I am currently five weeks out from my c section and although things are getting better my progress is extremely slow. I still am in a decent amount of pain, have a really hard time being out and about and am still spotting a bit. I have only been out a total of about six times since giving birth and only two of those were by myself because I have such a tough time lugging LO around and I get so tired after only a short period of time. I wasn't expecting this type of recovery as the only other person I know who has had a c section was back to her very physical job after two weeks. I am beginning to have serious doubts about my own ability to go back to work in a few weeks. My job is quite active and at this point I don't think I could keep up! What was your experience with healing? How long were you in pain and having difficulty getting around?
-
I really pushed myself to be up and about while I was still in the hospital. I figured if something went "wrong" then I was in the right place. I was in a fair amount of pain when I got home & took the pain killers they gave me around the clock. I got a 10 or 14 day supply, and know I didn't finish it; ibuprofen (800mg) was sufficient for me at that point!
Steps were HARD for me. I had c in October and I don't remember being good with walking up and down steps until christmas time. Maybe longer.. I bled for a long time, too, which surprised me. I noticed that the more I exerted the heavier I'd bleed. I couldn't push the cart at Target without bleeding heavily!
I had some soreness, off and on, for maybe a year. Nothing that prevented me from doing what I wanted to do, but enough to remind me that I had major surgery!
-
I was in terrible pain for about 2 weeks, and slowly started recovering around 3. When I went back to work at 8 weeks I still had some soreness and was tired very quickly, so it was definitely a longer, slower process than I expected.
-
@Mrs. Jump Rope: The steps worry me if I end up needing a C section. We live on a 4th floor walk up =/
-
Hugs! Everyone recovers at a different pace, please take your time and don't push yourself!!
I had had multiple surgeries as a kid so I kind of knew what to expect, which I think helped a little with my recovery. That being said, DS was in the NICU for 3 weeks so I was traveling back and forth between home and hospital and definitely wan't able to take it as easy as I would have liked! I was in pain for at least 3 weeks (which included walking like a hunchback and not being able to stand straight), bled for 8 weeks (had to have an ultrasound to make sure there was no placenta left!). I definitely didn't drive for at least a month after. It was rough. Would it be possible to talk to your employer about maybe coming back on light duty? Or talk to your doctor and have them write a note detailing what you are/aren't allowed to do?
Lots of hugs! C-section recovery can be tough!! Take good care of yourself!
-
@LindsayInNY: it wasn't the worst thing in the world -- the pain killers made it easier -- but if I could avoid them, i did.
-
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I'm guessing it'll take me HOURS to get home and then I'll never leave!
-
@LindsayInNY: i didn't leave my house for three weeks!
I plan on having a RCS so heaven help me when I've got a toddler to chase after!
-
Like a pp, I had several surgeries as a child, so I kinda knew what to expect. I'm 3 weeks post partum tomorrow and I'm doing well. I was scared that it would be a horrible recovery, but I think a huge part if it was the fact that I made laps around the hospital floor each day I was there. The second day was awful, but I forced myself to get up and walk.
The only issue I've had is that one section of my incision is taking awhile to heal. I had a vertical scar from a childhood surgery and where it meets the c-section incision, it's taking longer to heal.
-
I think my c-section recovery was probably on the easier side of normal. For reference, I was up and taking LO on long walks in the stroller after about a week, and driving and moving around well in just a couple of weeks.
Don’t beat yourself up though if you are not 100% at only 5 weeks out. So much of c-section recovery varies by the individual and your birth experience: did you labor and get physically exhausted first? Did you move around and get up and walking in the hospital after? How your body responds to birth and the post-partum period, and how it responds to stress and the drugs I imagine will all factor into your recovery.
Take it slow and listen to your body and good luck with your recovery!
@LindsayInNY: FYI; steps didn’t bother me at all after my c-section – it was something I was very nervous about since when LO was born we lived in a second-story condo with narrow, steep stairs; but thankfully, stairs didn’t bother me at all. There’s hope!
-
I forced myself (ok it was my sister) to get up and move around as much as possible immediately following my epi being taken out. My DD was in the NICU on another floor so I would walk behind a wheelchair to the elevator and down to her room. I credit this to my fast and easy recovery. by the time she was released and we had her newborn pics at 8 days I was getting up and down and doing steps and everything just fine. I know everyone is different, but I think the key is forcing yourself to get moving and up right away.
-
it took about 10 weeks before I felt ok
-
I'll tell you---5 weeks was when I probably hurt the most. I recovered quickly and easily. I had a friend who had two csections and she couldn't believe how well I was doing. Well, around 5 weeks I was working on the house--cleaning and stuff--and I was sore. Sore to the point I made a post about it. Well, I just was doing too much. Now I'm 8 weeks out and I feel pretty good. The thing that bothers me the most is my epidural spot--the numbness is starting to wear off and it's weird. I hope you feel better soon and remember everyone heals differently.
-
I'm only 6 days pp and I feel great! I've forced myself to move move move! I'm still in the hospital cuz my baby had to stay but I still constantly do whatever I can to not get stiff. That's the key to recovery
-
I was afraid of steps, but I didn't have a problem with them. I had the hardest time with sitting from laying down and standing from sitting. I think everyone's experience is different. Just do what you can and don't push yourself too hard - but push yourself a little bit!
ETA: I had numbness for about 8 months and even now at 12 months (tomorrow!!) I still feel weird if LO kicks me where the scar is...
-
I'm 6wpp & I mostly feel fine but I do get sore. I am always tired but I figure that's life with a newborn! I try to take it easy but I so start spotting again when I've had a big day, but I think that happens to vaginal birth moms too. I wouldn't worry too much about what's typical at this point though - as others have said, everyone is different! Just take it easy.
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
15 comments