C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Did anyone else here have a rough C section recovery? I was in labor for almost 3 days before the C section so needless to say recovery has been a slow process. I had DS 10 days ago and while I am slowly getting better every day it is really taking a lot of time. I only JUST was able to fully get DS ready and positioned for nursing by myself today and then burp him and change him all in a row. (Usually DH will hand him to me while I get myself set up...). I was so proud of myself.

I feel like some people expect that I should be able to do it all by myself already and it makes me feel bad. Some people don't seem to realize how hard it is after a C section, and that it can be different for everyone. DH is so helpful and he would do anything for me or DS...but I have gotten a few comments from family members almost indicating that DH is helping me TOO much.

Is it so wrong to have a husband who actually wants to be involved? Times are different now ya know? I know he will eventually go back to work and I will be doing it myself, but why not take the help while he is here?

Sorry...I guess I just needed to vent. Any thoughts? What were your experiences? And when did you start to really feel normal again?? Oh...and when were you finally able to sleep on your side?? I am dying to sleep on my side but everytime I try it KILLS me!

Message edited 6/19/2010 2:05:45 PM.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

The first recovery was harder but I know that when I got home I was doing everything basically. I was in the hospital 4 nights, so home on day 5. I'm crazy though and rarely like to ask for help, even from my DH. I remember getting in/out of bed being really hard in the middle of the night so DH would help out then.

Every single recovery is different though, some people feel amazing after two days, other two months. It really depends on your body, and also your pain level I think!

I hope you feel better soon!

ETA: Are you still alternating the Percoset and Motrin? That helped me, I could not do a thing once my meds wore off.

Message edited 6/19/2010 2:11:27 PM.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

OMG, that is absolutely why you are feeling this way. I took the Percoset for two full weeks (alternating with Motrin) and then after two weeks I took Motrin only. Even that, I took as soon as the time was up. I believe I needed it for the first month. Your body just went through something very traumatic. You need to take the pain meds to help you through it!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Posted by Diana1215

OMG, that is absolutely why you are feeling this way. I took the Percoset for two full weeks (alternating with Motrin) and then after two weeks I took Motrin only. Even that, I took as soon as the time was up. I believe I needed it for the first month. Your body just went through something very traumatic. You need to take the pain meds to help you through it!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Posted by Newly1

Posted by Diana1215

OMG, that is absolutely why you are feeling this way. I took the Percoset for two full weeks (alternating with Motrin) and then after two weeks I took Motrin only. Even that, I took as soon as the time was up. I believe I needed it for the first month. Your body just went through something very traumatic. You need to take the pain meds to help you through it!

Thanks! This just made me feel better! I think I get weird about taking it b/c I had a nurse in the hospital give me an attitude on day 3 when I asked for my pain meds too soon. She was very rude and basically told me I shouldnt be needing the meds so often still b/c once I go home I shouldnt be taking it. She really made me upset that day (not to mention I was very hormonal) in the hospital and even though the Dr. totally disagreed with her it kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Take the meds if you need them!! You will feel so much better! I didn't feel fully like myself again until about 3 weeks PP.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

take the meds!

1st c was a breeze for me. never took a med, was fine and functioning.

2nd...OMG. a nightmare of pain. OB came in and asked if i was on percocet...i said no. she said then you are the only one on the floor not on it. she told me take it when i get home as well so i can enjoy this time and make it nice for my family.

my csectons were night and day. it hurt so badly.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

I had a horrific, horrible recovery with my 3rd child. (THe other two were vaginal births). And, like you, I was comparing myself to people who were up and around, doing laundry and whatnot the day they were home. MY BF has had FIVE csections and the most fantastic recoveries. I had one and was in pain, ripped stitches, etc. It was almost 2 weeks before I could get in and out of bed normally!!

If there is one thing I learned from it, it's that everyone's body heals differently, and you should DEF take the drugs if needed. You're only 10 days out!!!

Don't let anyone tell you how you SHOULD be feeling. YOu feel how you feel, and that's that.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Message edited 6/19/2010 3:17:21 PM.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

Take the meds!!! That is why they prescribed them for you.

