c/s mommas - i have questions!

carolinag · October 2008

hi ladies. i am due next week and it is looking like i'm going to end up with a c/s. i have a few questions as this terrifies me and i feel so unprepared. any info you could give me would be great. thanks so much!!! - how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active? - did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed? - i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up... - do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth?

goillini823 · October 2008

I had a really fast recovery. I dont think many people have recoveries like I did though. I didnt need any pain medication after 24 hours. I really only felt slightly sore. I was driving within a week, and I went up and down stairs without much concern.

I held the baby 45 minutes after she was born which sucked, but my DH held her 10 minutes later and brought her to me. I breastfed an hour after she was born.

I'm not sure about the whole losing weight part.

Ally3411 · October 2008

Hey pregnant lady!

I am only 10 days out... but here's my 2 cents:

- I still feel a lot of pain, but apparently I'm abnormal. My Dr said normal recovery is about 1 week.

she said I should be taking it super easy until next week so I don't do more damage.

- I didn't get to hold him RIGHT after, because they had to check him ASAP- he was CS due to placenta previa and really really low fluids, at 37 weeks. His lungs were awesome and had APGARs of 8 and 9. I got to hold him after about 5 mins. And I breastfed 20 mins after getting back to my room.

- I went upstairs 4 days after surgery, and decided to sleep on the couch downstairs because getting in and out of bed was too hard- it was too high and too soft.

- and I've lost 10 lbs so far.

ashley0616 · October 2008

-I was unable to drive, be alone, lift anything other than baby, or exercise for two weeks. I took pain meds (just Rx strength MOtrin) for 10 days, felt way more normal after two weeks. Take your pain meds, and keep the colace coming for a good month after. BM's hurt without it!

-I was able to touch Olivia immediately after birth, and held/bf'd her about 20 mins after. Joe had her in the interim. Next time, I will not allow them to take DC away until I am ready to go too. That's one thing I learned from experience.

-I did stairs from day one. DH walked behind me, you take one at a time and you're slow.

-I have nothing to compare it to, but I was told not to do ab exercises until 12 weeks, and unable to do regular exercise besides walking until 6.

-Buy extra long overnight pads for the first few weeks home. You'll bleed just as much as a vaginal birth.
-Have lots of help lined up for those first two weeks. You'll need it!
-Don't do too much too soon. Everyone will tell you they were out walking immediately after, but it's major surgery so do what you can. I will say walk when you feel able, but don't push yourself or you'll end up bleeding or with a torn suture or something.
-Don't be scared! It's not as bad as you think.
~A

redstars93 · October 2008

I was lucky; my recovery was really easy. I was sore for the first 5 days; staying on top of your pain meds helps a lot.

Take the 6 weeks to heal. If you were active before you'll probably rebound quicker but don't push it. Walking is fine.

I held DS as they wheeled me to recovery and the nurse helped me BF as soon as I got to recovery. She was awesome and moved me all around even though I was still numb.

Stairs were fine for me, but I wouldn't want to do multiple trips per day.

I can't talk RE: losing weight because I was overweight before pregnancy. But be prepared for the "fat shelf" above your incision...

GL!!

papagena · October 2008

I had a pretty easy recovery - other than while I was in the hospital, I didn't need anything more than a few motrin once I was back home. I was able to do stairs right away - doctor just said don't overdo it. I got to hold & feed the baby about an hour after the c/s. I was actually ready before the baby (once I was out of recovery, baby was still in the nursery getting checked out). I haven't had too much problem losing weight - I had lost the majority of my baby weight at 4 weeks pp (10 lbs to go!). Good luck!

Ally3411 · October 2008

oh and PS- I have only bled about a tablespoon.

Maybe I'm lucky, or my Dr cleaned me out really well... but I was scared to death of bleeding a ton... but I haven't at all and have been wearing pads needlessly.

It's so much easier than you think it will be!!! Don't be scared!

MrsL1022 · October 2008

- how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active? I felt that I recovered very quickly. I was frustrated that I couldn't drive after 1 week but waited the full 2 weeks. My dr cleared me for aerobic activity after 4 weeks. At 6 weeks I was able to resume all activities and ab workouts.

- did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed? I breastfed in recovery there was even an LC there helping me which was great.

- i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up... I went up and down the stairs several times a day nothing too crazy, I wasn;t running around but I was pretty mobile. You will be ok to go up and down the stairs as long as it's not excessive. It all depends on how you feel. Just be careful not to over do it.

