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Childbirth

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

recovery after emergency c section

3 replies

kelbel · 05/02/2008 10:11

hi - after having no luck gaining advice from hv and doc i thought id ask the experts! had an emergency section 7 weeks ago and tbh i've recovered really well, but still followed the v littl advice i was givn eg not driving etc. i was just wondering what else i need to be careful doing and not doing - have been given little advice and scared because i feel so well i might do something i shouldn't. also i was v much into gym and now wondering what th dos n donts are. used to do lots of cardio n free weights, i'm guessing the free weights are out, but for how long? sit ups?

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kitstwins · 05/02/2008 11:16

Congratulations on your baby and I'm glad you're healing very well. Really, your HV and Dr. should have given you guidelines on this but given that they haven't I'm glad that you haven't leapt back into the free weights and cardio just yet.

Healing well after a c-section can be a bit misleading as it can lead you to do things sooner than you should. The advice on exercise following a c-section is refrain until after 12 weeks. You can do lots of walking in that time, which is excellent for building up your strength, but the key issue is to allow all your muscles to heal. With every pregnancy, your rectus abdominus (the band of muscle that wraps around your abdomen and joins in the middle - giving you the vertical line in your abs if you're fit - separate and, post birth, you have to allow them to come back. Post caesarean this takes about 12 weeks. LOnger than if you've had a vaginal delivery (takes around 6 weeks) as the muscles are slower to move and heal due to the cutting and stitching from the caesarean.

It's a bore and when you (outwardly) feel fine it can be really tempting to throw yourself into your pre-baby exercise regime. It's very hard when you're used to being fit to sit it out for another 12 weeks. However, in those 12 weeks post-birth you're still healing (even though you feel fine) and your abdominals will still be coming together. If you over exert you can arrest the abdominals - they'll simply grind to a halt, which will leave you with a weaker stomach and the potential for lots of issues with posture, back pain, continence further down the line.

Before having my twins I was a big runner and was used to doing loads of exercise so having to do nothing was a killer. I was also on bed rest for the last month of my pregnancy, which was dire. However, I waited the twelve weeks and I'm really glad I did. My rectus abdominus is fully joined again and my stomach muscles are back to normal (albeit slightly weaker due to the internal scar tissue).

I did lots of walking and lots of stretching during those 12 weeks and it was fine. Hard not to leap out of the door and go for a run at 10 weeks but I'm glad I waited as I'm much stronger for it now.

HOpe this helps.
Kx

kelbel · 05/02/2008 15:56

thanks for this - really appreciated. had my post natal check and it was a waste of time, didn't check me and couldn't answer my questions.

what kind of stretching did you do? im doing loads of walking, but was thinking maybe squats n lunges are maybe ok? also the brown line down my tummy is still prominent, does this fade?x

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loucee · 05/02/2008 22:31

Hi Kelbel

I'm on the December postnatal thread with you and thought I'd mention that another of the regulars on that thread, Suey, had a CS and is also a pysiotherapist.

I'm glad you've posted about this as I've also had no information at all about when I can resume exercise (anyone know when you can start things like Netball again?). I did get a small leaflet in hospital but it's really basic and talks more about lifting things and doesn't say how long to avoid doing things!

Glad you're healing well

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