Mom's who have had c-sections...

Can you please tell us about what your recovery was like? I'm sure this has been asked before so I apologize if I'm asking everyone to be repetitive. I'm curious to know when you were able to get up and move around, go home, hold the baby, pick up the baby on your own, drive, etc.

TIA!

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Recovery was bad the first day after...getting out of bed was the hardest for me..once your up and walking around it gets SO much better. By the time I got home, I was fine..I wasnt even taking the painkillers. They say not to drive for 2 weeks, but I had to a week later and I was just fine. Just take your time and relax as much as you can..its not that bad!

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I had DS at 5:20 pm. I held him in the OR for awhile. Then I went to recovery for about 2-3 hours. Got to my room about 9ish. Had the baby with me till about 10 and was ready to sleep.

I got up the next am as soon as I was given the ok. I showered and felt a little stiff but not terrible. By the time we went home I was in good shape and no longer taking pain meds.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

The worst part at home was rollin over in bed till the staples came out.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I felt pretty good once I was home....I just had to take it easy getting up and down from sitting and getting out of bed. I didn't drive for the 2 wks because the pain killers I was on kept me REALLY in a fog.

I was able to go up and down stairs though and take care of the baby - I just needed help for the first week or so.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

The day I got home I was up and down stairs etc. I took care of him by myself at night since the day we got home. During the day I got help from my mom, etc.

I wasn't able to drive until 3 weeks That was very hard. I actually cheated on that too.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Message edited 3/26/2007 3:54:18 PM.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I was in so much pain that they had me on a heavy medication schedule. I was able to hold her the first night, but I stayed in bed.
I agree, it got better when the staples came out, which was 6 days after delivery.
The second week, most of the pain subsided, but it was still painful to get in the car, everyone has SUV's.
It will have been 3 weeks on wednesday and I only have mild pain sometimes at night, but I usually do too much during the day and strain myself

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I was able to hold the baby right away. As soon as my epidural wore off, I was up trying to walk around a bit. Bending over I was sore, but I have found that if you push through it a LITTLE bit, it does get better.

I was home after my first c/s after 3 days, and I could go up and down stairs slowly, I could also lift the baby no problem.

After my 2nd c/s, I went home 48 hours later. I was sore, but I was up and moving around as soon as humanly possible, and that helped a LOT.

Everyone is different though. I would only suggest to take it easy, listen to your body, and take your pain meds!

Edited to add: I was told no driving for 6 weeks with both my c-sections, THAT was the hardest part... being at the mercy of DH LMAO

Message edited 3/26/2007 5:00:55 PM.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

the first couple of days is rough, but you have to move around and by the third day and was walking everywhere and feeling so much better. I took the pain meds, I was not brave. I was able to drive right away. You have to take is easy and slowly when you stand and it hurts when you laugh. All and all it wasn't bad. I would do it again, I guess that says something.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

staples??????????



oh man I thought they stitched or used tape externally - why oh why did I open this thread

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Thanks ladies! I've read in books what to expect after a c-section but I think they sugar coat it for us to not scare us off. I knew I could rely on my LIF Mommies for the truth!

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Posted by MsMBV

staples??????????



oh man I thought they stitched or used tape externally - why oh why did I open this thread

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Some do both and some just do stitches.

For me it was probably better because if I just had stitches I probably would have opened it up. I was doing a lot as soon as I came home.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Gave birth at 8 am and got out of bed later that afternoon but I did not go walking until the next day and that was dreadful. As much as it hurts, the more you walk - the easier it does make it.

And I TOTALLY agree that things were much better once the staples were out. I even remember how ticklish I was when they were being removed!

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Honestly? It was about 1/4 as bad as I thought it would be, if that. I had body aches, like I had the flu for about 2 weeks after, and I'd say that's about the worst thing I felt. However, I did not heed my dr.'s advice and took on too much in those first two weeks, and I had a problem with my incision opening up Just the outside incision, but still, that wasn't fun. I'd say by a month pp, I was feeling great.


ETA: I did NOT have staples. I had disolveable stitches. So not every dr. uses staples. but my C section was planned.
Also, if the dr. gives you the option to keep the epidural in a second day, keep it in! I was on a low dose of epidural the second day, and it was what helped me walk around with ease. I would press the little button when I was in pain, and it would administer more epi meds. Then, I only needed percocet for 5 days pp and I was fine after that. Nothign advil couldn't take care of.

Message edited 3/26/2007 8:20:27 PM.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Recovery was a bit rough. I had DS at 9:45 in the morning and I was up moving around by 5:00 in the afternoon. For me, the best thing was to get moving right away. I was very sore for a few weeks but every day there was improvement. It really didnt effect my caring for my DS. I knew that I had to do what I needed to for him and my 5 year old.
In the end its all worth it.
Oh..I had him on a Thursday and was home on Sunday. And I was able to drive 1 week later (as long as I was up to it).

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I gave birth on a monday and left the hospital on Friday--Feeling fine, I took my pain meds and could go up and down the stairs..no problems. I didn't even have staples or stiches. It was not what i expected--the most painful part is a day or 2 after you have ths section...I think. Good luck it will be a breeze compared to the sleepless nights.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I had a great recovery from my csection. I was up and walking around 24 hours and had pajamas on that night. I asked for stiches instead of staples and my doctor was fine with that. By thte time i was home i was driving, going up and down the stairs and whatnot. It felt like a bad cut for about 2 weeks and I could not walk for a very long time, but other then that not bad at all. I thought the breast engorgement was far worse for me. I need percoset for that and only tylenol for the c-section beliefve it or not.

Also, i was allowed to eat food the next monring. Passed gas and everything else. Some woman had some issues with that.

Every persons recovery is differnet. I saw woman on the maternity floor who had c-sections the same day as me and still could barely walk and not eat 2 days afterwards.

I think the thinking of it was the worse part for me though.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I had my section onb Tuesday, I was able to hold and feed the baby in the recovery room. The pain has been moderate but manegable with pain meds. I have been walking around pretty well, I was up and walking the next day in the hospital. It does hurt a bit getting into and out of bed but I have been trying to take it easy, DH has been AWESOME......good luck

oh and I was told no driving for 2 weeks

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

i did not have a bad recovery at all... in fact i recommend it rather then go through labor. LOL i too was up and walking the next day. Day 2 and 3 were bad fro me but then it wasnt bad. i did not have staples...

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

I had JAG on a Friday at 7+ in the am..that day I was on meds so it was a great day.
That damnnnnn second day when they made me walk around...well I wanted to kill anyone in my path. YOUCH!
Day three the staples came out. I was actually scared for this, thought it would be painful for some reason...it was a breeze.
Day 4 moozeeing down the hall to see my little man.

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Thanks ladies!

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

Stupid question, but are the pain meds OK to take if you are BFing?

Re: Mom's who have had c-sections...

What about if you plan on breastfeeding? I heard you can have pain meds for a day or two in the hospital, but then that's it. I really want to breastfeed and will find out tomorrow if I have to have a section on Monday...right now the plan is to induce. I was wondering how this affects my plan to breastfeed my little guy. Thanks all!