Accidently been using stomach muscles aft C section

[Boogie5757]

I have accidently been using my muscles to get in and out of bed and put baby in co sleeper and get him out again to feed. I’ve also been sleeping flat and on my side.

i didnt realise we had to sleep upright and also have baby brought to you by partner

it’s felt sore but I thought that was normal for after a C and nothing excruciating.

Really worried now that I’ve caused internal damage to my muscle wall. I’m on day 4 btw…

I've had two C-sections and never heard that we're not meant to use our stomach muscles, how exactly do you go about normal every day life without using them?

You'll be fine.

Who told you that? Sounds like nonsense.

I’ve never had a c section but I’d imagine it’s absolutely impossible to move at all without somehow engaging some of your stomach muscles. Even lifting your arm from lying flat will cause something in your stomach area to tense!

Hospital advice is that you should not pick up anything heavier than your baby.
If you felt ok picking up baby there is no reason partner should do it.

Depending on painkillers you have been given, but generally your body will remind you with strong sharp pain if you over do it.
If you feel ok I would say there is reallyÿyy low chance you made any demage.

If in doubt, you can go for antenatal walk in and ask, they have to see you several weeks after delivery. Or ask midwife, they used to pop around day 5.

I’ve been doing this from the very next day - whilst in hospital?

Yes i understand but I’ve been using muscles to swing baby in and out of crib - I’ve been doing this from the very next day - whilst in hospital?

Yes i understand but I’ve been using muscles to swing baby in and out of crib - I’ve been doing this from the very next day - whilst in hospital?

Why on earth do you think you should sleep upright? Who is telling you this rubbish?

I have never heard of this? Obviously don't over do it but how do you expect to get out of bed without using muscles. In the hospital you are encouraged to lift the baby from cot, get up and go to the toilet, have a shower, walk the corridor.

Well yeah, how else would you pick a baby?
It is normal.

After birth your uterus and belly are shrinking and blood ia clothing fast and closing the cut. So internally it is much smaller wound after four days. Human body gets repaired quite fast :)

I’ve been using them quite vigorously since day 1 - is that still okay. ?

What have you been doing that is vigorous? Or just what you mentioned in your OP?

If it is what you mentioned in your OP you are fine.

Yes what I said really - baby care , swinging in and out of bed , crouching to change nappies , hauling stuff about… sleeping on side

will I have made myself more like to get a C section overhang?

It's really weird, I think the mindset after a section makes all the difference (also the circumstances and the experience before the section). With my first (emcs) I just assumed I would be incapable and was a bit of a princess ]. Before my next I actually worked on a post natal ward and was amazed that some people just immediately sprung back and were desperate to be discharged.

My next 2 sections were fine, bit sore but standard painkillers sorted it. I was that person who discharged themselves after my third baby, I would have gone mental staying there another night. Just carry on, don't overdo it or push it too far. Never in my life have I heard any advice to sleep upright.

That's not a thing. Who told you that?

All you wrote would be ok by advice I was given for my c sections.
If in doubt ask midwife when she comes to visit.

Overhang is really just your skin and fat having straight cut rather than going down towards pubic bone in a slope. If you had fat free toned belly you will likelly still have it.
If you could pinch a bit of a fat roll there will be a shelf.
Get higher waist underwear and swimwear if you are worried about this, cut and flop are very low. Or you can change diet, exercise so there is no fat to hang (I was too lazy for that tbh).

I was told to get out of bed by lying on my side and pushing myself up sideways i.e. avoiding a sit-up type movement. I actually did that for at least a couple of weeks because it was painful to sit up otherwise. A physiotherapist visited me in the hospital to give this advice and some exercises to avoid damage to the muscles which I could start doing right there in bed.

At 4 days I was still in hospital with nurses helping pick up the baby but I had her overseas not in the UK.

If it hurts, pulls or feels uncomfortable don't do it. Otherwise stop fretting, you'll be fine. The human body is amazing at fixing itself and you don't need to wind yourself up worrying.

If you don't use the muscles you actually delay the healing time.

Whoever told you this is speaking rubbish.

The only thing that sounds questionable in your list is "hauling stuff about". What do you mean by that?

To get up from lying down the best way is to roll on to your side, use your arms to push yourself up and put your legs down. Picking up the baby and changing nappies is fine. No need to sleep upright! Why do you think the things you have been doing are bad?