How long did it take you to recover after C-section?

[laurent23]

Just that really!

I'm booked in for ECV at 37 weeks due to having 2 very young DC I'm trying to avoid CS.

If it comes to it, Ill be having ELCS at 39 weeks. Just wondering what's the recovery time? I.e not struggling to pick up children, when did you drive again? etc..

I know everyone is different but looking for some real life experiences to gain some perspective

I had an emergency section and it took me a good 8 weeks to feel like myself and I didn't drive for 8 weeks either as I didn't feel completely ready until then. I felt my normal self after 5 months.

I was fine within a week after both of my ELCSs. I think it's different for an emergency CS, as I was rested, calm and my body hadn't been labouring before the op.

My advice is to rest as much as possible after the op and don't rush to get up and move (despite what the nurses say).

Hope it goes well!

I was driving again after 2 weeks. Checked with consultant and checked with insurance. They just wanted to know no medical issue. I didn't pick my toddler up for a few weeks, but that was the only limitation.

I lost half my blood, for context. Was driving at 4 weeks, walking around with baby in carrier and wrangling 2.5 year old before that. WAY easier recovery than my vaginal birth!

I’ve had more than one. First few days very painful but I was pretty mobile within a week. As PP I think I was careful about lifting for a few weeks but it wasn’t all that bad.

I drove at three weeks (did the same checks) and the pedal movement did cause some pain.

The first week is the worst - I took DD for a walk in a pram at 5 days. I had sex at two weeks (carefully) and I moved house at three months but the heavy lifting did cause pain.

I stayed in hospital for four days and it was incredibly sore for the first two. After that paracetamol and ibuprofen covered the pain.

I was 24.

Did nothing much at all for 2 weeks. Someone came round for lunch every day in week 3 as DH had gone back to work and we watched a lot of TV. Week 4 I walked 4 mile round trip into town with the double pushchair.

Just don't overdo it at first. Worth being patient

Emcs at 35 weeks. In hospital a week as ds had jaundice but they were happy if I had wanted to leave after 24 hours..
Drove after 10 days...
Not in that much pain at all tbh.

I was fine after a week and driving after 4 weeks. Would've been sooner but I was scared to drive in the snow. X

I had an elective caesarean 9 months ago, was doing the school walk 2 weeks pp. recovered much better this time compared to my delivery with my son who was forceps and episiotomy plus a huge PPH. I didn't pick older child up til around 10 weeks pp.

I could pick my toddler up about 2 days later, he was only just over a yr so pretty small still. 1 week or so for being able to sit / stand / move around pain free but longer to feel strong again x

I had an elcs and an emcs. Emcs was quicker recovery as I was able to rest more afterwards. ELCS took about 6 months to recover from and emcs took about 4.

Have had 2 emergency and one elective. Up and walking around the next day but sore. Just my experience but if you take it easy for the first week you will be back to doing most things very quickly. I have 3 under 4 so after a week or so was lifting toddler, carried baby in a sling/pushed buggy after a few days. Felt fine to drive after a week but left it until 6 weeks.

Disagree completely with a pp. Getting up and about ASAP is key to recovery and this is well documented in research.

I was out of bed within a couple of hours both times, catheter out within 3hrs, showered and dressed after 5hrs. Went home 12hrs after my first. Back doing the school run 4 days after my second.

I took things easy of course but I was at home with 2 children on my own 4 days post birth and I was fine to get on with it.

I had an emergency c section with my twins and I was home after 3 days and found it hard to do anything for a good 2 weeks. After 6 was I was fine though. Just try and take it as easy as you can! Good luck!

Walking DD1 to school within a week, driving within 3. Recovered quicker after elective compared to emergency but even with that, was driving at 4 weeks.

I kept the catheter for 24 hours and didn't move, which was fab. I wasn't in a rush to get home though, as it was like a mini break. DH stayed with us, so did the lifting/changing baby.

I'm cynical about moving quickly afterwards. I think that the nurses want you up and about to get the bed back and so they aren't answering a call bell all the time.

@CharlieAteThePies

I kept the catheter for 24 hours and didn't move, which was fab. I wasn't in a rush to get home though, as it was like a mini break. DH stayed with us, so did the lifting/changing baby.

I'm cynical about moving quickly afterwards. I think that the nurses want you up and about to get the bed back and so they aren't answering a call bell all the time.

Getting up and about ASAP aids recovery and is completely recommended. It's nothing to do with staff not wanting to do their jobs.

I had two. The second I got up walking the same afternoon and it made me feel more normal, more quickly (better for the fluid gathering in the ankles too). First few nights were painful, but I keep up the meds regularly and was able to drive within a few weeks. Both were much better than I’d expected.

Day 6 I felt quite normal, or rather, the sleep deprivation was the problem not the section. I had an 11 month old and I didn’t fully lift her for the recommended 6 weeks. I had one of those little ikea stools in every room and helped her onto my lap. She’d been walking for 6 weeks by then so didn’t mind.
Bfing lying down during the day helped because while it’s good to move around, it’s also good to lie down every once in a while.

I've had two - was home after 24 hours. Pretty pain free after 2 days. My DH went back to work after 3 days so I had to just get on with it with my 2 year old - I was pushing the pram with her on the buggy board and back to my normal (if a bit slower self) after 5 days - I wasn't picking up my toddler but that was it - I drove after 3 weeks.

I think up and about sooner does help - although I had a friend who had a ELC for her second and had her MIL with her for 6 weeks and literally didn't lift a finger - she would pick up the changing bag for her and everything. I had to get on with it so I did!

I was able to walk a couple of miles within two weeks but I didn’t lift anything I shouldn’t. In the gym bang on 6 weeks. I didn’t need to drive anywhere so can’t comment on that really.

Emergency section here, the first week was the worst. I drove at 6 weeks, could have driven at maybe 4 but I didn’t feel confident and anywhere I wanted to go my family picked us up anyway so I didn’t feel trapped in the house

By day 6 I was surprised by how well I felt and by around day 10 I felt more or less back to nothing.

I had an ELCS. Mine was the first op of the day and I was on my feet that evening. Kept topped up with painkillers by alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen - stronger pain relief was available but I didn't find I needed it. I was careful about lifting once I got home but otherwise, it was a fast recovery. I was driving at 4 weeks. For context, I was 38 and not the fittest. But you're a lot less bashed up than after an EMCS, due to not having laboured and I guess also due to the operation being undertaken in non-urgent circumstances.