Question for those who had a C-Section

dianabarton · September 2009

I just learned that I'll be having a C-section (my LO is built like my DH, who is 6'3"and unfortunately my bone structure is not compatible to push her out! haha) and I was wondering a couple of things:

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably?
2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns?
3. How long did they keep you in the hospital?
4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery?

I've never had any type of surgery so I'm not really sure what to expect. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Aug Bride · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? - The nurses will have you up and walking the second day. This is to help reduce blood clots and to help you heal.

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? - I just used hospital gowns. I did not want to get my nightgowns stained with blood.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? - 3 days

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? I just used the bassinette for a while and that seemed to work out really well. If I had issues, I had DH to help out. He would hand my DS to me for feeding etc.

cass_e · September 2009

I ended up having an emergency c-section, so it's nice that you are able to know beforehand, and ask questions!

1. My c-section was at 7:30pm on a Monday night, and I was up and walking (with a lot of help from nurses) by about noon on Tuesday. I was also able to shower on Tuesday, which was nice.

2. I wore the hospital gowns and underpants while I was in the hospital. The nurses and doctors check your incision multiple times a day, so wearing pants would have been cumbersome (and not very comfortable).

3. I was in the hospital for 3 days. My c-section was on a Monday night, and I was discharged on Thursday afternoon. At our hospital, normal delivery buys you 2 days in the hospital, c-section 3 days.

4. I didn't have any issues lifting LO after surgery. Thankfully DH stayed in the hospital with me, so he took care of LO (diapering, etc) for the most part in the hospital, as I wasn't walking without aid (holding on to him or something else, IV pole, nurse) until Wednesday (2-days post surgery).

I have never had any type of surgery before either, and I was very nervous. But just remember...either way, LO is going to come out, and you will be fine in the end. It is scary, but worth it! And don't worry so much about the spinal either...I was really worried about that after reading what others were posting on the 3rd tri board, and after hearing stories from ladies at work...it's not that bad. Goes in just like an epidural...which you probably would have had if you had a vaginal delivery anyway. I had both...they had to re-do the needle for the spinal b/c of complications..but it turned out fine! Good luck to you!!

ivs112 · September 2009

1. I was walking pretty comfortably the next day.

2. I wore the hospital gown the first day and a half and then switched to pants.

3. I gave birth on Tuesday and was out on Friday.

4. No issues lifting DD or doing any other baby related things.

erika_sue · September 2009

My c/s wasn't scheduled, so I had a harder recovery than someone who did have to go through labor and pushing. I had a hard time walking for about 2 weeks, 6 weeks until I actually felt good.

I would wear nightgowns and dresses for a while. Yoga pants and PJ pants would probably be comfortable, too. Even my maternity pants were uncomfortable for a while because the seam ran against my incision.

I was in the hospital from Friday night until Thursday morning. My c/s was at 1:30 AM Sunday.

I was allowed to lift DD, but nothing heavier for 6 weeks. DH and my family mostly brought her to me for the first two weeks.

jessNdean · September 2009

First and foremost. If any family member is willing to help you out for the first week or two. Take it!!!! I am glad I did.

1. 2 weeks to feel completely comfortable to walk around.

2. i would just get a night gown it will be more comfortable plus you will be bleeding so pulling down your pants constantly would probably hurt and be uncomfortable.

3. 3 days i believe i was in the hospital. Friday afternoon to monday mid morning.

4. I did. well after i got out of surgery from the medication i was very shaky. Not nauseas or anything like that just very shaky. I didn't really feel comfortable until about 3 hours later. But I did hold her for like a second after she was born.

5. They will make you get up and walk the day after you have had your baby. If you aren't ready just dont let them push you. Make sure you have taken all your pain meds before you attempt it. My meds were wearing off and it was horrible. It does get easier...just take your time.

Quiksilver620 · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? the next night they had me walking, but it was probably soar for a good 2 weeks
2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? I wore the nightgowns in the hospital, but for the ride home I was comfortable in yoga pants
3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? 4 nights after c/s, but 5 nights total
4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? I think I lifted her within a day or 2

kklickka · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? They made me get up the next day to walk around, but it wasn't "comfortable" for about a week. It was bearable after about 3 days.

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? I wore yoga pants for a few days afterward. I definitely wouldn't plan on wearing real pants.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? DS was born at 8:29 pm on June 1, I went home a day earlier than I was supposed to, on June 4th.

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? I didn't feel comfortable picking him up until about 3 days pp...I probably could have, but I was afraid I would have a stab of pain and drop him.

GypsyEsq · September 2009

A planned C-section recovery will be (supposedly) easier than one that was emergency or after a long labor because labor itself is really hard work. My entire body was sore and achy and then on top of that I had the pain from the c-section. But you should feel pretty good based on what I've heard from friends who had planned cesarean births. You will have to get up and walk within 24 hours. The nurses will make you as soon as your catheter is out. I wore pants one day in the hospital, honestly it wasn't difficult. The docs and nurses just moved what they needed to move. I did have difficulty picking up DD for about a week - but I think that was my long labor, plus the c-section, plus the carpal tunnel I developed during pregnancy. DH was a great help. Just don't expect to get anywhere too quickly or jump up from the couch and you'll be fine. Good luck!

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? 1-2 weeks before I could get up pretty easily and moved myself back into my bed (I have a Tempurpedic and it was too squishy to sleep in at first, so I was sleeping on my couch) But, I had both an episiotomy and C-section, so I might have been a bit more sore than just a C-section.

