Q for C-Section mamas on recovery time

alphaphi98 · February 2014

I don't know what kind of a delivery I'll have this time, so I was just wondering for those that had C-sections...how long was the recovery and how bad was it? I have family & friends that say it was hard getting out of bed the 1st week and hard to pick up baby.

I'm a STM and just trying to mentally prepare myself in case my baby girl doesn't want to turn these next 3 weeks and get in a better position. Thanks!

Dexter&11 · February 2014

I had an emergency c-section on Friday morning so its been 2 days so far...I'm struggling to pull myself up in the hospital bed, but once I'm upright I'm not too bad, just a bit stiff. Not been allowed to pick Emily up yet as she's in NICU while her blood sugar levels stabilise, I have been allowed to cuddle her though

MamaAllison · February 2014

I had a c section Monday (because LO was breech) and the recovery has not been that bad. It's definitely hard to sit up, and getting out of the non hospital bed that doesn't elevate you is a challenge. Coughing really really sucks. But I haven't had any trouble lifting my 8 lb baby at all. I'm probably doing too much but I'm more sore now then I was when I left the hospital. Just keep on top of your pain meds and get up and moving as soon as you feel up to it! The most important thing is to have help at home for your older one, unless they are like 14 and completely self-sufficient!

adeleon829 · February 2014

I had an emergency c section as well. I was in serious pain for about 3 days mainly when trying to get up. Motrin helped for some pain after the 3 days. Percocet helped more but didn't want to take that with the baby since I would go in a deep sleep on it. My pain completely went away after a week! Wish u the best!

lihau88 · February 2014

I had a c-section about 12 days ago and am feeling fine now. It still hurts when I cough or sneeze and I still have to be a little careful when getting up from laying down, but other than that no pain. The first few days it was tough to get in and out of bed or to stand, but it got easier every day. I never had any issues holding my baby (she was just under 5lbs though). I haven't carried anything more as I have help at home from my DH and mom.
I'm also allergic to pain meds, so I've been doing it without. Although I do have a really high pain tolerance, it's not too bad. The cramping of my uterus during the first couple days of breastfeeding hurt worse. For that, I was wishing I could take some Motrin.

Good luck to you, and I hope your LO cooperates!!

cla40749 · February 2014

For me the worst part has always been the gas pain. I've always had trouble getting rid of it and ended up w a suppository. Other than that it hurts a bit getting up and down from the bed, but one of the nurses here has taught me to put all my weight on my heels and use my legs, especially my knees, to get up. She said to act like I didn't have a torso when getting in and out of bed.
But like pp have said, it gets easier as the days pass. After cs#2 I traveled 5 hours away for an all-day job interview w my baby in tow. By five weeks I was moving across the state and starting a new, physically intense job.

ziggy903 · February 2014

Mine was not planned, but not emergency. They decided around 11am that I would have a c/s that day, scheduled it for 4pm.

Recovery was worse in my head than in reality

I got up and shuffled to the bathroom 12 hours later, and walked a little more each day until I was discharged. The first day after I was just wheeled around, the second day I was using the wheelchair as a walker, and the third I was walking on my own.
Honestly, @slwprincess told me to stay on top of my meds and that was most important. Stay on that Motrin for a good couple weeks. Best advice I can give you.

Oh, and that first sneeze is going to hurt more than anything else.

slwprincess · February 2014

Positive attitude is key! I'm headed for my 3rd c/s next week and honestly, I don't think the recovery is that bad. Take it easy, plan for EXTRA childcare for your older one, take your meds on time around the clock. Even when you start feeling good- keep taking them! Motrin is particularly important in healing... it prevents inflammation. My OB has me take it round the clock for a full 6 weeks and if I miss a dose, I feel it. I was pretty much fully recovered by week 3-4 but if I overdid, my bleeding would return so really, you need to just plan to give yourself plenty of extra time and don't over do it.

djtippietoes · February 2014

The first two days were the hardest. They made me get up about 12 hours after the surgery and I thought I was going to pass out. However it got easier after that and by the 4th day, I really felt fine. Like a pp said, one of the worst things for me was the constipation. I also asked for a suppository and it was the best decision I've made! It's now 13 days later and I feel totally normal.

