Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How long after ELCS did you use a sling?

28 replies

snowydrops · 24/02/2015 21:24

I'm booked for an ELCS in three weeks time. I've arranged help for the first two weeks and then most of the third week but am trying to work out when it's likely I'll be able to do the school run (via the bus!) with DD2.

Im assuming I won't be able to drive but hoping will be up to getting a bus with baby after 3 wks with baby in sling? Or I can take the buggy but was worried about getting it up the steps at home (2 steps into front door). Anyone any advice on what to expect? The other option is a taxi there to collect but that will involve carrying the car seat which I am assuming would be worse for the c-sec recover!

OP posts:

FruitBadger · 24/02/2015 21:38

I had a section at the beginning of December so my memory's fair recent!

I used a Baby Bjorn at about 3 weeks and it wasn't great, not agony but I could feel that I really needed to use abdominal muscles that weren't there. I bought a stretchy wrap at 5 weeks and that distributed DS's weight much better, so you might want to plan a trip to a sling library to see what you find easiest.

I found bumping the pram up / down steps fine but our back doorstep is too high to do that, it needs lifting in and out - that was too much until about 6 weeks and it only became easy a few weeks after that.

The only other thing to bear in mind is how far / fast you'll be able to walk. I found I just got very tired quite quickly and struggled if I had to hurry. Pace yourself and listen to your body, DS is 12 weeks today and I can still feel I'm not as strong as I was (I'm planning a 6 mile walk on the South Downs with friends on Thursday and will have 13lb DS in the wrap for that, so it's not that bad!)

FruitBadger · 24/02/2015 21:41

Forgot to say, I did find carrying the car seat hard work. For a couple of weeks I went out with the sling & pram so I could switch round and give myself a break.

Annbag · 24/02/2015 21:43

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Original poster

snowydrops · 24/02/2015 21:46

Yes I have a stretchy one and a baby bjorn so at least will have options. I think that's a good point about the pram, potentially I can leave it outside the back door if we have good weather....but who can guarantee that in April! Would save a lot of hassle though.

OP posts:

Annbag · 24/02/2015 21:50

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Northernexile · 24/02/2015 21:53

Stretchy wrap after three weeks for me, it was ok, but I recovered more quickly this time around than after my first CS.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 24/02/2015 21:54

I used a stretchy wrap from about 3/4 weeks. The pram was good to lean on but difficult on stairs so sling was great.
Drove to a shopping centre by myself as was feeling pretty good and used sling and pram when ds was about 6 weeks, then had to drop my car off at the garage then walk about a mile home.
Was in absolute agony for days after, so don't think you are fine then rush out to do stuff.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 24/02/2015 21:56

Pico2 · 24/02/2015 22:26

Why do you think you won't be able to drive? I've been driving since 3 weeks (as advised by my consultant) and used a baby bjorn since about the same time, but found 10 mins with the baby bjorn more than enough.

Pico2 · 24/02/2015 22:28

I'm definitely not going to carry a car seat with DD in it - too heavy and awkward.

Showy · 24/02/2015 22:29

DD started school when her baby brother was 4 days old. So from then. Stretchy wrap and he lived in it for 2 years.

Original poster

snowydrops · 24/02/2015 22:47

Hoping I will be driving...but just gearing up for possibly not being able to! Driving is probably less of an issue than putting DD1 into car seat (car is quite high up as 4x4 type thing)! I am just trying to think out my options should I not be able to for the 4-6 wks the consultant mentioned.

OP posts:

paddyclampo · 24/02/2015 22:50

I was driving within 2 weeks. I think it's urban myth about not being able to drive.

Pico2 · 24/02/2015 22:56

I think that if you aren't up to driving, you won't be up to lugging a baby about in a sling.

Original poster

snowydrops · 25/02/2015 07:38

Yeah I thought that. I probably need a back up plan that involves someone else doing the drop off / pick up until one month and then re-assess in the hope I can do it myself by then!

OP posts:

Annbag · 25/02/2015 09:23

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Booboostoo · 25/02/2015 10:26

I used a stretchy rap from 5 days onwards but no more than a couple of hours at first.

NanoNinja · 26/02/2015 18:35

I had an ELCS two and a half weeks ago and started using a moby wrap at two weeks, albeit for short trips. I was also pushing ds1 (2.4) in a buggy from 2 weeks without any real discomfort. But I wouldn't try steps yet!

Original poster

snowydrops · 26/02/2015 19:13

This generally all sounds quite promising!

Off the original subject but any idea how long it was before you could bend down to eg pick up something off the floor / put washing in the machine? I'm just trying to work out how much back up help I need and for approximately how long. I know every case is different but it's good to have an idea....

OP posts:

paddyclampo · 26/02/2015 20:23

I was picking laundry up off the floor as soon as I got home. I could have pushed the Hoover round etc but don't think I did that till about 2 weeks later.

Thing is, everyone is different. My first delivery with DS was forceps after quite a long labour. It took me much longer to get over that than it did my C-section so maybe it's all relative!

Original poster

snowydrops · 26/02/2015 20:58

Blimey, even if I can pick up the laundry on day 5 I will be letting DH do it for at least two weeks that's for sure! Yes my recovery after a third degree year was awful last time...home after 4 days, could barely walk up the stairs, going to the loo was bloody awful, couldn't sit down without an Ice pack, no jeans for a month so perhaps this time I will find a CS easier... Who knows!

OP posts:

FruitBadger · 26/02/2015 21:11

Doing the washing by day 5 was fine, the things I found difficult were the same things I struggled with in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy - normally I did all the washing on one day of the week so I'd carry the linen basket downstairs from the bathroom to the kitchen, instead of that I was sorting the load upstairs then carrying it downstairs in the plastic tub.

I found I was most limited because my energy levels were low. A little bit like I'd had flu, most stuff I could do if I tweaked / adjusted how I did it, I just had to pace myself as I felt completely wiped out afterwards. I'd say that feeling stayed for the first 10 - 14 days.

Chunderella · 26/02/2015 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

paddyclampo · 26/02/2015 23:37

I think people tend to recover from an elective section much more quickly. I honestly felt great! Anything felt better than being heavily pregnant :)

I think as well, when it's your second the recovery is easier in that you know what you're doing with the baby!

Pico2 · 27/02/2015 00:07

I felt more mobile within a week of my ELCS than when I was pregnant. I didn't do the washing as DH was home for 3 weeks, but by the time he went back to work I felt fine, though I took things relatively easily.

My ELCS was a breeze compared to my VB. That took months to recover from.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread