Hiya Billy it's one month to the date since I had my ELCS (I was actually in theatre at this time being sewn together!)
I would say that 5 weeks is a sensible time-frame to recruit help (assuming all goes well - which it should - and there are no infections). I've had someone with me all this time and Wednesday coming will be the first day I'll be on my own with my 3yo and newborn (one day off 5 weeks). I'm not planning on goin out anywhere as I will not lift anythig heavier than DD2 (so no pram, carseat, etc) but I think I'll be okay caring for them alone at home for a couple of days.
Silicone gels and pads: My OB said that these don't make any difference, but vitamin E might help improve skin elasticity. He said that its more massaging the scar area that stimulates nerve regeneration and helps to break down scar tissue.
I've read mixed reviews about the gels and pad on amazon. Some people swear by them; some think they're a waste of money. I suppose it's personal choice as they won't do you any harm once the incision becomes a scar.
I don't think I could stand to wear a belt yet as even the elastic banding on my maternity jeans make me feel weird (sensation-wise).
My wound has sealed, all but one scab has fallen off and I started to massage it twice daily last week with a Vitamin E cream called ReGen Cream. I also have Bio Oil which I'm using. The scar is nice and pink, but I do have a piece of puckered skin on the very far right of the scar that I'm going to try and flatten down with surgical tape. My mum is a nurse who has worked in cosmetic sugery: this is widely used on facelift/breast augmentations as a technique to flatten scars.
Pain relief: Take all you can, kid! That's my advice, anyway. If you're on pain meds, you'll move around in less time and will obviously be in less pain. I had lovely morphine for the first 24 hrs and although I didn't experience pain, i definitely knew something had happened. As in, I would have still known how much activity was too much, so I couldn't have overdone it. I think it would have been difficult without morphine for the first 48 hrs, TBH. I wasn't made sleepy with the morphine (if only! I barely slept!) but it did make DD2 sleepy and she would nod off at the breast. (Small amounts are passed through breastmilk).
I had less morphine on day 2, but was also given codeine and paracetamol, then just codeine and paracetamol from day 3 onwards. I took them as regular as clockwork for a couple of weeks, then just a few paracetamol and was cometely off then towards the end of week 3. I needed them to help care for baby and my elder daughter.
I hope that this info helps, please do ask if you'd like to know more! Xx