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3rd Trimester
xXLissettXx
member
C-section questions
xXLissettXx
member
So, my dr has offered me a csection for next thursday. I am a very petite person and my baby was estimated to weigh about 9.6lbs. My dr is concerned that the baby may get stuck coming out and complications may come up.
Well, a csection was never in my plans and it really sux to have all that go down the drain. I am still happy and whatnot but a little dissapointed that I may not be able to go the route I wanted.
I do have a couple of questions... some silly and some I should know but just have not read up on enough!
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems??
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right??
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...)
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out??
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I only ask because I always wanted to have the baby with me and not be taken to a nursery (which thankfully my hospital does- everything is done in the room)... But since I am now having a csection... will this require my baby to be monitored a bit more than one delivered vaginally?? I don't want the baby to be out of my sight or my bf's so I'm just wondering about how things generally work during a csection
Thanks everyone!! 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: C-section questions
I had an emergency c-section with my dd, and i'm scheduled for a rcs with this LO! Labor with my dd was very traumatic so I'd would opt for a rcs with this one any chance I had. I can only speak from my experience but I hope it helps.
1. 6 weeks. Of course I had an abdominal binder and I wore it everyday day for like 6 months because I thought that if I sneezed I'd rip open. But I was driving by my 5th week and walking normal before that. 6 weeks is a good estimate.
2. 6-8 weeks for sex. You use a lot of abdominal muscles during sex plus, I didn't have much of a drive after having the baby. LOL actually 6 weeks didn't seem long enough but my doctor told us 6 weeks in front of my husband, so I couldn't make any new excuses.
3. I personally bled for a LONG time, but i've never had a vag. delivery so I don't know what is "normal". I can tell you that i spotted for 3 weeks after I got home from the hospital then I had a clot the length of my arm come out...really scary. I don't know if that was normal either but I told my doc and they didn't seem to be too concerned. (you'll find that there are a lot of things people don't tell you about being pregnant/labor. This was just one of them)
4. The doctor removes the placenta
5. It takes about 20 mins to get stitched up (I think, I was pretty out of it by then) but my dd had swallowed meconium so she had to go to NICU immediatly, my DH was allowed to go with her, and I didn't get to see her until the next day. But I was out of it, really sick, and they did take polaroids of her so I could see her. Also, I got an infection so I had to stay in the hospital on a completely different floor and it was very difficult for me to get to her during the beginning.
Listen, it will be different for you. If you have a scheduled CS you'll wake up that morning, shower go to the hospital, see the nurses, talk to the doc then have a baby. If everything is alright the baby will be given to your BF and brought up to your head for you to see him/her while you're getting stitched up. Of course vag. is better but if you decide to have a cs, or if its medically necessary, its not the worst thing in the world. Some people on here go way overboard about how bad it is...the goal is to have a healthy baby, and if a cs is what is necessary to have a healthy baby, then nothing else really matters at that point
I had a scheduled c-sect with my first daughter as she was a footling breech.
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? I was a civilian then...maybe a few months.
did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems?? walking is fun ((not))...driving was a 2 week restriction because the reaction required to drive ((stomach muscles are used)), get a bella band to help you after pregnancy with the walking because it will feel like your guts are falling out at first.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right??
you still need to wait until you have stopped bleeding because that blood has to go somewhere and they don't vacuum you out after surgery. your doc will tell you when you can have sex again. unless you just lay there, you tend to use ((ta-da)) stomach muscles which won't feel so great for a while.
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...)
eh, unknown...
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out??
doc takes it out for you. I am gonna ask for a tummy tuck while he is down there...never hurts to ask.
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I only ask because I always wanted to have the baby with me and not be taken to a nursery (which thankfully my hospital does- everything is done in the room)... But since I am now having a csection... will this require my baby to be monitored a bit more than one delivered vaginally?? I don't want the baby to be out of my sight or my bf's so I'm just wondering about how things generally work during a csection
it takes a little while, they should, provided there are no complications, put baby on your chest while they do all the fun stuff. should baby need to be whisked away, then your boyfriend can go with baby and observe, feed, hold, whatever.
