Tell me all about c-sections...

So we are aving a schedule c and i feel clueless about the whole process...

Anything i need to do to prepare ahead of time??? What to expect of the whole process??

What is the whole recovery process like?

Once your home are there restrictions? I have stairs in my house - will i be able to walk up/down? Are you able to drive right away?

Im delivering at Stonybrook if anyone has any BTDT info..

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

recovery is not awful, but you are definitely limited as to what you can do, even when you get home. The key to feeling better is getting up and walking around (at the hospital). It's tough to get out of bed, but the more you move around the better you'll feel. I spent 4 days in the hospital and when I came home I was still pretty limited...doc said I can do stairs once a day (once up and once down) and to try to have everything on one floor. Yesterday was a week and a day since the section and I went up and down the stairs more than I should have and I was pretty sore that afternoon. I won't be doing that again any time soon. No driving for 2 weeks either.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

I had a C at SB but mine was after a very long labor.

Anyway....

I found the recovery to not be bad at all but I am sure you are going to read a lot of different experiences. I think everyone handles it differently.

I believe they told to to limit the stairs (like just go up and down to bed kind of thing) for a week.

You also cant drive for 2 weeks, do laundry, lift anything heavy etc.

SB is awesome and I loved it there. Cant wait to be back there for number 2!!!!!!!

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

I had a scheduled c/s.

You can read my Birth Story . My whole experience was in there.

I had a very easy recovery. I won't lie, the first day when they make you walk, it hurts and I was plotting the death of every nurse that forced me to walk when I did. But you must walk because you will get better each and every day you do. By that weekend I was doing laundry.

I was told not to lift anything heavy and I made DH do that. But I walked with her and did everything else. I have a ranch so I don't know about stairs but I imagine I would have been able to.

The only restrictions were no heavy lifting and no driving.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

it's not that it's bad...it's just so freaking annoying.

I like to be able to be up and moving around with no issues, run around like a mad woman, do 9 things at once...and c/s force you to slow down..and depend on people.

So, if you're used to feeling like Super Woman, you won't feel like that for a bit.

Even when I took the medicine they gave, it still was a b!tch getting out of bed or sitting on the toilet, things like that....all things you take for granted. Your abdominal section is like such a core muscle that you use so much, so when you have limited use of it, you really miss it.

You're not supposed to lift anything heavier than your newborn.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

Posted by JP826

Posted by munchkinfacemama


The only restrictions were no heavy lifting and no driving.

And no sneezing!!! oh boy .. Dont sneeze!!

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

My first c-section was a little tougher than my second. But either wasn't so bad. Honestly, the worst part of BOTH was the GAS. UGH! THE GAS! But once that passes, usually within a few days, you're pretty good to go. My last one I happened to have a cold...so coughing was a nightmare. I made sure to literally take that cough medicine every 4 hours.

Try to limit stairs to only a couple of times a day. I have stairs too. The worst part is if you're a side sleeper. Its hard to lay on your side, especially if you got used to it after months of doing it while pregnant. You're not supposed to drive, but I did. The best thing also is to get one of those things that hold you in. Like those belt things with the velcro? That was awesome. Keeping everything mushed together is your best bet. But honestly, you're going to be so busy with baby you'll push through it all and barely feel it. I did sleep sitting up in a recliner for a few days after...just felt better.

Lots of luck!!! And don't worry, its not so bad!!

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

I was scheduled with my DS and really it was a pretty good process. My recovery was pretty great I feel.

Day 1 I was "tied" to my bed and on pain killers (morphine pump)
Day 2 got out of bed
Day 3 was moving slow but feeling good
Day 4 went home one day early.

I couldnt drive for 2 weeks. The Drs said to minimize the up and down stairs to 2x a day (not a big deal for us as we have a ranch) but you might want to set up the PNP downstairs so you dont have to go up and down alot.
I actually got yelled at by my OB at my 2 week appt for doing too much! But I felt good.

My advice is to get as much sleep as you can in the hospital. I used to send DS to the nursery and have him FF at night so I could sleep and I really think it helped me recover quickly.

Once you get up, every hour or so just take a stroll down the hall to keep things loose.

Dont be shy about passing gas! Its VERY important to pass gas when you have any abdominal surgery.

The one thing that I had to come to terms with then I scheduled a c./s was that I was not going to be the first one to hold my DC. When you have a c/s after they clean the baby they will give it to your DH. I always had this vision of them giving me my DC first but you can't hold the baby while you are being stitched up.

Other than that, just take it easy afterwards.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

For me, the most important thing in the hospital was staying ahead of the pain. They would tell me to ring for the nurse when I wanted a pain pill. I would be hanging out and talking to DH/my mom/my new baby and all of a sudden 5 hours went by and pain would wash over me in such a way that I would start to cry.

After a day of that I would ring the bell every x amount of hours and request a pain pill. Made me much more comfortable and made my hospital stay that much easier.

By the time I was discharged, I was still sore, but it was manageable with Motrin. At home I took Motrin around the clock per the bottle's instructions for about a week and a half and it worked.

I live in a split, and I definitely limited how much I went up and down the stairs.

Each day that passes you will feel better and better.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

Posted by Marcie

Posted by JP826

Posted by munchkinfacemama


The only restrictions were no heavy lifting and no driving.

And no sneezing!!! oh boy .. Dont sneeze!!

OMG!! I was just about to post this...no one warned me....and thank god my DH was standing next to me....If you feel a sneeze coming on, grab a hold to something...cause I almost went down, it took everything out of me.

Re: Tell me all about c-sections...

I had a booked C-section-I wrote a bit about it in my birth story if you want to check it out

There's really nothing to prepare ahead of time-just make sure whatever pajama pants you bring with you to the hospital are really big and drawstring waist (not elastic) so it doesn't brush against your stitches.

For me, recovery was really good-I was up walking around like a champ the next day-which I recommend, the faster you're mobile post surgery, the easier it is IMO.

The one thing I'll tell you is that after your surgery you will be SO NUMB from the waist down, it's a little freaky-and as the numbness wore off my legs were really itchy (weird). That night I had to sleep with these compression things on my legs to avoid blood clots-it was so uncomfortable.

Overall the pain wasn't so bad bc of the painkillers-most important, take your meds on schedule so you don't feel anything By the time I came home from the hospital I took the pain meds like 2-3 days and then was done with them and took motrin.

I wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks. Also my OB said no heavy lifting, avoid stairs, and really rest on the couch in the begginging-bc basically you'll be held together by a string

I think if you're having a booked C, your recovery should be easy since you're not all roughed up from labor beforehand...

My advice-since you know WHEN you're delivering, get your rest now. And make sure you have tons of food in the freezer that you can throw in the oven or mocrowave because you're not gonna want to cook.

FM me if you have any questions!