What's your list of DOs and DON'Ts for a successful c-section recovery?

[MadreInglese]

I'm having to have an ELCS for DC2 as it's footling breech and as I'm generally quite a control freak an organised person I'm trying to find out what's best to do and not do afterwards for a successful (not necessarily speedy) recovery. I'm very lucky that I'll have DP and DD(13) around for the first couple of weeks to lend a hand, and I'm usually a quick healer but have never had major surgery like this so am papping myself a little nervous about the aftermath.

I've been told various things from various people - not to move for 48 hours , not to lift anything, to wear support pants asap, to take full dose of painkillers, not to take full dose of painkillers, etc.

Would be interested to hear your tips/experiences.

Don't push a pram - I thought I was fine to do it at 4 weeks and in agony the next day.

Had elcs last Monday. Feel great now. First 3 days are painful, but for first 2 days you are in hospital with midwives on hand, who will put support tights etc on you and dose you up with painkillers. The first few hours after op are ok cos they give you a massive painkiller rectally (yes sounds awful but you don't notice with spinal) which really works.

Do: remember the midwives are there to help you with everything so don't be afraid to press the buzzer for minor things.
Do: remember to take enormous black cotton pants from M&S, 4 sizes bigger than you'd usually wear. you won't want anything rubbing against your scar.
Do: take lots of fibre snacks etc fruit and nut cereal bars and fruit etc, drink lots. I never had any problems with first poo.
Do: have lots of hot baths when you get home

Don't be nervous - it's fine ... really!

Nurse who worked on surgery.
Just wanted to add one or two things.
Many people talking about constipation and taking regular pain relief. It is true that you should take the pain relief regularly to avoid getting pain. If you are constipated the pain meds often contain codeine which can make you even more constipated. Just take regular paracetamol. It is very effective when taken regularly.Also plain paracetemol if making you sick.
I would not recommend using a hair dryer to aid a wound to dry. They harbour lots of dust and lord knows what inside. This is then blown on to the wound. Probably harmless,but would not recommend it.Our hospital stopped the use of fans-which were lovely in Summer-for this very reason.
Showers are usually preferred,rinse the wound,don't rub/wash it with soap. A bath is thought by some to be less hygienic as you are sitting in your own dirt...but we always let people have a bath if they wished,and they loved it/were fine/healed well.
Personally I would bath at home and shower in hospital.

Thankyou for all of these, a lot to think about but all makes sense

I'm not a very good patient so it'll kill me to be incapable and get looked after but I'm just going to have to swallow it and make the most of it!

-For 2 weeks take it really, really easy. Even if you feel ok, still go slowly. Pottering about the house will be great for healing, but don't try anything more strenuous than that.
-Take naps whenever you have other adults around that can take care of the baby.
-Let your scar air for at least 20 mins a day (while you are napping preferably!)
-Take your painkillers.
-Eat good, nourishing food to help you heal.

I'm now 8 weeks post section and I feel great. I can run up hills pushing the pram, hoover the whole house, throw my toddler about.
After DS1 I could barely walk at this stage because I was not very religious about doing the above list!

Is the giving of painkillers rectally standard practice after a cs?

Congrats on your pregnancy :o
When are you due?

I've had two high forceps deliveries and one ec: the ec was the easiest to recover from! - but I was religious about following hospital and doctors' advice, as follows:

• take max dose of paracetemol for first 4 days
• get up and move, very gently, within 24 hours of your operation
• no lifting anything heavy for 6 weeks
• no overdoing ANY exercise, even basics like big supermarket shop or hoovering. for 6 weeks
• keep scar clean; pat not rub it dry; get straight to doctor if anything odd happens
• big pants!
• accept all help offered; try to accept that others can look after you while you look after the baby and recover
• remember fabulous dark green cabbage leaves for blessed relief of pain when your milk comes in!
• eat fibre rich food - I took cereal bars and fruit cake into hospital to eat at night
• feed the baby lying down on your side - you may need a proper breastfeeding pillow to support the baby - you also need to be fully awake so baby is completely safe, I think. especially on those narrow hopsital beds - don't want your baby falling off the bed! - how embarrassing would that be!

Also want to add that my hospital didn't really have anywhere near enough staff, especially at night, but also in the day; so call nurses before you, say, try to get out of bed or you can end up a bit stranded in the first couple of days when you're all sore, can't get up without a bit of help, but are left stranded on edge of bed/in a chair til a nurse can help you.

I was incredibly lucky to be able to arrange to have either my mum or dh with me during ALL the visiting hours in the first 4 days, and they were a fantastic help - passing the baby to me, taking him off me, feeding me snacks and drinks, keeping my spirits up, helping me to bathroom and shower: completely invaluable help. But I asked other people to avoid coming to the hospital, to wait til I got home to see the baby.

BTW, a friend who had a cs day before me insisted on going full throttle 4 days after having her baby, but ended up back in hospital for weeks and weeks when her child was about 3 weeks old because she's overdone things, had lots of problems: it's major surgery, you'll need to allow plenty of time for your body to heal.

Like AliBaba, I was fully recovered by 6 weeks, no problems at all :o

Oompa - yes.

I used to bath with drops of hypercal, lavender and handfuls of sea salt. I bathed every day and my scar never gor infected. I was also completely recovered by 6 weeks - but I did push a pram into town at 3 weeks, (walking very gingerly), so I think the main advice is to listen to your body and if it hurts, don't do it!

I had an emergency c-section last Monday.

I agree about not being afraid to ask for help in hospital - and you may have to ask several times/insist. My second night in hospital was hellish because I was in pain and asked twice for more painkillers but the message was clearly not passed on by the support worker who answered the buzzer. They also didn't give me some medication because the midwife one day hadn't written it down properly. But when I asked about it, it was sorted out straight away. So make sure everything is explained. I don't want to scare you because most of the care I received was really good and the whole team who did the c-section were fantastic, which given I am usually terrified of medical procedures was very important.

Also - get BIG slippers, because you will have support stocking things on all the time and your normal slippers won't fit. Also get high waisted comfy trousers.

I would plan to shower - I could still not comfortably get in and out of the bath today. Shower in hospital definitely - if you wanted to bathe in hospital you had to wipe the bath first to disinfect it which seemed a big hassle and quite impossible when you can't bend over.

Thanks so much everyone, mumsnet is fab