- do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth? I have nothing to compare to but I lost my weight pretty quickly. By 4 weeks pp I was back to pre preg weight. It's the toning and ab work that is going to take me time to get myself back to where I want to be. I fit into my clothes again at 4 weeks. They didn't look like they once did but I will be back to where I was within 6 months. Everyone is different but I honestly think my recovery was pretty easy and nothing as horrible as I had imagined.

tmp-581032062508552 · October 2008

- Recovery was very fast - I was up and moving the 2nd day - took a shower, full hair and makeup. It felt so good! I did have muscle soreness in my abdomen (imagine doing way too many crunches)

- I did not get to hold DS, but I was completely knocked out. (I had hot spots and they couldn't get my abdomen numb, so I was completely out) DH got to hold him right away. I did hold him and breastfeed him while I was in recovery, but I don't remember much of it. It was about 1 hr after the surgery and I was in recovery for 2.5 hours. DH and DS stayed in the room with me the whole time.

- I was doing stairs, just take is slow. Again, the muscle-like soreness made me move slow, but I was up and moving still.

- I lost all of my baby weight at my 1 week appt. I am now almost 5 weeks pp and am down an additional 10lbs (but was overweight pre-preg)

While I was sore, I felt so good after getting up and moving. Even if DH and I would take a walk to the mailbox, up the street, whatever. It made me feel so much better. Also, make sure you have something hard to sit on when you get home. Getting up and down from the cushy couch was tough. A nice firm chair is a must.

2007MarchBride · October 2008

My DH brought DS over to me during the C/S to see and when I was all stitched up he followed DS to the nursery while I was sent to recovery. As soon as I could move my toes they brought DS in for me to hold and nurse. I ended up with two spinals as the first one didn't take so I had to stay in recovery for 4 hours. He stayed with me the whole time after I could move my toes.

I was off the pain meds before I came home from the hospital. And I live on the 3rd floor also and had no problems with the stairs. I was feeling fine after 2-3 days at home.

I lost all my weight and a few more pounds within 2-3 days at being home.

I know that it stinks to have a C/S but I think I actually healed faster than all of my friends who delivered vaginally.

Abby'sMommy · October 2008

- how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active?

Recovery was about 2-3 weeks before I acually felt 'normal' again. Active, I say try and do the full 6 weeks, so your cut won't open. You want to heal completely.

- did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed?

I got to see her a few minutes after, just for about 30 sec. Then I went to recovery for about and hour and a half to let the anesthesia wear off. After, I went to my room, and the finally brought her in about 3 hours after she was born. They gave her her bath, weight, measurements, and Vit. K shot. She was all clean and ready to eat.

- i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up...

My Dr. said it was ok, but try and avoid them. If you do go up and down, hold on to the rail and go step by step. Have someone else carry DC for you.

- do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth?

I am unable to compare, but I weigh less now, but am still a size bigger. I do not exercise though, so I could be better, I guess.

mirandalee · October 2008

I had one c-sect 6 yrs ago and am recovering from my second c-sect 7 days ago.

- how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active?

I am recovering fairly quickly. I have been active since my first day home on day 3, active as in doing laundry, picking up around the house etc... I don't think that right now I would want to take a walk in the park or anything. 7 days post op and I am tired and a little sore if I don't stay on top of my ibuprofens.

- did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed?

This time I was able to hold and BF the baby while I was in the recovery room, this was about 15-20 min after she was born and they closed me up. The first time, the baby stayed w/ DH while I was in the recovery room. Make it clear to them that you want to hold your baby asap and feed, I did as soon as I was admitted and they allowed me to hold the baby almost right away.

- i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up...

3 flights is a lot. Sounds uncomfortable. I live in a two story house and was climbing the flight of stairs on my second day home. I still don't like to do it too often though, it makes me sore.

- do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth?

I don't know the answer to this one for sure. I've never delivered vaginally, but losing the baby weight in general is difficult.

Monniehas · October 2008

I just had my baby two weeks ago and I've been up and about for the last week. I was really swollen after my c-section and I was also had an additional stay in the hospital 2 days after I was released for having DD. I feel pretty good so far...I do experience so soreness but overall it hasn't been a complicated recovery thus far. I've been out of the house for breakfast and shopping. I limit what I carry and I live on the first floor so I only have to walk up one set of stairs.

I didn't hold my baby after the surgery due to severe shaking from the anesthesia (sp?) and being droggy. I had a short nap and I held her about a hour later.

