When did/could you do the following post c section?

[IceCreamCastles]

Just out of interest, how long before you:

Lifted toddler (onto toilet/into car etc.)
Carried toddler
Carried car seat with baby in it
Hoovered
Drove
Ran
Fit into pre pregnancy jeans

And did doing any of the above cause any problems?

Thank you.

I can't really remember the exact time I did the first 4 things but I can tell you about driving. I understand that you are not insured to drive for 6 weeks after unless you have clearance from your doctor. My sister asked after 4 weeks and the Dr asked her to show that she could stamp her feet which she did so was allowed to drive.

I had an emergency c-section with my second and after 4 weeks, was fed up with not going out and about so went to Dr to demonstrate my best foot stamping. My Dr had different ideas and asked me to jump up and down! I passed so was allowed to drive. I didn't go far but it just really helped me to have some freedom.

I really didn't want a c-section and was really upset when it came to it but it r wasn't as bad as I had expected and by 6 weeks I was able to do pretty much everything, albeit a bit slower and with more care (pre-preg jeans excepted).

Don't rush things, look after yourself and give yourself time to heal and it will be OK.

I carried ds1 in the car seat 5 weeks after c-section and really should not have done, consequently when I had a c-section with ds2 I didn't try to lift or carry ds1 for ages. Hoovering wasn't a problem (we moved house 4 weeks after c-section with ds1), but lifting the hoover up and down the stairs was - we have an upright hoover though, so it might be more difficult than with a cylinder type.

How long it took to fit into pre-pregnancy jeans was not related to my c-sections, but to my ability to loose the weight I had gained in pregnancy (3 stones both times) - which took about 3 months in both cases.

I'd say that as healing time is so individual, if you plan to need help for 6 weeks, if you end up needing it for less you will be pleasantly surprised. With both ds's I found just short walks down the road were difficult for at least 2 weeks.

Haven't heard about the stamping or jumping tests! The stuff I had from the hospital said I could drive at 4 weeks so I have been ( nearly 5 weeks post section now)

Carried ds+car seat yesterday and thought I probably shouldn't have done.

Have been lifting dd onto loo etc if there's no other option but worried that I will do some damage.

Feeling so restricted- grrr.

Drove after 3 weeks with all 3 of my c-sections. Lifted toddler way way too soon after 3rd c-section - I mean at 1 week but there really was no choice as DH was back at work . . .

You are hardcore mrscb .

Lifted toddler (onto toilet/into car etc.)
1st section - n/a
2nd section - about 2 weeks

Carried toddler
1st section - n/a
2nd section - maybe 4 weeks, certainly not soon

Carried car seat with baby in it
1st time - probabay about a fortnight before I tried
2nd time - didn/t try for 6 weeks, healed v slowly

Hoovered
1st time - 3 years, ahem no, about 3 weeks again
2nd time - at least a month

Drove
1st time - 4 weeks (tried stamp test, and spoke to insurance)
2nd time - 7 weeks

Ran
1st time - 11 weeks with GP clearance
2nd time - about 16 weeks

Fit into pre pregnancy jeans
1st time - 3 weeks
2nd time - about 2 months

As you will gather, I recovered from 2nd CS very slowly and I was hesistant to do anything very quickly. I couldnt walk upright without pain for 9 weeks.

I didn't have much choice Icey and really wouldn't recommend lifting toddler for as long as possible - I bled an awful lot for quite a while and especially after I'd lifted middle child.

Pre-pregnancy jeans - I can't remember - was probably 3 or 4 months though . . .

And we lived in the middle of nowhere so had to drive asap really for school run and my own sanity.

How are you feeling?

Oh and I left car seat in car and put baby in it in the car if you know what I mean.

And hoovering - umm my cleaner did that

Yes that's what I normally do with car seat.

I'm feeling fine really- not taken any any painkillers for over a week now but just wary of limitations- would be nervous of jumping up and down for example. Back tends to ache a bit if I've overdone the bending or lifting.

My friend who is a physio is coming to visit next week so will badger her for advice.

Good that you are aware of your limitations. Don't rush it, everyone is different. Do you have a small plastic stool you can put by the loo so your toddler can get on and off herself?

It is so frustrating not being able to do what you want when you want but it will get better.

Lifted toddler (onto toilet/into car etc.) - very rarely only for emergency situations/safety incident as all mine could climb well from 18 months into car and car seats and high chair etc and I would recommend encouraging this whilst pregnant anyway to be ready and to prevent lifting in pregnancy. I knew I was having csections so was prepared. Used potty or stool for toilet. I lowered side of cot and they would climb out a chair so no lifting.

Carried car seat with baby in it - have never done so always use a sling as my babies much happier and it is bad for your back even without a csection so would avoid it totally

Drove - 10 days after first csection, less than a week after all the others but I made sure I had checked with GP and then followed it up in writing to them that they had authorized it so I would be covered by insurance.

NB I did not labour before any of the sections so guess my recovery would have been easier.

Stopped taking painkillers after 2 weeks (old lady).
Started doing minor stuff afterwards and had repeated episodes of bleeding everytime I did something strenuous like picking up toddler/changing nappies. Stopped bleeding after 10 weeks.

Painting toe nails on hospital bed 1 day (I was a super fit dancer )
Driving 4 weeks
Jeans 6 weeks

Still recovering from 2nd six years later!!!

Lifted toddler - couple of days

Carried toddler - about 7 days

Carried car seat with baby - on discharge from hospital, day 3, pulling a small wheelie suitcase ( don't ask.......)

Hoovered - 4 days

Drove - 2 weeks

Ran - 4 weeks both times

Pre-preg jeans - 6 weeks Cs1, 8 weeks CS2.

drove 10 days, had to ds2 was very ill in hospital. Doc signed me fit & insurance was ok with it.
lifted toddler about 3weeks
carried toddler, again about 3 or 4 weeks but he was 3yrs so not so much need.
Baby car seat, he was in hospital for a few months so not applicable
Jeans... erm ds2 is 9 now & still not in them... maybe thats cos ive not done the running either.