- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
C-sections
what is recovery REALLY like for scheduled c-section?
Hi ladies,
My husband says he is 'old school' and when he thinks of a c-section he only thinks of the emergency kind when there are complications. He also thinks I will be bed ridden for a couple of months. I am writing this post for him to read. He is worried and wants me to get a second opinion from another doctor even.
I said that I 'think' I cannot drive or lift heavy objects for a month..but after a week can walk around and things like that. Our nursery is on our second floor..our master bedroom is on the bottom floor. I may have trouble walking up and down?
Please let me know how your recovery went, how painful it was, what you really couldn't do..etc. I am a very active person, always worked out, and recover well surgeries.
thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: what is recovery REALLY like for scheduled c-section?
It wasn't terrible. Move around at the hospital as soon as you can, and do it the way the nurses tell you to. You really have to use you leg muscles when you get out of bed. Definitely stay on top of your pain meds.
I was driving after 2 weeks, and I probably would have been okay after 1 1/2 weeks. It just depends on how much your stomach muscles hurt. You need to be able to press hard on the pedal if need be. You might have trouble with the stairs, but take it slow. You might want to keep LO in your room to avoid doing the stairs at night. Honestly, I felt pretty good after 2-3 weeks.
~Started TTC 2/09. BFP #1 11/09. EDD 8/7/10. DS born 8/7/10.~
~Surprise BFP #2 5/11 while still BF'ing. Natural M/C @ 7w3d.~
~BFP #3 8/11. EDD 4/24/12. Heavy bleeding episodes from a lost twin. DD born 4/14/12.~
~Started TTC 2/13. BFP #4 3/13. EDD 11/8/13. Hoping for smooth sailing!~
My OB told me that recovery from an emergency c-section is more exhausting than a planned c-section. That said, everyone's different. I know that's not the answer you're looking for, but it's true. You just don't know how your body will react. I had an emergency c-section with no complications and I hated every second of my recovery.
For the first little while, it hurts to sneeze/laugh/cough/get out of bed etc. The earlier you force yourself to get up and moving, the better. It helps healing. Don't push yourself, and you'll be okay.
If there are no complications, you definitely won't be bed ridden for months! The first six weeks are key in taking it easy for a good recovery, but you're not bed ridden for that long. I think I was pretty much back to my normal self by then.
Will your baby be in your room with you? I didn't have too much trouble with the stairs but I also wasn't walking up them every two hours through the night when DD woke up. I don't think that would be fun.
My recovery sucked but it wasn't the end of the world, and I recovered quickly. I couldn't get out of bed on my own when I was in the hospital, but I took it easy once I got home. The first week is definitely the worst.
ETA: I had an emergency c/s
I had an emergency c-section and only about a week was really horrible - and I wasn't really taking pain meds, either. Just be prepared to need extra help for a good week or so.
I was in the hospital three days after, and it was really hard getting up and down out of the uncomfortable hospital bed, especially because I am short. They gave me a percoset, which really made me feel weird so I only took motrin while I was in the hospital (and only a couple of days when I got home because I didn't feel right taking it while BF). I couldn't really get up fast or do much except hold the baby while in the hospital, so I relied on my husband for most of the care.
After a painful ride home, I felt a little better while home.I slept on the couch for another couple of weeks because our bed is high and it's easier to push off a couch (really could have returned to the bed after another week if she was sleeping better). I hear it's better to sleep in a recliner if you have one, but we don't. I needed help getting up for a good week.
After I got my staples out, I felt better...and then I had glue and steristrips and felt better after those came out. I still am a little sore/sensitive on my incision and had some leaking afterward which was uncomfortable, but I feel a lot better than I thought I would.
Good luck!
Mine was scheduled - no labor. Recovery was easy.
I was fine the night of because I was still numb. The next morning it wasn't all that easy to get out of bed and to the bathroom where the nurse helped me clean up, but with her help, it was fine. From that point on, when I was sitting, I felt okay. Getting in and out of bed hurt, and sometimes it was hard to find the right position in bed, but I never took anything other than OTC motrin and did fine.
She was born on the night of the 23rd, and since the next night was Christmas Eve, I managed to walk down to the hospital fireplace and hang out with my new little family and do just fine moving even that early.
I kept taking small walks, and that sure helped.
I had a wonderful nurse who told us to send her to the hospital's well baby nursery to get "a good restorative night's sleep" that last night in the hospital, and it sure helped.
By the time I went home, I was moving around just find, moving up and down stairs, taking showers with no issues, and driving (doctor okay'd it, no pain killers) and since DD was jaundice, she needed to get daily blood work, so we had to be out and about. Within 5 days I did major grocery shopping at WalMart.