Giraffealaff · February 2014

I had my section late friday night. I was pretty much useless friday/saturday. Today im feeling much more comfortable. I am still sore and very tired, but if this morning so far is any indication, today will be better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today.

Something that I find is helping me tremendously: Allowing Lo tl go to the nursery for a few hours a night. This allows me and Dh to rest, which is imperative to my recovery.

djtippietoes · February 2014

@slwprincess i didn't realize that we are supposed to still take the motrin. I just figured that once I stopped hurting, I didn't need it, so I haven't taken it in a few days. Should I be still taking it for inflammation? I feel like the nurses didn't specify either way.

slwprincess · February 2014

djtippietoes said:
@slwprincess i didn't realize that we are supposed to still take the motrin. I just figured that once I stopped hurting, I didn't need it, so I haven't taken it in a few days. Should I be still taking it for inflammation? I feel like the nurses didn't specify either way.

Each dr/hospital gives different discharge instructions but mine tells me to keep taking it for inflammation and b/c it "makes your scar pretty." Not sure if that second part is true but my scar is barely visible so I plan to follow her instructions again this time ;-). I also noticed an increase/return in bleeding if I stopped. Basically, I slowly reduced the amount over 6 weeks so by the time I went back for my 6 week check, I was only taking 1 pill every 8-10 hrs. If I knew I'd be doing a lot of walking, I'd take extra.

djtippietoes · February 2014

@slwprincess that's interesting because I did have a very small increase in bleeding after I stopped taking the motrin all together, but I didn't even make the correlation until now.

KaraLeigh115 · February 2014

You gotta remeber that it's really quite a big surgery. Mine was not bad. I pushed myself too hard the first couple days to get upstairs(ofcourse taking the elevators just a lot of walking) to the NICU from where I was in the hospital.
You just have to listen to your body. And take care of yourself and your incision. I think the first 2 weeks were my hardest but after that it was kinda smooth sailing. Good luck with everything!

djtippietoes · February 2014

Pps reminded me that I couldn't stand up from a seated position with the baby in my arms either. It took a good 10 days to be able to do that.

slwprincess · February 2014

djtippietoes said:
Pps reminded me that I couldn't stand up from a seated position with the baby in my arms either. It took a good 10 days to be able to do that.

Good point. I have a recliner and I plan to put the Rock n Play right next to it. That way, I can put the baby down and THEN stand up.

Like I said, make sure you have more help than you think you'll need for the first 2 weeks. I always tell people to stay at the hospital as long as you are allowed! I know it's tempting to come home early and really I could have handled it physically, but you are so much more likely to overdo it at home. That extra day in the hospital can make a HUGE difference in total recovery time. DH will be in the hospital with me for 4 days, then he will also be working from home the second week. The bigs are staying OUT OF THE HOUSE with the grands until halfway through the second week and then they will be in school all day after that. If they are home, I will overdo it. I know it. I did last time and it set me back. I am not worrying about them bonding with the baby or feeling left out. Honestly, they won't even know they are missing anything anyway and they will have plenty of bonding time after I'm recovered.

slwprincess · February 2014

Sorry, I keep thinking of other things... if you know you will have a c/s or even think there is a strong possibility, start taking colace a couple days ahead of time. The constipation afterwards is just brutal.

alphaphi98 · February 2014

Thanks to everyone for all the awesome comments! Really helps so much. You ladies are the best!

Dexter&11 · February 2014

Really do be careful with over-doing it - I'm now day 3.5-4 and yesterday I walked to and back from the NICU twice, by evening I was white as a sheet and shaking, felt all light headed and dizzy. I'm better today having done the walk to and from just once (wheeled over the other times) and having a reasonably good nights sleep

slwprincess · February 2014

Dexter&11 said:

Really do be careful with over-doing it - I'm now day 3.5-4 and yesterday I walked to and back from the NICU twice, by evening I was white as a sheet and shaking, felt all light headed and dizzy. I'm better today having done the walk to and from just once (wheeled over the other times) and having a reasonably good nights sleep

This was a tough lesson for me too. It's just so easy to overdo it while you are on the pain meds but once they start to wear off... THEN it hits you how much damage you did.

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