how much does a c-section hurt afterwards?

[griffintribe]

I had a very bad birth with my dd1 and i am thinking of having a c-section with my second (as advised by consultant).

How much pain will there be afterwards?

My dd1 will be 2.7yrs old, will i be able to cope alone with her and a new baby 2 weeks after birth or will i need someone to help me?

A big difference between emergency and elective is the build up. for the emergency, i had been labouring for 30 hours, had IFM and trial of forceps, all really horrendous. Second time round, had a nice bath, glass of wine and some half decent kip. Much easier to recover from that.

I recovered really well from both of mine. The em one was actually a more straightforward operation and I was out of bed within 12 hours. A bit sore but OK. With DD2, the operation was more tricky and more uncomfortable because of DD2's position (transverse lie) but I was still up and about within 12 hours, though it was more uncomfortable. TBH, though, both times I was in a lot better nick and clearly much more comfortable than the girls on the ward with bad tears.

I managed to walk 4 miles about a week after DD2 was born with the double buggy and was fine. DH returned to work after 3 weeks and it was a breeze. I did a bit of illegal lifting while he was off but you find a way to do most things without harm to yourself. My DD1 could get in and out of her cot with a few books to step on to raise her up. It'll be grand. Take care and good luck

totally depends on the person. i was very fit before my section; and think that helped massively. i was mobile the evening of the day i had my section and never really looked back. but i did take it really easy for the first 6 weeks tbh.

I had an emergency cs and don't remember being in that much pain at all but like everyone else has said it really depends on the person.

I had my mother staying for two weeks after DH's two weeks paternity leave and I think that was really helpful (I'd stupidly bought a monster pram and couldn't get it down the steps from our front door).

If you can arrange help I would do it. My sister had a cs with her second and I think she would have found it really difficult to cope with her 3 year old in the first few weeks on her own if my mother and I hadn't been able to stay to help out. But that might have been the case however she gave birth - coping with a new baby and a toddler is just difficult!

I was up and about very quickly after my emergency cs and wasn't really in too much pain. However I think I over did it, I got an infection in my scar and had to have antibiotics and still have a small hole a year on.

griffin I felt truly awful for a couple of weeks and hated feeling so uncomfortable and hunched over. But after a month I was driving a little bit and just feeling a bit tender. Back at the gym at 12 weeks doing crunches. I think I was pretty lucky.

Griffintribe - I'M IN EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION AS YOU!!!! Only difference is I'll have a 3.0 DS to cope with.
I'm getting quite panicked about the C section and even after all the damage from first delivery, am actually finding myself considering going against all medical advice and trying a natural birth again, just so I can be mobile again a little sooner. DH freaks out when I say this as he's seen the damage and knows the long term effects are dreadful.
When are you due? I'm 3rd March. Good luck and keep in touch. Fingers crossed for us both!
x