My first c/s hurt but my 2nd was worse. I'd say for a full two weeks I was in a lot of pain. I kept telling DH I didn't remember being in this much pain the first time. Even now almost 4 weeks later I still sometimes take the Motrin if I over due it. Everyone heals differently. I remember reading about a mom who had a c/s a day or two after me and how wonderful her recovery was and how she didn't need the meds etc. I was so jealous! I thought maybe there was something wrong with me! But then I realized everyone is different.

Feel better!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

I had a TERRIBLE recovery from my section and it took me probably about 6 weeks to start feeling well again! Don't be hard on yourself, its major surgery and needs alot of recovery time!

My friend is a doctor and she was saying that if you had a hsyterectomy you would have 8 weeks off of work...well thats a very similar procedure to a section AND you get handed a baby!

Take it easy, it will get better soon! I promise! Take the painkillers they give you and do what you can!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

I was annoyed by the same kind of comments.

Bottom line, you had major surgery. No one making comments would think twice about getting help in the first 10 days of recovery after any other type of major surgery. I pointed this out to those that annoyed me.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

you arent alone

i didnt take any pain meds while home, well... i took one darvocet and threw it up, I was SO sick from all the meds that I decided the pain was better than the nausea. (god help me if I have m/s with my next pregnancy, Ill die)

i was sick to my stomach for a week, weak as hell because I couldnt keep ANYTHING down until day 7. I dropped 30 lbs in 4 days, I kid you not (and I only gained 16 during my pregnancy).

IT WILL GET BETTER! rest as much as possible and rely on whomever you need to and DO NOT feel guilty about it. Move as much as you can because it will help but make sure you take something for pain if you need it. DRINK AND EAT!

Message edited 6/19/2010 7:07:50 PM.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

It took me a good two weeks before I started feeling halfway decent and the full six weeks until I felt I was no longer recovering from surgery. I would not let any of their comments bother you!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

I felt awful after my c-section. I had a hard time moving around, I couldn't get up if I sat down on the couch, forget about me being able to sleep in my bed! I was so afraid to laugh or sneeze because one time I laughed my incision hurt so bad it felt like someone stabbed me in the stomach. Definitely take your pain medicine!! I would say it definitely took me a good 2 weeks to feel somewhat better and to be able to move around easier again. Everyone's experience is different, I definitely did not have the no pain afterwards experience!!!

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

I had two planned c-sections and the recovery was fairly easy, but from what I hear, after laboring, a c-section recovery is MUCH more difficult. That being said, your husband helped create this baby, why in the world should he not help you take care of the baby?? I never understood why people expect new moms to take care of their babies all on their own right away. Hell, even after months, it's not something someone should have to do alone! I mean, that whole saying "it takes a village", well, they have that saying because it's true! My husband, even now that I'm feeling completely fine from my c-section, does everything for the baby the nights he's not working. I don't even budge from the bed because, hello, I'm not the only parent.

Anyway, I could go on a rant about that, but I won't. Just take any help offered to you so you can heal because the worst thing you can do is overdo it and then make the recovery and the pain even worse. Like I said, I had two planned c-sections, so I might not be the best to compare to, but I am three weeks post-c-section and I feel like nothing ever happened. I felt that way probably about a week ago, too. But I took all my pain meds until I was really feeling better and I'm trying not to overdo it. Hang in there

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

OH YES!! Rough isn't a strong enough word! But my c-section was a little different than the norm. I got staph infection in my uterus from the section which then spread to my lungs and blood which caused a bad blood infection which landed me in the ICU 1 week after i had DD and let me tell you, my incision was PAINFUL!! Thanks doc!! But after they cleared the c-section and i got one of those wedge pillows (which made getting out of bed sooo much easier) i did ok and 4 weeks later i was bad to my old self again.

Re: C section mommies...Vent and a few questions.

my first c sec recovery was TOUGH! I didn't do much for weeks, I had DH help, my inlaws and my parents / sister(cleaning cooking, shopping etc) . So the first month I really didn't do anything but care for and pump for the baby. don't feel guilty about accepting help that's what family is for!

this time recovery was a cinch, but now I have 2 DC's my whole family has been involved taking care of my older DC. you should take advantage of DH help now before he goes back to work