C section - ‘you’ll feel a lot better after 6 weeks’

[Cinai]

That’s what my midwife told me to reassure me when discussing my planned c section. She meant it well, and I’m aware that recovery is tough, but still it floored me….feeling better after 6 long weeks. I probably had a sheltered life so far and I’m lucky to never have had any major health problems. Any illness or pain I had so far in my life wiped me out for 2-3 days max. I just don’t know how I can cope with 6 weeks.
No real point in posting I guess, I know that it is what it is, that many women before me went through this and I’ve looked up all the information there is about resting, taking pain killers religiously and taking it easy, and I’ll just need to find strength to get through it….but I’m a wimp when it comes to such things.

It's not six weeks of feeling awful, it's six weeks until you feel properly better. Like any surgery, it does take a while for your body to recover.

I'd say the first day you feel a bit shellshocked and still high from the drugs. The first night in hospital is tough, don't be afraid to ring for help but it is best to get moving if you can.

Second and third days for me were most painful, keep on top of the painkillers and don't lie down flat or lift anything. After that, providing you don't have an infection, you should start to feel much better. I think I was in pyjamas for about five days and then started getting dressed in soft clothes and going for short walks. I remember going into town for the first time after about three weeks and my scar pulled so I had to walk quite slowly, but it was fine to be out and about for a few hours.

My main advice is to keep moving but not push it. Don't go lifting binbags or heavy boxes. Let the scar dry after showers - it's a good excuse to lie down while DP looks after baby. And if you have any concerns about your scar seek help, infections are common but can be quickly dealt with.

The first 2-3 days I felt like I had been hit by a bus, by the second week I was out and about shopping. I think 6 weeks is an exaggeration unless they are counting the time that you could possibly bleed up to. First c section I was bleeding for 6 weeks, second one 3 weeks.

I felt mostly back to normal after 2 weeks, was walking with the pram into town, doing shopping, walking with her in a carrier, no pain or issues. And that was after an emergency c section that followed days of labour so my body wasn't exactly feeling fresh going into a c section! 6 weeks will be normal in that you can officially drive, start lifting heavier things than your baby, easing back into exercise etc.

I didn’t feel great for the first four weeks, but it wasn’t like I was in loads of pain. I still managed to walk to pick my eldest up from pre school after a week! It was more that I just felt really weak and not myself, frustrated at not improving as quick as I’d like. By 4 weeks I saw some improvement, 6 weeks much more improvement, and 8 weeks I’d say back to normal. But it definitely wasn’t that long of bad pain, just a few days really and again manageable if you stay on top of pain relief.

Wow just read through all the responses and I’m amazed at everyone else having such quick recoveries! I definitely didn’t feel normal after two weeks, in fact I remember posting on mumsnet at three weeks asking when I was going to feel better. It’s not that I felt in lots of pain, just restricted in what I could and I could most definitely still tell I’d had a c section at six weeks. But then I had straight forwarded vaginal birth with my first so comparing the two is very different. Even if it takes you longer than six weeks to recover though it doesn’t mean six weeks of suffering, and the memories of your newborn will far outweigh any memories of how you felt!

I bled for 8 or 9 weeks after my c section, was depressing. Only 1 week after my VB, which is completely the other end of the spectrum!

4 emergency csections and was flying around after a week on each. Honestly you will be fine.

I had a section with my first, back in the olden days when you were kept in hospital for a week afterwards. By the time I came out of hospital I was stir crazy and still felt as if there was a gaping void deep inside my pelvis, but I wasn't tired or sore and was able to go out and about. Just as well, because DD1 wasn't an easy baby and if I'd been stuck at home with her feeling fragile myself I'd have been miserable.

You'll feel much better in a week or so. I didn't need pain relief after a couple of days. Within 6 weeks I was completely fine.

I had a planned c-section and found the recovery to be much easier than others appear to have. I was out and about shopping in town 72 hours after giving birth. The only thing I avoided doing was lifting anything heavy for a while but other than that it really wasn’t an issue.

I had a difficult induction, an emergency c section and a rocky few days after (infection, extreme tiredness, baby blues, haematoma) and I was definitely feeling better sooner than 6 weeks. In fact, I was doing my final accountancy exam by 6 weeks so I must have felt ok (don't ask me how I did that though, think I was still flying from the painkillers!)

It was a year before I felt totally ok again

I has emm cs with dc1 and last minute planned cs with dc2. Was back to normal within about 2/3 days both times, Picked my toddler up as soon as I got home 2 days after having dc2. Planned cs was faster recovery (long labour with dc1).

Day 3 was the worst and by day 5 I felt pretty good. I’ve had 2, aged 38 and 41. I was back to normal within 2 weeks!