C section recovery tips?

[PoppyS34wantstogohome]

Had an emergency c section on monday, at 30+2 due to a big placenta previa bleed.

Has anyone got any top tips for recovering from the c section?

I think the large quantities of blood I lost over the weekend, combined with lack of food and sleep, has made me a bit weaker than I should be.

(hope this is the right place to put this post??!

Thanks! :o

I had an EMCS with DS1, knocked me for six, found it really hard to rest and/or relax as much as I needed too. Take the drugs every 4 hours to keep on top of the pain, rather than taking them when you are in pain IYSWIM.
Big pants and baggy trousers are your friend :) My scar got badly infected, so keep it dry.

Had ELCS with DS2 (9 months ago) and I barely rested at all! I was discharged from hospital with 20 hours of Operation, and I was almost constantly doing little jobs, fetching stuff for DS1, walking about. I made myself walk upright constantly, I was driving after 12 days. I took hot baths in tea tree oil, and then dried scar with hairdryer, and no infection :)

Must go and work now, so haven't time to read whole thread. Sorry if someone's said this already: have you got a v-pillow. Sit with it around your scar etc and you can support your arms on it while you cuddle baby, support baby for feeding, etc.

4 elcs's here - no more for me, though, as I made them give me the snip last time to stop me having any more! :o

Lavender or Tea tree oil in the bath helps to heal the scar, and although I don't believe in homeopathy, I have to say that arnica cream (when scar's healed enough) did help me a lot.
That's weird about the baths W2bSM, as I've always been allowed baths as soon as I got home.

I second a lot of what's been said here - anything to reduce the strain on pooing's going to help. See if you can't attach straps to things to help pull yourself up in bed, from the loo, out of the bath etc, as I found that quite hard. And the sanitary towel thing - except I put a few drops of tea tree on that too.

Don't push yourself too much too soon - after my 1st I drove a week too soon and regretted it the next day! But then, some people are ok driving after a couple of weeks.

I guess a lot's going to depend on how big your scar is, how quickly you heal, how much you rest etc etc. I just think having as much physical support for when you're sitting/lying will help your body pay attention to looking after the other bits, iyswim!
Best of luck! :o

I had an elective LSCS 3 weeks ago. Best advice is big knickers, drink lots of water to avoid constipation & a water infection after catheter. Also ask for lactulose for constipation and diclofenac instead of ibuprofen as a much better pain killer. Mobilise as much as you can also. I have been going for a daily walk for the past 2 weeks and feel able to drive now but hubby is a bit over protective & does not want me driving. I hope you are both doing well Xx

I'd say don't wear jeans or anything too restrictive. I wore jeans and ended up with an infection because the jeans were rubbing against the scar, my HV told me to wear soft jogging bottoms. And nighties to bed. I've had 2 c-sections and I recovered much more quickly with the second c-section. I kept up with the painkillers, wore soft clothes, rested more. I know it's hard to rest though.

Congratulations.

I've had 2 sections - second one went tits up and I lost 2 litres blood/had transfusion etc.

1st recovery - piece of piss. No pain after a couple of days, just took a couple of paracetomol, didn't finish pain meds as not required. Pushing pram up hills by day 5. Really, could not have been easier.

2nd recovery - loss of blood and risk of further bleeding meant I was in HDU 48 hours but was home within 72 hours after birth. Was in more pain this time but kept taking pain meds and it was manageable. Also felt much more comfortable after stitch was removed on day 5. Kept pillow over tummy when coughing and first 7 days I felt a bit woozy but after that felt fine.

I am in my 40s by the way and not fit so I don't have any miraculous powers of recovery. I found that drinking 3-6 glasses of wine a night helped as well. Oh and the True Blood boxset.

I second (and third and fourth) everything that's already been said. Had an EMCS eight months ago when they realised DD was breech and I was in early labour, half an hour after the scan confirming it I was in theatre. I had a VB with DS two years previously so it knocked me for six emotionally as well as physically.

My tips:

• stay in your PJs for as long as humanly possible and, excluding stretching your legs or going to the loo, stay glued to the sofa during your waking hours. As soon as people see you in 'normal' clothes they'll presume you're recovered whereas staying in your PJs 24/7 marks you out as being a bit poorly and in need of rest.

• don't underestimate the emotional recovery. You've been through a lot, major surgery, adjusting to being a parent, early baby, etc and it's normal to feel more than a little overwhelmed at times. Take your time and don't try to please anyone else, talk to your midwife or HV if you need to. My HV pointed out to me that I hadn't failed to give birth 'normally', instead DD and I had survived a set of bad luck circumstances that probably would have killed us both in days gone by (breech baby, length of cord wrapped around her legs in a figure-8, rest of the cord pooled directly over my cervix).

