C section recovery and uterus shrinking

[Olive1988]

Hello,

Please can people who have a planned c section let me know

What the recovery is like?
How long it took for their uterus to shrink?
When they could start exercising?
How long you needed help round the house?
If you had trouble breastfeeding?

Thank you!!!!!

Possibly an outlier but my recoveries have been very easy (one proper emcs and one semi emergency in that I went into labour before my planned section).

Up and dressed as soon as the spinal wore off, didn't need the painkillers they bring around in hospital. Still have all the ones I was discharged with. No problems going to the bathroom. In fact the bruising from the failed forceps the first time and the cannula this time hurt more than the wound.

I'm 5 weeks pp and am back in my pre pregnancy jeans so my uterus must be close to being back to normal size if not already there.

Was walking 3 miles with a pram at 2 weeks pp this time and have been doing the physiotherapy exercises I was given at discharge since day 5.

I didn't need help around the house, dh had 2 weeks paternity leave but I'm a control freak when it comes to most household chores.

Only in that my dd had a terrible latch. My milk came in on day 3 in large quantities.

I would really recommend getting up asap.

Recovery was quick. Very quick. Home from hospital after 24 hours and able to very carefully picked up my 1 year old for lots of cuddles. I was out and about but taking it slow after 3 days. I was tired very easily and had the one year old as well as the new born so had help for about 3 weeks. I bled less with the ELCS. Can't remember about my uterus shrinking though.

I'll try to answer.

Recovery was pretty good, I could walk slowly and shower the next morning and left the hospital that evening. I was able to drive after 4 weeks with medical and insurance permission.

Uterus contraction- it was fine at my 8 week check up.

Excerise- I did a postnatal Pilates class with the women's physio dept at 6-8 weeks PP for SPD.

Help around the house- DH and my Mum had a rota of being around to help/WFH for 6 weeks after the birth but I would have been ok after 4, but I had a good recovery and was on my feet quickly.

Breastfeeding- no issues from the C-section. There were other issues but completely unrelated to the delivery method.

I found my planned c-section a really positive birth experience. It wasn't the hypnobirthing water birth I wanted but I feel positive about it overall and wouldn't hesitate to have another if needed.

I was out 36 hours after section then apart from getting up and down my stairs and in and out of bed for the first three days didn't need much help. Managed to get to mothercare and out for lunch five days after and slowly built up walks after two weeks.

Recovery was fine, baby delivered at 10.30am, eating by lunchtime, walking that evening, catheter out and showered first thing the following morning. Never felt in pain although it was sore. Was driving and doing short walks 3 weeks afterwards.

Uterus contraction- back to normal at 6 week check. Stomach was fully flat again after 12 weeks.

Exercise- was told nothing for 6 weeks by consultant then light exercise only. No ab exercises, twisting or bending for 12 weeks.

Housework- avoiding cleaning and the like for 6+ weeks (as per doctor’s advice) but didn’t need help as such after the first 2. We have a cleaner anyway so the only thing I didn’t do was load/unload the washing machine or dishwasher.

Didn’t try breastfeeding.

Overall a great experience, would hands down have another ELCS if I have another baby.

I was up and about the next day and could hobble round the block with the pram after a week. I had no abdominal strength for about a month though, once I lay down I was stuck until someone pushed me upright! I was useless for a fortnight and needed help around the house for about six weeks. I was cleared for exercise after ten weeks but told not to do any sit-ups for a year otherwise I'd run the risk of training my abs further apart instead of closer together. No idea how you know if your uterus has gone back, I had after pains for about a month. No problems with breastfeeding apart from my milk taking a few days longer to come in.

I had one in March. In hospital for 2 nights; walking around after the 1st night once catheter removed. Most discomfort was around day 3 as I think all the anaesthetic/morphine had worn off. Once steri strips were removed it was much better. By day 5 pushing pram and slow but steady mobility and rapid improvement from then. Excellent small flat scar.

No idea about uterus but midwife seemed to think all fine. Fairly low standards of housekeeping and exercise so not much to say there. My MIL came to help/see baby on week 4 and actually I didn't really need her but it was nice to have her anyway.

I did have trouble bf - milk never seemed to come in and baby had failure to thrive so needed supplementation via NG tube. However with pumping and diligence we have successfully combi fed so far and she is doing well.

I could do housework after a few days although that’s probably not recommend. Breastfeeding was fine although milk took until day 5 to properly come in. Recovery was pretty easy but I kept on top of painkillers. Keeping as active as possible definitely helped. Started gently on x trainer 8/9 weeks after section but waited the full 12 weeks to run. Overall was a positive experience and sooo much easier than my emcs which I struggled to recover from.

I had my first c section 2 years ago. Felt fine whilst in hospital. Was there 3 nights, couldn't really lay down in the bed though, found that very uncomfortable. Was worse when i got home and i actually had to sleep on the sofa propped up by lots of pillows for the first 2 weeks. I was up and walking around the day after the operation though, pushing the pram round our local morrisons on day 5. Everything was fine at 8 week check. I don't really exercise though so can't help there! I did have a few problems with scar pain during periods though. I have my second c section booked next week.

