Hellobee Boards

Seconding everything above especially staying on top of the meds and moving around. A belly wrap or band helped me SO much. And avoiding stairs. Congrats and hang in there!!

@cyoung:

It appears that you have some great advice here on the board. I'll add mine though.

My c-sections were not all that bad. I was back at work 2 weeks after my 1st (against OBGYN's orders, mind you) and was attempting to clean my house due to being stir-crazy about a week after my second one. That stated, I am a terrible example. I also tore stitches with both for "overdoing" it so, I will state that my advice to you is based on what was helpful for me rather than what I did that resulted in multiple visits to the ER.

At the time of my c-section for DS, my DH was AD Army and was alotted 2 weeks with me. Our DD was 6. My DD was born at the end of her holiday/winter break. Closest family was 8 hours away and I had to learn to "make due" quickly. Here are a few ways that I made my life easier:

(1) Take your meds as directed. Sometimes, even skipping a dose can lead to your downfall. Most moms alternate their narcotic drugs with IBUPROFEN if they do not like or cannot tolerate the heavier meds.

(2) If your bedrooms are upstairs and EVERYTHING else is downstairs, figure out how to spend the majority of the day downstairs... that includes couch-sleeping, baby feeding/nursing, changing clothes, etc. Set up "comfort areas" for resting, feedings, and bathing both you and baby the best you can.

(3) place a basket (or 2) at the bottom of the stairs for clothes, loose items, etc. Have your DH or older children bring the items upstairs and the baskets back down.

(4) Do not refuse help from friends or neighbors. This one was SO hard for me. I am a perfectionist and have to be the entertainer when someone visits. After my c-section, I had to relinquish the need to be a proper hostess and allow myself and DS to be pampered.

(5) When in doubt, order out. I made many large-batch meals before my CS; however, when I came home with a newborn, I was just too d#mn tired. DH came home REALLY late some nights and DD couldn't wait until he arrived. Grubhub delivery has seen me at my worst. 🤣

(6) If your kids can help (with ANYTHING), let them. Also, if they want to help with the new arrival, there is nothing better than a moment of bonding for them and free hands for you.

(7) A cleaning service - I was gifted 3 mos of a 2x monthly cleaning service. Besides food gift cards, meals, and diapers (I had forgotten the sheer amount of poop that can come out of something so small! 🤣); the cleaning ladies were my FAVORITE gift ever. They made life spectacular. I have, since, invested in a service to visit monthly to give my home a once-over. Trust me, after a c-section, the LAST thing one wants to do is clean.

(8) FINALLY - Listen to your body - (* I half-arsed this one. 🤣) If you need to sit and rest - do it. If something is sore and doesn't seem right, call your OBGYN. If you are hungry or thirsty, take the time to nourish yourself. Sounds like commonsense, right? Well, you'd be surprised after having a CS how far you will push past "the ouch" and ignore your "thirsty" for your baby and to accomplish "one more thing" before you sit down. I know, I did it. *facepalm* Learn from my mistakes and don't end up in the ER.

BEST OF LUCK and Happy healing, Mama!
Once again - Congratulations on your new bundle!

@thepicklemonster: Please share your recipe for parsley-watermelon-lemon water ... How many parts of each did you use? It not only sounds beneficial but "yummy."