C Section Recovery

[deb1407]

I had an emergency c section on Thursday morning and was discharged from hospital on Friday.

Just looking to hear people's experiences with recovery, yesterday I felt great, was able to get out the house, go for dinner & even had a couple of wines.

Today - I feel a bit back at square 1, quite shaky and not great on my feet. I don't have any pain as such but decided to start my painkillers again today.

Basically I suffer for anxiety & just want to know what I'm experiencing is normal

Congrats on your new arrival!

Sorry to jump on slightly off topic but can I ask how you were able to be discharged so quickly? My section is planned for Thursday and I've been told to expect 3 days in as standard...

I'd much rather be at home really.

Totally normal. You sound like you are doing really well. Congratulations!

@Hollyhop17 the hospital seemed quite keen to discharge me, they asked me on friday morning if I felt well enough to be at home and as I did and they didn't have any concerns they were quite happy to let me go! Probably needed the bed tbh!

I took regular painkillers for a week whether I needed them or not, to stop any breakthrough pain. Remember to use the midwives for support if you need it.

Holly I went home the next day too. They wanted me to stay another night, but it's a hospital and not a prison.

I took painkillers regularly for 5 days, and then gradually reduced them.
I've literally spent the first week sat down. DP is doing everything.

Op don't be dismayed by your setback. If this had been a scheduled operation of the same scale you would be told bed rest only. It's great you felt well enough to go out for dinner but you've probably overdone it. Rest up for a bit longer even if you do feel well, otherwise you feel it the next day.

I was fine after a couple of weeks and no longer worried that my normal activities would put me out the game the following day.

holly hospital were happy for me to stay or go after 24 hours. I opted to stay as it was late in the day and i had another little one at home and i knew how full on it would be once i got home and i just wasn't up to it. The extra night was perfect, got rid of my trapped wind pain and enjoyed another night just me and my DS.

Wow. You had a section on Thursday and were home on Friday? I had an EMCS was kept in for five days and felt like I'd been hit by a bus for at least 4 weeks.
I think you're doing amazing to even be out the house! Just take it easy, keep going with the pain killers. Have you got the stomach injection things too?

Totally normal. I was in hospital for 48 hours, first trip out of the house (10 minute walk round the block) was 7 days post section. I took maximum dose ibruprofen and paracetamol until I finished the packets I'd been discharged with, at about 10 days. I walked a couple of miles at 2 weeks post op and felt like I'd been hit by a bus the next day, definitely bit off more than I could chew. Think of it as a slightly slower recovery from 'flu.

Crikey I had one on the Wednesday night and I wasn't ready to leave until the Saturday morning. Even then I took the painkillers regularly and took it easy for a couple of weeks after that. Just do what you can when you can, but it's early days yet. Congratulations on your new arrival!

Being discharged so quickly will be harder than staying in. However my sister had a c section and was home 36 hours later. I was in for almost a week so I was very much wrapped in cotton wool (as much as I HATED it!). Meant I was at a wedding exactly one week after the section!

Walk as much as you can but do not bend over. Only pick up your little one. I kept pulling my stomach accidentally which made the pain pretty bad, I also had an infection though which may have made it worse!

Best of luck.....suddenly you will just feel a lot more normal at around 2 weeks so try not to fret, you will get there.

I had a c section and was discharged about 30 hours after. So I spent one night in hospital. Went home with just ibuprofen & paracetamol. I could walk fine and was up & about roughly 8 hours after.

Sounds like you've overdone it a bit going out yesterday.

You need to take it easy even if you feel great. Walking etc is good, but out for dinner and vino might be a bit much.

There's huge amounts of healing going on : from the section (internal and external remember!), but also from the actual pregnancy!

You need to do less than you think you should.

I'd say you've just overdone it a bit OP, easily done.

I had my emcs on the Sunday and got out on the Tues. Although I felt pretty good, and stopped taking painkillers by the Weds or Thurs I think, I still couldn't manage as much as I thought I could!

Just go easy on yourself and you'll be fine.

Sounds to me like you're doing really well!

I found having to 'rest' very frustrating so when I felt up to it I'd find I've overdone it a little bit, it's normal.

I tried to take it easy for the first few days but my eldest had her school play on day 5 post section & I was determined to go. Felt pretty rough afterwards.

Just look after yourself

Take it easy you are overdoing or you have several layers of healing that need to happen you will feel great for the first few days as adrenaline and hormones kick in butthen it's natural to slump. Please
Take a week on the sofa and recover properly rather than set yourself back

Hi ladies.

Just catching up on all the comments & advice. Much appreciated.

Hands up - I totally overdone it on Sunday. After the trauma of the induction / section etc I think I just wanted to feel " normal " forgetting I need lots of healing time.

I spent Monday & Tuesday in the house, pottering about but lots of sofa rest.

Today I went to the supermarket, walked slowly with the pram round with a list, no more than an hour out the house but knew that was all I could push myself and it was enough.

Now for my next question! Is it normal for the scarred area to feel slightly nippy at this stage (now 6 days post section) it's not sore in anyway, more annoying and nippy like a cup. My underwear appears dry so no weeping wound

Not 100% sure what you mean by nippy, but I'm sure mine felt annoying at that stage - overly tight I think.

If it's clean and dry and not painful then I wouldn't worry. It just feels weird as everything knits back together I think.

The hospital try and have you in and out the next day these dats, mine does anyway. Im having my 4th section in september and Ive always stayed in two or three nights due to mild complications x

I think it's ok as long as there's no "weep". Just keep synthetic materials away from the area and big massive pants are your friend - cotton enormo-bloomers from Tesco did it for me.

Just please heed advice; don't overdo it, please delegate tasks to visitors and fgs rest when you can, give baby to friends, mum, partner so you can sleep.

My CS recovery was a doddle. I truly think it's because I followed advice to the letter.

Ps: prunes/figs/lactulose are your friends. No straining IYSWIM

I'm not sure how well the picture will display but it's basically a 'what can I do after c section'
I'm day 14 post section and my wound feels a bit pulled sometimes, just because the tissue is still knitting back together.

Sorry but what the f** are you some sort of super woman??!!

You've had major surgery & have a new born to look after... sod the shopping! You really should be resting.

I didn't leave the house for at least 3 weeks I was in horrendous pain, didn't drive for 7 weeks, couldn't lift or Hoover or basically do anything for about 2 months. Stayed in hospital for 4 days after section.

Guess everyone is different but my experience was nothing like yours!