C section recovery questions

[Mugs21]

Hi All,

I just had my third baby by elective section 5 days ago- it’s my second section but the first was 5 years ago and an emergency and I can’t remember how long it took me to be able to do certain things.

Things are going ok so far, just started to come off the regular pain killers, and it’s starting to feel a bit easier moving around.

If you’ve had more than one section, How long did it take you to:

1. Be able to bend down to pick something up off the floor
2. Get into bed normally/without discomfort
3. Your wound to fully heal? (I’m paranoid about getting an infection as had a VBAC/MCFD for 2nd baby and episiotomy got horribly infected taking ages to heal)

I have just ordered a litter picker but it’s getting me down having to ask my husband/bribe the kids every time I drop something. I am enjoying having an excuse to rest and enjoy newborn snuggles but I hate being so dependent!

Thanks so much in advance!

I remember feeling back to myself completely after 10 weeks.
I thought I felt relatively ok at about 4 weeks and was bending, cleaning the shower, going for short walks, pushing the trolley at the shops and doing more in general but ended up with an infection on my wound so had obviously overdid it!
I'd really recommend taking it as easy as possible. Use your upper body as much as possible when getting in and out of bed and use a small cushion or pillow or folded muslin cloths to gently apply pressure on your wound when maneuvering yourself - I wasn't told about that trick until about 3 weeks in and could have saved myself a lot of discomfort as it really helps.

Hope your recovery is going ok

Thanks so much for your reply, that’s really helpful. At what stage did you get your infection? How about driving ( our insurance doesn’t have a policy on this)? X

1. About 4 days
2. About a week
3. No clue as I never looked.

Pretty much back to normal within 1-2 weeks.

I got my infection between 3 and 4 weeks. Totally my own doing, I was doing too much physically - cleaning, going for walks, pushing shopping trolley and I had a dry cough for a week or 2 which I believe didn't help. All that physical movement caused my scar to open slightly and I woke to find it bleeding one night - don't mean to scare you! But it healed ok and I took antibiotics for a week.

Re driving, my doc offered to give me a letter at 4 weeks to certify me fit to drive (despite said infection!) and that would have been sufficient for my insurance company. I declined and waited the 6 weeks as just didn't need to drive, managed ok with hubby bringing me places

It's good to get up and move about but very gently, short slow walks, no major lifting or maneuvering