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Original poster

What are peoples experiences of recovery from a c-section?

46 replies

AH16 · 09/02/2020 18:47

Hello everyone,

As the title states what are peoples experiences of recovery from a c-section? And was there any difficulties with this way of birth for the baby?

Thanks

OP posts:
Mummyspider27 · 09/02/2020 18:47

Following x

JackMummy12 · 09/02/2020 18:49

No difficulties with baby, had a lovely team and c section was quite enjoyable (I was extremely nervous beforehand as was elective so was waiting around on the day for it to happen)

My recovery was quite hard though, was dehydrated so put on a drip next day, tried to move nearly fainted as have low blood pressure anyway and 2 weeks later I got an infection. All that being said however, I’m glad my baby is here safe and wouldn’t change it as it had to be that way 😊

meow1989 · 09/02/2020 18:50

I had the best recovery from a section (emergency) than anyone I know. I was walking and catheter out 12 hours later and walking round my local town with ds and DH on day 5. My scar healed really well and though I have some residual numbness 19 months later it's all good. Others I know have struggled a lot with lifting and walking far or infections with their wounds so I wonder if I was just really lucky but if we have another I'll be opting for an elective for sure.

Bluewater1 · 09/02/2020 18:51

Mine was an emergency CSection so best for baby and no trouble for them. Healthy AGPAR scores after birth. It was a good couple of months before I started to feel recovered

ByAppointmentTo · 09/02/2020 18:51

EMCS after three hours of pushing and a failed ventouse. Easy recovery. Pushing pram into town a week later and driving after ten days. Just paracetamol for pain relief as didn't want to take codeine. DD was bright and fed well.

However, my VBAC a few years later took me months to recover from and left lasting damage.

Lottiebugz22 · 09/02/2020 18:51

I had an emergency c section and because it was emergency it was very traumatic and unfortunately a difficult painful recovery.

Choclips · 09/02/2020 18:53

Bottom line, do as you're told. When they say 6 weeks, they mean it.

bumblebee1987 · 09/02/2020 18:56

Recovery from my first section (emergency) was a breeze, I was up and about really quickly, at baby groups within a week and driving within 2 weeks. I had it really really easy. I barely even took any painkillers!

However, I then had an elective with my daughter 9 months ago, and it was a totally different story. I've been told it's probably because I was up and doing things way too soon after my first, because I felt fine, but that didn't mean I should have been up and about, I should have been resting and healing, and as a result didn't heal that well inside, had loads of adhesions which made my second surgery difficult and recovery really hard. I definitely paid the price!

So my advice is that you must must must rest properly afterwards!

FuzzyAtmosphere · 09/02/2020 18:57

I’ve had four c sections, one elective and three emergencies. The recovery after the elective was worse then the other three put together.

At best, I was (slowly) out socially and at the supermarket within three days and at worst I was still really sore a fortnight later.

amazedmummy · 09/02/2020 18:58

ELCS 11 weeks ago. My hospital encourages skin to skin in theatre which was lovely. DS was completely fine. He had to have his blood sugars checked a few times after birth but that was because of his size rather than how he was born. My recovery was straightforward was on my feet I think about 7 hours after? I did struggle to pee the morning after but with enough relaxation I managed fine. Would have been home the next day but I stayed in for help with feeding. Stopped taking painkillers after about 2 weeks? After about 5 weeks I could all but forget it was there. Wasn't allowed to lift heavy things until 6 weeks which was a bit of a pain but I managed. The only thing that didn't go as I would have hoped was breastfeeding, my milk took a while to come in (day 5/6) by that point DS had lost a lot of weight and we were readmitted. But I can't be sure that wouldn't have happened with another type of delivery,

Puddleshook · 09/02/2020 18:59

I had catheter out 12 hours later, went home the day after she was born. Took painkillers for one week. Drove after 3 weeks. Extremely easy recovery. Keep your scar clean and dry, dry it with a hairdryer. Don't lift anything heavier than your baby for the 6 week period. Good luck!

stopshoutingd · 09/02/2020 18:59

I was very surprised at how painful it was but I can only compare to a fast but straightforward vaginal birth (no instruments) & having my appendix removed. The contractions for my vaginal birth were ridiculous in terms of pain (back to back) & I had no time for pain relief but when the baby was out the pain just went. I had 4 stitches & zero issues or discomfort.
Semi- elective for dc2, didn't like the feeling of the epidural but was up the next day & discharged with paracetamol. I could walk like a zombie but the first few days were really painful & I didn't expect it tbh. No numbness & bf was fine, my lower back isn't the same though as my core nowhere near as strong. If I had another I would prefer vaginal.

stopshoutingd · 09/02/2020 19:02

As other posters have said I took the advice & really rested for the first month, only lifting my baby even though I felt I could do more.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 09/02/2020 19:06

2 emergency sections here, the first after 75 hours of labour, pushing and failed forceps. Very easy recoveries. With dc1 I was out of bed and dressing myself within 6 hours. I was walking to NICU alone within 24.

With dc2, I was discharged the following day and out for lunch the day after that. By the 2 week mark I was pushing the pram 3 miles a day on the preschool run.

No painkillers post theatre at all, it didn't hurt enough to warrant.

I've been told it's probably because I was up and doing things way too soon after my first, because I felt fine, but that didn't mean I should have been up and about, I should have been resting and healing, and as a result didn't heal that well inside, had loads of adhesions which made my second surgery difficult and recovery really hard. I definitely paid the price!

