c-section - the aftermath

[boo64]

My friend has just had a c-secion yesterday and would love any advice on:

a. anything she can do to speed up her recovery or should avoid doing that might impede it (apart from the obvious like heavy lifting)

b. how long it might take til she feels a bit better. Obv everyone is different but she just wants to get a feel for what the next few weeks might be like. So how were you after about 4 days, after a week and after 2 weeks?

Any advice will be really appreciated!

Having not had a C-section but been the helper for 3 women that have. The best thing she can do is listen to her body. Everyone heals differently.

My 1st sil was up making dinner and taking care of her three kids 4 days after (it was her third C-section and she knew the drill). She was very grateful for anyone that brought meals over just to help her stay off her feet.

My 2nd sil still wasn't out of her pajamas after six weeks. But she was spoiled by the fact that her parents moved in and did everything for her. She didn't even try to do things for herself.

My sister was driving after 2 weeks with her first C-section, and back in her kickboxing class after 10 weeks. After her second C-section she back to normal after two weeks.

I don't know if this will help, you. The best you can do is show up and help.

First 48 hours felt generally pretty rubbish and sore.

Day 3 after a shower and hair wash was much better.

Went home on day 5, still quite sore but felt rapidly much better at home.

Within 3-4 weeks much better and more like myself apart from bfing, which I guess would be the same after a vaginal delivery.

Taking arnica is always recommended, and letting other people do bits for you. Help with the housework was very much appreciated.

HTH

I didn't feel human until 6 weeks after. Not sure if this was purely because of the section or just the shocker of motherhood and chronic sleep deprivation!! Although sitting having everyone else do stuff for you sounds very appealing, I think it is better if you try to get moving and do stuff yourself, starting with something simple like making a cup of tea.
I set myself a target of being showered/dressed by a particular time and made it earlier each week. I think that helped me to cope rather than being in my PJs all day with no structure to the day. Good luck and congratulations to your friend.

I would also recommend the arnica. If nothing else it makes you feel like you are doing something to help the healing process iyswim.
I also set myself targets each week - walking to the postbox or to the shop which also helped me from going stircrazy. At week 5 I managed to walk 4 miles to a mn meetup!
I felt that I would have been able to drive after about 4 weeks, but my insurance would not cover me unless I had a gp certificate (try getting an appointment - the earliest I could get was 2 days before the 6 weeks that my insurance stipulated so not worth bothering about!)

I had a secion 18 days ago,

days 1-4 could hardly move (inc turning in bed - silky pyjamas were good)

days 5-14 felt better able to move easier but still didn't feel myself

14 onwards - starting to feel more like my old self but very frustrated at not being able to drive etc.

it took ages for me to heal after a section

you're not lazy if you don't

don't do too much if at all possible cos you can just delay it

and yes to the arnica and to Very Big Pants for a while

Well, I had the C-section on Thursday morning, but Spinal took ages to wear off (it was evening) so, I was only able to get up the next day and had a shower then, was sore but not all that bad, and I didn't take any strong painkillers as I was bf, by Sunday, when I left the Hossie I was still sore but it was bearable, laughing hurt like hell though, lol...not that I did much of that at the time...on Monday I took ms to the Nursery and visited some friends and picked ds up and walked up a big hill (that we happened to live on at the time) and I must say, I was wiped after that....hadn't had much chance not to lift, as ms was only 21 month old, within a week I felt almost normal again and was off my painkillers and after 2 weeks when dh was back at work I was back to normal and did most things again....must say, physically I recovered much quicker from that C-section then I expected!
But MKG is right, if your friend can get some help at first to do the chores, it will help her, and give her plenty of cuddle time wiht her Newborn...can't have enough of that

Oh, Lavender also has healing properties, and I used some diluted lavenderoil in the bath!

Walking around a lot and having to go up and down stairs at home (albiet slowly) seemed to help me get back to normal really quickly.

I had a csection at 9pm and was up and walking (slowly, and leaning on someone) at 11am the next day. Was in hospital for 6 days, but I reckon that's because I had a bad haemorrhage afterwards and had been in labour for 23 hours before the cs, so was totally exhausted.

Once I got home, I gave myself a target of being up, showered and dressed by 10am and there was only one day when I didn't manage it. It felt better for me to get on and do stuff, although everyone copes differently and some people might feel better staying in their beds for a few days (if they can get help with housework and baby!).

I was driving after 4 weeks, doing a 35 minute walk every day after 4 weeks and back in the gym after 3 months although didn't do abdominal work for 6 months.

had my section at 10.30am was walking (very gingerly) by 7pm. By 10am the next morning I was begging for the cathetar out had a shower and then walked down to the neo-natal unit (lift rather than stairs but still had to negotiate two long corridors. that knackered me for the first day and I took the wheel chair after that) by 3 days I was moving fairly well for most of the day but was knackered and in pain by the end of each day. Am now 2 and a half weeks in and feel much much better although I have caused some pain and made my wound bleed holding and carrying my son now he's home. But don't overdo it I did a couple of times and you really pay for it and laughimg, coughing and sneezing should be avoided at all costs

recommend arnica 30c strength taken 4 or 5 times a day & tea tree oil for disenfecting scar. For me, 1st ten days were awful but thankfully had mum here to look after other kids (dh is rubbish!). Was driving after 2 weeks & feeling quite normal after 3 weeks. My big mistake on coming home after 5 days in hospital were the stairs. Get change mats & place for baby to sleep on both floors if friend has more than 1 floor - good luck!

my first and second csections were more painful and recovery time longer than 3rd!

Thanks so much for all your great advice - will pass it on to my friend!