specific dos and don'ts after c-section

[titferbrains]

Am still very upset about needing a c-section (bad tear, breech baby, OC).

Accidentally ended up reading about people who are still feeling funny/pain a long while after the op. This is the part that scares me the most, the poss that someone could make a mistake in the op or that I might heal badly.

Am hoping to get some help for first couple of weeks but hope to be a bit better after that as it's ELCS. Going to do as little as poss initially except feed baby, walk a bit and rest.

DD is at nursery about 10-12 min walk away. When should I be able to take her myself?? Really, REALLY don't want to overdo it and wreck stitches etc. Obv with drop off at nursery total walking time will be about 20 min - or longer I guess, as i'll be moving more slowly.

V difficult to work out what extra help I'll need as she is at nursery 3 times a week, needs to go to playground/get out and about every single day, and our bath is extremely awkward - I would say it will be several weeks before I'll be able to turn it on by myself as the taps are at a funny position and at the far end of a corner. Not even comfortable to do when pg!

Please try to give specific info about what I should definitely avoid doing. And how many minutes walk per day from beginning constitutes "keep moving around so your muscles don't seize up?"

Really? well my wound healed much faster this time - who knows if it was the Arnica but for the cost of them it was worth a try!! The midwife also said she had heard positive results

All c sections are different.

DS1 - emcs, had OH helping at home for a couple of months (he was temp unemployed) which was essential as I got MRSA infection in scar which didn't heal properly and I didn't really leave the house for 6weeks.

DS3 - emcs, baby left in NICU and I was home after 7 days and looking after DS1 and DS2 on my own in the house. This time, c section healed well very quickly and I was fine around the house. But only left to be driven to see DS3 every day. I had lovely friends who took DS1 to school and back and DS2 to nursery. Fine in house, not good out of the house as too weak to walk more than a couple of dozen steps.

I had an ELCS four weeks ago (low placenta) and had a really positive experience. Was out in two days, wound has healed beautifully, no need for stitches. Sure I was tired, but they really look after you in hospital. And breastfeeding positions are no different to usual - the incision is really low so unless you're planning on slinging baby across your bikini line you'll be fine :) good luck! And focus on the fact that it's the safest way to get your LO to you.

Thanks for reassurance Hubba.

Wish I was on the other side of all this, the baby's endless kicking is making me feel a bit ill again today (thought it had turned from breech to head down yesterday) and I am surrounded by mess but hindered by back ache and discomfort when I bend over.

I had an EMCS with DS and it wasn't that bad. I did have to take my time sitting up and couldn't bend very well (but after being ginormously pregnant it wasn't so different )
The only thing I would say is make sure you take it easy even once you end up feeling better. I decided I felt fine two weeks after and went out shopping with DS in a sling - I'm not sure if that was it or if it was just general overdoing it but I ended up in hospital with an infection which came on very quickly.

Found it different with both, first was EMCS and healed well and rested loads.

Couldn't do this with elective 2nd time round, ds1 was just 3. It is harder with another child to care for as there is no resting, I seemed to be constantly dealing with one or the other.

If your DH has said you can have help, get it. I had none, no family close, didn't work so no work friends, neighbours elderly and no help. It was hard, very hard.

Had I have realised it would be I would have hired someone to help out. Dh was amazing but he had to work after 2 weeks.

Re feeding, I fed in rugby ball style, where you tuck their body under your arm pit, in hospital I used a feeding cushion to get feeding established. Discharged myself after 2 days due to issues with in-laws over looking after ds1 whilst DH came to the hospital.

Fizzy, would you have wanted someone to help you with baby or with toddler?

As I've posted before, am concerned about DD freaking out from seeing too many different people, atm I will be relying on possibly 2 family and 2 carers we know.

I'm going to endorse the "all c-sections different" view.

By all means have a bit of a think about what you might do given certain circumstance, but don't exhaust yourself over what are - and may well remain - hypotheticals. You'll be able to judge for yourself what you can cope with.

I had an EMCS and had no preconceptions about recovery time or expectations of pain. As it was, I went for a walk 20 hours after (in the hospital grounds, up a gentle hill) and only found out this was unusual when doctors and nurses commented afterwards. I didn't need painkillers beyond two days either. Scar was healing perfectly until I got MRSA after DD was re-admitted to hospital with weight loss (one side looks totally normal, the other has a bit of scar tissue). I did lift stuff after. I still get the odd twinge around the bit where they knot the stitches, but that's normal. And, yeah, from what I've heard elective CS are fantastic. I loved the experience of my EMCS, it was so surreal and some very amusing (albeit post-G&A) chat with the consultants.

I can understand you are apprehensive about a Cs but from my experience it really might not be as bad as you think. I had an EMCS after v long unsuccessful labout 3.5 years ago and am having an ELCS in 2 weeks for no. 2.
I didn't have any issues with the scar healing, hardly any pain and no probs with BF. It didn't slow down BF, milk coming in nor was Bf uncomfortable in any way. I just sat in a chair with cushions propping baby up(which I assume is how anyone BF's??). You can't bend down and lift things but tbh this is the same as for late pregnancy anyway. You need to be a bit careful about how you manouvre yourself but common sense is enough. Don't lift anything heravier than your baby and don't do any housework and you will be fine.
There is a lot of scaremongering & misinformation out there about C sections (from bloody NCT and certain healthcare professionals), I am delighted to be having another one rather than a horrible painful VB!!
Good luck and you will be fine x