C section recovery

[Starz86]

Hi ladies,

Just wondering how long others left it to start doing light household tasks such as washing the dishes? Dusting? I'm 5 days in to recovery and feeling really well. Not needing 4 hourly pain relief. I know when I've done too much with baby or pottering as my wound starts to ache. I am however itching to help my oh in the house. Hes doing amazing but its not how I do it lol. Hes worn out bless him. I feel if I could do some light duties it would take some strain off him. He keeps pigeons on our allotment which is at the bottom of the garden plus chickens, guinea pigs and we have an 8 year old too - who does help alot with the baby. I've searched the net for answers but it's all generic answers! I know not to hoover, mop, sweep, hang washing out etc. I've not even made any bottles up yet!! Has anyone else done these light duties so soon??

Thank you

I would say as long as you are sensible and know when you are doing too much only you know how much you can handle. If you want to, and feel up to it... why not?! Just take it slow and stop if you feel it’s too much as you will set yourself back. Some women drive after a week! Hope it continues to go well. You give me hope for my section in July! X

Nothing heavier than the kettle for six weeks. If your bleeding gets heavier you've overdone it.

Dusting fine. Washing up fine. I probably would t be imposing the dishwasher or standing doing the ironing though.

Do any of you know how soon after a section you can have a bath?

I don't know about baths - but it would have been weeks before I would have wanted to climb in, sink down, and then get up and over the side again. Walking into a shower is much easier.

I know what you mean Shelley but in this house I don't have a walk in shower and the shower over the bath isn't great either

I am sure I bathed within the first week or 2... was 5 years ago now so can’t remember. I LOVE baths though so would have been ASAP. Maybe give your midwife a quick ring to ask? X

@Delbelleber I bathed within the first week. I added tea tree oil to the water - to help reduce risk of infection.

@Starz86 it depends entirely on how you feel. I’ve had 3 sections and within 5 days I was doing light duties and taking care of my other children including park visits and shopping trips with 2 but my 2nd c section it took me about 3 weeks before I was doing those things.

I felt relatively normal after my section, definitely knew when I had slightly overdone it as the wound started to slightly pull! I think if you’re pottering around the house it’s absolutely fine, just take it slow!

As for a bath.. I don’t have a shower so I had a bath day 2/3 I think, just took it really really slow lowering myself in and out, I felt like a new human after a few days of wet wipe wash downs!

My friend's husband is a surgeon and I can remember asking after my first section if I could have a bath to remove the sticky residue from the dressing. He said it was okay as long as the wound had closed and looked okay.