Life after a C - Section

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FebMama · 03/12/2022 10:21

It varies from person to person, no two people recover completely in the same time frame. So many factors to consider.

General advice is not to drive until 6 weeks post op - also check with car insurance provider as some providers will not cover you before the 6 weeks. So if you chance it and find yourself needing to make a claim, could cause further issues.

Exercise and sex - genuinely depends on the individual. For me, I felt physically more able at the 4 week mark. But didn't exercise until around 8 weeks and cannot for the life of me remember how long I left it to have sex.

Babyboomtastic · 05/12/2022 22:09

Lucban · 03/12/2022 10:14

Hi everyone.

Just a few questions after having a c section.

How long until you can drive?
How long until you can exercise eg gym?
How long until you can have sex?

Thank you in advance 😊

I don't drive, but I know many friends who were driving after 2ish weeks

Exercise - I'm rubbish at, so can't really answer.

Sex - 10 days I think.

I run painkillers for 10-14 days to ensure no breakthrough pain, but had barely any issue at all, and was back to doing most things in life by 1-2 weeks.

Babyboomtastic · 05/12/2022 22:11

A lot of women stick to the 6 week thing for driving because they assume that's the rule. Many/Most insurers are fine with you driving earlier, but you'd need to check the wording of your policy.

Abouttimemum · 05/12/2022 22:13

I honestly can’t really remember and it was only a couple of years ago! I got given a sheet with the recommendations. DS was in special care so I probably didn’t drive for that time as DH was dropping me off and picking me up each day anyway. About 6 weeks I guess.
No clue when we had sex!

Was up and about pretty much the following day, actual exercise I can’t remember, I had a newborn so didn’t do much 🤣🤣 was walking quickly though.

I was pretty much back to normal after a few weeks I would say.

anothercold · 05/12/2022 22:20

Exercise they advised no heavy exercise for 6 months. I was desperate to get back to working out and attempted to do a plank after 4 months, but literally couldn't even support myself up at all - my stomach muscles had been cut and there was nothing there. It was quite scary. After that I waited until the 6th month mark and tried again.

(Once baby starts moving you don't have any opportunity to exercise unless you have childcare though! When they are just sitting up you can plonk them down and work out next to them)

Walking was fine after the first 2-3 weeks.

Sex I waited till after my GP sign off, same as driving. (6 weeks).

gemloving · 05/12/2022 22:22

Drive: they say 6 weeks, if you do drive earlier, make sure you check your insurance policy. Anything for them get out of a claim.

I don't go to the gym.

Sex: 6 weeks but then didn't again for 6 weeks. It took over a year to have a somewhat "normal" sex life again. We now have sex in our diary 🤣

Kentlassie · 05/12/2022 22:25

I’m 16 weeks post c section (my 3rd one). I was driving after 5 weeks, started couch 2 5k at 13 weeks pp, and sex….still haven’t braved it….

CornishGem1975 · 05/12/2022 22:26

I drove around 10 days. Midwife said it was fine, insurance couldn't care less.

Sex after about 2 weeks.

Gym - still haven't managed it after 3 years

gemloving · 05/12/2022 22:28

@Kentlassie & there is nothing wrong with it. Whenever you're ready.

MoanySloney · 05/12/2022 22:29

I'd be less worried about all of these things and more worried about when you can take a shit without worrying about popping a stitch in the immediate days after having a c section.

I've had two. I'm going to be blunt. It's an operation, not a death sentence. Give yourself six weeks to sit down and rest. You'll have a baby to look after and all and will have your hands full with that. There is plenty of time to get driving, go back to the gym and have a shag. But it will take longer if you don't rest properly. So rest properly.

AriettyHomily · 05/12/2022 22:31

Drive after 3 weeks, gym after about a year because I had no bloody time with twins. Sex after 5 days, twins were in nicu. We were at home. When they came home no sex for about a year!

Schlaar · 05/12/2022 22:31

You really can’t say. I never recovered from it and it’s been five years.

Abouttimemum · 05/12/2022 22:31

MoanySloney · 05/12/2022 22:29

I'd be less worried about all of these things and more worried about when you can take a shit without worrying about popping a stitch in the immediate days after having a c section.

I've had two. I'm going to be blunt. It's an operation, not a death sentence. Give yourself six weeks to sit down and rest. You'll have a baby to look after and all and will have your hands full with that. There is plenty of time to get driving, go back to the gym and have a shag. But it will take longer if you don't rest properly. So rest properly.

