https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 16:41:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2623820 Mon, 19 Sep 2016 16:09:40 +0000 Coffee-lover 2623820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My recovery was not bad at all. I took the norco they gave me and it really helped. We went home on the 2nd day, and the 4th day after surgery we were wandering around target and the mall because we got bored at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622957 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 20:16:02 +0000 Mae 2622957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine sucked but only because I had a post-op complication. I'm one of the weird people who lost all feeling at the incision site and for a few inches above and below it. Like-- still no feeling 2.5 years later. So I actually had almost no pain. I never took narcotic pain meds, I was up walking the night of my c-section. I never really had any sharp pain at all, just sort of generally sore in the abs for maybe a week. So if that had been it I'd have said my recovery was awesome. But at 1 week pp my incision opened up and it took 8 weeks to close and that was really disgusting and stressful so overall... sucked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622906 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:36:48 +0000 travelgirl1 2622906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was pretty easy. Both my sections were scheduled so I never had to endure labour, but my second was so much harder, from how I felt directly afterwards to recovery at home. I couldn't get in and out of bed for the first week so I had to "sleep" on the sofa. No rest and having another child at home to look after probably contributed, but I feel like it took me months to properly recover, which is ridiculous after my first experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622869 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:24:08 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2622869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: I was in labor for a full 30 hours before my c-section, so I wonder if that impacted my recovery, but it honestly wasn't too bad. Getting in and out of bed was hard. I ran up until my 35th week and even walking around the block took some doing those first days. However, I'd say by 10-12 days out I felt relatively normal, and many of my friends who have had vaginal deliveries have dealt with lingering issues (hemorrhoids, incontinence, tearing, etc.) for months after the fact that I was lucky to avoid having had a c-section. My son's head was in the 96th percentile which is why he didn't fit, so whenever I have a second, I have no problem scheduling a c-section in advance if his/her head is also ginormous. My hope is that I'll feel even better the second time without a body unsuccessfully contracting for a full day before. Who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622865 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:16:30 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2622865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My recovery was pretty smooth. When I laughed it hurt and I had to be careful climbing into bed ( mattress is high). I was given a Percocet script, but didn't fill it. Ibuprofen when needed was fine at home and even at the hospital I only took the meds when I needed to. I didn't drive for two weeks and ended up walking to the grocery store about 1.5 - 2 mi away then to Starbucks on the next block.. At that point I needed Uber to take me back home lol. My belly felt like jelly for a couple of months, but that wasn't painful. Looking back at pics right after I gave birth is shocking how homely I look compared to how great I felt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622862 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 16:10:36 +0000 LuLu Mom 2622862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was rough, only because I was pushed for 3 1/2 hours as well so I had to essentially recover from both. </p> <p>My second wasn't that bad, I was sore yes but I was back to normal after 2 weeks. Best advice is to get up and walk, it sucks, but the more you walk the better an quicker you heal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622830 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 15:03:57 +0000 pwnstar 2622830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have had both a vaginal birth and a c-section. The delivery with my first was long, grueling, and complicated. My recovery was short and smooth. With my second, the c-section itself went smoothly and I had an awesome medical team. I am also healing very well (I am 5 weeks pp). That said, the c-section recovery has been much harder than the vaginal delivery, and has taken much longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622824 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:46:14 +0000 erinbaderin 2622824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread has been fascinating to read - the variety in our experiences is amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622818 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:38:44 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2622818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: take the meds they give you, and when in doubt miralax ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622811 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:22:23 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2622811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine wasn't bad. I was up out of bed a few hours later to use the bathroom (which, getting up the first time was kind of scary, but not painful really). I followed dr's orders and didn't do anything I wasn't allowed. Getting in and out of bed was a bit difficult for a few weeks.</p> <p>I'm 5 months out now, and I still have minor aches in my lower abdomen at times and my scar is itchy sometimes. And sometimes I feel numb still, so its a bit weird, but the initial recovery wasn't bad at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622784 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:26:27 +0000 justjules 2622784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ocean81: lol yes x100 to this. This may be TMI but I referred to it as the birth labor I didn't have cause that pushing was so long and intense! I totally wasn't prepared for that part of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622757 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:43:26 +0000 sotofamilia 2622757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My physical recovery was fine - I was surprised how quickly my body bounced back from major surgery.</p> <p>Emotionally, not so well. I'm still trying to process it at 9 months post partum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622747 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:24:17 +0000 ocean81 2622747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Scheduled csection and recovery was pretty easy! Going #2 for the first time... That's another story. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622741 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:03:57 +0000 LAZB 2622741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm nervous that I will need a csection this time because baby is breech, and after two easy, vaginal births, I really don't want one! Good to know a lot of people have easy recoveries </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622667 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:44:05 +0000 CakeLady 2622667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a scheduled c-section, and recovery was pretty easy. I was up and walking by the next day and out and about after 5 days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622630 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:59:59 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2622630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ironically enough, my emergency C-section recovery was far easier than my scheduled C-section recovery. </p> <p>DS1 was in the NICU for 2 days after my emergency C-section with him, so I had time to rest even though my emotional state was pretty bad. Once we were home, I just took it easy and made sure I got up and walked every day. 2 weeks postpartum, I was doing really well.