Recovery after c-section

[Nelbert19]

Hello all

I appear to be growing a giant baby, so am now rethinking my birth plan in case a vaginal delivery is not possible.

Can you tell me about your experiences post c section? How long until you were mobile? How long until you were able to manage everything on your own? What sort of things did you need help with afterwards?

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Hi, I’ve had 2.
One emergency so have no memory or recollection due to general anaesthetic.
2nd was elective, organised, calm, planned, bloody lovely.
I was given a date and a time so could organise child care for older dc.
Pretty much pain free post op. I took pain killers no matter how mild my pain.
Breast fed straight away pretty much.
Home within 24 hours,
Pushing the pram through thick snow taking older dc to school within 10 days.
Back to normal 2-3 weeks post op.
I had no choice really due to having an older child.
Was absolutely fine.

Hi, I've had 2 planned c sections, due my third in August.
I don't remember needing help with much to be honest. With my first, I was out of the hospital in 24 hours.
My advice is get moving as soon as you can and stay on top of your pain meds ( don't wait until it hurts to take them). The first week is painful and sore (especially getting out of bed!) but I found getting back into home life, still being sensible of course, was pretty easy.

Also didn’t really need help post section, I was just a bit slower doing stuff due to caution and discomfort.
Dh & I did stuff between us while he was on paternity leave. After that I was on my own.
Do you have family nearby that can help out?
I had no one so I’m sure that will help to have outside help.

I had an EMCS, the first couple of days I was a bit uncomfortable (Still in hospital) but that was the anaesthetic wearing off ... I stayed in hospital for six days as my baby wasn't feeding well & it was in the very militant days of 'breast is best' - incidentally I later read that babies born by EMCS can take a little longer to get used to breast feeding, once I got home out of the hospital atmosphere it was much easier to establish breast feeding. Also my DS was born with a serious medical issue so it was all a bit stressful (needed an operation - all resolved after treatment).

Sorry, waffled a bit there. My own recovery was fine, the night we got home I cooked & entertained friends for dinner , I wanted to - sick of lying in bed. No problems with walking, not overly tired, no pain or discomfort from the CS. Can't even see a scar. .

And I was an older (43) mum, overweight and unfit. But everyone is different, maybe I was just lucky. Also it is an urban myth that you can't drive, but you must check with your own insurance.

Thank you, that’s really reassuring. My husband will be home during pat leave, but my family are all NHS workers so they’ll be staying away for the first few weeks until the baby has had a chance to develop his immune system!

Did you manage to pick up your babies for feeding etc, or did your partners/family need to pick them up and pass them to you?

Also wondering about positioning of bedside cot if I struggle to sit up... currently needing to flop myself out of bed like some sort of salmon due to the huge bump, so can’t imagine it’ll be much easier post abdominal surgery with a cot blocking my exit!

1st cs - emergency as on unplanned - all really calm, was out of made 24 hrs late, walking several with baby in a sling a fortnight later; swimming (both of us) at 6 weeks: running 11 weeks later. Didn’t manage to establish bf.
CS 2 - emergency crash section, general anasthetic, no time for nicer niceties. Could not stand up straight for 9 weeks.

No didn’t need baby picking up and passing but then mine were only 5lb scraps! Teeny tiny!

It sounds like we all had a nice easy recovery but it is major abdominal surgery and not everyone has it that easy.
I was just lucky I think but also I’m not good with I’ll health, I don’t tolerate it well due to impatience and bloody minded determination. I’ve no time to be off my feet or reliant on anyone.

I had an EMCS, was up walking after 6 hours or so, had no issues getting in and out of bed and could lift my 9lb10oz baby no bother, was in very little pain but took the meds when offered, home after 2 days and out pushing the pram on day 3, was a breeze actually, family and friends whod had CS were surprised how "well" I was! I'm planning on a CS this time again, this from someone who did not want a CS and had to be told by the drs that I had no choice!

After two. My first emcs and 2nd elcs my advice is keep pain meds topped up, try and move as much as you can straight after and don't lie flat. A triangle pillow is your friend!
With regard to getting out of bed you will be slower but will master the shuffle using your upper body. It gets easier every day, but yeah alternate between ibuprofen and paracetamol so you don't get to a stage where the pain is really felt.

I've had 4. With 3 of the them that were planned sections I was up and about after about 2 to 3 hours. With my first who was an emergency, I got up about 6 hours later. They encourage you to get up as soon as you feel up to it and it made me feel so much better.

I had an emcs. Baby 8lb 15oz. Could pick him up just fine. Had it at 8pm and showered by myself the next morning. Was driving after 2 weeks. I would say the first 4ish days I had to move slowly, take my time to straighten up. And took plenty of paracetamol. After that I didn't need the paracetamol as much. I walked to the local shop wearing him at 4 days. Was driving after 2 weeks. Honestly had a great experience! I think you need to find the balance between resting your feet for swelling and keeping mobile for recovery. BTW trapped gas pain is very normal post section.

EMCS on day 4/5 of failed induction. Was in the shower completely independently on day 1 as soon as the feeling came back in my legs. I was picking up and breast feeding independently basically straight away. I was scared about not being able to pick him up so kept trying to refuse section.

I went to the next sale the day I was discharged (day 2). Would be out pushing the pram within a few days, would walk 2 mile round trip to get baby weighed from about 2 weeks. Honestly for me the recovery was better than I imagined a vaginal delivery!

Could pick up 8 12 lb baby fine. Was driving after 2 weeks. Recovery was fine. I did get stuck in a couple of chairs and in bed once. You can’t use your muscles in the same way so have to think about getting up more carefully. Take the pain killers even if you’re not in pain for at least two weeks.

I’ve had two sections. Was up and about as soon as they took the catheter out. Never had any issues lifting the babies. No pain really. All very straightforward.

My baby was very big and I had a section scheduled for 38 weeks. Baby decided to come nine days earlier (waters broke) so be prepared it may not go as planned! Baby was 10 lbs 4oz and after about 12 hours I think I was mobile (my catheter disconnected so had to get up to change). I stayed in for three or four days but as soon as I got home we went out to a restaurant for lunch (first breastfeeding in public but went well). Kept to the rules about not driving for six weeks.
I could pick him up myself once I could stand. A bit woozy but ok.