C section blues, someone shine some light into my tunnel

[PeoniesandPretties]

Looking for some light ladies, I gave birth three weeks ago via emergency c section. You name it, I had it. I wouldn't change the outcome for the world but this week I noticed an infection in my wound, now on flucloxacillin. However, I've been really struggling with the recovery period and this is just another set back. I don't understand how the wound will heal and seal itself together as it's in such an awkward place. To add to my despair I'm injecting myself with clexane for six weeks. I feel like I'm wishing my babies six weeks away for selfish reasons, I want to get better and be living the first time mum idealistic life that you picture throughout your pregnancy. Anyone got any advice or have experienced this and recovered quickly? Thanks in advance.

sorry you had to go through an EMCS. Personally while I found the operation fine (and essential!) I also found recovery was very hard. Around 6 weeks until I felt more human, I was at the gym at 12 weeks. You've had an operation on not much rest and have to look after another human being, you need to cut yourself a lot of slack.

However what I learnt from recovering from my later planned CS was that I should have stayed in pj's for at least 2 weeks and rested properly. Nothing was more important than my health and ability to care for my baby. I ate a lot of dominoes pizza that time round.

The first time mum life doesn't really exist tbh. I don't know anyone who had it everyone either had a dreadful birth experience or problems with feeding, colic from hell etc.

I remember walking round Morrison’s two weeks post op and nearly fainting.

You have to take it really easy and focus on feeding baby and resting.

It will get better - snuggle up watch lots of tv and enjoy the new baby cuddles

Get dh to bring you food and drinks and don’t try to do house work. It can all wait

I too had an emcs, and although i was very lucky, no infection etc, it was still such a painful and hard recovery. I say this as someone who has had 2 12 hour operations with rods put in my back and limb lenghthaning. Yet the emcs was by far the most painful!

Just take things slowly, you will find it gets easier, i didnt feel myself until around 12 weeks after. Its major surgery, use the time to enjoy all the cuddles with your little baby.

I'm 4 weeks post c section, and despite some pain, I was more mobile than my last month of pregnancy (BAD PGP), I was pretty lucky as I'd popped to visit a nurse as I was getting a really nasty tweaking from the same spot continuously (it was a really long stitch end!!!) which she cut and she swabbed just in case, I did have an infection, but it was caught early so the antibiotics were started before too much damage was done.

There is hope as I feel more or less normal at present, hope you heal up quick x

I had an easy recovery from my emcs and still didn't have an idealistic mum life. It doesn't exist. Doesn't mean your new normal won't be wonderful in part but early motherhood is a steep learning curve and challenging. The joy might only be in the small moments at first but don't lose sight of them in your rush to achieve the unobtainable. Ask for help, rest when necessary and get to know your new family member.

Thanks ladies, sometimes it's just nice to hear from others that actually how your feeling is normal.

I’ve heard women say they were up and about as usual after a week or two but in all honesty that wasn’t my experience at all.

I had a non optional elective which had some complications so they had to be a bit more physical than they usually do and I lost about 2l of blood.

My recovery was straightforward (no infections) but at three weeks I wasn’t back to normal by any means. I spent the first week in hospital, then the next one basically in bed. When I overdid it I really, really felt it.

After that it did get better but don’t rush it. You’ve had major surgery and you’ve had a post operative infection. That’s enough to floor anyone. I remember bending and loading the tumble dryer at about three weeks and ending up bleeding really heavily and being knocked for six by it.

Rest - I bet you’re trying to do too much. Just rest as much as you can. Feed, bond, and sod everything else. It will get better, honest.

Congratulations as well :)

Just get all the help you can get and take it if they offer. I had to have the needlesfor 6 weeks as well, had to move to the legs as my belly couldn’t take any more proding. It will fly by thou. I put a girdle around my belly which held it in and felt amazing. Just rest and don’t over do it.
And congratulations:)