</p> <p>With DS2, his scheduled C-section was a much calmer experience; however, my recovery with him was pretty bad. I don't know if it's because I had a 3 year old to take care of as well, but my incision opened, and I was MUCH more sore. I didn't start to feel better until closer to 6 weeks postpartum. Being 3 years older with DS2 also could have had something to do with it too...I was AMA with him, and he was my 6th pregnancy overall...so my body had been through the wringer and back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622580 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:54:39 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2622580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>lo1- 36 hr induced labor then an emergency C-section was tough, I was so loopy for the procedure simply from exhaustion, I shook really badly after the procedure and had an excessive amount of itching. This being said, after we returned home I was on just Advil after a week and then I felt pretty normal </p> <p>lo2- Scheduled C section, much smoother, after a week I felt pretty good, my incision didn't heal quite right so my OB put silver nitrate on it (that stuff burns) and now my scar isn't large or anything </p> <p>I had great medical teams and both experiences were positive overall </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622546 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 06:45:54 +0000 twodoghouse 2622546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband says I have amnesia and don't really remember how bad it was immediately after, but I thought it was a pretty easy recovery. I didn't have any complications and everything healed really well. I did not get up and walking around as much as I probably should have in the hospital (as I've heard that helps speed up recovery) because I was just so out of it and sick after delivery. But I kept up with ALL the pain meds and felt fine by the time I went home. I have friends/family who had very difficult recoveries from vaginal births and difficult recoveries from c-sections. I think t just comes down to the individual circumstances and person! </p> <p>Disclaimer: I actually delivered one twin vaginally and the other c-section, so maybe my answer doesn't count. But I really had an easy time with my recovery from both kinds of birth at the same time. Or my husband is right and the amnesia is real. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622521 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:57:53 +0000 sunny 2622521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first recovery wasn't too bad but I was still taking the heavy duty narcotic pain meds for a full 2 weeks. It was really hard getting up and out of bed for weeks. I didn't drive for a full 5 weeks because I felt nervous about being able to turn and check my blind spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622519 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:41:17 +0000 sandy 2622519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 - unplanned csection after laboring for about 16 hours. Super easy recovery - walking next day, no pain meds except Tylenol 3 for a few days, felt back to normal within a few weeks </p> <p>DD2 - scheduled csection. Really hard recovery but there were other circumstances that probably affected that. Needed pain meds for several weeks, walking the next day but didn't feel back to normal for a few months, hard to use the stairs, etc</p> <p>I'm planning another repeat csection and I'm preparing for a hard recovery bc I'm just older and this is the 3rd csection... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622479 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:44:26 +0000 mrsmacandcheese 2622479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: that's awesome! I wasn't given any heavier duty meds but I tried going off my Tylenol/Advil routine maybe a week in and sincerely regretted it shortly thereafter. Maybe some of us just heal more easily? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622469 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:30:21 +0000 yerpie110 2622469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I'm lucky - recoveries for both were a breeze (one emergency, one scheduled). Walking by the next day, no pain meds needed, and it really just felt I was sore from doing 200 crunches. The nurses both times (I gave birth at different hospitals) were shocked and said I recovered faster than moms who deliver vaginally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622406 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:36:12 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2622406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilteacherbee: forceps c-section here! Baby three was off the charts in all categories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622401 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:29:26 +0000 wheres_c 2622401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: same exact experience!<br /> A week in the hospital. Unable to walk unassisted for at least a week. 4-5 weeks before I felt comfortable driving. 2 months before feeling normal!<br /> Exact reason I'm going for a VBAC too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622397 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:27:50 +0000 lilteacherbee 2622397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of them were pretty easy. With my first, my incision had some complications because it criss-crossed another scar I had from a childhood surgery. Other than that, though, it wasn't too bad. My second one was a little harder just because I had a toddler to take care of at home and probably didn't take it quite as easy as I should have.</p> <p>@oliviaoblivia: Yeahhhh, they had to vacuum LO1 out DURING the C-section because he was so stuck and his head was huge (8lb 13oz with a 97th percentile head at 39 weeks). I would have had a C-section even if I tried vaginally first, so I'm glad I didn't! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622391 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:22:30 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2622391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmacandcheese: I was in labor for 57 hours with my first and the lack of sleep coupled with the surgery was tough, but I was back to normal fairly quickly and off meds by the time I was home three days later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622363 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:01:53 +0000 mrsmacandcheese 2622363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a haaaaaard time. But I laboured for 60 hours total before having the section so I beat my body up pretty hard. i remember waking up the next day and everything hurting -- even my ribs and lungs, from all the breathing exercises I did! I felt really weak and my abdominal muscles HURT. You don't realize how much you use your abs until you can't without it pulling and pinching and hurting.</p> <p>On the plus side after I had my staples out a few days postpartum I was able to finally get some sleep, which helped a lot. But I really think that the length of labour prior to a C impacts healing, along with some other factors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622301 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:26:01 +0000 misolee 2622301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my first, I was induced for over 24 hours and ended up with a csection. For my second, I had a med free VBAC (not intentionally bc I wanted drugs but they wouldn't give it to me). </p> <p>My csec recovery was much easier. I was off heavy medication by the next day and walking around. After a week, I was feeling normal. My vbac took me forever to feel better. My lady parts must have been in shock bc it was hurting and swollen for weeks. It hurt to pee. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622289 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:19:51 +0000 travellingbee 2622289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-was-your-c-section-recovery-like#post-2622288 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:19:04 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2622288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: I kinda wonder how much bigger DD3 would have gotten had we waited for labor. If she had gone two weeks past her due date she would have been nearly 12.5lbs. Insane. It bugs me when people say "your body won't grow a baby it can't birth". Cause there's no way I'm pushing that out. </p>