C Section How do you feel after

[19annie86]

I had a c section just over a week ago, still bit sore not as bad as I was, was very difficult to get into and our of bed initially, and this being my first baby was hard to manage both having a major operation and take care of a newborn. Anyone else have a c section, when did you start to feel ok again

Hi, I had a c section 2 weeks ago. Due to baby being a bit premature we had to stay in hospital for 8 nights - lots of people on the ward were going home one night after c section and my first thought was how hard it would've been to get out of our bed which is quite low, I was glad to have the hospital bed! I am feeling good physically and the wound is healing really well but it does seem to be so individual in terms of the recovery. Make sure to take the pain relief for as long as you need it.

Recovery from a c-section worked in distinct weeks for me.

Week 1 - stayed home, did very little, getting in and out of bed/seats was hard. Couldn't do simple 'core' things like push the plunger on a caffetiere without really concentrating on using my arms.

Week 2 - pottered around in and outside the house, bit feeble, easily tired, but felt generally okay (pushed myself a bit too hard, regretted it).

Week 3 - started baby groups and more socialising (this was pre-Covid) - could confidently go about my business so long as I didn't have a heavy door to open (that sort of lateral movement was still hard).

By week 6 I felt basically 'normal'.

But even now, 5.5 years later, I don't feel like I did pre-c-section. I'm still not as strong in the core as I was before I got pregnant.

@NewYearEveryYear Yes I'd say that was my experience too, although I couldn't walk at my normal speed for a while - definitely longer than six weeks. It wasn't painful, I just felt very tight and uncomfortable.

My core and balance were definitely affected, I don't have the strength I used to. Pilates and yoga help but I struggle to find time to do them regularly!

After my first section I was in hospital 3 days and felt able to do most things myself after about 10 days.
Second section I was home after 22 hours and felt able to do most things after a week.
My first birth was a vaginal delivery with lots of stitches and I was in much more pain for about 3 weeks after that experience 😩

I felt really good to be honest.
Sore and tired on week one, most of week 2 as well.
But on week 3 I had to take my other child to school, so was pushing a pram through the snow walking about half a mile to school and back.
Pain killers on board obviously.
That cold fresh air was absolutely divine! I couldn’t do my coat up either as I was still huge, but oh my, that fresh cold air!!

I was home in about 24 hours after the operation. For me that was brilliant as I say I had another child to be around for.
Back to normal in about 4-5 weeks.

The first couple of weeks were quite uncomfortable for me; couldn't sit / stand for long, it was awful getting in and out of bed and I certainly wasn't comfortable lying down in any position so I remember just pottering around all day ( and night). I went for my first walk a couple of weeks after DS was born but I did overdo it (30 mins walk) and was very crampy, achy. It started getting easier and easier after that. Luckily I had round the clock help from my Mum for the first 4 weeks and I was pretty much back to normal by the time she left.

I felt great. I was doing the supermarket shop within a week. Mostly felt sore and achey - like I'd just done an intense workout or fallen off a horse.

I felt fine with my 3. I remember walking round the zoo with DC3 who was 8 days old and was absolutely fine pushing him in the pram all day.

My 1st was the hardest but probably as I didn’t know what to expect. I would say it took me around 2 weeks that time. But 2 and 3 absolutely fine. In my experience, the sooner you get yourself up and about the better.

Mine was a long time and the pain got worse but it turned out to be a womb infection, if the pain is really bad keep going back!

I got to know the emergency gynae clinic pretty well.

I think it really does vary. We were kept in for 4 days (longer than I wanted to be) and I was so relieved to be free that I don't think I really felt too bad when I got home. Nothing was as bad as when they failed to give me pain relief on time in hospital!! Or the uncomfortable hospital bed.

I was low on iron so felt very tired for a week or two, but first left the house on day 7 (car trip to see tongue tie specialist and we stopped off at Tesco for a Costa on the way back) and then walked about 10 minutes into town on day 8 to get a coffee. I do remember feeling floored after those sorts of trips though and needing to sleep.

I used a strap to hoik myself up from lying down with my arms so I wasn't putting strain through my abs - that helped a lot.

I was able to gently turn my legs over on the bike at 4 weeks, and could probably have done it a week earlier but felt too tired (feeding/pumping/ night waking) so didn't try until a week later.

It's very dependent some people are kept in for days & on strong painkillers. I was home the next morning with paracetamol. The first few days were awful when trying to get up etc. Week 2 started to feel better & didn't need pain relief as much. Week 4 I think I felt normal with a few twinges.
my VB was a breeze in comparison.

With both of mine I was in a lot of pain for 3 months. It started to ease after that. I felt normal again after 6 months.

I was up and about within 3hrs of mine, home after 12hrs and felt predominantly fine. I did the school run, involving a walk and a bus on day 4. Didn't really need any help. I was just slower and a bit more considered but nothing was impossible and I didn't really need pain relief.

Emotionally, I was a complete wreck after the first so it certainly wasn't an easy time but physically, I was very fortunate.

First one was fine - I was expecting to be in a lot more pain, was is the supermarket shopping a week later - couldn’t carry heavy items but felt fine with very moderate pain relief needed.
Then had my second planned one and was a complete different experience. No difference in the birth etc but took a lot longer to heal. I was in a lot more pain, pain relief still needed 4/5 weeks later. Had difficultly in simple activities. I would get it checked if you concerned as i did have an infection :( 12 years later core strength is still weaker and scar overhang drives me mad!! Pilates has helped but accepting it is now just one of those things. So strange as no real difference between actual births.

My second section was much faster recovery time than my first but I think that was down to experience. I knew what I was and wasn't capable of, and set alarms to take pain meds exactly when I was due them. First time round I would constantly forget to take them because I didn't feel sore and then would regret it an hour later and would be in pain another 30-40 mins until they kicked in again.
Both times I was up and walking after 3 hours. Felt almost back to normal end of week 3 the first time. After 10 days I was feeling fab second time round! Hoping I recovery that quickly this time. Fingers crossed.