Post-section recovery/post-natal pandering - suggestions for a good recovery?

[FiveYearPlan]

I had a EMCS with DC1 and for many reasons had a difficult recovery and have never really bounced back. I'll be having a ELCS in a few weeks time for DC2 and I'm hoping this time to be better prepared and have a much better recovery.
I'm really fortunate that DH will take 2 weeks paternity leave and 2 weeks hols, and DC1 will continue to go to nursery so I fully plan on making the most of it, doing as little as possible with maximum pandering to ensure I'm off to the best possible start.
But I'm looking for ideas both on how to heal post-surgery - physio type tips, using a abdominal belt etc - but also ideas of fabulous nourishing meals that DH can bring me whilst I'm lounging in bed with a newborn (doesn't it sound great?!?!). I love some of the Asian customs for a 30 day 'confinement' but not so keen on pigs trotters and fish soup for lunch.
Any suggestions?

[didireallysaythat]

Recovery for me was really easy but everyone is different.

The Pilates was a small group class (still going but have moved up a few levels). If you Google your hospitals maternity unit they may have an associated physio who you could contact perhaps you ask if they know if classes. In my case, the maternity physio teaches the classes !

[mimiholls]

I would second post natal pilates. Really helps bring strength back to your core muscles as well as back pain which is really common after cs.

[FiveYearPlan]

Wow, seriously impressed with these stories! I really struggled with recovery after my EMCS but perhaps it will be much easier after a ELCS. @didireallysaythat - were those pilates classes you went to or something online?

[OoohSmooch]

I stayed in hospital for 4 days after my c section so while I was very mobile in hospital (which helps a TON!) I also took it easy with no lifting other than baby etc etc. I was at a wedding a week after the c section and walking upright. It was still tender of course!

[didireallysaythat]

I got a pedometer and walked a little further each day. And a 6 weeks I started post natal Pilates which was fantastic (taught by a physio specialising in female health). Recovery was much faster than my natural (!) birth.

[MissMooMoo]

I had an EMCS 4 weeks ago.
I made sure I was up out of bed as soon as I could,my baby was in special care so wanting to go see him helped.
I did little things like sit out in the garden each day with a cup of tea,made sure i got up,showered and dressed (even if it was just a new clean night dress)
I came home 3 days after my section and DH was back at work during mornings in day 4.
I had lots of meals stocked up in the freezer which helped a lot.
Hope all goes well!

[HandbagFan]

I got up within 12 hrs of the op (which was evening time), walked as slowly as I needed to but upright, didn't lift anything heavier than the baby, didn't carry the baby upstairs or downstairs for the first couple of weeks, drank lots of water, got DH to make meals while he was off (just our usual food), and slept whenever I could - it was a good day if we were downstairs ready for the day by noon in those first weeks.

I know that's not all possible with a second but I felt surprisingly good after my EMCS and it healed brilliantly.

[FiveYearPlan]

Bumping for more tips. Please don't make me eat placenta!

[DuggeeHugs]

If you have a downstairs loo as well as an upstairs, stock both with maternity pads, spare clothes, lanolin, etc, to save trips up and down stairs during the day.

DH also got me some walking poles to help on the stairs in the first few days - it helped me keep moving without straining anything.

[FiveYearPlan]

Thank you! It will make such a difference to me if I recover well. I was up and about too quickly last time so am wary of moving about so soon. But hopefully my pain will be better controlled this time.

[babynelly2010]

Make sure you move and walk as soon as you can that will speed up your recovery.
Having good balanced protein rich diet also helps. It is nice you have him for 4 weeks, it should be plenty of time for u to recover.