https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 21:13:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233843 Sat, 11 Jul 2015 20:10:53 +0000 Mae 2233843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In some ways it was really hard and in other ways not so much. I was induced, had 18 hours of labor (didn't push), then an emergency c-section. </p> <p>The good: I had very little pain. I'd say it never rated more than a 3, and that was only when I was first working on sitting up/standing up on my own the afternoon of the c-section. I had it at 4am and was walking by 4pm. I never took any meds other than advil/tylenol (refused narcotics) and it just never really hurt and I was more mobile than they expected (walking halls that evening). I can't remember when it stopped being hard to sit up/stand up on my own but I'd say within a week or so I felt like I was moving around normally. And no vaginal pain/issues with using the bathroom like a lot of people who have vaginal births.</p> <p>The bad: My incision opened up pretty significantly at 1 week pp when I had my staples removed. It was awful, scary, and gross. It required a lot of gross at-home care that my husband had to do, and it didn't heal fully until 8 weeks pp. Also even though I bled less than normal (vaginally) right after the c-section, I bled FOREVER. Like constantly for 6 week then on/off again for another 2. And it would get worse every time I'd try to do anything (like walk up the stairs in my house more than once/day). So I felt extremely restricted on how much I could do for that reason (even though I felt like I was capable of more) for basically 2 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233771 Sat, 11 Jul 2015 17:14:51 +0000 lady grey 2233771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was okay, not as easy as some previous posters though. I will warn you that you'll probaby get super constipated! Do yourself a favor and buy extra laxatives (ei Miralax) and start taking them right away. The hospital won't send you home with enough stool softener meds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233716 Sat, 11 Jul 2015 14:06:00 +0000 Mrs.ThinMint 2233716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was pretty easy. It's important to get up and moving as soon as possible. I mean there was some pain, but it was very manageable with medication. I was told to not drive for 2 weeks, but I feel like I could have before then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233512 Sat, 11 Jul 2015 00:13:19 +0000 daniellemybelle 2233512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was really hard, but I had a lot of other things that made it harder. I had been in prodromal labor for 5 days before I had LO, I developed an infection in labor which is why I had an emergency C-section so I had to be on antibiotics, I dealt with horrible referred pain in my shoulder in the days after birth in the hospital, and I struggled majorly with breastfeeding. Add all that to my generally low pain tolerance, and it was rough. I'm hoping for a VBAC next time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233494 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 23:06:38 +0000 Grace 2233494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Super easy. Was up and moving 8 hr later. I had staples in for a week and they felt kind of weird when I would turn over in bed, but then they took them out and I felt great and 90%. I know I drove myself to LO's 2 wk dr appt. I had a long mat leave, so I don't know how long it would have taken. I remember in those early weeks, that if I walked too much I had an increase in PP bleeding, but nothing related to the incision or anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233444 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:11:38 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2233444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine was super easy! Hardly any pain. Was up and moving without problem in 24 hours (and it would have been sooner but I had to be on a mag IV and catheterized so wasn't allowed out of bed). Driving within a week (basically as soon as we were out of the hospital). Heck - I was playing competitive tennis matches at 1 month PP! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233439 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:06:17 +0000 Banana330 2233439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was told no driving, no pushing the stroller and no carrying anything heavier than lo for 6 weeks. It was annoying but think it helped keep me from doing too much. Also keep your incision dry (air it out lots). We had a heat wave and I was breast feeding constantly so my incision never had a chance to dry and heal. 12 weeks later there is still a bit healing. No body told me to air it until 6 weeks and by then it was too late </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233437 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:04:57 +0000 MsMini 2233437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had 2 c-sections, both super easy recoveries! Both times I was up, showering myself and doing hair and makeup within 8 hours. I was off of narcotics within about a week, I didn't drive until 6 weeks the first time per by hubby's insistence, but was driving 2 weeks after the second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233378 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 19:38:14 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2233378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was difficult. I needed medication longer than i would have liked. I could take a short walk after a couple weeks but I had bad pain for about 5-6 weeks. My doctor thinks I probably had a complication. I would still have one again if I needed to because it was definitely safest in our case. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233310 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:58:26 +0000 yoursilverlining 2233310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My recovery was fine - get up and moving as soon as you can, it makes a huge difference! </p> <p>The only restriction I had on driving was while I was still on narcotics (so, wasn't a physical restriction, was a "don't take drugs and drive" restriction) and I was driving within maybe 2 weeks. </p> <p>I didn't go back to work until 13 weeks pp, but physically could have gone back much sooner. </p> <p>I had a scheduled c-section and disnt labor beforehand, which i think can make a difference in terms of recovery too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233247 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:03:23 +0000 gingerbebe 2233247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt totally fine in terms of the C-section (I was an exhausted emotional wreck from breastfeeding woes, a colicky infant, not sleeping, etc). They took out my catheter and IV line within 2 hours of getting into my room, I was able to walk to the bathroom on my own, and the combination of Vicodin and ibuprofen alternated every few hours kept my pain in check. I had a little bit of soreness by day 3 but I think it was because I was up and down from my bed and power walking to the NICU every 2 hours to check and feed my son. I was definitely driving very quickly, had zero problems getting in and out of bed, and carrying my son everywhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233245 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:58:24 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2233245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an easy recovery. I never had much pain and was moving around fine a few days postpartum. My only physical restrictions were doing sit-ups (I had to roll off the bed) and lifting more than 25 pounds. I was cleared to go back to my usual weight training routine at 8 weeks.</p> <p>I was definitely driving by three weeks (when my husband went back to work). </p> <p>I never went back to work, but I'd say that newborn exhaustion was more of a problem than recovery from the surgery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-was-your-c-section-recovery#post-2233228 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:43:20 +0000 MrsBananaGrabber 2233228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know everyone is different, but if you had a c-section, how was your recovery? I'm especially interested in timing, such as how long before you were driving, how long before you were moving around as usual, how long before you were physically able to return to work, etc.</p> <p>Thanks! </p>