• always underestimate what you're capable of doing and then halve it, you'll get days where you feel like you could run a mile and kick down walls but try not to :) My surgeon told me I'd know when I was fully recovered as I wouldn't be afraid to jump up and down or stamp my feet :o Gradually build up to your normal activity levels.

• definitely keep the wound dry. Baths aren't too bad, my surgeon assured me they've never lost anyone to a good soaking and that they have to let those without showers wash too, but it can be hard getting in and out of the tub. Let it air dry afterwards (I found lying on the bed easiest).

• excluding the odd day here and there each week should feel significantly better than the last, if it doesn't then get yourself checked over.

• walk tall! It's instinctual to walk slightly hunch to protect your tender belly from any further harm but it's much better for your recovery if you walk tall - head up, shoulders back, back straight. The initial getting-up each time you need to leave bed/the sofa/a chair is the worst bit.

• don't rush to lose any baby weight. It takes nine months to make a baby, give yourself that long to get back to 'normal' too.

Congratulations on your baby, I hope you make a speedy recovery.

The NCT shop does really good cheap c-section knickers. I second the stuff about lactulose. Also, some iron tabs can cause constipation, which very much hurts going to the loo, so if in doubt check with doc and change to another formula.

I got over my EMCS really quickly despite being anaemic and knackered, so I hope you do too.

I've had 2,both planned.Recovery from the second took longer,it was just more painful post-op even on day 1.My top tips are get someone else to do everything except feeding your baby.No laundry, no lifting, no unloading the dish washer ,get the shopping online and ask them to carry it in, and if you also have a toddler like I did 2 nd time around, no lifting your toddler for a good 3 weeks.Take your painkillers regularly, don't wait for pain.They won't harm your baby if you are breast feeding.You might feel like you are able to lift etc fairly quickly but if you take it easy and let it all heal it will be be better in the long term.Having taken things very easy at the beginning I was driving 4 weeks after the 1st one and 3 weeks after the second.

These are fantastic tips, thank you. I am still in hospital and my staples are covered by a dressings I can't get wet, so have been washing down rather than showering as such.

On iron tablets and haven't been able to eat what I would like as on hospital food. Not pooed yet either!!

Also trying to work out what weird feelings I should be getting from op!! :)

Take it easy, but do keep moving, because it is much harder to get going if you stiffen up and have to 'stretch' the muscles/skin/scar etc. Nice 'n' easy does

I've had two - one emcs, one elcs. My tips:

1. Take it easy - by all means move around slowly, little and often but don't overdo it. Get family and friends to help out if possible.

2. Drink plenty and eat well - as you aren't moving around and with a new baby I found I was forgetting to drink, which obviously is not good for you in the peeing and pooing department. Eating well will mean you just feel better in general.

3. Air dry the wound at least twice a day - I lay out flat and used a fan on low to dry it all out if I was in a rush.

4. Painkillers - do not lapse these, set a timer or have someone remind you to take them as staying on top of the pain/discomfort is a really good idea. I made the mistake on my second elcs of thinking I was ok during the middle of the day about 4 days after so didn't take a dose of painkillers - I could have cried (actually maybe I did) as the pain from the muscles, wound and the spinal site (as the dr hit a nerve) was terrible. I gobbled down paracetamol and ibuprofen, obviously up to the maximum at the correct intervals, for quite a while.

5. Maybe talk to the Drs about iron supplements - then return to point (2)

6. Enjoy your new baby - Congratulations!!

Take it easy but don't take to your bed. Gentle movement is good. Accept all of the help you are offered - shopping, cooking, laundry, housework. Say yes to it all. Support your tummy as you get up. Make sure you have a blanket in the car so you can put it between the seatbelt and your scar. Plenty to drink and as said before take you painkillers regularly and before you feel any pain.

And finally, enjoy your gorgeous new baby - Congratulations

congratulations on your baby-I have had 2 c sections, emcs with my first and elcs with y 2nd. recovery from both was rough. I would recommend complan-i didn't feel like eating with anemia and a secondary infection, but once my mum gt me some complan stuff I started to perk up.

spatone iron supplement is very good and will not give you constipation. I bathed too in lvender and tea tree oil and sea salt. I have been told since that you arent supposed to because it dissolves the stitches too quickly-i never found it an issue.

i found my ound oozed a lot and i had a lot of serous fluid coming out-it's grim and can build up and suprise you-i used to think i had wet myself because it used to pop out from no where it seemed. I found a rolled clean baby muslin perfect as I could tuck it under my belly overhang and it would stay against my scar. I didn't like sanipads as they seemed to turn inside out an get stuck to me sometimes.

