Any top tips for overcoming planned c-section as quickly as possible?

[charx]

Hi, anyone out there got any advice on how to get better as quickly as possible post c-section.

Also how long does one tend to stay in post planned c-section (providing of course all goes well!)?

Thanks

I have had 2 and found them much easier to recover from than my ventouse/episiotomy with ds 1.

Usually you are up out of bed, with help within 12 hours, and I was fully mobile within 24 hours, no problems picking up baby or anything like that. I stayed in for 5 nights, because that is the norm for that hospital, but would have been fine to go home before that.

Don't worry, it's much easier than you think!

BTW, there was very little pain, regular painkillers did fine, I didn't need morphine or anything like that.

Hiya - I was in hospital for 5 nights as well, but think I could probably have come home after 4 days. My main tip would be to keep taking the pain killers regularly, even if you feel ok. Good luck

Arnica tablets. Works like magic.

I was in for 7, 7, 4 and 4 nights respectively. I have heard great things about arnica tablets, but too late for me unfortunately. You need to keep on top of the pain with drugs and you need to be ruthless about not doing too much because lifting one laundry basket can really set you back.

I have had 2 sections, and was out of hospital the next day both times. I think that the most important thing to help you recover quickly is to not do too much to soon. I think that if you do then that can set your recovery back a bit. Aslo regular painkillers and try to avoid lifting things as much as you can.

I have had one (elective) and me and baby were signed off as fit to go next day (ended up in for 3 nights for other reasons though).

I would say make sure you are as fit/healthy as poss beforehand, take the painkillers and take it really easy for at least the first 10 days or so but try and get some gentle exercise in. Make sure you try and get up and move around as soon as you can afterwards - really helps.

I was in 3 nights.

Day 1 - DD was born at 9.30 in the morning. I had been induced so in effect had been in labour for about 22 hours and had emCS. I had morphine and all three of us slept all day. DH went and found food early evening then wnet home. Lay there half the night adoring the sleeping angel in her plastic crib and was totally in shock that she was actually MINE. (She might have been more drowsy because of the pethidine?)

Day 2 - I woke up feeling so grotty, dirty and starving! Had a catheter. Was gasping for a cup of tea, so as noone came when I rang the buzzer, got out of bed (quite uncomfortable but doable, and wheeled dd, and the catheter thingy to the breakfast room. Had breakfast and did new baby admiring.

Wheeled everything back to room and did some more adoring of my new born! They came and removed catheter, and i nervously tried a wee. No probs. My sister turned up. She watched dd while i went and had a shower. I looked like death warmed up! We tried to DO breastfeeding. There's nothing so humilating as your sister (3 dcs under her belt) fiddling with your tits! Nothing doing - dd just got cross.

DH came back and visited, then went home again. Dd really woke up at the point for the first time really and screamed and screamed. I couldn't even reach to pick her up. BIG new mummy angst! Nice, lovely nurse came and took her away and brought her back in clean clothes, nappy, fed. Heavenly sleep.

Day 3 - more vague. DH came back. Asked someone about BF. A strange woman fiddled with my tits a bit more. Still nothing doing. Had enough with tit fiddling. Gave dd some more formula and sent dh to tescos to buy bottles/SMA/steriliser etc. Friends came to visit.

Day 4 - realised that I was totally bored and there was no medical reason that we had to stay there. Asked to go home. No bother. Paed checks etc and DH collected us at lunchtime. His entire family arrived to manhandle dd whilst i sat there in total shock!

After that it was all fine! The painkillers did their job. I found I was a bit jittery around teatime - probably related to the codeine. I used to go and have a bath and get DH to bring me a G&T - that helped a lot. I was a little bit uncomfortable, but pretty much it was business as usual, certainly after say day 7.

I was shopping in Manchester city centre on day 5 after my section. My friend was out having a curry with friends the evening of day 5 after her section. I am having my second section 11 weeks today and hoping to be out on day 3 if all is well. I took Arnica tablets too.

I agree with everyone who says to take it as easy as possible. If you have other children don't lift them and take care getting in and out of bed. I've had 2 elective sections and the only real pain came when I leapt out of bed; forgetting I'd just had surgery when I was still finding my feet as a new Mum.
I was in hospital for three nights with my first and two with my second but I think I could have been out sooner if they'd breast fed better.

arnica arnica arnica ARNICA!!!!!

1. get your dp/dh to take 2-3 weeks paternity leave

1. eat really well so your body can heal from the operation - home-cooked meals from dp preferably

1. rest, watch tv, take it easy

1. limit visitors to when you back home and feeling well

1. take as much pain relief as you are allowed so you can move around as much as possible

I was at my mum's for Sunday dinner after c/s Friday am - I was very nervous about going for c/s but dd was 14 days over and after horrendous induction/failed ventouse, neville barnes forceps, 3rd degree tear and losing 2 litres of blood with overdue ds, there was no way I was going through that again! I was so pleased with how easy in comparison c/s was (telling all the pg women touring the ward on the Saturday that it really wasn't anything to be too scared of if it came to a c/s).