I will be having my 4th c-section this October.
1. Every operation is different. I've had 2 great recoveries & 1 not so good. It usually took me about 2 months to finally feel "normal". Walking is actually good for you just take it slow in the beginning. Some ladies are back to normal within the same week! That would be so AWESOME! but it's never happened to me. Maybe you'll get lucky.
2. It's about the same time because it's considered major surgery. So although your incision site might look great and healed it takes a lot longer to heal from the inside. All the layers they cut have to heal back up and it takes some time.
3. Never had a vaginal birth but I'd expect it would be about the same.
4. Dr. removes the placenta.
5. Since it's your first c-section the whole procedure will be pretty quick. In my experiences they deliver the baby and tend to the baby while they are finishing your surgery. You're shown your baby but can't hold them because your arms are strapped down to the operating table. Once you see the baby and daddy gets to take pictures, they take the baby to the nursery. Meanwhile you will be taken to a recovery room for a couple of hours, then to a post partum room. Baby will be brought to you when they're done evaluating, bathing and so forth. Sometimes it can be a long while until they bring your baby to you.
Just keep in mind that these answeres were from my experiences and not all hospitals are the same. Good luck! You will be fine
My C-section was not in my plans either but she was breech so it had to be done.
1. I was not allowed to drive for 6 weeks which really sucked. However, I had my C-section on a Thursday and was up walking around the next day. I had blood pressure issues after delivery that is why they did not get me out of bed that same day. Getting up and moving around on Friday was painful and it was not fun. But, after that it only got easier. The hospital gave me a stomach binder and it was fantastic it sort of holds everything into place and makes moving around so much better. Within a week I was moving around almost like normal.
2. You know what I would have thought sex should not have been a problem either since it did not come out that way. But, I found out that there is still trauma down there and I guess in your cervix so I waited until about 8 weeks after the birth to try having sex. It was sort of painful at first but just take it slow and ease back into it. Even now 8 months post partum it still can be uncomfortable at times. Actually I noticed sex could be a problem when my period came back for the first time and I put in a tampon. It bothered me so much I had to take it out and wear a pad which I hate more than anything.
3. Now I have only had a C-section but I guess I bled for about 5-6 weeks. However, by week 3 it was not much of anything anymore. My heaviest bleeding took place the day after the surgery. That is why for me I did not wear my nice nursing nightgowns or my own underwear. They would have been ruined.
4. They took out the placenta during the surgery I never had to push anything.
5. My husband went with the baby when they sewed me back up. My whole surgery took about 40 minutes from start to finish. When the baby left the OR they took her to my recovery room so she would be there waiting for me. Assuming that there are no problems with your LO there is no reason that the baby should be placed in the nursery. However, it might depend on the hospital because a friend of mine had a C-section and her baby was not allowed in the recovery room with her. I would not have wanted that because I was in recovery for 5 hours. They would not let me leave until I got feeling back in my legs and could move them. When I was in recovery I was able to text, talk on the phone, we took pics, and video, and I was nursing and holding my newborn.
Good luck with everything. If you have any other questions I would be happy to help.
I ended up with an emergency c-section after pushing for an hour. I had an exceptionally great experience/recovery so I thought I'd let you know, it's not all bad. I am planning a repeat c-s with this one.
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems?? I was up walking that night, moving around without major issues within 2-3 days. Started driving at 1 week.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? We were supposed to wait the 6 wks, but we went ahead around week 4. It wasn't a huge deal for us, however I was not on top!
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? I only really bled for about a week, then spotting was pretty much over around 3 weeks.
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out?? Doc takes it out
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? This part was a bit hazy, I think the stitching part was only about 20 minutes. I didn't get to see much of DD though as they had to take her away because of her health. She ended up being fine, but because her heart rate was so low for so long during labor, she ended up with meconium and a high fever, so they kept her in the nursery for almost 6 hours before I got to have her come to my room. DH did get to go see her in the nursery though while I was in recovery.
Since it is major abdominal surgery, recovery time is generally longer than with a vaginal delivery. This includes the wait time for sex.
