C-sections & stairs

Heather2256 · April 2012

Hello! I've never posted on this board before but I'm 34 weeks (FTM) & had a question. If you have a c-section, how long before you can go up & down stairs? My sister had all 3 kids via c/s & says for a couple weeks you're not allowed to use stairs. Then our roommate tried to tell me you can't use them for months. (Which I'm doubting the months part - she's the type who didn't do anything for herself, or her baby, for months after giving birth.) My main concern being our bedroom & the nursery is on the 2nd floor. Which I have a pack n play to put on the 1st floor, in the living room, just in case. I'm expecting, if I have a c/s, I of course won't be able to use the stairs at first. Just wondering for how long? TIA!

Rachel.lilly · April 2012

I was told to avoid them if possible but didn't really use them for a couple of weeks.

XCrissCrossX · April 2012

You have to use stairs to get into my house so I was using stairs the day I left the hospital. That happened to be day 5 because LO was under oxygen for a couple of days but if he had been released on day 3, I would have been using stairs on day 3.

You aren't going to want to (or be able to, probably) run up and down the stairs several times a day. I would keep stuff on one floor and plan to stay there most of the day. But once in the morning, once in the evening, you can do the stairs.

Cheerio B · April 2012

I have stairs all over my house so I was using them the first day I came home, day 3. It wasn't comfortable but I took them slow and avoided carrying LO on the steps until I was completely sure I wasn't going to step wrong and get a sudden awful pain.

becketts · April 2012

I had to use stairs right away to take a shower and it wasn't a big deal. I tried to limit myself to just a few times per day of going up and down. DD had a 2-week NICU stay and I got really sick of the slow hospital elevators, so by the time she left I was doing 2 flights fairly comfortably (though I got quite winded!).

FemShep · April 2012

I went up and down stairs as soon as I came home from the hospital (3 days post CS). They didn't bother me at all.

hopkins5 · April 2012

I wish the Search feature worked on TB

To answer your question, OP, I went up and down stairs when I came home from the hospital at four days PP. I was told there is no reason to avoid them entirely, but to take it easy and not push yourself. I'd go up and down like a toddler: Left foot on the first step, right foot on the same step, left foot on the second step, right foot on the same step.

michpedelle85 · April 2012

I had a csection and live on the third floor with no elevator... i waled up and down the stairs just fine. my doctor told me i do what i have to do and as long as it doesnt hurt that im fine. i didnt wait weeks or even days... it was no big deal. i healed perfectly fine.

Allibob · April 2012

XcrisscrossX:
You aren't going to want to (or be able to, probably) run up and down the stairs several times a day. I would keep stuff on one floor and plan to stay there most of the day. But once in the morning, once in the evening, you can do the stairs.

My bedroom is upstairs. I took it slow and tried to limit trips (down in the morning, up at night, maybe one other time for a nap). It wasn't super easy, but it wasn't a big deal.

danigirl7181 · April 2012

I had to use stairs to get to our apartment. I just took them slow like PP have said. You will know when you've had enough, just try to limit it to a couple times a day.

pepomntpat · April 2012

I used the stairs as soon as I came home. The doctor told me to try to limit stair climbing to once up and once down a day. So, I kept all the baby changing gear on the main level for the day. I'd say I was very confident on the stairs (willing to carry the baby) by the second week home, but I could do them fine without a baby to carry the day I got home. I was slow, but I could do it.

mlf625 · April 2012

I was using the stairs the day we got home from the hospital. Our bedroom was upstairs, so there wasn't much choice in the matter. It was not a big deal at all.

stemms8810 · April 2012

My OB said to limit them to once a day so come down in the morning, stay down, and then up at night. I plan on doing this again until I feel confident that I want to do it more. I have everything baby needs set up downstairs. I will take a shower before coming down in the morning and what not.

shouldbworkin · April 2012

I have always used my stairs as soon as I came home. But, I don't go running up and down all day. I make maybe 3 trips a day for the first week. I'm 2w PP now and go up and down them as much as I want now.

RayRay007 · April 2012

I wasn't told to avoid them, but I chose to limit using the stairs the first week at home. Once down in the morning- DH brought everything I'd need for the day down for me - I'd bring DD, and once up at night.

K.Isabella · April 2012

I have stairs in my house so when I got home from the hospital I had to use them. it was painful but I just went really slow when walking and stayed upstairs for a week. if I needed something from downstairs my DH or mom would get it. on friday will be 4 bweeks since my c section and i feel great. i have some cramping and some pain here and there but i can go up and down the stairs fine and i do laundry and stuff around the house. by the second week i was feeling pretty good, just dont overdo it and take it slow, listen to your body and dont be climbing up and down the stairs 10 times a day.

SirSleepsALot · April 2012

That's all ridiculous. I lived in a 2nd floor apartment with no elevator. Guess what, I used the stairs. Was I running up and down them allt he time? No. But for the first 2 weeks I had to use them if I left the house and it was unavoidable as the baby needed to go to the dr and so did I. Avoid when possible, no harm if necessary. People freak out over everything.

Jayhawk08 · April 2012

I was really worried that the stairs would be an issue as our bedrooms are upstairs but everything else is on the main floor. Much to my surprise, I had zero trouble with the stairs. I had general discomfort just walking around but the stairs were no different than just moving through the house. It was much harder getting in and out of bed or up off the couch than actually doing stairs. I came home on day 4 and used them as soon as we got home.

harmonicbabe26 · April 2012

that's crazy! you can go up and down the stairs as soon as you can walk. people should stop being ridiculous about this stuff.

i was going up and down at the hospital because the cafeteria was on the mezzanine level. i wasn't RUNNING up and down, took it slowly, but did it nevertheless.

Also, our apartment is a 4th floor walk up and certainly nobody ever carried me up and down the stairs...

mandapie · April 2012

XcrisscrossX:

You aren't going to want to (or be able to, probably) run up and down the stairs several times a day. I would keep stuff on one floor and plan to stay there most of the day. But once in the morning, once in the evening, you can do the stairs.

This is exactly what I did. We had the PNP set up downstairs and I had a basket that I would load up with wipes, a couple extra sleepers, diapers, cream, feminine pads, nursing pads... probably more stuff I forget now. DH would help me down with baby and goody basket in the morning before he left for work and then up at night when it was time for baths and bed. I didn't AVOID them at all costs but it definitely helped to not make eleventybillion trips all day long.

cbtaylor1983 · April 2012

My doctor told me when I had mine, that I should take it day by day. Day 1 go up and down once, Day 2 up and down twice, Day 3 up and down 3 times... I found myself doing a lot more thinking that I could take it on, but then my incision opened up and it was the most painful thing when I had to go back into the doctors office to get it fixed. Not trying to scare you, but plan your trips wisely. If you don't have to use the steps I wouldn't.

MrsRucinski85 · April 2012

I was in the hospital for 4 days after having baby... when I came home I was using the stairs as our room and everything is up there. I avoided them as much as I could - really only going up to sleep at night and while I was up there before comng down in the morning I would shower/change... if I needed stuff brought down my DH or mom (who temp stayed with us) would go up and grab it.

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