Yes to the arnica and keeping on top of the painkillers (though I was only on voltarol and paracetamol), and try to stand up straight - though slowly - when they get you up. I know the temptation is to stoop, but it really helps to be upright. Also yes to get as much help as you can - it is still a major op and you don't have to be Superwoman!

I have to say I felt completely back to normal after 4 weeks (driving as well with GP's and insurance's ok)

Good luck!

If you need to take the painkillers they give you, make sure you have plenty of liquids & fruit, as some painkilers can make you constipated.

i was practically hopping and skipping the day after my emc/s and stopped taking the painkillers because i felt i didn't need them (only paracetamol) after 2 days. i think i am pretty unusual, though. i heard another woman moan and scream all night in pain from her c/sectdion in the hospital - i know other women who have been on morphine to get the pain management right - i think it may be luck of the draw.

i was also fairly stupid and picked up my supremely heavy hospital bag 24 hours after the op - nothing bad happened, but it could have done. really wish the hospital had given me a sheet of instructions entitled "you weren't expecting a c-section, but you've had one, so read this for what and what not to do". i had no idea i was supposed to wait for a nurse to put my surgical stockings on, too - attempted to do that by myself.

things which may possibly have helped me:
arnica tablets
walking up and down the ward to keep things moving
being really active and mobile up until the birth (have a teaching job which entails rolling around on the floor and getting up and off the floor lots - was teaching until 38 weeks)
not realising i was supposed to take life quite so easily post c-section, so i just got on with things (first thing i did was clean the bathroom and kitchen when i returned from hospital with dd 3 days after her birth)

it is the luck of the draw - but if i did it again, i would be more cautious about lifting stuff and cleaning, but would still walk lots.

Regarding the arnica tablets, when do you start taking them and how many? thanks

Such a positive and reassuring thread, thanks charx for starting it

I am due an elective in a week or so and have been so nervous about it lately. My first was an emergency and everybody keeps telling me there is no comparison. However I stil worry that maybe I have a very low pain threshold and that I´ll really struggle like I did last time.
Anyway this thread is a great help.

Oh and I wondered too when to start taking the Arnica?

i think you take them after the op and how many is on the little tube of them

i dont know if they helped me really - its a major op so you do need to take other care too

start taking them % days before the operation if its a planned section and it tells you the dose on the tube

Ooh ooh - thought of some more! Take some peppermint cordial (or tea if you prefer but I'm a big kid) to have with warm water because you could get the worst wind in the world from the op!

I also got a Theraline caesarean belt, good for protecting wound as it has a cushion and then a plastic shield to stop anything, including baby, knocking it, as well as heat/cold packs in to help healing (not to be used till stitches out, though). This is invaluable when you also have a 2 yr old throwing himself at you!

NCT do some great 'mesh' type knickers (don't know how to do link, sorry) that will hold your maternity pad/wound dressing still but not roll down onto the wound/scar (wore mine for about 6 weeks) - otherwise some really big knickers but these sometimes roll - ow!

The herbalist I got my arnica from said take maximum dose on the bottle every 2 hrs on day before op and for a couple of days after, then go down to 3 times a day after that.

5 days sorry

newgirl if I ate my DH's cooking the last thing I would get is better!

It's best for everyone concerned if he stays out of the kitchen

Luckily, me MIL is a good cook and lives down the road and I am good at freezing things so we will survive next time too...

My section was an emergency but I would agree with the people who have said to take the pain meds regularly so the pain never starts and to buy the big pants. There's nothing quite so sore (or gross) as a strip of knicker elastic in the wound!

I've had an EMCS and a planned one.

With the planned one I was out of bed about 4 hours later, although still attached to urine bottle and drain. Next day these were removed and I left hospital 3 days later (should have been 2 but paperwork didn't get completed in time).

Tips for getting well are to follow the guidelines (no lifting etc.), get some rest when you can, but also don't molly coddle yourself yoo much. It really does depend on how good you are at recovering but I found with both my sections, getting out and about quickly really helped me to feel 'normal' again.

I had an ELCS, and it was absolutely fantastic (compared to hideous ventouse/forceps/near-death experience the first time round). I was out of hospital after about two days with paracetamol and Voltarol. It does hurt, but it's bearable. Get as much rest as you can, and don't hoover or lift heavy things (easier said than done if you also had a toddler, as I had!) And yes: gigantic knickers are a must!!

and internet shop for your groceries, heavy supermarket trollies are not your friend