Recovering from a c-section

baltimorebride7

If you had a c-section, how long was your recovery and did you have any complications?

Fussalopesmom

Mine took a long time to fully heal. I was pretty much ok after 6 weeks but it took about 6 1/2 months for the scar site to fully heal and was bleeding and draining the whole time. My OB had me on a ton of antibiotics and attempted to cauterize it twice (which made it worse). I had to go in and have it packed and cleaned for about 4 weeks which also didn't really help. Even now (almost 9mo later) I still have sharp pains in it but at least its not bleeding anymore!

girllennon

It took me 4-6 weeks to not feel sharp pains. Roughly 4 days after I was discharged, I got up too quickly in the middle of the night and pulled a muscle beneath my incision because it burned like made whenever I moved.

I didn't have any complications and recovery wasn't as long as I thought. It just sucked that I couldn't drive myself for the first 2 weeks nor could I lift much, if anything.

pixiexkp

I felt back to myself within a week. I stopped pain meds after the second day. I didn't lift for the 2 weeks they suggest. I recovered fast and easy. I went back to work 9 weeks later and was able to do a 120 lb lift test required to return to work with no issues.

ktshafra

I'm only two weeks out, but it hasn't been bad at all. The first two days were the roughest and getting up to walk around the maternity ward for the first time was painful, but important. Once home, I stayed on top of my pain pills and took it easy for a few days. Now I feel basically back to normal, though I know there's a lot I still can't do. The incision doesn't hurt at all; for me, it's the muscles right above my incision. Though I think I had an irritation from the tape used immediately after the c/s, because the skin feels almost rash-like. I go in for my 2-week check up today and expect to only hear good things, as it really feels (and looks, according to DH) like it's healing well.

lauraua

My recovery wasn't bad at all.  I made sure I was up and walking the next morning after the c-section.  My incision never bled.  The scar is not very visible.  I stopped taking my pain meds on Day 3 after the cs.  I made sure to keep a pad between the incision and my underwear.  It just made me feel more secure about not having anything rub that area. I was not used to pain at all and had never had surgery before.  It was bearable and may not be as bad as some of the stories you hear. Good luck!

g00dg0llymsm0lly

I wasn't fully healed until 2.5 months, but I pushed myself too hard and had complications (incision re-opened + infection)

LindsayNY

My c-section was 4 weeks ago and recovery has been a breeze so far. No complications, no infections or problems with the incision. The day after surgery I stopped taking the percocet and only took the motrin. The second day after that I stopped taking the motrin. I got up and walked around as soon as the nurses would let me (about 12 hours after the surgery) and walked as much as I could in the hospital. I'd heard this helps speed recovery and in my case I think it did! I was released after 3 nights in the hospital and didn't need to stay the 4th night. I was trying to get released after 2 nights, but DH felt it was better for me to stay the extra night because it was major surgery. DH and I walked home from the hospital with LO (we live only 4 blocks away.) Everyone said I was crazy but it was fine, we just walked slowly. The worst part for me was the swelling. I didn't get swollen during pregnancy but all of the fluids they pump into you really made me swell like a balloon! It took about 10 days before it all went down. My feet looked like Fred Flintstone!

eesome

With my first- about 5 weeks recovery.

With my second- 3 weeks recovery.

This was when I was feeling myself again. 

julbeejulz

My recovery went really well. I only needed to take the pain meds for two days after I got home. By two weeks I felt really great and I was able to get into jeans. It is still a little numb around my scar but other than that I cannot complain. I made myself get up and move around so that really helped.

lucylea

I was off pain medication by the time I left the hospital and back to myself within a week.  I'd have been fine to drive myself home from the hospital even, but decided to let DH have the honor.  I did hold off on heavy lifting until my six week appointment, but honestly felt up to it by the second week postop.  I had absolutely no complications.  

novilise

For both of my c-sections, I've felt better quite quickly- 4 to 5 days!

But, I'm sure my body was still healing internally even though I felt back to normal. I'm sure I'm still healing in there right now (6 weeks pp) even though I've been pain free for 5 weeks. 

