Best tips for easiest C Section recovery

[Mummyspider27]

If you could hand on the best advice for an easier C Section recovery what would it be? X

Rest as much as possible. Don't be fooled by the painkillers because when they wear off and you've been over doing it you'll know about it.

Eat and drink lots....the painkillers work better.

Take pain relief regularly, don't wait to feel uncomfortable.

Drink peppermint tea or water to ease wind pain.

Take it extremely easy. Don't be fooled into thinking you are ok and doing too much too soon.

Take the painkillers regularly. Do move around but don't over do it.

Peppermint capsules for trapped wind after. Arnica for bruising/healing.

And lactulose so you don’t have to strain too much when going to the loo (esp if you’re taking co-codamol).

You can’t really control the recovery from a C section. I got lucky and was mobile within a week but it wasn’t about anything that I did or did not do.
I noticed an infection on the wound site after a week and was prescribed antibiotics that cleared it in a day or two. It was no worse than any other infection I have had and I felt ok.
It is a surgical procedure and there are many factors that are involved in the recovery.
I broke my foot once and the recovery was far worse !

Get up as soon as possible. Lots of gentle small movements. Don't sit straight up, roll on to your side and then up to get out of bed.

I think this is right though:

You can’t really control the recovery from a C section

I've been very lucky. 2 pain free easy recoveries from 2 emergency sections. I didn't do anything in particular, it just didn't hurt enough to warrant pain killers or to effect my movement.

As @Delbelleber says, don't let the painkillers mask your recovery too much. If you're the type of person that may over-do it (like me - was at a christening 2 days after section drugged up to eyeballs), then DO let them wear off a bit as it'll remind you that you've had major surgery.

Don't look at the would. Keep in clean in gently which hazel baths.

Drink plenty of water and do whatever it takes to keep poo soft. Don't resist that first poo either, it won't be as bad as you think!

Always remember to lie on side before getting up from lying down.and push up with arms vs trying to use tummy muscles.

Get a side car cot.

Chuck DH into another room.

Having nappy changing gear on the bed.

Means you don't have to get out of bed at all at night.

Yes anything that makes you 'go'...I've had two pretty straightforward sections but going to the loo after was by far the worst thing. The midwife said that the op has a constipating effect and of course you don't want to push as you may burst your stitches.

BUY A GRABBER STICK

Take all the painkillers
Take iron supplements
Take fibre supplements
Follow instructions from the physio to the letter
If your home has stairs, set up a changing place on each floor
Get all shopping delivered
Accept all help
Lower your expectations of yourself - all fed none dead etc
Meal delivery service like Gousto/ Hello Fresh etc can be good
C section knickers/ high waist trousers.

It's better to take it very very easy for a few weeks and heal properly than push things too soon and regret it months/ years later.

A lot of it is luck. I had two emcs and was up and about within 3 hours and took no painkillers.

Do get up ASAP. Move around even if slowly. Do not stay in bed any longer than necessary. Rest yes. Take it easy yes. Listen to your body yes. But moving around ASAP will aid recovery.

Peppermint tea is good for trapped wind.

Do your physio.

Use a cushion when you cough.

No core exercise until you're sure you don't have separated abdominal.

Stand up straight. You'll want to hunch protectively. Don't. It will not help.

Do not dry your wound with a hairdryer. It's still sometimes recommended by people but you're blowing warm germs into an open wound.

I was doing the school run on day 4 (2 mile walk) and back running after 2 months. I was extremely lucky.

Rest!! Take the full course of pain killers and do things at your own pace

These are really helpful thank you. Had an EMCS 5 years ago so an ELCS is new to me, want to go in prepared. Had no physio last time so hearing that is new to me!
I have a wedding 8 days later!! Totally expecting not to be well enough but my daughter is a bridesmaid and I really don’t want to miss seeing her, even if its for an hour (it’s local, close family who know I will decide on the day etc). So want to put everything possible in place to make it achievable (while totally managing my expectations because last time I had a horrific long labour ending in a very traumatic and scary section, so I know only too things can go wrong) xx

Drink peppermint tea, the gas is horrendous. I thought I’d skipped it but it hit me on day 5 or 6 and boy was it strong! Peppermint tea helped as did windeze tablets.

Accept any offer of help, don’t be a martyr.

Take every painkiller offered.

Don’t strain yourself, even two weeks post surgery. I went for a long walk with the pram because I wasn’t in pain anymore but it was a mistake, it really set my recovery back.

I had an emcs not long ago...no mention of physio!

Get up as soon as possible. Lots of gentle small movements. Don't sit straight up, roll on to your side and then up to get out of bed.
Completely agree with this.

Yes have the painkillers even if you feel ok! I got told off because I missed a round of painkillers (was napping) and felt ok so didn't ring the bell when I woke up to get them. Of course then needed the loo and was crying walking to the bathroom because it hurt so badly (this was the morning after the cs). Doctor came to see me and said it is much better to keep on top of painkillers than let the pain get really bad. So if I had one again I'll be sticking rigidly to the regular painkillers and ringing the bell if I miss a round! Also my other tip is to put everything you need at home at waist height so you don't need to bend - clothes and underwear and sanpro in your top drawer for the first few days, baby stuff out and easy to grab, get your partner to reach things that you need high up. I definitely found bending and stretching the worst so limiting how much I needed to do that really helped.

Don't go rushing to get back to normal too soon. When I had ds by emcs, my then h had just been diagnosed with MS & was very disabled, the moment I came home I was having to do nearly everything including travelling with him to hospital twice a week to learn how to do his physio exercises. I ended up being exhausted & had to stay in bed for 10 days. Accept any help you can get, do as little as you can, look after yourself first, if you aren't ok you can't look after your baby as well.

When you get in and out the car keep your legs together and pivot your bum; if it’s low then get someone to help you up and have a rolled blanket between your scar and your seat belt so it’s not pushing on it.
Space out your pain killers so you can be taking something every 3 hours.
Don’t over do it; my first one I made my pain last longer because at 4 weeks I tried to do too much. It takes 6 weeks to recover for a reason

Keep a diary of what painkillers you have taken and when, and take them before the pain begins. Ask if your hospital will discharge you with Oramorph.

I’m currently feeling sorry for myself with a c section infection following mine 2 weeks ago.

I second all the pps about not doing to much to soon! I did and have really screwed myself over now, if I could go back to last week and slap myself I really would 😂 you’ll think you’re fine, YOU ARE NOT. It is a major operation as you will know, I just don’t think we act like it is because we know we have a baby to take care of!

Definitely get the lactulose, that helped me! Also the grabber idea is genius! Anything that was low on the floor I couldn’t get, so any clothes I’ve taken off, or pads, pills I’ve dropped have just been left for DH to pick up for me 🙈