How long after c section until started feeling 'normal'?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

I've just been to do a small food shop at Sainsbury's and I'm exhausted, struggled to walk :( I'm 5 days pp, am I overdoing it or expecting too much?
My body aches so much (especially hips and back, ankles) my stomach feels like it's going to fall out is this normal?

How long til you felt up to doing regular things? Exercise? Pain went away?

I think you're overdoing it going for a food shop at 5 days, you've had major abdominal surgery. I've had 3 cs, my pain went away probably after 2 weeks, numbness after 2-4 months, able for exercise more than walking after 3 months.

You are definitely over doing it. Shouldn’t really be pushing a buggy so don’t push a trolley. Also not lifting anything heavier than the baby. I think a couple of bags of shopping might be a bit heavy. Try again at 3/4 weeks post op. Agree with previous about exercise from 3/4 month. Congratulations on the new baby!

Congratulations on your baby.
That's very early to be out doing a food shop, no wonder you are tired. Lots of bending and picking up and pushing a trolley and god knows those never go the direction you want them to.
Take it easy, if you can shop online / get DP to do it, no mad movements or putting things in high cupboards or low ones.
Takes a good two to three weeks in my experience of 3 sections. Longer if it was an emergency.

Day 5 post section, I had to go back to hospital for blood pressure checks. I could barely waddle across the car park. Day 7, I was out for a walk with the baby in the sling. Only round the block, but felt a huge amount better than 2 days previously. I certainly wasn't doing the food shop though!

You're definitely overdoing it! I think it took me a week to go for a walk. A month after mine I went into town and found I still couldn't walk at normal pace, everything felt very tight. Just take it easy, it will get better but you need to let your body heal.

You've done way to much there. I went for a walk with the pram at a week post EMCS and paid the price for it as I was in pain and knackered. A C Section us major abdominal surgery and as with any surgery you need to rest and recuperate. Take it easy for a few more weeks yet.

About 6 weeks

Definitely doing too much! I found that my pain got better at 5 days and at 2 weeks I could walk a bit more like round a shop.
They say don’t start proper exercise until 6 weeks but with walking etc listen to your body; I’ve had 2 sections and pushed myself after my first which prolonged my recovery. It was better to take it easy as with my second I then recovered more quickly

2-3 weeks before I could walk to the end of the road. About 2 months to be looking after a toddler. 3 months till I felt safe to drive. About a year before I did any vigorous exercise, although I did walk loads and loads to keep my fitness up.

Yes, definitely overdoing it. I did it too as I wasn’t really in pain so just acted sort of normally. Ended up very poorly and with cellulitis.

My twins were in nicu so I was on my feet way too much. 3 days after the section we walked to a local bar for dinner - massive mistake.

Take a couple of weeks to rest as much as possible

Ooft noooo, you are out way too soon!

I'd say I felt normal after about 2-3 weeks.

I felt pretty dreadful for the first 7 days and then suddenly turned a corner on day 9 and never looked back 😊

Okay thank you all, I think I did overdo it :( it wasn't a planned trip just go grab a few things on way back from the midwife, I tried to push the trolley but could hardly do it so let DH do it 🥴 I will try to be more patient with myself
I feel much better after having my stitches out today

I was fine after a few days with my second one and took a bit longer with my first. Everyone c section is deferent and everyone heals differently. Just listen to your body.

You're definitely overdoing it! You're not supposed to lift or push anything heavier than the baby! I went for our first walk with the buggy at ten days and was in agony afterwards. Do online shopping, sit on the sofa and enjoy your newborn snuggles! There's plenty of time to get back to normal and babies are only tiny for a short period

Dial it down massively that’s silly after 5 days. Give yourself a good 6 weeks. Mine took longer,

I felt normal second time round within a couple of days but I had to - I was discharged after 2 nights but my twins stayed in NICU for another 3 weeks. They were even moved to a hospital a 2 hour round trip away too so I was up and out of the house 10 hours a day to get there, care for them, and then get home and care for an older child (during lockdown and having to hone school 😬) . But I think my body just knew it had to get up and get on - my babies were miles away and needed me.

With my first c section I think it was more like a week to ten days before I did little shopping trips etc and was a much slower recovery

You are massively overdoing it, and your body is telling you this in the aches and pains you now have.

For perspective, I'm 3wks PP after ELCS. I first went for a short walk round the block (literally, 5-10min walk) at 12days PP and wasn't able to push pram myself so DH did it. Prior to this walk, I'd been at home the whole time I think and had just been pottering about the house and doing some walks round the garden to keep mobile.

I'm now 3wks PP and went for a very slow walk round the shops the other day. I'm very slow at walking I realise and even if I try to up my pace it seems impossible as my body is just stiffer than before! I still find car journeys uncomfortable when we go over bumps etc even though DH is driving slowly and carefully. I'm still not feeling back to normal yet, although I now rarely feel any pain. My movements are still slow and deliberate as I'm always cautious not to twinge or pull on my incision. I can bend a bit more now, but try not to very often!

Best to keep mobile but remain cautious and relax as much as possible in these early weeks. A day of overdoing it can set recovery back by a lot!

Far too soon op!

I had my c section 3 weeks ago. I barely moved the first week as I was in a lot of pain.

I'm now starting to feel more normal and heading out to shop etc.

I'd say after 2 weeks it gets a lot better.

Yes, I can report I definitely after 2 weeks I suddenly felt a lot better. Now I'm 7 weeks postpartum & feel almost normal (minus the sleepless nights exhaustion) I forget I've even had the c section some days x

And yes I was definitely over doing it and expecting too much from myself, at that point I felt like I'd never feel normal again