On the brighter side, women who have c-sections will bleed for a lesser amount of time than women who have vaginal deliveries.
The placenta will come out after the baby. The placenta won't come out right away as your body still has to allow it to migrate away from the uterine wall so as to not cause a hemorrhage. Stitching up totally depends on the doctor, preferred suturing method, amount of bleeding, etc.
Pregnancy # 6
4 missed chances
2 loving children
1 on the way
Scheduled section, and it took about 6 weeks to feel "ok" and another month or so to feel "good". I was walking around two days later, but it wasn't comfy. I can't remember driving... I think around 3-4 weeks before I personally drove.
Sex=6wks (and there was NO desire to even do it then) your stomach feels wierd and "a lot whent on down there" according to my OB, even sections need PP recovery time.
I bled for about 3 weeks, then only when nursing for another, then one last spotting till 5wks.
Placenta, they took care of it.
Stitching up/recovery took longer than I thought. They showed her to me, weighed and wiped off, then held her again for pictures and took her to the NICU (where they gave her formula
) and they kept telling me that I could have her in "recovery" well then they didn't ever bring her. I had to ask and they said "when you get to your PP room you can have her" and I finally kicked DH out of the room and told him not to come back w/o her, that I wasn't waiting any longer. When he got back they decided that they were going to then move me into the new room, so by the time that everything happened it was about 3 hours.
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems?? It took me about a week to start moving around normally and about 2 weeks to drive (my doc said it was OK once I was off the pain meds and felt I could hit the brakes hard/fast if needed. I was off the hard pain meds within about 12hrs and stopped taking ibuprofen once I got home.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right?? They still want you to wait til your 6 week PP appt.
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...) Well, I've only had a C-section so far, but my bleeding seemed normal. I used the big diaper pads while I was at the hospital and switched over to ginormous pads the day before I left. I used overnight pads for maybe a week, then normal pads for another week or two, then spotted for a few more weeks (PP bleeding kind of comes and goes...it seems like it'll be stopping, then it'll start up again).
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out?? Dr does it.
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I think this will depend on your hospital. The stitching and stuff didn't take long, but they parked me in recovery inside the OR for an hour. DD had to go to the NICU (she was premature) and DH went with her initially, but then they kicked him out to do admission stuff and there was a miscommunication - they told him he couldn't come back in the OR, but someone in the OR asked me if he had come back in to see me. Since DD was in the NICU, I didn't get to see her until that night (she was born at 12:30pm and I saw her around 10pm).
It has been almost 4 years since my 2nd scheduled c-section, so I will try to remember
FYI: My 2nd c-section was even easier than my 1st scheduled c-section. DS1 was 8 lbs 15 oz and DS2 was 8 lbs 13oz. Both had huge heads!
1. The first week was the worst but totally not horrible by any means. The second week was a lot better. The trick with c-sections is to take it easy even if you are feeling better. If you push yourself (and there will be a time when you feel like you can), it makes healing take longer. It kind of back fires on you. With DS2, I literally walked (slowly) to the park 1/2 mile away from home on the day we brought the baby home. I had a 17 month old so we went for our first family outing
That was day 4 after DS2 was born. Stay on top of the pain meds. Take the stool softener. In the hospital, drink warm prune juice a couple times a day and alternate with hot mint tea - this works wonders!!!! When they take the catheter out and want you to stand up for the first time, just remember mind over matter. This is always the hardest part for me but if I just say to myself to get up slowly and just do it, it is a little easier. Take a walk around the hospital hallways with your baby in their rolling bassinet twice a day at least. It really helps to start the healing process. You will walk like a grandma, but it will get your body going 
2. No sex for 6 weeks just like a vaginal birth. I believe a big reason for this for vaginal or c-section is the risk of infection.
3. With my first c-section, I was surprised how much I bled - only because I didn't think about that part beforehand. I bled for about 2 weeks tops but it totally trickles down to nothing. The first 4-5 days are the heaviest.
4. The whole point of a c-section is that nothing comes out of your vagina. Doctor removes placenta. I received spinals for my c-section and I was totally numb from mid-chest down. Feeling comes back while in the recovery room in about an hour after c-section is completed.
