C section - How long does recovery really take?

[Dontbsicily]

Hello,

I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl 5 days ago by emergency caesarean and I’m just wondering if anyone can advise how long it took them to recover?

I know all of the midwives and websites etc just say ‘up to six weeks’ but I’m wondering how long people usually notice a difference with the pain? I don’t mind the bleeding as I’m finding that manageable at the moment but, I’m really missing being able to cough, laugh, sit or stand up without pain!

Thank you :) x

Depends what definition of recovery is but for example:

Walking, about 10hrs

Getting in an out of our bed "easily", about 2 weeks

Getting on and off toilet without crying in pain, about 2 days when the pain meds were more reliably administered (before then I thought I could just skip some or any delay at the recovery ward was ok... It wasn't! Paid for it later!)

Driving, insurer said 6 weeks but probably about 8 weeks later

Sleeping on front without being gingerly managing it, about 4 months

Sex, at about 10 weeks, slowly, no pressure! Weird feeling around belly when getting intimate, I didn't like it much the first two or three times but felt fine to continue

Gentle exercise like slow yoga, about 3months

Proper exercise, fairly hard cardio workout, only from 6 months

Tbh it was only at about 6 months that I didn't have searing stabbing pain when I twist. Fine after the six month mark though.

Still too weak to do planks, not happy to do push ups, and jumping from a fair height still feels "odd" in my belly. 180 degree Twisting still a no no at 7-8 months.

About 10 days for the pain to go, I'm 6 weeks post csection and I'm still not feeling exactly like myself, sometimes have the odd tender feeling or slight pain but I am fairly active, haven't braved the treadmill yet I will take a little bit longer.

@Jenbot78 I'm 6 weeks after csection and still having the bright red blood, definetly mention it to your GP and keep an eye on your iron levels.

Im 5 months postpartum.

I was feeling better after 2/3 weeks, I just found it difficult to bend/get into bath for shower/get off sofa etc etc.

The best thing I found for myself was to keep moving. I enjoy cleaning/tidying up and with people visiting I just carried on with household chores & looking after baby! DH obviously helped where I couldn't & with healing, after a shower I would set a hairdryer on cool, lift my tummy up & dry the scar! Must've helped because it healed/healing nicely xxx

A lot longer than the medical profession, media and other mums say. Just take your time and look after yourself. Don’t lift heavy items (easier said than done with a toddler). My stomach felt numb (once the pain etc had gone) for years. Until I started Pilates I had a ledge which was never going to go.
I sat on the sofa and cuddled my baby for as long as possible - especially with my 2nd child as I knew he would be my last baby. It was very precious time. But painful.

Wow some of you sound like you had super recoveries! I’m 14 months on now. I’d say around 2-3 weeks to be able to walk around not looking like a shuffling zombie, bleeding for at least 8-10weeks then on and off lochia for longer. Scar still feels numb and that lower general area has never felt the same. In the early days and weeks I would really feel it if I overdid it and walked too much in a stretch.

Mine got quite badly infected but I would say by 5 weeks the pain was almost unnoticeable (also helped by DS being readmitted to hospital so other things to focus on) but I struggled to wear jeans or anything with the waistband over the wound for maybe 8-9 weeks. Two of my NCT group also had C sections, though planned, and their recovery was much better than mine. There's just no way to know

@MostlyAmbridgeandcoffee I still can't feel my tummy, scar still looks bright purple 😓 a few weeks after I asked the midwife why the sides of my scar felt like it'd pop open/painful... the answer I got was quite gruesome 😐

Sparkle67 what was the answer??
Nearly a year later I still get odd pressure pain either side of my belly button if laying on my front. NOT at the incision scar area, above it, just below either side of my belly button bit. Is that normal?