C Section Help! Tips/ recovery help

[AmberM223]

I am due to have my first c section in a few months (2nd child) have a toddler who is 2. I am quite frankly DREADING the recovery. Not so much the c-section as nothing can be worse than my first vaginal birth. But the recovery - i’m having sleepless nights over.
My partner can only have 3 weeks off work max. And then i’ll have my mum for the odd day here and there but that’s it. I’m so scared how i will manage with lifting / looking after baby and toddler!!

Does anyone have any tips / help? Things i can buy to help recovery. I really do need all the info i can get! Thank you!

Hi lovely, I have had 2 c sections - one planned and one emergency and the planned one was great. It felt like going into the dentists room, it was that relaxed.

Re recovery, you'll be surprised at how quickly your body starts to heal - you'll be on stronger pain meds post surgery, ask for IV paracetamol and diamorphine if you need it. But after half a day, you'll be shuffling to the toilet, then you'll feel more able to stand straighter and walk more normally.

Get peppermint teabags, to help with potential trapped wind. Slip on shoes for leaving, use a pillow to press against your scar if you cough or sneeze for initial days. And mobilise as much as you can, more movement with each day and your recovery will speed up. xx

Try to get someone else to lift toddler, you will be ok with lifting baby but I would try to avoid anything heavier! 3 weeks should be grand with the initial hard going stage, so let your partner do all the housework etc. Just focus on you, baby and spending quality time with both x

You will be perfectly fine :)
I had twins via c/section. 10 days later I was doing everything from usual housework and minding 2 babies.
You can do this x

Hi I’ve just recently had 2nd c section. Also have a 2 year old, partner was back to work a week after. 3 weeks now able to lift toddler with no issues (short amount of time) you’ll be fine, I found the first 4/5 days difficult then was fine after that, I did have family taking toddler for the first week for a few hours a day which was helpful as they are very clingy to me

Also unsure of your toddlers age but mines 2.5 and really enjoyed “helping mummy” lifting things, grabbing nappies for baby etc try to include them in wee tasks if they are into that makes things that little bit easier and found she is very caring for the baby

I'm two months postpartum with my second baby - firstborn was a (very traumatic) vaginal birth and opted for C-section with my second due to large baby and concerns of shoulder dystocia. Can honestly say the section was a dream - like you, I was so nervous particularly about recovery but honestly it was fine. I'd echo previous posters, the first five days were tricky but as long as you keep on top of your pain meds I was in no more pain then I had been post vaginal birth. I'd recommend peppermint tea and chewing gum to prevent wind, I also took colpermin peppermint capsules. Take your own pillow to hold against your incision - especially handy for the car ride home. An extra long charging cable for your phone, and a drinks bottle with a straw. You'll be surprised how well your body recovers! I also have a 3 year old who I was worried about but she has been so helpful! Passing nappies and wipes, handing muslins and wiping her little sister's spit ups 😂. Get your eldest involved as much as you can! They love a job! Best of luck OP 💐

You will find a way to manage, I had an emergency c section with our daughter and popped down to the local shops within 1 week (it was hard but I did it). After about 2-2.5 weeks I felt back to my normal self. Just don't be picking your toddler up if you can help it. My partner had 3 weeks off also and I felt ready for him going back to work. Please don't panic yourself over it you will manage you just need to be careful x

I would try really hard to not be tempted to lift your older child for the first week or two if DH will be around. I had. ELCS with DC2 and found that at the week mark I started to push myself to “get on” with life and household tasks and it was such a bad idea and really set me back. If your DH is around for the first 2-3 weeks please let them do all the heavy lifting for this period and try not to push yourself.

I also stopped my painkillers at 10 days which was daft. Keep taking the painkillers. Obviously fine to reduce them but don’t go cold turkey because you feel you should be able to get by without them.

Also to reassure, I had a natural birth with DC1 which included an episiotomy which I still get twinges from today almost 7 years later. I had my ELCS with DC2 nearly 2 years ago and have zero residual pain associated with it.