As far as weight, I really didn't gain much during my pregnancy...only 12lbs and so far I've lost 20lbs.

malibou-kar · October 2008

- I was feeling more and more like myself pretty much when I got home(i was in the hospital for 4 days) I had no problem w/ stairs and drove within a week. I took tylenol for the pain for several days after i got home though, and that kept me relatively pain-free. I am now 6 weeks pp and pretty much feel back to normal.

- i got to hold him after i spent about an hour in recovery, i breast fed him then also.

- see above, i did not have a problem w/ stairs - although i was SO scared, we have a million stairs at our house, and our bedroom is upstairs, i totally thought i would be camping out in our bedroom, but i was fine.

- i dont have natural to compare to... 6 weeks pp and i just have a few lbs to go to get back to pre preg.

GOOD LUCK!!! it really isn't as bad as you think it is

annabelle.27 · October 2008

It was only a few days before I felt I could do regular, day-to-day things, but I strongly recommend waiting six weeks for anything "active". I certainly wasn't exercising before six weeks was up. Whenever I overdid it, I would pay for it later. Take it easy. As long as you treat yourself right your recovery will be really easy.

I couldn't hold my son right away, something that still makes me sad. I got to see him briefly while they closed me up but then I was wheeled off to recovery and my husband and son went to the nursery. Next baby I hope to be able to do it naturally, and only because I want to be able to hold my baby right away. I was able to breastfeed as soon as we were reunited, which was after spending an hour in the recovery ward.

I was able to walk up stairs my first day home. Slowly, but I could do it.

I have no idea about weight loss. I lost weight pretty quickly afterwards (17 pounds in maybe two weeks) but then kind of reached a plateau... the last 11 pounds are hanging on. Don't know if that's due to the c-section or not.

ripemango · October 2008

i attended a labor day party 4 days after my c/s. I felt much better in about a week to a week and a half after the surgery. Take your pain medicine + motrin. I felt like bending all the way over, picking things off the floor within 3-4 weeks.

I didnt get to hold my baby soon, but there were some 'minor' complications. They wheeled me into NICU a couple hrs after surgery and I got to touch her. I was able to breastfeed/hold her about 8 hrs after the surgery.

I would just do stairs very slowly at first. They are doable, but you will not want to be running up them. Walking is fine afterwards tho.
I lost 25 lbs within the month after my c/s. Granted, it was mostly fluid. I still have 13 lbs to lose before I'm back down to pre-preg weight. Btw, the 25 came off w/o me even trying.

Shauna07 · October 2008

I am on week 4, and I am finally starting not to feel sore. Getting in/out of the car is a little tough, but I've been going on walks with DS (using the Bjorn) and doing laundry...lots of laundry

I can't imagine jogging, etc now, but I bet in a few more weeks I'll be able to work out.

I didn't get to hold the baby in the OR, but DH held him. DH held him up to my face, then in the recovery room I was able to breastfeed him. This was the best, because I did it laying down, and now it DS is very comfortable feeding at night while laying down.

My OB didn't say anything about stairs, I would just see how you feel. I've been going up and down stairs to do the laundry since week 2.

I gained 40 pounds and in 3 weeks I lost 32...I really believe it's the breastfeeding, because...I haven't been doing anything else!

Good luck! Also, bring 3-4 pairs of your own underwear. I was allergic to the mesh ones they give you and ended up with a bad rash. Luckily, I had packed some of my own underwear, otherwise I wouldn't have had anything to wear!

DMD3443 · October 2008

I was scared too, but honestly, it was SOOOOOO much easier than I ever thought it would be.

I am now pain free, and I went for an hour long walk with the stroller today. I'm told 6 weeks for any exercise other than walking though. The first day after surgery was the roughest, I won't lie, there was lots of pain, but nothing unmanageable as long as you take the meds. And the joy you feel completely overshadows the discomfort. It kept getting better every day and by day 5 I had almost no pain at all.

I didnt get to hold the baby until about 30 minutes after because they were still stitiching me up and he had low blood sugar. But DH kept going over and taking pics with our digital and bringing them back to show me. It went by really fast so dont worry.

I did stairs immediately. Just go slow and try to limit the number of times for the first couple days. Now they are no problem.

As for weight I don't know. I did have a TON of swelling after the c/s from the fluids they gave me, but it's totally gone now. I had gained about 58 lbs total and have lost 30 already.

Honestly, do not worry, it's really not bad.

iris427 · October 2008

1. My recovery has been really easy. I'm definitely not fully active but I can walk around fine.

2. I was able to hold her as soon as my surgery was done. DH held her soon after birth and brought her to show me during the c/s. I was able to try BFing once I was out of the OR.

