How long does it take to recover from a C-section? Also...

[katykuns]

How much pain were you in afterwards?

Could you do all the everyday things you need to do or did you have to rely on family support etc?

I never even considered C-sections as a possibility with my first, and knew very little (ignorance is bliss?) but I have a high BMI this time round, with health professionals warning me... or scaring me, whichever you prefer!
So am wanting to prepare myself with realistic views of C-sections, if anything the prospect of dealing with a newborn and 5 year old after having major surgery is quite possibly what frightens me the most!

I had an ECS just over 2 weeks ago, The experience itself wasn't brilliant but the it was the best option for me due to health reasons.
I spent 3 days in hospital, 1 for the actual birth and 2 recovering. From what I can gather they like to get you up and about as soon as possible and provide you with enough pain killers to do so.
I was on paracetamol and anti inflamitries (I can't remember the name of them) and given 2 weeks supply to take home with the promise if I needed more my doctor would give me them.
The first few days at home were the hardest, and I was glad my husband was around to help out.
The worst thing for me has been coughing or sneezing and uncontrollable laughing.
As I said, my c section was 2 weeks ago, I'm not taking pain killers any more but if I push myself too hard I find My back aches and I am prone to stomach cramps but other than that I'm fine.
The bumf the hospital sent me home with says not to drive for 4-6 weeks.
My husband went back to work today and I have managed well with the school run for my 8 year old along with my newborn.
Hope everything goes well for you x

I had a very quick recovery. After the three days in hospital, I want home and changed the sheets (it was a sunny day, not an opportunity to be missed!) so it would be fair to say that I was pretty mobile!
I am not a driver so could not comment on the driving but I certainly was comfortable enough to do basic household tasks but then again my house is quite small.
Can you have your 5 year old at nursery for a short while after the birth? Because recovery time vary a great deal from people to people.
The pain disappeared very quickly and actually stopped taking codeine before I left the hospital. I might have had a few painkillers once I was back home but I seriously can't remember.

I think it varies for everyone - I was kept in hospital for a week after an EMCS due to complications (with the baby not me ), I felt 'munb' for a couple of days in hospital but when I got home I was fine, desperate to move around and do anything rather than just lie in bed ! I had no pain and have no scar - I could have driven but hearing all the rumours about 'not allowed to drive for 6 weeks' I didn't, until I rang my insurers who advised me it was an urban myth and there was no problem if I wanted to drive.

numb obviously (should have previewed)

I had an emergency c section. I was in hospital for 36 hours... I recovered at home in less than a week. Stairs were difficult for 2-3 weeks though.

I didn't need painkillers at all and was back to normal v quickly. My 2nd emcs scar did reopen a bit (my fault) so needed a bit of extra care but it didn't hurt.

I had an emcs recovery, a 4yo and a newborn and found it almost easy. BUT it's very individual. Listen to your body, get up as soon as possible afterwards, take the painkillers regularly if you need them and expect it to be as varied as any part of labour/delivery.

I was fine after the first, I dont remember having any problems at all.

My second wasn't so great. The next day in hospital I was up and around. Three days later I was around town carrying dd in her car seat. I felt absolutely great. Afterwards though I was in a lot of pain and the visiting midwife told me off, she said I shouldn't really have even walked to the end of the street. Oops!

So i'd say, no matter how great you feel you still need to rest.

I had a very quick recovery from an ELCS but each person is different and the best thing is to listen to your body. I was up the next day, out of hospital after 4 nights, walking about as normal a week after the op, driving was not a problem and I was riding at 7 weeks.

I had an elective with my firstborn. Was in hosp for 3 days (their policy - i was desperate to go home after one and a half). Had my section in the evening - the nurses on the ward took care of bubba through the night - ie they lifted him and out of his cot and changed his nappy, but he stayed with me, either in his cot or cuddling on my bed but i was able to take full care of him the next day as was encouraged to get up asap, shower myself, go to the toilet and to move about albeit really slowly and steadily. Felt absolutely no pain. Took morphine straight after the op, for about 8 hours - then just paracetamol. I think the community midwife took my stitches out about 3 days after getting home. As long as you lift nothing heavier than your baby for the first week or so you won't do yourself much damage. i felt confident enough to drive about a week and half later. wore a sanitary pad over my scar for about 3 weeks as it felt a bit like a comfort blanket which sounds silly but i am sure it made me feel protected and helped me psychologically!!!!

I had an EMCS and a horrible experience. I was in hospital for 3 days and by day 3, I was still barely able to walk. I couldn't walk up stairs of carry DS for a long period of time for about a week without any assistance. I didn't take any painkillers but I wasn't offered any.

I think it's different for everyone though, I think the shock of the birth didn't help me much.

I had an elective c section in Aug 2019. I had polyhydramnios, baby was transverse and prolapse cord. I got to know all of this around 38th week and was booked for c section. I did prepare my hospital bag for both the situations. I have my surgery in the morning i felt sick while my surgery was going on so was given anti sickness. Required more two doses of anit sickness after being transferred to recovery ward while other lady who had surgery was eating biscuits and tea while i was vomiting with hands on my stiches. I lost alot of blood in surgery but not enough for transfusion but i felt so weak once epidural fade off. I had lots of painkillers from morphine for night to pracetamols and burophene all day. I never had so many painkillers in my life hence my body start giving up because of so many pain killers i had constipation, felt sick couldnt eat anything for a week even vomitted some of painkillers It was horrible in every sense. I stayed for 3 days in hospital my dressing was removed and i had shower but could barely walk coz of pain and heaviness. First 2 days i did not lie on my back i kept sitting on my bed with back support i was so terrified of my stiches being pulled apart.I couldnt go upstairs by myself in my home had so much weakness that my shoulders and chest hurt and i could not walk myself upstairs even by holding with my arms so husband helped me. It took me weeks to even walk properly i just laid on bed most of the time with many other problems due to immobility. Then after 5 weeks i went to my gp only to be told that my stiches are infected and i shud have cleaned them with saline waterwhich i was not told and was asked initally to just clean with warm water which i did and ended up having an infection. so was prescribed with high dose of penicillin tabs 2000 mv a day for 2 weeks. It just disturbed bacterial balance of my gut and skin hence more problems. I took probiotic to keep constipation at bay and kept going with tablets. Finally my stiches dissloved by themselves around 7 weeks and because of my extra big tummy while preggo i still after 5 months have quite a big one with lots of strectch marks. Also have a pocket of skin hanginb just above my scar. Inside bit still feels numb around the scar and a bit heavy as well. Have gained a lot of weight so knees and ankles are not in their best of state. Mentally i have had number of break downs at different occassions. And its still not easy and this is my first child my lovely daughter but it was traumatic for me in every sense and dnt want to be in this ever again at least for now. Hopefully it goes better for you.

2 x emergency sections. With my 2nd, I was capable of looking after dc2 as soon as the spinal wore off. We stayed one night in hospital, didn't have any pain killers post theatre and went out for lunch when she was 2 days old. By week 2 I was back doing the 3 mile round trip pushing the pram to take dc1 to preschool. There is a 3 year age gap between them.

I think recoveries are on a massive spectrum but I had failed forceps before my first emcs and the bruising (no cuts or tears) hurt more than the section wound.