Tips for c section recovery

[lydiangel83]

Hi second time mum with first CS booked for Tuesday and looking for top recovery tips please! Also any tips to relax/ embrace this birth option following traumatic first baby 3 years ago that resulted in forceps and broken coccyx.
Many thanks!

Congratulations!
Tips for a relaxing cs (mine was emergency and it was still pretty relaxing after everything that came before!):
Make a playlist - most hospitals will let you play your own music in the theatre
Have the screen lowered for the actual birth
Ask for skin to skin asap
If you feel nauseous from the drugs, tell someone ASAP and they will give you a drug that kicks in v quickly

Post birth:
Try to walk as soon as you can, midwife will help you with it
Take the laxative!!! You will get bunged up
Buy / borrow yoga strap to tie to the end of your bed - you can use the strap to pull yourself up when you need to as your stomach muscles won’t work

Be kind to yourself, don’t rush and make sure your dp/family/ friends know they need to be gentle and understanding that you won’t be up to loads super fast.

I struggled to get out of bed so I tied my dressing gown rope on the footboard of the bed so I had something to pull against. Massively helped!

Also, take a pillow for the drive home, put it between your wound and seatbelt. Also good to brace against if you need to sneeze or cough.

Men's boxer shorts. The waistband is higher so won't rest on your scar. And stick a maternity pad into the inside of it over your scar as a sort of cushion.

Take all the drugs and help offered and don't feel bad about it.

I think they do skin to skin as standard. But if they don't definitely ask for it.

If you're feeling nervous tell someone. My experience of a planning section (after a traumatic one) was completely relaxed. They can take you through every step so you know what's happening (if you want to)

But listen to your body. Get up when you can. But take it easy. I found my recovery quite quick and a lot easier than my first. I was visiting schools for dc1 carrying my week old baby. But it's different for everyone.

And finally enjoy the snuggles.

Yeah definitely pillow for the car!

Get up and moving early, but slow gentle movements.

Keep one hand lightly pressed over your wound as you sit up, it really helps.

I had a pretty traumatic labour with my first, so my section was a breeze in comparison. I recovered way quicker which amazed me.

My midwife told me not to hold/carry anything other than baby or a cup of tea after my emcs.

For three weeks I should add.

Thanks ladies for sharing - all very helpful xx

One thing I wish I had known.. It's a misconception that you can't drive for 6 weeks. Just double check with your insurance (mine had no rules). I started driving again after 2 weeks.

Take painkillers, don't delay on that front. Agree with PP about carrying anything, I couldn't lift a pint glass of water or dinner plate initially. Great tips about thing something to end of bed, if I end up with a second c section I will definitely do this.
Take it easy. It is major surgery despite everyone expecting you up and about quickly and having a newborn to look after. Any other big surgery you'd be resting up a good while

I second that you can drive even ready, though 6 weeks is recommended. I didn't feel ready to drive until 8 weeks post section, so listen to your body.

I had an emergency c section and the procedure itself was very calm and quick. Please don't be afraid of it. I was just lying there without pain, then had to take a deep breath while they pushed and pulled (but felt absolutely no pain) and the baby was born and shown to me. Then they stitched me up,no pain, just lying there relaxed thinking of my baby.
The recovery is a bit shit the first few days, so I second take any pain meds offered. It will feel a bit difficult to get up and move around. You could look into renting one of those pull standard things that they have in the hospital for above your bed for a week.

A pp said that you will be bunged up. I actually had diarrhea so it might not happen to you (but I had laxatives with me for just in case).

My dr told me that the recovery is worst on day 2, day 3 slighter better and improves rapidly from there. I found that to be true in my case! It helped on day 2 to know that was the worst of it. Take the morphine, ask for it if you are sore. I was very itchy after, they can give you meds for that too. Keep on top of your meds is my main tip and have a rolled up towel around you when you do your first poo but honestly I found within a week I saw a big improvement and it was all good from there. Good luck!

Agree, take the painkillers even if you don’t feel like you need them. That said, I only needed them for about 4 or 5 days after.
Get up and out of bed as soon as you possibly can, this prevents so many potential complications.
Take all the help that is offered for the time afterwards.

Recovery is fine,
I was home within 48 hours, taking my older child to school pushing the pram through the snow 10 days after mine. (No choice, no one else to take & pick up).
Pretty much back to normal within 2 weeks.
Great experience.

I had two elective c-sections. The things I learned from the first:

Take your own pillow and breastfeeding pillow from home
Take all your drugs on schedule even if you feel ok for at least a week. In hospital ring the bell well ahead in case they are busy. Ask for the oromorph liquid morphine before you agree to get catheter out/get out of bed. Ask for a stool softener to help with first poo.
Bring peppermint tea bags for trapped wind. Drink loads of this and as many fluids as you can.
Take v mild 2 in 1 shampoo and have v quick shower as you won'g be able to stand up for long.
Slip on shoes/boots and loose clothes to go home in. Time journey home so your painkillers aren't about to wear off.
Get a changing table for home so you don't have to bend.
Pat scar dry with kitchen roll after shower and wear massive knickers and maternity leggings to let scar heal.

Good luck!!

I had an EMCS with my first DC and found it a very positive and calm experience, so much so that I've asked for an ELCS this time.

• Take all the pain relief they offer you and once you're home keep on top of tablets, even if you feel OK.
• Accept and insist on help from your partner/etc because it is major surgery and things like getting out of bed/lifting things/bending are going to be very sore for a while.
• It will hurt to laugh/cough/sneeze for a few months afterwards.
• Take it easy and don't try to push yourself too much in the days and weeks afterwards.
• Take slip on shoes for coming home because you may find your legs, ankles and feet swell quite a lot in the days after the section.
• The midwives will have you up and walking quite soon after delivering but this is a good thing.
• Wear loose clothing in the days and weeks afterwards to avoid the pressure on your scar while it's healing.

I came in to also say 1) take the painkillers offered 2) take the laxative 3) take peppermint tea or oil for wind 4) have huge over bump knickers for recovery that sit well away from your scar (and fit the maternity pads as you will still have lochia) 5) if you need to pick something up from the floor in the early days, squat down with your knees bent (instead of bending at the waist) 6) don’t push yourself too hard at first and then the recovery will be much faster!