That first poo was awful. I had trapped gas right across my body which made me feel like my shoulder was dislocated. The relief when I finally got it out was incredible. Better than any sex haha.

TheTeddyBears · 05/12/2022 22:35

I had emcs with 6 day hospital stay. I could drive after about 2 wks but probably wasn't ready only did short journey. Had to drive after 3wks as dh was bk at work, hardest part was carrying car seat out or getting pram out of boot. I called my insurer they said once ur doctor said u can. I asked doctor he said as long as u feel u can but best to wait at least 2-3 weeks.

Had sex about 7 wks after waited until I'd had my 6wk check.

I started gym about 2-3 months after. Didn't feel up to it before then.

It was sore for a very long time probably close to a year. I had a bad infection. 5yrs later it's still sore if I get bumped there or more likely 2yr old kicks or stands on me 🙈 I've also had another section since the first one too.

Starpop · 05/12/2022 22:37

I'm 12 weeks post emergency section, I drove after 6 weeks, I probably could have drove sooner but didn't want to. Exercise I haven't done anything like the gym but was back hiking after 8 weeks when I'd had the all clear at me 6 week check, sex like a pp not braved it yet.

and to echo what pp said about the first poo yep I was pretty freaked out by that, at the hospital they said there should be no issues but I dunno maybe pushing uses your stomachs muscles? I found that one of the worst parts but it did get easier pretty quickly after the first time.

to pp that said you've still not recovered years later, how so? I'm getting a bit of pain around my scar and internally in that area but I don't know how much is normal at this point.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 05/12/2022 22:41

Driving i waited 8 weeks, walked as much as i could and still do to help with recovery.

Exercise i swim so had to wait for 6 week check up.

Sex, won't be until around 6 months and i'm done breastfeeding, but after c section if i wasn't BF i felt ok ish by about 4/5 weeks so maybe it would have been then

ChessieDarling · 05/12/2022 22:46

Everyone is different, of course, but in answer to your questions;
Driving was about 2 weeks
I don’t go to the gym but I was up and about the same day, walking the dogs by day 2 and riding my horses by about 5/6 weeks pp
Sex.. 10 days or so?

Firen · 05/12/2022 22:47

I was told I could drive when I felt ok to do it - this was from the discharge doctor. My husband drove for the next few months, but we live in London so we only had to drive twice in those 3 months and I would have been fine doing it.

I was walking around the park on day 3. Pub on day 4. I gave up the gym before I was pregnant as I was bored of it, but did exercise from about a week after at a level I felt comfortable with.

I had sex a week after the section, was fine until about a month or so after when when the sleep deprivation set in and neither of us had the energy!

it’s really all down to how you feel really.

Firen · 05/12/2022 22:51

Also I was told about the pooing thing, and I’m usually a bit constipated naturally, but had no issues with that at all! The c-section was a breeze compared to the breastfeeding - that was the worst for me!!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 05/12/2022 22:52

CS1:4 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 weeks
CS2: 9 weeks, about 3 months, God only knows.... I couldn't stand up straight for 9 weeks.

IneedanewTV · 05/12/2022 22:52

I just took my time. I decided I didn’t need to drive so waited for 6 weeks. Same with sex I waited for the GP sign off. Exercise…not sure but it took a long time as no childcare and I just didn’t feel like it. Just enjoy this enforces rest - it’s horrible out there so cuddle up with baby on the sofa and watch some films

CornishGem1975 · 05/12/2022 22:54

OMG my first poo - well week of poo was excruciating but then they can be true of vaginal birth. I was so constipated it was untrue but I was on iron tablets, and was using a laxative but it was the worst thing ever. Not the pain from c-section just the constipation aspect!

Original poster

Lucban · 05/12/2022 23:00

Thank you everyone for the responses!
Luckily I've been ok with walking around, lifting things around the house.
I haven't tested the driving or sex yet but I'll wait for it to be 2 weeks po.
Also with pooping I haven't had a problem thank god 😂

OP posts:

Whatnextarghhhhhh · 05/12/2022 23:04

Back in the gym the day after my 6 week post birth check up. That was literally months before I was remotely interested in sex again.

Hugasauras · 05/12/2022 23:09

I was back driving 10 days PP with my elective section. We live rurally and I would have gone doolally not being able to go places for six weeks! Can't tell you about gym as I never went pre-babies either