Tips for recovering from a csection. I’ll be on my own please say it’s doable!

[Coffeeandcaffiene]

Xposted in childbirth wasn’t sure where’s best.
Section this week - I am single so I won’t have help at home, friends/ visitors will be popping in during the day evenings to see baby so I’ll have to make the most of them!
I was wondering realistically when I’ll be able to have a short walk with the pram?
When can I climb the stairs ?
( my bathroom is downstairs so can easily sleep downstairs for a week or however )

I’ve set up drawers/ changing station downstairs so no bending required
Fridge is stocked with drinks- sports caps etc

Anything else I can do to make this easier ?!
Would love your experiences from your recovery !

Hopefully if you have an uncomplicated recovery it really won't take long. I would maybe plan for shopping deliveries so you won't have to worry about it over the first two weeks.
As long as you take your painkillers at the scheduled time and drink sooo much water for hydration/constipation.
Every recovery is different so don't over do it, your body will soon tell you lol.
I went for a short walk at a week after. Have you got your high waisted knickers at the ready haha?

Can you prep some meals for yourself now?
Just make a batch of things that freeze so then you can just pop them in the microwave.

Get yourself some big pants, big granny style and a size or two bigger than you wear usually.

In those first few days I couldn’t even lift my legs enough to climb into the bath/shower combo so used our walk in shower instead. My husband then dried me afterwards for a week or so 😂

Just take your time, no housework apart from essential things, rest but do move about as well, don’t over do it or you will end up with infections.

I have 2dc, the first was a cs, and had was by far the quickest recovery....
My advice would be to take each day as it comes.. don't set yourself targets , just see how you feel each morning.
As long as you and baby are warm and fed you don't need to do anything more for a while.
Good luck!

I could do short walks on day 3 or 4. Recovered v quickly. Hope you do too. If not the might let u stay in hospital a bit longer? Otherwise plz take up people on offers of help or ask if you need help. Get as much food/nappies in as possible.

It will be fine, I was up and mobile both c sections the next day. Online shopping is a big help, ask them to unpack etc. It heals very fast in most cases.

Stock up on paracetamol and take it every four hours, even when you think you'll be fine.

I was in hospital for a week afterwards and then out with the pram the day I got home. But I recall it could be challenging lifting it to do kerbs! Please be careful and don't overdo it, really good idea to fill the freezer with ready meals for afterwards.

My advice would be to take it easy. It’s so easy to think you’re ok & just get on with things but you pay for it the next day pain-wise.

My hospital gave me a chart with the things you’re allowed to do from birth to 12 weeks on it.

I agree with the PP about making up some meals for the freezer now so you done have to stand and cook.

Have you already washed baby’s clothes? Make sure you’ve got plenty of spares so you’re not worried about laundry- all that pushing/pulling/bending is not fun.

Good luck OP, it wasn’t too long before I was back up & busy - I’ve had an emcs & an elective. The elective was a faster recovery.

Thankyou for the tips !!
I may just have to do some batch cooking today / get a takeaway menu to hand

It’s great hearing peoples positive stories- I heard my hospital do an enhanced recovery programme where they aim to get you up quickly etc so I’m hoping this all helps

Put it this way - we went to a theme park exactly 2 weeks post section! (Not on the rides tho!)
Sections really aren't as disabling as doctors tell you (assuming no infections etc), just get your visitors to do the hoovering!

After mine I was in hospital for 5 days with the first and 4 days with the second. I could manage looking after baby myself but really needed the support of DH to do the round the house things in the early days.

Is there anyone who can come around, help with things for the first few days? With my youngest, I remember it knackered me out just washing the baby bottles one morning when I was just home from hospital.

Obviously everyone is different but to be positive i had a shower by myself evening of section and was walking short distances the next day. Took stairs one at a time, like step left foot up step right foot up palause repeat. My mistake was to go shopping in first week, pushing a heavy trolly was too much and I almost passed out! I was walking the dog after a week though and driving by 4 weeks after doctor sign off.
I avoided painkillers after first 2 days so I would feel if I'd done too much. Hope all goes well for you!

I was up walking next day and checked out on day 3 both times. They say not to carry anything too heavy so stocking up on shopping is good. I walked into town 2 miles and back again to register baby on day 7 and that's with sacroiliac hip dysfunction as well. Everyone is different through so just do as much or little as you feel able for. Don't try to have things done for visitors. Definitely manageable.

