6 weeks is what they say for lifting again but as I had no other kids I'm not sure. It took me months to get back to normal and start going out but looking back now I think that was more due to the massess of milk I had - I had to change my top every hour, and that's with using pads & lying on towels!

Not much use sorry!

I've had an emergency and an elective. In both cases I woke up one day after about 4 weeks and felt totally normal (ie no funny twinges etc). In both cases I was driving at 4 weeks. I was careful about lifting my toddler though - I held off lifting him from standing until 5 or 6 weeks. I also waited until my 8 week check before going back to the gym, but that more reflects my need for an excuse . I'm now 12weeks on from #2, and other than the scar, wouldn't know I've had a c/s - back to everything I ever did, but still heavier .

Hi Sweet
Glad to hear that so many people have had so few problems. Don't want to put a dampener of things, but I would like to say just listen to your own body and don't overdo it by trying to do too much too soon, because you may do more lasting damage if you strain the scar too much.
I've had 2 c-sections - 1st emergency, and the 2nd after a failiure to progress/ trial by scar.
First time I got a bad infection and although I was up and about and driving at the 6 week point I was pretty sore and my scar was numb for quite some time afterwards (3-4 months at least).
2nd time I was up and about much quicker, felt great, lifting 2.5 year old after a couple of weeks and driving at 4, but my scar healed rather lumpy, and 6-7 months later was quite raised, red and itchy. I actually used scar reduction patches on it for 2 months and it made a HUGE difference (I was very sceptical at first...). Now, 1 year on, I am rarely aware of it.
So, don't rush into things too much and remember that all the layers inside are healing too.
As Lindy says, use it as a (legitimate) excuse to put your feet up a bit for the first few weeks...

Congratulations by the way!

Thanks everyone for you advice and tips, I'm feeling fine in myself a few twinges and still taking the painkillers, I think I'll assess the driving and lifting after 3 weeks and take my mum up on her offer to come and stay next week.

Hi Sweet and Congratulations on the birth of your babe.

I had an emgergency c section about 10 weeks ago after the shock of having Little H (my daughter) 10 weeks prem and that she was in the Neo natal unit for 8 weeks I still haven't fully recovered.

Can anyone give me any tips, advice?

I had a cs with my second too, i was told not to lift for four months which was impossible because i had an 18 month old. It was totally impractical to keep getting help so i just got on with it. I dont know what the solution is but i do know that im fine! It is a shock and a bit strange, i didnt feel as close to him at first, and felt that i hadnt done my job properly as a mother. But thats all gone now too. Also i took painkillers for quite i while i just couldnt cope with the pain, but they work really well dont you find? The only stupid thing i did was not take them on new years eve because i wanted a drink (baba was 4 days old) i jumped up at midnight and burst into tears with the pain. I had them every four hours from that moment! You forget all of this though now, baby is two and i feel fine you can barely see the scar as well. Good Luck and before you know it youll feel great!

I has an emergency C-section last year with my first baby. Although I felt great and recovered really well, leaving hospital on the third day, I did follow all of the advice given about waiting 6 weeks to drive (to do with being able to do emergency stop properly and safely, not about how you feel in yourself), not doing lifting, etc. till after 6 week check, etc. I was told that I shouldn't lift anything heavier than my baby as a guide. Must be hard with a toddler I admit though.

I would say just to be careful. Fantastic if you feel good (like I did) and I know it can be frustating holding back, but don't take risks with your body. The consequences wouldn't be worth it. Better to be over cautious in my opinion.

Take the time to enjoy others waiting on you for a bit, and accept people's help where you can. Take care of yourself.

Hi alicats
Congrats on the birth of Little H! I too had a prem baby (just under 34 weeks, now 10 mths) and we spent 4 weeks on the Neonatal Unit. At the time I didn;t know what had hit me and coped as you do, but she didn't feel like mine until I brought her home. I had planned a nice relaxing waterbirth but ended up with a c-section after pre-eclampsia and was ill afterwards too with a lot of bruising and was afraid to sneeze, cough or generally do anything that required muscles lower than my midriff. I have to say that it took me some time to recover afterwards and I still don;t have full sensation around the scar site althoughj no pain or itching. It took a while to get it into my head that I should slow down and not rush around (although its hard when you have to keep going back and forth to NICU!) even if I thought I felt fine.
To get back to a reasonable level of fitness I did a lot of pram walks etc but really did overdo it a bit although DD loved the fresh air. If I was having my time over again I would def. echo other comments here about realxing as much as poss and letting other people do other things.

There's an NCT chatroom dedicated to parents of prem babies (support group type thingy) it is really good and there;s lots of advice and support available. You can ask anything! (Bit like mumsnet but its run by and for preterm parents) Its at groups.yahoo.com/group/nct-preterm

Good luck with your littl'un, the first few weeks after coming home are always a bit daunting and you do doubt yourself a lot (well I did!) but let me know how you get on!