3. Stairs are fine in moderation. Just listen to your body.

4. No idea about weight loss but I am already down 25 pounds.

iris427 · October 2008

I also want to add, it was so not as scary as I thought it would be and my recovery has been way easier than I anticipated. Don't be scared! GL!

mlf625 · October 2008

-it was easy! I was up and showering the next morning. I felt great and was moving a lot quicker in the hallways than the vag. birth mamas I saw.

-yep, they let me hold him right away. I would have been able to bf as soon as I got to recovery but his blood sugar was low (I had GD) so that didn't work out.

-I've been doing stairs since the day we got home from the hospital, no problem at all. Our bedrooms are all upstairs and it hasn't been an issue.

-Not so far- my belly is flattening out pretty quickly and I don't think I'll have a major issue losing the weight.

Mrs.Saxy · October 2008

how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active?
I felt totally normal after 3 weeks. I wasn't cleared for exercise until after 6 weeks. Driving was 3 weeks but I could have done it at 2.

- did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed? about 4 hours for both. Everyone saw him before I got to. I made sure I was the first to hold him.

- i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up...
they want you to be really careful. They'll likely say to go up once then only come down if you have to.

- do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth?
I think that has nothing to do with it. I think bf'ing has a lot to do with weight loss. BF and you lose a lot of weight.

ketamarie · October 2008

I felt MUCH better after about two. I started walking about that time too. My advice is WALk,WALK,WAlk!! It will make you feel tons better!!!! Also I swelled up a ton and was really concerned because I hadn't heard anything about that. My ankles were 14" around!!!!! It is normal and will go away in a few weeks.

My husband held the baby in the OR by my head until I was sewn up and then they let me hold the baby on the way to the recovery room. ( I was with in the same room with him since he came out!!!) They said I could bf as soon as I felt ready. I bf him after about an hour.

I don't have stairs so I have no idea what the wait time on that is.

I have lost half of my pregnancy weight without even trying. (I gained almost 60 pounds!!!) I don't think it is harder to lose weight with a c/s. I guess I have been walking but that is honestly because it makes me feel better, not to lose weight . I think it is because it gets your circulation going. That is my best advice....walk!! I feel so much better on the days that I walk verses the days I don't.

Good luck and Congrats!!!!

ketamarie · October 2008

That is supposed to say " I felt much better after two weeks".

Also really take it easy that first couple of weeks... you will pay for it if you don't. You can pick up your baby but that is it. They say for 6 weeks but after a few weeks you will feel much better!!

Mrs.Saxy · October 2008

oh yeah, and I didn't shower until day 2 because I was in so much pain. It was really painful for me. If you have to fart, fart.... no matter who is in the room....trust me....you do not want a suppository.

I was taking pain pills until about 10 days pp.

christenm · October 2008

I had an unplanned c/s also and the recovery was NOT BAD. It was really super easy actually. Within a few days, I wasn't even on any pain meds.

You're pretty much passed out in recovery for a couple of hours, so DD was born at 4:02 and I held her for the first time around 7:30. I was then able to breastfeed.

Stairs are okay if you take your time. I have a two story condo and the bedroom and bathroom are on the top floor, so I just kept enough stuff downstairs for during the day and only went upstairs at night (we have a half bath downstairs)

I couldn't say about the weight loss, I know I just got the all clear to do regular exercise at my six week checkup, but I have been walking since a week after her birth so I'd already lost a good deal of weight.

skoorbnibor · October 2008

- how long did your recovery take? did you really need to wait 6 weeks before doing anything active?

Oh good lord, no! I was vaccumming 6 days after! I felt better and stopped pain meds for the most part about 3 days after. We had a bris and after that, I was in pain, so I took one more dose, but I was essentially fine. You will feel it if you overdo, your body will tell you.

- did you get to hold the baby soon after the birth? breastfeed?
I did not, but I had some very rare complications and had to be heavily medicated. HAd that not happened, I would have been able to hold him immediately after, in recovery. Discuss this one with your doctor and INSIST on it. Ask for a lactation consultant immediately.

- i've heard you can't do stairs... how long does this last? i live on the top floor of a 3 story walk up...
I was allowed to do stairs 4 times a day. Once down in the morning, once up and down for a nap, to get a shower or whatever and once to go up. I ignored this and went slowly up and down as needed and I healed beautifully.

- do you think it's harder to lose the weight after a c/s than after a natural birth? I was below my pre-preg weight 1 week after delivery. It is harder to tone, because you might not be able to exercise with that area targeted for some time.

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