Can I manage on my own after a c-section?

[Emmiedarling]

I am sceduled to have a c-section at 38 weeks - I am going to be a single Mum with no family in the area.

I am starting to get a bit worried about the practicalities of having surgery then to be in sole charge of a newborn. I will need to carry car seat/bath/feed/clean house etc.

Anyone been in this situation?

I've had antibiotics and they've not worked. The nurse at my gps took a swab on monday, and according to the results, I've already had the correct ones. So I've to go back on Monday and the course needs to be repeated. The scar stinks!!

McPhee what have you had? You need a big dose of Metronidazole for 7-10 days.

Make sure you are taking iron and also consider grapefruit seed extract and/or a probiotic so that you reduce your chances of getting thrush.

I am 6 weeks post elective section and I was more or less fine after a week. I think you should be ok but top tips from me are to use online ordering for everything, make loads of meals and freeze them now, clean house before you have the baby so it won't need doing for a bit, organise everything at waist height so you don't need to bend (wipes,change mat etc).

I'd also make sure you have lots of pillows as personally I found sleeping lying down very difficult at first and if you prop yourself up you have less pulling to do to get up to the baby etc.

I was given 7 days worth of Flucloxacillin, which have done nothing. According to the swab results, I was given the correct antibs. I'm going back on monday because I'm not happy and it's been bleeding a little bit.

wigglewoo has reminded me, being well propped up is so helpful - John lewis do a really good v shaped cushion which was MARVELLOUS - propped me up for breastfeeding and sleeping.

wigglewoo has reminded me, being well propped up is so helpful - John lewis do a really good v shaped cushion which was MARVELLOUS - propped me up for breastfeeding and sleeping.

Fluclox is good for some things, but if your wound has that horrid smell then you need Metronidazole. Have they had the microbiologists at the hospital match it properly?
Even if you are BFing it is completely safe.

Keep going back until you get what you need, you need to be well and fit to care for you baby and they are letting you down.

I had to get my Dad (Dr) to write me a private prescription and my Mum (also Dr) came with me to my GP for a follow up course. It is not easy to shift.

I'm going to call up monday morning and get seen again. I was due to see the nurse anyway, just to check how it was doing. But it shouldn't be bleeding, even I know that. And its really holding up my recovery, and starting to get me down a bit. I keep thinking, if I can smell it, who else can . I'm cleaning and pat drying it loads, but that smell just doesn't seem to go.

Do you really have to have a c section? I have heard so much that natural births are better for a quicker and easier recovery.

Congratulations. I had my twin girls by CS and I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I recovered. DH only had a week off work and then I was on my own all day most days. I managed to carry two babies, two car seats etc and push double buggy.

I had expected to take much longer to get out and about. I found the emotional side harder than the physical, quite teary for the first few weeks.

Good luck.

Oh you've all been so helpful. Thank you so much. I will see who I can rope in for support. To be be honest though, I am pretty isolated. Hopefully I can make a few new friends through NCT!

Shimmy - I do not have a choice in the c-section. I have had cancer twice and a big fibroid. Not allowed to attempt natural birth.

Thanks again!

I've heard that sometimes local childcare courses have newly qualified childcare students looking to get experience - maybe for free or lower rate than usual? Could be useful for a couple of hours each day to help with bathing etc. Actually I don't think newborns need much bathing anyway, at least not for the first couple of weeks!

Don't lift anything except the baby, even if you think you can, for as long as possible.

I did myself in carrying the bin bags to the bin, and taking the wheelie bin to the road. It's that kind of stuff that it's useful to think through beforehand.

don't know if I have much to add to the great advice given above. I found the hardest bit was getting out of bed and sitting up to feed in the early days. Have your baby as near as possible, I tied a dressing gown cord to the foot of the bed so I could pull myself up. Also had a bag of supplies to hand by the sofa and bed - snacks, tissues, water, lansinoh nipple cream, phone, meds, paper n pen, etc. So I didn't have to get up more than needed. Do, do stay as long as you can. I REALLY Missed the electric bed and on-demand nurse, and catering when I got home. Good luck and enjoy the actual c-section. I had a lovely experience as it was v calm and the spinal block felt lush!