All in all, aside from pain getting in and out of bed, I was more sore than in pain.
Well it isn't wonderful but you will get through it and it isn't all that horrible. Listen having a kid isn't easy no matter how they come out.
The more you move in the beginning the better it will be. Although it is painful in the beginning try and get yourself going. The nurses will tell you what you can handle at a certain point in recovery and what you can't.
Take the meds.....I never understand not taking medicine when it is safe and prescribed to you. The better your pain management the more you can get up which aids in a better recovery.
You can't drive until you can forcefully break without any pain in your abdomen. Usually for 2-3 weeks you have to refrain from driving.
I walked upstairs right away...I would go slow and I would try not to carry the baby going up and down, but to tell you the truth after a few days I felt pretty strong.
Try to move around but don't overdo it. meaning don't be cleaning your house and taking care of your baby and cooking. Too much. but you don't want to be not moving either....again moving helps you recover. Easier to keep the baby in your room though. If you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding...either way it is way easier, especially in the beginning.
You usually can't work out until you are okd to do so at 6 weeks and to be honest.....I am so exhausted from taking care of a newborn and getting through the days to even think about working out in the first six weeks would not happen anyways.
Basically listen to your body and your doctors and nurses.
I have had two scheduled sections. I always find it interesting how laid back the nurses and doctors are. They are professionals but I usually hear about what they did that weekend while getting my spinal
Mine was very 37 hours of labor and 7 hours of pushing, so my body was pretty beat up, but recovery still wasn't terrible. I was pretty much off pain meds after a week except for the occasional motrin. The doctor recommended I only do the stairs once per day, and I think that's good advice. I would move the baby into your room for a few weeks. In all honesty, you're probably going to want her in there anyway.
Getting in and out of bed was the hardest thing for me as far as I can remember.
Other than the lack of sleep, you should probably feel pretty good by 3 or 4 weeks.
If yours is planned, you have to discount some of the above testimonials, because it will be MUCH different.
Mine was planned, and recovery was a piece of cake. I was never in any pain whatsoever, and the best part was because my surgery was in the morning, I was rested, showered, and never that tired during my hospital stay (so caring for DS was easy). I requested to walk around as soon as possible (important) after my surgery, which ended up being later that night. If you keep up on your pain meds, you shouldn't be uncomfortable at all. Once I got home, I was rarely ever unable to do things-- I could have, but my DH wouldn't let me. I could have driven on day 5 or so if I had wanted to, and never ever had an issue with stairs or anything. I started going on walks everyday. My only annoying thing in my entire recovery was my incision-- it got infected a tad bit because of the lovely "flap" of skin you hear about after surgery. It was totally fine, I just had to go in a few extra times to be checked, which was a pain. My husband took two weeks off work and I was completely alone after that, and totally fine.
GL!
I've had 2 sections - one planned, one unplanned. With both, you just have to take it easy for a few weeks, take your pain meds and stool softeners. My OB has you increase activity as able but no heavy lifting for at least 2 weeks and no driving for 10-14 days.
I try to do our stairs just twice a day - down in the morning, take DD 1 to bed at night, and then up for bed at night. I would try to have baby on the same level as you - day and night. So DS is down on the main level with me during the day and then up in our bedroom at night.
This is not necessarily true. My first c/s was planned. My recovery wasn't bad. I was a little slow at doing things, but my pain wasn't bad. By 2 weeks pp I felt about 80% and by 4 weeks pp, I was 100%. My 2nd c/s was after 20 hours of labor. I was completely pain free by 5 days pp. I felt like I hadn't even had a major surgery. I was able to do everything at a normal speed.
It's important to remember that every recovery is different. Just keep up with your pain meds, don't over do it and enjoy your baby!
My restrictions were nothing heavier than the baby and no driving for 2 weeks. After that I saw my dr and she gave me new weight restrictions which I can't remember, maybe 20 lbs. I had an emergency c/s. DD was born at 7:14AM and they had me walking the next morning. They said don't use stairs at first unless you have to. I would keep baby in your room for a while at first. I personally slept in our recliner in the living room because it was so much easier to get out of then the bed, which DD was in PNP right by me.
Every recovery is different. Just take it easy and follow what you dr says. My #1 advice to my c/s friends is stay on top of the pain meds! You obvi won't be lifting really heavy objects for a while, but by no means will you be in bed for a couple of months. For the first 2 week - month just worry about taking care of your baby, that will consume your time anyways. I think you can start exercising again at 6 wks.
Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).
Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!