5. Stitching up takes about 20 minutes maybe? Doctors/hospital I go to deliver baby, show him to me over the curtain, clean baby up a little in the operating room and check him out (Apgar scores) while I am being stitched up. They wrap baby in a blanket and put on a hat and then hand him to DH. We ooooh and aaah over baby for a couple minutes and then DH goes with the baby to the nursery where they get ointment/Vitamin K shot, bathed, pricked, etc. DH never leaves the baby while I am in the recovery room. He knows my rule!!! He is not allowed to ever leave the baby - even if he wants to check in with me - not allowed
My mom or aunt go to the nursery and let him know I am okay. While doctors are finishing sewing me up, they do put me in a twilight sleep which is no problem for me. It is like a good 30-60 minute nap! When I get to my room where I will be for the next 3-4 nights, baby is brought to me and that is when we cuddle, BF and ooooh and aaaaah again 
I am scheduled for my 3rd (and last!) c-section and have no regrets at all about having them vs having a vaginal delivery. There are horror stories about vaginal and c-section births. I personally don't know anyone who had a horrible recovery with a scheduled c-section. From what I have read, it seems the worst horror stories are after a mom has labored for hours and then has to have an emergency c-section. This sounds like it can really take a toll on the mom
Just my two cents!
looks like you got a lot of good answers. i just want to say that i know of A LOT of petite woman who birthed larger babies. there is one mom in my playgroup who is 5/3 and tiny, she had a 10lb baby no problem.
the u/s could be way off and your baby could be in the 8lb or range and totally able to come out on his/her own. you will never know unless you try and i would highly suggest trying. a c-sect. can be done at any point if pushing is getting you nowhere. c-sect. are major surgery and the recovery is usually pretty tough. i would hate for you to go through all that for no good reason. good luck!
That being said, I had a c/s with my son (hoping to VBAC this time) and my experience was wonderful! IF you have a c/s I would also speak with your Dr and discuss how you want your birth to go. DS never left my side..he was with us the whole time and I was able to BF as soon as we were in recovery. Ask what the hospital policy is and be aware...
One thing re: the bleeding that you should be prepared for - the nurses will come in several times a day and push on your uterus - which is right where your incision is. They push to force any clots out, and they'll check your underwear to make sure plenty is coming out. They do this because of the risk of blood clots with c/s, and let me tell you, it HURTS. I'm not trying to scare you, but I had no idea they would do this and no one ever told me about it, so when they started doing it I was totally unprepared. Just keep telling yourself that it's absolutely necessary so you don't end up with blood clots.
I just had my second c/s a week and a half ago.
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems?? I am not allowed to drive until 2w post-op. I was walking around within 24 hours -- doing laps around the maternity ward. What I learned from the 1st time -- the more you move, the better you will feel. First time I laid around the entire time I was in the hospital. I feel like moving more often and earlier has made this time easier.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right?? I imagine I will get cleared at my 6w pp visit. Even though the baby did not exit the are things are still a little wonky down there.
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...). I have had light bleeding/spotting since getting out of the hospital. Nothing a panty liner couldn't handle, but I am wearing pds just in case (random gushes can happen)
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out?? Placenta was removed by Dr.
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I only ask because I always wanted to have the baby with me and not be taken to a nursery (which thankfully my hospital does- everything is done in the room)... But since I am now having a csection... will this require my baby to be monitored a bit more than one delivered vaginally?? I don't want the baby to be out of my sight or my bf's so I'm just wondering about how things generally work during a csection. This is one thing that changed from my first c/s to this one, for the better. In 2007 baby was whisked away and I was in recovery alone. This time, baby was with me the entire time -- she was put on me almost immediately for skin to skin and nursing and stayed with me and DH in recovery. She did not go to the nurssery until later and did not get a bath until that night. This is my hospital's policy though, as they are really into advocating for skin to skin now.