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LindsayNY:

My c-section was 4 weeks ago and recovery has been a breeze so far. No complications, no infections or problems with the incision. The day after surgery I stopped taking the percocet and only took the motrin. The second day after that I stopped taking the motrin. I got up and walked around as soon as the nurses would let me (about 12 hours after the surgery) and walked as much as I could in the hospital. I'd heard this helps speed recovery and in my case I think it did! I was released after 3 nights in the hospital and didn't need to stay the 4th night. I was trying to get released after 2 nights, but DH felt it was better for me to stay the extra night because it was major surgery. DH and I walked home from the hospital with LO (we live only 4 blocks away.) Everyone said I was crazy but it was fine, we just walked slowly. The worst part for me was the swelling. I didn't get swollen during pregnancy but all of the fluids they pump into you really made me swell like a balloon! It took about 10 days before it all went down. My feet looked like Fred Flintstone!

. This is my experience exactly - except I didn't walk home from the hospital - (you're a champ!!) - and we stayed an extra two nights bc LO was jaundiced. I am five weeks PP and feel great.

MeghanF13

7 weeks until I felt normal again. I had some issues with my scar healing and had to have it fixed. It took until 7 weeks before I felt myself again and could do things without help, and had no pain anymore.

Soon2BMrsN

I started to feel like myself after 5-6 weeks.

akayf

I had major complications and was in the hospital for almost a month.   I just started feeling like I was back to normal last week.  

pepomntpat

I had no complications at all. I would say I felt able to do normal things at around the two week mark, but I kept them simple.  I really milked whatever help I could get out of people until my f/u appointment when I was given the green light to do pretty much whatever.  I took the books, the nurses and my ob seriously when they said to take care of no one but myself and my baby.  DD and I spent a lot of time in bed snuggling and nursing. DH did the heavy lifting for two weeks then my mom and MIL took turns helping out for the next two weeks, then the house was a mess for two weeks.

law8296

I had surgery on a Friday night at 5- was out of the hospital with any pain well managed by Sunday at noon.  The worst part of recovery for me was the itching at the incision site.  Other than that I really had no pain.  The amount of blood- which every mother expels, no matter section or vaginal- was pretty gross (not much thought was put in to that ahead of time by me other than relatives/friends saying I'd want to get the really big pads). 

I breastfed and had no difficulties or pain in doing this. Our bed is pretty high off the ground to getting up in to that was a little difficult at first- but just like it was at the end of the pregnancy.  Numbness- I remember having some residual numbness in my lower back for a couple weeks post surgery.

I was back to walking outdoors (leisurely walking) at no more than 2 weeks (had to get OUT of the house). I wore the support wrap the hospital gave me in the early days after surgery.  I was back to jogging (started back with combo of walk/jog) at 8 weeks post surgery.

The only thing I did not like about my c-section was that it had to occur; other than that I really can't say that the recovery was bad at all.  I have a healthy 19 month old son and no residual effects from the surgery (have to work a bit harder at getting rid of belly fat---ugh that sucks).

Sa039ra

My recovery was awesome.  I had my c-section at 10am on a Wednesday and was up walking by 2am on Thursday.  Jack was in the NICU so I walked down there and back 4 times a day, starting Thursday morning.  I think this really helped with recovery.  At 4 weeks PP, I attended a friend's wedding and even danced a little.  I returned to work after 8 weeks and was 100%. 

I know I'm in the minority but my c-section rocked.  I have no interest in trying a VBAC and fully intend to have a RCS. 

LindsayNY

 

Sa039ra: 

I know I'm in the minority but my c-section rocked.  I have no interest in trying a VBAC and fully intend to have a RCS. 

 

This is me too, my recovery was so easy, I will definitely do an RCS with #2. I am hoping to have the same doc again (I'm in a group practice.) 

emma&katiesmom

I've had two c-sections and they were great.  I never labored so maybe that's why I felt great from the beginning but I also took my pain meds regularly so I didn't have a chance to feel bad (pain-wise).  My second c-section was an even quicker recovery - I was driving by 10 days post-partem because my DH was back to work and I had to get places on my own with my girls (my oldest was almost 2 yrs old).  I'd say I felt pretty good by 2 weeks after the surgery with my first.  At this rate I'll be good to go a week after this little guy shows up.  LOL!