C section - will I be able to do stairs after?

[Yardley42]

I am likely to end up having a C section. I am also likely to be on my own after I am released from hospital - no partner, parents are moving house at basically the same time, other family and friends all work. I can rely on people checking on me regularly - probably even someone every evening for a week or so, but I'll likely be on my own with baby during the day.

I am planning how to set myself up so I can cope, and thinking of basically moving into my bedroom on the first floor of my house - the same floor as the bathroom (no downstairs loo). And bringing up the kettle, toaster, blender etc and buying a mini fridge, so I can survive on protein shakes, snacks and toast during the day at least! And have ready meals for dinners. Also bringing my cats' food and bowls up!

In others' experience though, how were stairs after C section? Manageable once released from hospital? Or not for a week? Okay to nip downstairs a couple times a day to fetch food when baby sleeping (hopefully!) in cot?

Just after some personal experiences so I can try and judge how planned I need to be, and whether it's worth spending on an upstairs fridge! Thanks.

The biggest thing which will aid recovery is being active. They encourage you up and about asap and while each person's recovery is individual, getting out of bed and moving will really help you.

I was up and showering within 3hrs, home the next morning (CS at 10pm) with my first and using stairs, a few times a day. With my second, on day 4 my dc1 started school so had a walk with the baby in a sling, got on a bus, 8 mile bus ride and then a mile walk the other end. I had no choice. There was nothing I couldn't do, but I moved pretty slowly.

You must listen to your body and go slow, but the chances are likely that the stairs won't be a problem. A set up upstairs and downstairs with everything in reach is a great idea regardless. If you are in pain and bleeding increases, slow down. Take your painkillers, stand up straight (temptation is to hunch protectively over your scar) to avoid back pain.

Good luck!

Every birth is different, my second was a vaginal delivery and stairs were a struggle for the first couple of weeks.

I was fine with stairs after my two CSs. Getting out of bed was a bit tricky as PPs have said, but manageable.

Good luck!!

I've just had a csection and have found stairs easier now than when I had my first birth (3b tear and episiotomy)... I'm just taking it really slow but keep trying to move as much as I can x

Stairs were
Fine and short walks. Re lying to sitting much easier to roll to your side and then push up.

Keep on top of pain relief. Much easier to stay on top of it than try to get on top of it again.

I found it easier doing 1 step both feet at time if that makes sense. If you have help around ask them to help bath the baby. The weight of filling the plastic bath is heavy so make the most of any visitors. I remember feeling gutted I couldn't do it myself! But 23 years later I have done so much for my DCs that the birth is such a tiny part of parenthood! Good luck!