Peppermint tea for your wind pains!

I was up and about the day after my section, (wanted to move the same day but they wouldn’t let me!) and out 2 days afterwards. I went out food shopping with my DTs 5 days after, and back to driving within 2 weeks.

I’d stock up on food beforehand (mine was a surprise section due to pre eclampsia) so you’ve got lots of snacks and don’t have to go out if you don’t feel ready. Make sure you buy lots of paracetamol and ibuprofen, and keep up with the painkillers, and buy gigantic pants a couple of sizes larger than normal, and stacks of maternity pads - pop one on over your pants above the scar under your trousers, it’s bliss! Make sure you stay hydrated and have stuff in to get you pooing, I didn’t and holy shit, I’d wish I’d known (sorry for the gross tmi, but I had no idea!).

Getting in and out of the bath was a mission, but I had horrific water retention which made bending my legs impossible, so I’d hold on to furniture whilst elegantly throwing myself in - could be worth looking for something you could pop in the bathroom to help yourself get in and out if you have a shower above the bath like me.

I had to have injections after the section (no idea if that’s normal or because of the pre eclampsia) so be prepared that you might have to do that, and understand how to.

Be kind to yourself, and get any visitors doing housework and to bring you stuff you need. Good luck, and I wish you a speedy recovery from your section. Enjoy your snuggles with your newborn!

I lived in a top floor flat, so the MW told me to stay at home for a week, I think? But I could have done the stairs in a house ok - I know it's major surgery, but they did do a good job of stitching me back up, and honestly, it was fine. Most women I know who had a section found it easier to bounce back than those who had a a difficult natural birth. Especially the planned sections.

You'll be fine, it'll be hard - it's hard for everyone - but you'll be fine. Good luck!

It depends how quickly you recover, with my first c section I found it very hard to be mobile for a week or so.

You will get lots of relief after the stitches come out.

However try:
Avoid going upstairs as much as possible - move everything you can downstairs
If you can put a mattress on the floor that will help - I found climbing on the bed very hard (maybe have a stool nearby if you have no choice).
Wear loose big pants that will cover your scar
Take your painkillers every 4 hours (or whatever is recommended) don't stop taking them even if you think the pain is gone. Sometimes it hits you hard without warning.
Sitting on the loo was quite hard too so if you have a rail that you can grasp while sitting down on it that would help.
Also you can get constipation after a c section - keep a bottle of lactalose with you - it's great!
Other than that planned c sections are a much nicer experience (my second one was a planned), and you will be so in low with your new born that you will forget about the pain and discomfort.

I wish you all the best! Exciting times ahead x

I would recommend a cross body bag that you keep with you. Put your phone in it, painkillers, water, snacks, remote control, keys, muslin. Drink prune juice in the week leading up to the section, and make sure you drink lots of water too. I went upstairs on all fours. Can’t remember the going down part. I didn’t find it too bad, but every experience is different so try not to push yourself too hard. Good luck.

Again a positive one, I was in the shower myself that evening (about 6 hours after birth). I had trouble at all walking (actually leaving the hospital I was too confident I was fine - it was a longer walk than I'd predicted and I had to sit down mid way)

Up and down stairs from day one.

I found it harder to lift myself out of bed for the first week so I'd maybe consider something you can rest your weight on to hoist yourself up

Otherwise I was fine (worth noting I was 38 and very overweight)

Ask visitors to vacuum and take the baby if you want a bath or shower. and bring food milk snacks drinks etc

By lots of high calorie food as you'll be tired

Sit and rest - anything else can wait.

I would also have a stash near the sofa of tv remote hot drink biscuits blankets (invade your stuck for a while) phone and charger so you don't have to move

Ooh buy a flask so you can fill it once for the day

Recovery varies dramatically I think but:

When can I climb the stairs ?

1st emergency section: climbing stairs within 24 hours in hospital as NICU was on a different floor and the lift was like something out of a horror film.
2nd emergency section: Got out of hospital the following day and was climbing stairs at home absolutely fine from that point onwards.

Snack box/drinks set up by the sofa for feeding. Freezer full of either ready meals or pasta sauces/ready chopped chicken/mince etc for easy throwing together.
I wanted out of hospital asap with both of mine but if you don't have help 24/7 at home, staying a bit longer might be to your benefit.
Roll out of bed, into a sitting position.
Gentle walks asap, both of mine I was mobile within 5/6 hours.
Lots of water.