C-section recovery milestones...

[mumbot]

Hi ladies, how long was it after your c-section before you could do any of the following...

• go for a walk outside
• wear jeans
• push a pram
• lift your toddler
• go for a run

Thanks x

ps I had my c-s 2 weeks ago

1. about a week / week and a half after

1. as above but they weren't really comfortable and I had to buy a bigger size than pre-pregnancy as my stomach was still swollen. I wore tracksuit bottoms / PJ bottoms around the house for about a month after and only wore jeans when out.

1. as above

1. N/A but couldn't pick up my baby very easily for a few weeks afterwards.

1. didn't try until a year afterwards! But probably could have (if I'd had the inclination!) about 3 months after.

Thanks kissprudence how long did it take for your stomach swelling to go down? I still look pregnant with the swelling at the moment

1. two days after the op.
2. a couple of weeks once the scar had healed well and the scabs were pretty much gone.
3. I could have done it a couple of days after the op, but I didn't, probably about a week after.
4. I didn't have a toddler
5. I don't run, but funnily enough there was an article in the paper yesterday about Zoe Ball running 6 weeks post partum. There was a pregnancy and post-partum exercise 'expert' who said she would advise people to wait at least 6 months because of the amount of relaxin that is still in the system.

1. 3 days
2. 4 weeks
3. 3/4 days
4. 4 weeks
5. I was walking alot by 6 weeks after but I think ilike is right its not the surgery that will stop you running experts always say 6 months for the relaxin to go or you risk serious injury to muscles/joints etc

But 2 weeks is still really early on. The difference in how I felt at 2/4/6 weeks was staggering so don't worry if you still feel quite under the weather

1. about a week
2. maternity jeans - about 2 weeks I think but with a pad across so they didn't rub on the scar
3. a week - it helped me walk actually as I was leaning on the handle
4. avoid as much as possible. Can't remember, sorry.
5. ahem. I still haven't been for a run and my CS was 10 months ago but then I don't like running. I feel totally normal now apart from that ugly scar on my tummy

1. 4 days. Walked 1 miles to M&S and 1 mile back a week after DS was born.

2. Can't remember - it was hot and I enjoyed stretchy clothes too much

3. A week

4. N/A

5. 5 weeks and 5 days. And I managed 25 minutes non-stop much to my delight - I had been expecting a very slow very painful run / walk. Infact, the scar didn't hurt at all the worst thing (for me) was the flopping about of my now empty belly

Relaxin does hang around for ~6 months apparently, but that doesn't mean you can't run as far as I understand, just that you need to be a bit cautious about it. Saying that, I threw myself straight back into it, ended up overdoing it (was so thrilled to be running again) and got me an achilles injury which lead to a knee injury which stopped me running for 2 months.

Hopefully this time round I will know better

1. First day home from hopital so about 4 days after.
2. Back in normal jeans about 2 weeks after.
3. 4 days after.
4. Didn't have a toddler to lift!
5. 5 weeks after I ran 3 mile run (only stopped running 3 weeks before CS so still fairly fit)

• go for a walk outside

5 days just a little way, 3 weeks any distance without getting very tired

• wear jeans

5 days

• push a pram

4 weeks - down hill was hardest- really felt that in my stomach

• lift your toddler

my oldest was 5 so I don't lift her any more

• go for a run

ha ha...11 months ( no probably 4 months, but I went swimming 2 months after)

I had PE/HELLP so was feeling more pants that usual becuase of that. Remember its a major abdominal op, so don't let any superwomen bully you in to doing things before you are ready.

mumbot no offence but are you for real????
Of course you will still look pregnant 2 weeks after giving birth any way, c-section or otherwise. There are some ladies who are lucky and don't, but I would say the majority are still in maternity clothes for at least a month afterwards.
There is nothing to stop you from pushing prams/lifting toddlers/going running except that you have had major abdominal surgery.
After my second c-section I did not lift my 13 month old at all for at least a month, somebody had to help me put her in cot/in bath/in high chair/in pram etc...
I would say that there is no way you should contemplate running at least until after your 6 week check, at the very earliest...
I found that even after a couple of weeks, if I bent down too suddenly or got up too quickly, I got a pain and started bleeding more heavily. I took that as a sign that I should take things easy.
I know it's hard to be patient and it is frustrating, but it is so much easier to put up with it and take it totally easy now, rather than strain something and end up back in hospital getting stitched back up etc...
Good luck!!

It took about a month or two for stomach swelling to go completely down and get back into my normal size clothes

I do remember feeling like it would never happen.

But I am short/small and had a large baby so my stomach muscles had separated and were fairly useless for a while afterwards (I remember being shocked that I couldn't even do one sit up!). So this didn't help. I got some post natal exercises from midwife whilst in hospital to help with this.

Thanks everyone, it's really helpful to know what to expect. I know it's early days but it's really great to know that things will get better. xxxx

Ah take it easy, if you can ever ask for all the help you can get, it's now! Let DH bring you your meals in bed, put your feet up and rest. Your body will tell you how much you can / can't do. You will recover soon. Congratulations by the way