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This exactly. The day after my C-section I was bleeding really heavily and I knew and asked a nurse to come in cause I knew my pad needed to be changed. The bleeding was so bad they had to remove everything and wipe me down. All of a sudden this nurse started pressing down on my belly button. I was like are you nuts it hurt so bad. I serioulsy wanted to slap this lady upside the head because I could not understand what she was trying to do. All I kept thinking was doesn't this lady realize I was just cut open down there. My doctor finally told me why they had to do this and I understood but it was awful probably one of the most painful things about having a C-section. Just breathe deep when they go to do it and it only last a few seconds.
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems??
It took me about two weeks before my legs felt normal. The first two day in the hospital, they had to put compression boots on me to prevent blood clots as I could hardly move.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right??
We had sex about 5 weeks PP. I just laid there while H did all the work. Unfortunately, that one night resulted in a pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage. One of the many reasons doctors want you to wait the six weeks is that at that time they will have you start birth control.
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...)
Bleeding for me stoped around 4 weeks PP.
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out??
As the other ladies said, the doctor removes it. They also vacuum out the amniotic fluid.
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I only ask because I always wanted to have the baby with me and not be taken to a nursery (which thankfully my hospital does- everything is done in the room)... But since I am now having a csection... will this require my baby to be monitored a bit more than one delivered vaginally?? I don't want the baby to be out of my sight or my bf's so I'm just wondering about how things generally work during a csection
Honestly, I'm not sure how long the stitching took as I was paying attention to what they were doing to my girl.
At my hospital, while in the OR, they showed her to me over the curtain, measured and checked her Apgar scores, gave ointment, Vitamin K shot, bathed her, and checked her blood sugar(not sure if that 's standard but she was 10lbs 9oz) all while I was being stitched up. They then wrapped her in a blanket and brought her out to the me in the recovery room where we BF and I got to hold her for about an hour. The nurses took her to the NICU to monitor her low blood sugar and I was wheeled up to my room.
I had an emergency C/S, but it took me about 6 weeks before I really felt good. I couldn't drive or walk much for the first 2 weeks, and even after that I was very slow going.
It takes atleast 6 weeks before your OB will give you the okay to have sex. I was horrified to have sex because the incision was still very new and obviously not even close to being healed. I just couldn't imagine a penis anywhere near that area.
I only had 1 C/S but I bled for about 6 weeks, the first 2 weeks were VERY heavy and then it was just a medium flow.
The doctor will remove the placenta.
Like I said, I had an emergency C/S after 24 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing. I developed a fever, as did my DD so after she was delivered she was taken out of the room. My DH left me and went with DD to the nursery to have her first bath and blood work done. From what I know, your baby will probably not be able to stay in the room with you while you are being stitched up, it does take some time. Your SO will be able to go with your LO while you are being taken care of and you can meet them all back in the recovery room.
Good luck!
Thank you Moms for all the great answers! They really helped out! I am still a bit upset that for the most part it took everyone atleast an hour (some more) to see their LO again after the delivery. I guess I can live with that, just hope the nurses don't try to bottle feed since I am wanting to strictly BF. I am still a bit upset about having to have a csection, but I guess as long as baby and I are both well and healthy, it shouldn't matter. I just hope that I can VBAC with my next pregnancy... granted that baby isn't a big whopper like this little guy was! lol
Thanks again!!
1. About how long did it take you to recover from your csection?? did it take you long to start driving and walking around with no problems?? I was pretty sore for the first 2 days or so, but I made sure to get up and walking as soon as they'd let me. My abs pretty much felt like a really bad torn muscle for 2 weeks.
2. I know this one is silly but does it still take the same amount of time (about 6-8wks) to have sex again?? Just wondering... since baby didn't come out through there I would think that it would be ok to do it sooner right??The reason you are told not to have sex for 6 weeks is to prevent infection. Pyometra is a nasty thing. It takes at least that long for your uterus to close up shop. It has nothing to do with the bleeding.
3. Did you bleed for a longer period of time than the expected amount?? (I guess this is asking more for the moms here who have had a vaginal birth and then csection or vice versa...) I had DS1 csection and DS2 vaginal. I bled longer after the c-section, close to 6 weeks. I only bled for 3 1/2 after the vaginal.