Oh and i struggled to produce enough breastmilk. I would sit and pump it because DD wouldn't latch on but never could get enough and it soon dried up x

I'm 3 weeks post EMCS, so not elective but thought I'd share anyway.

Was up and walking within 12 hours, discharged within 36 hours and out and about on day 5. Do find I get some upper backache if walking for a long time but that's probably more to do with having ds to carry around when not in pram. I lost 20lb the first week! And am back in prepregnancy clothes, I fact I weigh less now than before I got pregnant!

My appetite has only just come back and still have some upset tummy which I'm told is normal.

Breastfeeding has not gone to plan so only bfeeding at night but that's got nothing to do with section- after an initial 9% loss, ds was above birthweight on day 10 on exclusive breastfeeding before it all went a bit wrong!

First EMCS - no problems breastfeeding, took to it like a champ.

Was up and walking as soon as I could round the bed and I think that helped. I was slow to begin with and we had stairs up to our flat, I was fine when my husband went back to work after 2 weeks.

I didn't really return to exercise I was too tired - but I did power walk round London, got married 6 months after he was born and was the slimmest I've ever been.

Second - EMCS again! Breastfed until he was 2 so no problem again.

He was a terrible sleeper so didn't feel much like doing any exercising, I had started running regularly by the time he was 1 though.

Again I was up and walking round my bed asap and went out shopping when I got home.

I was up and out of bed showering after 12 hours and discharged from hospital after 24 hours. I won't lie, I found the first week pretty rough, difficult to get up from the bed/sofa/toilet but after that I was ok.
My husband had 3 weeks off which was fab from a sleep deprivation POV but I probably could've managed after 2 weeks day to day.
I'm not back in my pre-pregnancy clothes at 4 weeks PP and am not exercising either.
The thing I wasn't prepared for was how much my back ached, I guess because my core muscles were shot to pieces.
I tried to BF in hospital but couldn't get a good latch so stopped, my milk came in 3 days post birth though

Not a planned section but not quite a full EMCS either so hopefully my input is helpful.

What the recovery is like? I found I recovered quickly. I was on my feet by 4pm on the day I had my section (at 8am), 2 days later I was home, on restricted duties but I could walk up and down stairs easy enough, carry the baby, make some simple food (think toast and cereal etc). I was driving after 4 weeks and felt pretty much back to normal after this.

When they could start exercising? I didn't really do any exercise as such but I was out walking with the pram withing 3 weeks. I was advised to wait 6 weeks before anything more strenuous.

How long you needed help round the house? My husband was very good at doing the washing etc, other than that we bumbled along just fine without any help - just have lower standards!

If you had trouble breastfeeding? Yes - but unrelated to the section.

Hi,

I've had an EMCS and an ELCS and there was a real difference recovery wise for me. This time round (I'm 4 weeks post ELCS) has been very straightforward. DD born Monday am, catheter out that evening and I was up and about straight away - walking to the toilet, attending to baby straight away. Home Tuesday after baby had her checks. I kept up with pain meds but it's been very straightforward. The times I've had discomfort have been when I've done too much, walked too far etc.

No clue to answer on my uterus! I'm only 4 weeks post so no exercising as yet but I've been walking around since the day after.

Breastfeeding has been fine this time - I struggled after the EMCS - but this time only had the normal struggles that go with trying to get BF established.

I debated long and hard VBAC versus ELCS and I'm pleased I made the decision I did x

I had two ELCSs.

Recovery was very good from both of them. I stayed in bed for 24 hours both times as it took a little longer to get feeling back in my legs. Then I was up and about but stayed in hospital 4 and 3 nights as they have a policy of keeping you in where I gave birth. I had DS in a sling when he was a week old which was a huge help and got on a plane home when he was two weeks old.

I think it took 48 hours for my uterus to shrink or at least that was the time I felt pain for. This was the only pain I felt really (especially when breastfeeding which seemed to trigger contractions). It was a strong, sharp pain but passed quickly.

I rode my horse at 6 weeks.

I mainly needed help with lifting, so lifting shopping bags etc. Walking, bending, driving were all fine.

Not because of CS. My milk came in quickly, day two both times. DD had a shallow latch that hurt a lot but DS latched on like a pro.

I really struggled with my recovery for the first few weeks. I found it extremely difficult to sit up and needed to do it a lot so I could breastfeed my daughter. I wasn't able to walk very far till about week 3. My uterus decided to contract back really quickly one night and came on in waves of contractions. It was like I was in labour again! I thought it was really bad wind.. But when I woke up the next day I could see my stomach was significantly flatter. It was so weird! Then by the time I was feeling a bit better, I pulled stomach muscles in my right hand side from the way I had been awkwardly sitting up during the night to breastfeed. Also, for the first week or two ir was impossible to cough without feeling like my stomach was ripping back open! Especially in the first few days... I was balling my eyes out! I'm pretty good with pain usually so I was totally shocked at how hard I struggled. I normally never take pain killers but I absolutely had to after my surgery or else I couldn't have coped at all.

Just wanted to give you my side of things as a lot of the above comments seem to reflect a much simpler recovery. And if yours is anything like mine, you'll know you're not alone.