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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Walking after C-section

33 replies

tudorqueenie · 03/01/2022 14:58

How soon after a C-section can I get up / walk? I know that catheters usually stay in for about 12 hours.

OP posts:

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 03/01/2022 15:03

Usually they will aim to get you standing and moving as soon as your spinal block wears off and you can move your legs and hold your weight. This may be around 6 hours after your surgery. Your catheter will usually stay in a little longer. Some women at first just get up into a chair to have the bed changed then back to bed and some merrily walk down the corridor for a shower, everyone is different.

Original poster

tudorqueenie · 03/01/2022 15:09

Oh, right!! Brilliant. Thank you so much :)

OP posts:

LJZRBB · 03/01/2022 15:13

I had a c section in sept.

Spinal at 10am on the Thursday, catheter out 6am the Friday. Home 8pm Friday night.

I didn’t move until the catheter was out. It was lovely!! From having to get up 6 times a night to wee to not moving a muscle was fabulous. I was gutted when they removed it.

ElizabethG81 · 03/01/2022 15:16

They'll get you up as soon as possible. I had an emergency section at 11pm and was in the shower by 8 or 9am the next morning.

ExPatHereForAChat · 03/01/2022 15:21

I (for some stupid reason) thought I wasn't meant to get out of bed so stayed in it for 24 hours post section.
Idiotic thing to do as my legs were very swollen and felt numb.
Get up as soon as you can!

SamMil · 03/01/2022 15:25

It took me well over 24 hours. I was out of surgery around 3am and the catheter wasn't removed until mid-morning the next day. I went and took a shower as soon as it was out, and felt so much better after!

I did have an infection though - not sure if that made it take longer or if they were just short-staffed so didn't get around to it!

SNUG2022 · 03/01/2022 15:26

ASAP. You have to go and get your own meals and bring them back to your bed on a tray, take dc down for any jabs, go to kitchen to make milk.

Ohshitiveturnedintomymother · 03/01/2022 15:28

ASAP. It’s the best thing for you! Even with a catheter you can move around the room, it’s a little disconcerting but not bad.
The longer you stay in bed the worse you will feel, honest!

MonkeyPuddle · 03/01/2022 15:29

I got up about 12 hours after my section, I was helped up and a midwifery assistant helped me to the loo.
And just for what it’s worth I didn’t have to get my own food, everything was brought to my bed, not all trusts are the same.

Starcaller · 03/01/2022 15:30

They try to get you up ASAP. I was encouraged to get up from about 6 hours post-surgery, when catheter was removed (and I had to pee by a certain time or it would go back in, was stressful trying to pee!). Absolutely move as often as you can. The sorest I ever got was when I had been immobile for long periods. Getting up and down frequently to shuffle down the corridor and back made a big difference. Getting off the bed is the trickiest thing!

Moonbabysmum · 03/01/2022 15:30

I had the sections around 10am, and catheter in until 7ish the next morning, so I stayed in bed until then. It was blissful. Staying in bed longer didnt harm my recovery, I was out and about in cafes and shops within 3 days.

In my local hospital they bring you drinks, meals etc, bring you ready made formula if necessary etc.

Starcaller · 03/01/2022 15:32

And yes food and drinks were brought straight to cubicle in my hospital but I did get up to sterilise pump bits and stuff, put dirty nappy bags in bin, go for a shower and loo, etc. and you could go help yourself to fresh cot bedding if your baby puked or pooped on it (but we were in a bit longer than would have been straightforward - we would have been out in 24 hours otherwise but DD had to go under blue light for jaundice).

Original poster

tudorqueenie · 03/01/2022 15:35

Wow! This is really good to know, thank you!

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 03/01/2022 15:35

I was up and about within 3hrs with both of mine. Catheter out at the same time and in the shower. I had full sensation back while in recovery. I was home after 12hrs.

Getting up asap is v important for recovery.

GroggyLegs · 03/01/2022 15:35

I definitely had a shower the next morning with my second ELCS, I wanted to show I was up & mobile so I could go home ASAP.

As PP said - some people are up & about quickly, others don't fare so well, but everything crossed you're in the mobile camp.

Original poster

tudorqueenie · 03/01/2022 15:36

@ShowOfHands

I was up and about within 3hrs with both of mine. Catheter out at the same time and in the shower. I had full sensation back while in recovery. I was home after 12hrs.

Getting up asap is v important for recovery.

Oh my god you are a superwoman😄

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 03/01/2022 15:40

Nah. Not superwoman. V v lucky to have straightforward recoveries!

The best advice is to listen to your body and follow the advice of the physio who should come and see you afterwards. Take your painkillers if you need them and aim for a level of mobility you're able to comfortably achieve but with the aim that you're up as soon as you are able and well. It feels weird standing up and you'll want to hunch/shuffle/curl in on your wound but don't. Stand tall and walk normally. Slow as you like but don't stoop and shuffle, you won't do yourself any favours. It shouldn't hurt to stand up and walk, it really does just feel tight and odd. If it hurts, slow down and wait a while.

megletthesecond · 03/01/2022 15:45

I rested for approx 24hrs after both of mine, they were in the morning.

RavenclawsRoar · 03/01/2022 16:50

First time I didn't get out of bed until the catheter came out and that was a mistake - I felt really sore and stiff! The second time (last month), I made sure to ask the midwife when I could get up and she came and helped me as soon as I had sensation back in my legs. I just moved from the bed to the chair the first time and then kind of pottered about, aiming to get up at least once every couple of hours. It was much better and I didn't get the awful stiffness. So try to get up as soon as possible is my advice, even if the catheter is still in and if no one has come to help you up once you've regained feeling then ring the buzzer and ask!

LakeShoreD · 03/01/2022 19:00

I had the catheter out and walked around by room after I’d eaten lunch, about 4 hours after the birth. Got up every time I needed the loo or baby needed a feed or nappy change from then on. But I did have to really, really push for it, they were keen to have me rest for longer!

allfurcoatnoknickers · 04/01/2022 02:00

I had an evening c-section so the catheter came out the next morning. I HATED the blood thinners though, so refused them and was doing laps around the ward instead. It hurt less than the injections.

Thefaceofboe · 04/01/2022 06:39

I had mine at 9am and was up when catheter came out the following morning I probably could have done it sooner but it didn’t even cross my mind

jmap81 · 04/01/2022 22:49

Can you all please say more about the blood thinners? I have heard they are tough - does everyone have them? What are they? Do they start before? Thank you

SNUG2022 · 05/01/2022 04:47

Blood thinners are like a clicky injection into your abdomen. They are not something to worry about or focus on. I couldn't have self administered them, so the nurse taught dp how to do them.

SNUG2022 · 05/01/2022 04:47

They don't start before.

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