Recovery time after C Section

[Kaz1904]

Hi there,

I had a planned section just over a fortnight ago as my little girl was breech. I know the recovery will take a while but was just interested in your experiences as I'm really not sure what to expect.

2 weeks on and although I'm not in as much pain, I'm finding simple jobs hard. I felt drained after attempting some shopping yesterday. Was my first time out. Getting out of bed is still a real struggle. I feel like a beetle stuck on my back! I also feel like my insides move. I'm still propping myself up in bed. When I tried to lie on my side I felt as though my insides were falling over to that side. Is this normal?

I'm just desperate to feel normal again and be able to enjoy being a mummy properly.

Thank you in advance!

K xx

Did you see a physio before you left the hospital? Did they give you some info about how to move around, how to get out of bed, what to expect etc?

I've had two emergency caesareans and quick, easy recoveries. No painkillers necessary and up and about within hours. However, it's major surgery and everybody's different. Some people do find it can take weeks to feel normal again.

Are you well? Breastfeeding? Iron levels okay? The feeling drained might be due to the having a baby/sleepless nights/iron levels/breastfeeding/hormonal and emotional adjustment. Are you still bleeding?

What's your hv like? No harm in asking for a onceover.

There are gentle exercises which you can start in a few weeks which will help with the oh God my stomach is moving independently of the rest of me feeling.

Thank you for your reply. Yes I saw the physio and she gave me a leaflet with exercises but no-one told me what to expect or how things would feel.

Aside from that, I am keeping well and my iron levels are fine. I am formula feeding and my husband has been great helping me. I am just impatient and just getting a little down about wee jobs seeming like a chore.

I was worried about the feeling inside of me with things moving but I take it that is normal then?

I felt a bit funny after mine but I thought it was more like all my organs settling into their correct positions after being squashed by big breech baby for so long,I didn't associate it with the c-section which was a straight forward recovery. It was months later before I could imagine my intestines occupying the correct/normal space!

I did get easily tired for a couple of weeks, but I seem to remember feeling pretty good by about 6 weeks afterwards ( it might not have taken that long but I can remember an event 6 weeks on and feeling really well at it).

Thanks Fluffy. That's good to hear. Actually I never thought of that, I was just assuming it was to do with the section. It's only been 2 weeks and there has been a huge difference in that time. I'm just finding it hard to imagine normal any time soon!

Congratulations on your baby.
You have had a major operation and on top of that have a tiny baby to look after so it will take time.
My mum had her appendix removed and I remember her saying afterwards how she imagined the recovery to be much harder after a section as you also have a baby - consequently she gave me lots of help after mine!
I was much better after my planned section than the emergency one, I was walking slowly to playgroups after 3 weeks or so. I have a toddler to occupy otherwise you would have found me on the sofa feeding and watching Netflix - should have done more of that first time round when I was a bit like you sound, thinking I needed to be up doing things.

Thank you Lilipot! I too lucky that my parents have been a great help and will be on hand when my husband goes back to work next week.

I think I have to remember that this has been major surgery and I can't expect to be back to normal in a fortnight. Going to try and grab rest as much as I can and hopefully feel better as each week passes! Fingers crossed!

I didn't have a c section but for a good few weeks post birth I felt my insides were sliding around and at 10 weeks pp, still occasionally do!

Thanks Purpleboa...glad it's not just me! It's a strange feeling!

I'm 6 weeks post emergency c section and I had exactly the same feeling as you. The second week was the worst for me but I eventually felt back to myself at 4 weeks. You've had major surgery and usually would recover by sleeping which I imagine you're not getting much of!

I have just had my 4th section 3 weeks ago and have only just started sleeping on my side or not propped up by pillows, the sensation is still very wierd,like everything is sloshing about! My recoveries have been different each time, one section took nearly 8 weeks to feel like normal as I did too much too early and got an infection. This one has been hard pain wise but I'm up and running all be it doing things a lot slower, but then dh has gone back to work and I have a school run to do and a toddler to occupy. Sections all though fairly common place now are major abdominal surgery and the longer you can rest and put your feet up the better. For me the first week is utter crap the second better but doing to much could set you back, so even though you are wanting to get out and about keep it gentle and not too long and by the third week I am pretty much there but still not lifting heavy things or hoovering. As my boss said (she's a dr) "just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should" after she caught me carrying the wash basket up the stairs!

Thank you both for your responses. I'm now nearly 4 weeks post surgery and that moving inside feeling has started to pass! I'm also able to sleep without a million pillows propping me up and had my first bath last night...happy days! The things we go through eh for our children! xx