You will have an "apron belly" afterwards-no matter how slin you are it's jst one of those things-it gets less over time

dont do too much-i was cleared to drive by 3 weeks but i still took it very easy.

apologies for typos-working on a knackered old laptop with sicky keys

Don't be afraid to ask for a suppository if you still haven't pooed in hospital in a day or two. Feels like a real low point in life but trust me, having a good 'clear out' before going home and taking the Lactulose really helps.

For anyone reading this for tips when they have a cs, the pain in your shoulder is generally not you having a heart attack (I didn't overreact, honest...) - just ask for the gripe water!

Keep walking, slowly but surely. Don't just sit in bed.

And yes, DO NOT stop taking the pain relief because you think you 'might' be able to manage! Just keep guzzling it for about a fortnight and then think about cutting down. With a newborn to look after, its not worth risking feeling terrible again. This is not the time to play the martyr.

Oh, and in the slightly longer term, don't start doing sit-ups for quite a while - even at 16w post emcs, when I go to baby exercise/gym classes that get you to do sit-ups while holding baby, I can still feel that my tummy muscles are not ready for that kind of exertion.

Have you ever had surgery before? How was your recovery?

Gosh, I'm having my fourth section next week. I'd totally, totally forgotten about the gas in shoulders
Eeeek.
Congratulations OP :) Lots of great advice here, particularly about keeping the scar dry and clean.

Floradix for iron - Holland & Barratt (orange juice to help you absorb it)
Nelson's Arnica capsules higher strength - for bruising
don't forget to check your car insurance covers you before you drive again
I hope you are getting to enjoy your baby and talk to as many people as possible about how you really feel hugs

have had 3 cs but can't really remember all of it now...it all fades!
Can remember big knickers to avoid rubbing on scar, arnica for bruising, vitamin e oil for the scar, painkillers. Otherwise you just get on with it

spatone much gentler on the stomach than iron tablets
Arnica tablets really helped
Make everyone else do everything

Thats last one is impossible

I've had 3. Worst one was crash section where I lost most of my blood and needed emergency surgery and blood transfusions within half an hour of the c section. I was very weak and needed alot of iron and was in hospital/HDU 9 days. My belly was black all over from internal bleeding and I had massive hemotomas internally. Still, after 3 weeks I could manage alone with my newborn twins and 3, and 5 year olds.

The other 2 were much better but with one I should have got up earlier and been mobile as my legs swelled up huge as staff didn't bother moving me. Wind pain was very very bad too.

My no 1 tips would be; don't go outside pushing the pram till you are ready-about 10 days for me. Use cushions for breasfeeding, big granny knickers are essential, bio oil is fab for rubbing into the scar and stopping itching. Minimise vistors at first.

Painkillers,big soft pants and lovely pj bottoms to receive visitors in. I have a pastel pair with tasteful union jacks on which went down well. I had my section 7 weeks ago and lost 3 litres of blood, this doesn't happen usually but my body just can't cope. It happened with previous natural birth for me too.I felt completely safe and in good hands while all this was going on. Try and get help with school run for three weeks this meant I could potter about and no need to go anywhere but I still put my face on (love that phrase heh heh )and showered. My scar is completely healed I cleaned it daily and when dry used a little talc, after 4 weeks I put bio oil on it morning and evening. I had more problems with pain going to the loo more than the wound,(had to stand up amd kind of hover over the loo to go!)which has not bothered me at all and I am a wimp! Do get out of bed in the hospital as soon as they let you,best advice I was given actually. You are asked to take a shower and get the dressing off which was the worst bit for me as I fainted. Take someone in with you, in hindsight I would have had dh helping me. But I went home in 2 days and recovering quietly at home was lovely, the hospital was terribly noisy even the mw warned me I wouldn't get any sleep. I found the whole experience not as bad as I thought it would be as long as your pain is managed and you must move around to get your recovery going but do not do too much just gentle pottering. I feel great now, just suffering from severe sleep deprivation!! Oh and am still bfing I did take painkillers for 3 weeks, baby is more than fine. Good luck!

a TMI post here... The three times a day iron tablets after my EMCS made me super constipated. = me straining. Lactulose no help, plus suppositories helped a little. Ishould have gone to GP sooner, she gave me movicol. It worked, hurrah! Also dropped dose of iron from three a day to whenever I remembered...

I second all the good advice above. Take it easy and enjoy your new baby!

Don't rush. Do very little.

I've had four sections, I promise the slower you take it the quicker you heal.

Another 4 section lady here!
Each one has been easier, I was driving after 5 days this time (Insurance & midwife agreed- just had a pillow in-between scar area & seatbelt!)
Def keep up the meds, even if you feel better, 7-10days at least!
Plenty of Iron/Fibre rich foods.
When 'going' to the toilet for the 1st time, raise your feet on a toddler style step if you can, puts you in a better position for bowel movements!

It's easy to say do nothing & rest all you can, that is not always practical, especially if you have other children, but just listen to your own body!
Enjoy your new baby x