C-section - now can't move?

[movingmelly]

I had an unplanned c section on Tuesday, spent one eve on ward and then they sent me home. Thing is, I can't move!
I can't lift myself up from a lying down position, I am totally reliant on husband for looking after the baby and doing everything else. When I move at all it's truly searing agony, and I can't look after the baby in any way.

I didn't know it was going to be like this - is this normal? I feel like I've had a really bad reaction to it and all my abdominal muscles are destroyed. I can shuffle walk once I'm upright, but to become upright need lifting by my husband. Is this normal?
A bit worried they've missed something, can anyone advise?

Hi it’s still early days. Re getting out of bed I was taught to move lying down right to edge of bed then put my legs out onto floor then using my arm nearest to side of bed to push my body up to a sitting position with legs on floor. Hope that makes sense....

I've not had a c section but had an appendectomy (so a much smaller operation). I had similar difficulties moving in the days after.

You've had major abdominal surgery. When we walk our are abs are engaged and move. So when they've been cut, that's a big deal.

I can't comment on your actual pain levels, but I was certainly shuffling and in pain when I tried to sit up etc after my more minor surgery.

I hope the healing goes quickly. Don't beat yourself up about this btw. You just created a person then had emergency abdominal surgery. Anything you manage now is pretty incredible.

I remember coming home after my second one and lying completely flat. My Dh was in the shower and I was stuck on my back with two screaming children and ended up crying myself.

It is major surgery but you will be surprised how much you improve each day. I slept propped up on the sofa or in bed for a few nights.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself, it will get easier.

It is painful and moving is tricky for the first couple of days but I was able to get out of bed myself. I've had 3 sections but I stayed in hospital for 2-3 nights each time. Make sure you are taking all your pain medication. Have you got something like diclofenac as well as paracetamol?

Unfortunately that sounds normal. I've had both an EMCS and ELCS and the EMCS was a big shock. Your body was probably already tired so it will take a while to recover. Keep on top of your pain meds, even if you feel ok keep taking them regularly to stop the pain building. Short slow walks will help you heal and you'll find them easier each day, just don't overdo it. As PP said, shuffle to the edge of the bed, if you have a lip around your bed put your feet on that to help give your arms enough leverage to get you up. For sitting in chairs put some cushions behind you so you're upright, makes standing up easier. After you have a shower try laying down for 10 minutes and letting the incision air dry.

It's really hard at first, especially a EMCS but it will get easier. Enjoy having a legitimate excuse to not do housework too! Congrats on your new baby

Totally 'normal' OP. In the 1sr few weeks DP used to help me sit up for night feeds, then pass me DC, then we'd have to repeat the process in reverse for me to lay down again. i ended up sleeping with about 5 pillows so i was in a semi sat up position most of the time! Stay on top of the pain relief, ull notice the difference if it wears off.

You improve massively with each day that passes. Congratulations on your new baby

I felt like that after my emergency section. It did get better in time. It took me a couple of weeks to stand up properly.
Make sure you take your painkillers at the right time and let yourself rest while it heals up.

Totally normal in my experience of 3 c sections. My first was an emergency and I was exactly like you describe for at least 5 days, if not more.
Keep up with the painkillers and take things very very slowly but try to move often, even if just a few steps. It will get easier. You’ve had major abdominal surgery, it’s not a quick recovery.
To get out of bed, slide down flat and get your legs over the bed and feet on the floor first, then use your arm to help push you up.
Keep a cushion over your tummy if you need to laugh or cough or similar, takes away the feeling of everything about to fall out!
It’ll get easier, just takes time.
Congratulations on your new baby.

Yes. Normal but won’t last long. Get help to get propped up on many pillows - I sleep semi-sitting up to begin with, didn’t lie flat for quite a while. Another tip on here was to tie something like a scarf or two to the end of the bed and use them to help pull yourself up.
It’ll be so much better in a very short time. Congratulations on your new baby

Posters aren’t health professionals, so would seek medical advice.

It’s v v early days of your recovery. postnatal care in hospital and locally can be really poor in the UK IMO.

I got good pain relief advice from my GP.

I had an emergency c section meant 11 years ago and my scar is still sensitive especially when the kids sit on me.

You can ring the ward back for advice or your midwife if you aren't sure but yes, from my experience it is normal. I remember shuffling bent over to walk. It didn't last long though, you make progress very quickly. Don't stop taking pain relief.

I have had two c sections and I would say moving is very painful and difficult at first but but you should be able to do it. I didn’t have to have my husband help me. If you literally can’t move at all even with pain relief and a cautious approach that doesn’t sound right. You need to move carefully for your recovery. If you don’t move at all it will get harder not easier. Your core stomach muscles have been cut so it is normal not to be able to sit straight up from a lying down position. Can you roll on to your side at the edge of the bed and slowly ease yourself up on your arm, then feet on the floor and hold onto some furniture to stand up? Take pain relief regularly throughout the day even when the pain isn’t severe. Try not to bend over. Walk straight if you can. This helps stop the scar getting tight. With both of mine the pain improved significantly from about day 5 onwards and I wasn’t needing pain relief by day 7ish. Keep your Bowels moving with eg prune juice or a gentle laxative like lactulose as constipation is not your friend. I hope you’re feeling better soon and enjoy your time with your new baby

What pain relief are you taking? Make sure you keep taking it regularly, on a schedule - don't let it run out. I had oramorph which was amazing, just for the first few days.

Totally normal. It’s major abdominal surgery. In hospital I had a hoist thing over the bed to grab on to to get up.

I don’t think ‘searing agony’ on moving and being unable to sit up, do any parenting or engage with the baby is ‘normal’.

In my experience by a week post op you will start to feel better. But yes, I remember the early days were excruciating. I nearly cried the morning after my first one when the midwife said I could "help myself" if I wanted a drink and breakfast, from the opposite end of the ward! I remember getting out of bed really difficult, sort of had to slide and roll as couldn't bend in the middle! Stairs were difficult too. Take regular pain killers, try and eat and drink enough and give your body time to heal.

I had one too, sounds very normal. It's so frustrating, take it easy and rest while hubby around to help xx

When I had my dd you weren't even supposed to push a pram until after 6 weeks so it shows you how major the operation is.

Take regular painkillers at their maximum dose and if youre not due a visit from your community midwife this am ring the ward/ helpline or GP for advice .

Completely normal. I still remember the pain of having to get out of bed that first time in the hospital - searing is the word I’d use. It does get better and quite quickly, but try not to do too much too soon, particularly in terms of walking - you need to build your stamina back up again once you’re more up and about on your feet.

2 csections and 2 myomectomies ( operation with the same cut) here. I agree with pp re painkillers on a schedule. Set a reminder on your phone. Combination of ibuprofen or diclofenac and paracetamol very effective. Re getting out of bed, I would also get to the edge of the bed on your side then use your free arm to propel you upright. Have a look at YouTube for some videos. Things will improve very soon. Congratulations on your baby.

Agree with @Dozer

It’s normal for it to be painful but the way it’s been described here sounds more. OP my doctor recommended gentle walking around the house as much as I could but I think you should phone GP for advice.

This is fairly normal, it was also a shock to me because most people don't really talk about the difficulty of the first few days