C section movement restriction

[BertieBotts]

I may end up having a c-section and I've heard that it can be difficult to move around afterwards due to the pain and incision etc.

I was just wondering what kind of movements specifically are tricky. I would assume sitting up and bending over, anything involving the stomach muscles, any lifting.

What about rolling over or reaching to the side? Can you reach DC if they are in a bedside cot for example, would I struggle to reach a bedside table for things like water bottle, phone charger etc?

I think it was OK (but pulled a bit) to twist enough to get glass of water or book from my bedside table.

I think I had to get out of bed to pick up the baby comfortably.

I had a toddler and could largely manage on my own with a toddler in the early weeks, but I really appreciated help because everything took a bit longer.

I will have a three year old as well, but DH has loads of paternity leave (we're not in the UK) and I have a 13 year old who is off school, so plenty of pairs of hands to help.

Thanks for sharing :)

I've had two. The only thing I absolutely couldn't do the first week after either one was lift my toddler - just literally didn't have the abdominal muscles to do it - and the thing that was hardest after that was getting up from a lying down position. The first 48 hours afterwards I was in a hospital bed and it was fine to pull myself up / roll over / reach for things using the side bars of the bed. Once I was home and in a normal bed I could manage but slowly. Walking was slow, but not painful. Carrying bags was a bit hard for a week or so (I was discharged after 48 hours and a midwife ran the length of a corridor to stop me pulling my wheely suitcase - I could do it without pain, but it was a bad idea in terms of risk to the wound, if that makes sense)

Actually didn't have any problem picking the baby up though, that movement and weight was fine.

Overall I was more mobile more quickly than I expected, both times. There is also a bit of a trade off between mobility and discomfort; after my second my DD was in SCBU, so I forced myself to do a lot more walking and sitting to be with her compared to after my first when I just stayed in bed with the baby for a few days - was more pain but also more mobility more quickly. But I'd recommend the staying in bed if life allows

Sounds like good advice :) Thank you!

It's covid policy at the hospital I'll deliver children aren't allowed onto the ward at all, so when I get discharged apparently I'll have to meet DH outside but apparently the staff all rally round and come to help you carry things down.

I didn't bend down to the ground for a week or 2, but could lift baby out of side cot - although sometimes over stretched doing it sometimes and the incision hurt a bit, felt like a burning sensation. It eased though in a few weeks, just try not to overdo it even when you feel you're fit and ready.

Ps re leaving the hospital bit, I packed way too much and had no problem with staff helping me out, they carried both bags and I pushed baby in his little carry cot to meet my partner at the hospital doors.

I couldn’t twist to the side or even lean to the side for quite a while. Nurses and family had to pass me my baby as I wouldn’t have been able to lean over or into a cot to get her.

I couldn’t bend down for a while or sleep on my side either and I struggled to walk anywhere the first couple of days.