4. Does the dr remove the placenta during the operation or am I still required to push it out?? It is removed before you're stitched up.
5. About how long do they take to stitch me up? I only ask because I always wanted to have the baby with me and not be taken to a nursery (which thankfully my hospital does- everything is done in the room)... But since I am now having a csection... will this require my baby to be monitored a bit more than one delivered vaginally?? I don't want the baby to be out of my sight or my bf's so I'm just wondering about how things generally work during a csection I had my c-section at 8:30p and didn't get to hold DS until 11:30p. At first it was because I was shaking so bad from the drugs and then once I left recovery I pretty much passed out from exhaustion (I was induced at 5pm the night before), when I woke up I had to request to have him brought to us. Everyone's situation will be different at this point.
Keep in mind that after you've had a c-section it can/will be difficult to find a doctor, or even hospital for that matter, that will allow you to VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) that's something that you would want to do. A lot of Dr.s see that you've had a c-section and right away categorize you as a repeat c-sec. And sometimes even the doctors that say they'll let you try will go back on their word once delivery time is closer. Good luck!
Thanks everyone!!
A lot of great responses here. I also had a scheduled c/s decided on last minute since DS seemed to be so big on u/s and had not dropped. The u/s was correct and he was very large. the c/s worked out really well for us. It was a difficult decision to make, but so glad we did since he was healthy. 10lbs 7oz at 41 weeks.
You may request that they show you the baby over the curtain right after he/she is born. This was important to me and I'm not sure if every OB does this. Hospitals have different policies about arms tied down. I did not have mine tied down.
For a scheduled c/s, you can request that if Baby is healthy, they not take your baby for bathing/nursery check-up while they sew you up. I wanted the baby in the OR with us. Although my arms were not tied down, I couldn't hold him, but Daddy held him once he was all cleaned up. When they brought me to the recovery area, DH followed Baby down to the nursery to watch and video him getting his first bath, check-up. They brought him back to me in recovery and I Was able to BF for the first time there. I also asked for NO lotions to be used on Baby after the bath. I am sensitive to perfumes and I did not want baby coming back smelling like Johnson and Johnson. Also we asked for no paci's or bottles.
Recovery...hospitals have different policies about how long you are to keep the epidural in. My friend was up walking the day of her surgery. My hospital kept me in bed for 2 days, I think--with the pressure cuffs on my legs.
The hardest part was not being able to carry DS' carseat for 6 weeks. That made trips to the pediatrician or grocerry store difficult. My mom came with me for those trips and I Was so fortunate for that.
At the hospital, keep on top of the pain meds--if you let yourself get too uncomfortable, it is more difficult to get "out of" the pain when you take your meds. We had to keep on top of the nurses to get my meds as soon as I was able to take them. Once home (and at the hospital) my OB had me on Gas-X pills and that helped too--did not have any gas problems.
Take it slow--focus on recovery and resting and you will heal faster. Movement is good, but don't push it.
I bled for 5-6 weeks. Sex at 6 weeks. Your abdominal area takes a while to heal!
Best wishes for a smooth c/s and recovery!
1. It took awhile; recovery (pain) was worse than I'd anticipated. I was driving at 3 weeks and walking then also, just slowly. I wasn't ok'd for exercise until 6 or 8 weeks (I can't remember which).
2. Sex was 6 weeks. This restriction is for your uterus to heal from the placenta tearing (like an open wound) for any type of delivery. Since the placenta detaches from everyone, this is the same time regardless of type of birth.
3. I bled for about 4.5 weeks. I remember being worried that I'd still be bleeding when I went for my follow up. But, part of this is making sure you following the doc's directions. The more you overdo it, the more you bleed (or so they told me).
4. Yes, they take everything out when they do the c/s
5. It took them 30 mins to staple me up. DD never left my side, not in the OR and not in recovery. I think this varies by hospital, etc.
GL to you! I didn't know I was having a c/s with DD but I do know this time. The delivery itself isn't bad, in my experience, but the recovery isn't fun. You'll do fine