I totally over did it with dc1 and given that I also had a psychotic break and did "fun" things like punch myself repeatedly in uterus/stomach because I couldn't deal with my sense of shame/failure, if that's true I should be held together by adhesions. With my 2nd, I had minimal scar tissue, my oversharing consultant showed me how much she'd cut out and was pretty much just the scars themselves. I was told that it's most genetic. You are either prone or you aren't.

doadeer · 09/02/2020 19:15

No problems with my baby but I would say a few for me.

It was a planned c section buy they knicked my placenta going in and blood vessels didn't close so I lost 2 ltrs of blood. This meant I had an iron transfusion and I'm still marked on my arm a year since! It was very scary during actually the most awful feeling, had to hand my baby to partner as I thought I was going to throw up.

I was so dehydrated and the blood loss I think meant my colostrum didn't come in and I was just dry. So my baby dropped a lot of weight very quickly, had to give some formula. I kept pumping constantly and trying to latch him and by day 5 we were in action! By day 7 I dropped the formula top ups.

I found the pain manageable - obviously it did hurt but I was more mobile and up and about than friends with complications in VBAC - I live up about 20 stairs and i managed them no problem. Started going out daily from 6 days (was in hospital till day 5)

All that having been said - I'm glad I had it - nothing has been too traumatic

Nikster11 · 09/02/2020 20:56

No difficulties for baby at all, and I found recovery very quick with C section.

I was walking around town pushing the pram/holding baby etc about 4 days after the birth.

For me, lovely way to give birth.

Echobelly · 09/02/2020 21:11

I had two, they were both planned, but the second, DS's birth, was officially 'emergency' as he decided to come out about 12 hours ahead of schedule! I had them because I have a congenital issue with my hip that meant the whole pelvis area might just not have done what it's suppose to during birth, so it was better not to risk it (also, DD was in breach as things turned out).

I have to say I found recovery much easier than expected, even when I had a toddler and a newborn and came off painkillers quite quickly. I had been warned I wouldn't be able to lift anything for weeks, but honestly I can't think of anything I needed to lift that I wasn't able to in those first few weeks. And you won't be out of the house and driving for a bit anyway.

I really liked the sections, TBH - I was able to play music I wanted as my babies came out, be chatting with all the medical staff during it and even the 'emergency' one was very relaxed.

Recovery for planned ones does depend a lot on how well the incisions are done (my first ones were done by an obstetrician who I had been told by other medics was especially good) and sewn up and it is complicated. Obviously if it's an emergency after dozens of hours of labour I can imagine it's much harder physically and emotionally.

I had the odd stab of mild pain in the scars in the first few years and the outer one slightly itches occasionally, but otherwise fine.

My main advice if you have a section is have DP or someone with you when you're recovering. After DD was born I said it was fine for DH to go and call everyone so he was away for a while and I was lying there all woozy and a bit overwhelmed, which I hadn't accounted for. Next time round I requested he stay with me.... which was a bit easier as it was 3am anyway!

Willow4987 · 09/02/2020 21:15

Sorry to jump in, but what do you do when you’ve already got a toddler at home r.e. not picking anything up that’s heavier than your baby?

I’ve got a section booked in 4 days...DH is having 2 weeks off and will hopefully stretch to 3 weeks depending how I am

But DS1 is 18months and cant get himself in and out of the cot, pram, high chair, downstairs etc

He’s also really chunky for his age!

I have got the option of grandparent support after DH goes back to work but they can’t be here all day every day Confused

stopshoutingd · 09/02/2020 21:22

I had a 2 yr old at home. DH took 2 weeks then another week 2 weeks later. We just upped the childcare for the 2 yr old & was fortunate to have my mum & mil round the corner.

mynameiscalypso · 09/02/2020 21:22

Very easy here - I lost quite a lot of blood and they were concerned about how low my iron levels were but as I felt totally fine, they didn't bother with the transfusion in the end. I was home the next day, out for a walk the following day. I started running about 8 weeks pp which is earlier than usually recommended but my midwife was happy with it. Can barely see my scar now after 6 months.

Snowflake9 · 09/02/2020 21:28

Emcs after 34 hours of labour.

Recovery was fine. I bled alot after though. I bled for 10 weeks! No problems bf.

Just followed my instincts and was up and walking the next day. Home on day 3 as had a 48hr catheter.

It wouldn't put me off another. Scar is below knicker line and very small. Still numbness there though 5mo later.

Snowflake9 · 09/02/2020 21:29

Oh and we were able to do skin to skin immediately after baby was born.

Snowflake9 · 09/02/2020 21:30

My DH returned to work on day 2...

littleduckeggblue · 09/02/2020 21:33

Had csection at 7pm, was up walking around the next day. By day 4 I was back to normal, walking dog, doing odd jobs, visiting people. Bit sore sometimes getting up from lying down position to upright and sometimes needed hubby to pull me up but other that that was absolutely back to normal in a matter of days

bambiqueen · 09/02/2020 21:34

I had emcs after a long labour, so my main issue the first 12 hours was exhaustion!! But catheter was out the next day, I went home on day 3 and emptied my suitcase into the washing machine and walked to town on day 7. Wound healed nicely. Definitely had a better recovery than I've heard from other people, suppose everyone is different.

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