Post c-section buggy pushing?

[Verso]

A friend of mine had a c-section a couple of weeks ago and has been told no buggy/pram pushing before six weeks, which means she's pretty much housebound unless someone comes round to push the buggy for her. I'm booked in for one next week and was wondering if this is the standard advice?

EBenes - DS was 2.3 when we moved him to a bed (about 3 weeks ago) cos he slept so well in his cot that we delayed it as long as possible. We only did it when we did because I started my maternity leave and could sleep during the day if it all went pear-shaped (which fortunately it didn't!!) otherwise I think I would have left it until he was 10

chutney/ebenes a friend had her 2nd DD by c/s this year (DD1 was 18 months) and for mealtimes they'd set up a low table and chair next to the normal kitchen table so that DD1 had her own table to eat from - saved any lifting up to the high chair and her DD1 loved having her own table to eat from

I think I'm lucky that DD is 3.5 so she can sit at the grown-up table and also can get in and out of the bath herself with a step and a steadying hand.

Thanks so much for all the replies. It will be interesting to see what advice they actually give me on the day.

Best of luck for Thursday, ceebee!

"otherwise I think I would have left it until he was 10"

I'm leaving EVERYTHING till then! Unfortunately the attempts to escape the cot are getting more convincing.

Do what your body allows you to do without becoming too sore.

Don't do anything silly, but carrying on as near normal as possible will aid recovery. Doing very little will make you worse as you will stiffen up and could make you reluctant to move.

Take regular painkillers and rest when you are able to.

Have never heard about not using a pram or buggy after a cs, I used mine like a zimmer frame for the first few days after my cs!

I had to have an Emergency CS with my DD (nearly 3) and couldn't push her in her pushchair till way past six weeks. Which really upset me. My scar took way longer than normal to heal, and the drugs they give you to take when you come out of hospital, think they were painkillers, cause I had to have extra of those too. I guess I was just one of the unlucky ones, It hasn't put me off though, because I'd like a c-section with this baby if I could.

Jael X

Have had 4 c-sections. Told not to drive for 6 weeks and no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. With the last two, I was told no heavy lifting for 3 months to make sure I healed properly.

When the last one was born I had a 2 yr old toddler so needed a double buggy as it was the middle of winter. After a lot of research we got an In Step Nipper which was wonderful and very light and easy to push. My mum was with me during the day for the first 2 weeks after the last one was born so did all the pushing. DH HAD to be home for bathtime to do the lifting for the next 3 months . The c-sections were also an excuse to get a cleaner to do the hoovering etc . Still got her 4 years down the line

I was told not to push the pushchair, but more for my back which a CS made worse. I found that using a wrap was far easier on my back and scar (which TBH was still playing up when I got pregnant this time) than pushing anything.

I guess I was one of the lucky "ones".

I had severe SPD when pregnant with dd1 and from 29 weeks, was unable to stand for any more than 10 mins and was barely able to walk more than a couple of steps.

Having an emcs was for me, almost painless after the initial couple of days. I could stand up, sit down and walk. My mw gave me a row as I was doing too much but I couldn't get over how good I felt. Looking back, I know I did more than I should have done but at the time I suppose I was just pleased to be mobile once more.

2nd cs was an elective and did take a bit more time to get over but managed a little hill walk when dd2 was 4 weeks old. BTW was doing this whilst pregnant with dd2 (no spd this time) and used to go out climbing/mountaineering before dd's arrived.

Everybody's experience will be different but I would have gone crazy if I had been told I couldn't this and that.
The advice that the mum's are given where I work is not to push themselves and to listen to their bodies.
I suppose it also depends on the amount of support you have once you are discharged home.
With dd1, dh went back to work 1 week after she was born and my family lived 500 miles away, so I had nobody to help out. I just had to get by the best that I could.