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? At the hospital I wore hospital gowns, then at home I wore my maternity yoga pants

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? 4 nights

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? none whatsoever

mobiz · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably?

like pp said, you are up and moving the next day. walking 'comfortably' took about a week maybe?

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns?

i wore suuuper loose yoga pants or the hospital gown. anything remotely close to my incision bothered me (on that note, get some granny panties and/ or wear the hospital ones...all my undies hit at a bad spot so i got bigger ones once i got home from the hosptial)

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? 5 days
4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery?

yes, it took a long time before i could lift him without feeling some pain. those first days you will need to ask for help wherever you can get it. but thankfully they are smaller then....DS is so big now i occasionally get pains in my incision/abs when i lift him!

my other advice: take gas X....they didn't offer it to me immediately and i had such awful gas pains from trapped air in the surgery. take it as often as you are allowed, as well with pain meds...you're going thru enough you don't need to be in unnecessary pain if you can avoid it!

jessNdean · September 2009

oh yeah and the gas you get ...ughhh horrible and they have to press on your stomach too the day after you have your lo. I had so much gas it was horrible and i had an issue getting it out. ...but i have always had that issue. They gave me a subpository..(which at that point i was done feeling like i was being tortured) I still couldn't go...they wanted to give me another one ...So i made them give me really strong strong coffee and i went out and smoked a cigarette and then i was good to go!. They wouldn't let me leave the hospital if I didn't go to the bathroom. I was not having a second Subpository! This might have been a little TMI sorry! but i had to share that cause the gas is bad!

katypresson · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? I walked the next day ..not much...and very slowly. But the sooner you get up and try, the easier recovery will be.
2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? I wouldn't dare! I wore the hospital gowns the whole time I was there...the day I left, wore comfy pants...that were still too tight!
3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? 5 days
4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? Nope!

PregoCC · September 2009

C-section was at 10PM, I was up walking around noon the next day. It was by no means "comfortable" though. By Friday, I was walking much better, but still slow and achy.

I wore hospital gowns the whole time in the hospital, and wore a comfy dress home, once at home, I wore maternity pants/shorts. You don't want anything rubbing against the incision, which is VERY low. I was amazed at how low it was/is.

Delivered on Tuesday night, was out on Friday late afternoon.

No issues lifting the baby at all, but you'll need lots of help doing basically everything.

Good luck! I was upset when it came down to a C-section too, but in the end, it doesn't really matter!

rebus82 · September 2009

1. I had my surgery in the very very early morning, and was out of bed later that evening. Walking on my own (with someone nearby just in case) pretty well the next day. Easily on my own probably the day after that. You definitely want to try and get out of bed as soon as they'll let you, even if you think it will hurt a bit. Just don't overdo it.?

2. I just stayed in gowns because they checked me a lot, but I wore pants constantly from the day we left the hospital. I just made sure to get a pair with a drawstring (or loose elastic) waist that sat at my bellybutton (lower abdomen was very sore.)

3. I had surgery in the wee hours of Sat. and left on Tuesday (was ready physically by Monday but they wanted me to stay until the doctor okayed me and they didn't come until Tuesday.)?

4. No, but I didn't try and pick him up a lot right away, I just had people hand him to me. If I did pick him up, it was usually from a higher area like the changing pad. That was for about a week probably. ?

MeghanF13 · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? The next day..but not long walks for a while. I walked a little more each day. You will be walking the next day in the hospital to avoid blood clots, and to get gas moving.
2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? Easier to just stay in hospital gowns, but at home I was in gowns for a bit, and mat pants (because they don't have the waist right where your incision is, like regular pants and underwear). Going home from hospital, and for the first few days I would put a pad over my incision when going in the car so the seatbelt wouldn't irritate it.
3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? minimum 3 days, depending on your recovery and LO's recovery
4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? No, general rule of thumb is to lift nothing heavier than LO. DH did bring her to me at night for feedings though, and was home with me for the first week just to help me out.

ALYSSAG · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? I was able to walk the next day and each day after that the discomfort was a little less.

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? I wore the hospital gown the day of surgery and then I wore yoga pants.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? I had some blood pressure issues...6 nights

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? none.

KSimone619 · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? - Comfortably about 2 days later, getting up and down was still tough though. I started pusing the stroller for walks the day after coming home from the hospital, so 5 days later (although walking slowly)

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? - I wore the gown until after my first shower, 24 hours later. I wore PJ type pants and they were not uncomfortable.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital?- I had the option to come home on day 3 or 4, I came home on day 4

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery?- Nope!

Puckchick07 · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? I was up and moving the very next morning. I felt comfortable, but a little slow. I was taking LO around the halls in her bassinet the next day.

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? I wore nightgowns for the first couple of days.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital? Had cs on Thursday morning, left hospital Sunday afternoon.

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery? No

KSimone619 · September 2009

1. How long did it take you to be able to walk around comfortably? - Comfortably about 2 days later, getting up and down was still tough though. I started pusing the stroller for walks the day after coming home from the hospital, so 5 days later (although walking slowly)

2. Can you wear pants right after or should I get some nightgowns? - I wore the gown until after my first shower, 24 hours later. I wore PJ type pants and they were not uncomfortable.

3. How long did they keep you in the hospital?- I had the option to come home on day 3 or 4, I came home on day 4

4. Did you have any issues lifting your LO after the surgery?- Nope!

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