Elective caesarean

[Jenny10marie]

Please could I ask anyone whom has had a caesarean and also already had a toddler at the same time? I’m worried about how I’m going to manage. I initially chose to have a caesarean as my first childbirth was so traumatic and I got sepsis so scared to death now. However, I’m wondering whether to reconsider as I have a two year old and worried how ill manage. How long is recovery and did anyone else have this problem? Thank you

I had my third baby 2 and half weeks ago and was my first elective c section. The first two where born naturally but both resulted in a fractured coccyx which is why I requested the section this time. For me personally I loved the elective c section! I was discharged from hospital just 48 hours after getting there and was out for breakfast and in town shopping just four days after! I'd say from 1 week after I felt almost normal again and that's with having a newborn to look after, a 7 year old to get to school and a crazy 2 year old son! Not forgetting all the housework. I'm not going to lie, the first 48 hours are pretty rubbish and getting out of bed for the first time was horrible!! But the more I was up and walking the better I was feeling! I'm now 17 days post c section and the only thing really I can say is that my belly is still a bit numb and feels weird when I touch it, but apart from that I'm pretty much back to normal! I can honestly say that I have done more and done it quicker than after delivering naturally, I have felt a lot more well this time in myself and believe it was the best choice! Really Hope this helps a bit! Good luck x

This thread has been really helpful, thanks. I'm also planning a section following a traumatic first delivery. I figure that if the labour has the same results as last time, I'll be in no better condition to care for my toddler than I would be after a section, but the difficulty after a section is more predictable.

Everybody is different, but I was out pushing the (heavy) pram and lifting the (heavy) car seat within a week of my ELCS. I felt like a bit of a car crash for the first two or three days, but within a week I was mobile and at worst a bit creaky. No toddler at home for me, but yappy dogs and nieces and nephews who wanted to clamber over me- it was fine. I felt capable of driving after about 3 weeks but didn't do it until 4 weeks (having spoken to my insurers who assured me that the 6 week rule is an outdated myth- while it is still major surgery, the protocols and rehabilitation procedures have moved on from the days where women were incapacitated for a long time and - failing any complications- it's down to the individual as to whether they feel capable of doing an emergency stop, which involves engaging the core muscles.)
My top tip- when travelling in a car in the very early days (as a passenger, clearly) sit on a plastic shopping bag. You can then open the door and swivel your legs round without twisting your body, because your bum just glides around with your legs. I only needed to do this in the very early days though and by week three I didn't even feel protective of my incision site any more.
Are you having support from the ante-natal psychology service? It sounds like you've had an incredibly rough time and it might be good- whatever you decide re delivery- to have a chat with them about your feelings.

I think lots of the “bad” c section recoveries are as a result of emergency c section where people have often had a really difficult labour followed by a rushed c section. I had two vaginal deliveries and then a planned c section for my third. It was really calm, they give you antibiotics through a drip during the op itself or immediately after (it’s a bit of a blur). I think with a two year old you’ll need another adult to look after him at all times for the first two weeks. I had another adult around for 3 weeks but after two weeks I was fine and back driving, lifting etc. My other two were 5 and 3 though so less in need of being lifted.