Neither of mine were terrible either. I was walking up/down the steps the day I got home from the hospital and was walking the neighborhood at 1 1/2wks pp. My doctor's rule on driving was as soon as you are off the percocet for 24 hours you're allowed to drive.
With DS2, there was no way I could stay in a bed for a month. I only had dh home the first week with both the boys and my mom only came a few days. By 2 wks pp I was on my own both times nad the 2nd time I had boys 15 months apart. You just have to listen to your body and if its telling you not to do something don't push it.
Also highly recommend staying on top of the pain the first week. Take the meds!
I've had three sections. All routine, run of the mill and no complications. you're not supposed to run or exercise (besides walking) or vacuum or drive a car for six weeks. As far as sex goes, I had one doctor who said 3 weeks and one doctor who said 6 so....I guess that varies a bit.
My first C-section was easy. With all three I was up walking the next day. It hurts like hell at first, but the more you walk, the faster you recover. (at least that has been my experience)
Recovery pain sucks. I didn't like to take the narcotics they give you because I felt drowsy and crappy on them and (especially with my youngest) the baby was definatly less active when I was breast feeding her and taking them.
So as quickly as I could tolerate (and at times I barely tolerated it) I switched to motrin or ibuprofin (I don't remember which one) When I say quickly I mean 4 days with my first, 10 with my second (I regret that a bit) and about a week with my third. (I also wish I would have weaned myself sooner in that situation as well.)
I'm not sure why you're having a section, and I totally respect that every woman should make the decision that feels right for her, BUT if you're having a voluntary section because the doctor has mentioned that the baby may be too big, or has questioned the size of your pelvis or something like that, I would think long and hard. Once you go down the surgical road, it's hard to get off of it. (don't flame me, like I said, I've had three of these, I'm just giving you advice that I wish someone would've given me.)
good luck!
It was pretty easy after my emergency one and my scheduled one.
I couldn't do stairs for a few days and when I did, I took them slow. We all just camped out in the living room until I felt able to make it up the stairs.
I could drive once I was done taking my pain meds.
We went grocery shopping a few days after we got home because I had to get out of the house.
My back did hurt a lot for a few months so diaper changes were hard, but not impossible.
This will be my third c-section. First one unplanned the second was planned but went into labor on my own (still had c-section).
Although my recoveries were pretty easy, you still need to take it easy. You will have been cut open, through multiple layers and need to rest. I would suggest putting up the pack n play or bassinet on the main floor just for a couple of weeks to limit the amount of steps you have to take. My doctor always said no more than 2 times a day for the first 4 weeks. No driving until you are off the pain meds and no lifting anything heavier than the baby for a few weeks. The doctor will give you his recommendations before you leave the hospital...and some docs are different so it is hard to go by what others experience.
Good luck and hope your DH lets up on you a bit. It is major surgery but nothing that means you have to be stuck in bed all hours of the day. Just realize you body needs time to heal and try to follow doctors orders.
I've had two c-sections, the first unplanned (due to fetal distress after several hours of labor), the second planned (although my water broke before it was scheduled so I ended up laboring for a little while before surgery). My recovery hasn't been bad either time. After 8-12 hours (less the second time) I was able to get out of bed and walk a bit, and within a couple of days I could walk around slowly but without pain. I discovered after my first c/s that I'm allergic to Percocet, so this time I just took Motrin and Tylenol once I was off the IV meds, about 12 hours after surgery, and that's been enough to manage the pain. I was never given restrictions on stairs and was able to do those once I got home, although I recommend setting up your nursery/sleeping arrangements to minimize trips up and down stairs for the first week or so. I was told this time not to drive for two weeks, which is about what I did last time. I've also been told not to lift anything heavier than the baby and/or 15 lbs. (depending on which doctor I talk to) for six weeks. Basically right now, 12 days after my second c/s, I feel mostly back to normal and feel like I could do pretty much anything I wanted if I wasn't exhausted from having a newborn.
WOW! A lot of responses! Thank you so much ladies!
I will stick the computer on my hubbys lap and have him read everything.
I couldn't drive for 3 weeks (I think?) and I was out of work (by OB's orders) for 12 weeks (I teach preschool and it involves a lot of squatting, bending and lifting of 3 year olds).
The worst part was where there (appeared) to be an extra staple at the end of the incision. That hurt more than anything and as soon as he removed the staples, it went away.
He's the single greatest thing I've done in my life and reminds me daily of how fun (and funny) life can be. He's turned out pretty swell for having such a heartless and evil mother.
This. Except I didn't drive for 2 weeks when my dr okayed it at my 2 week check up. I also wasn't allowed to lift anything heavier than the baby for 6 weeks. I also have stairs in my house and was very cautious to go up and down no more than once a day for the first week or so.