C/S Recovery.. questions

Question for St charles moms?
I was told at St Caths that St Charles now gives CS moms an abdominal band to wear after recovery.
Does anyone have this, does it really help? I read somewhere that they make it easier to sleep, etc.
Just wanted to hear if anyone has used it and would recommen buying one.

Also, did anyone still have chest pains (from the gas pockets) a week later ? any time Im laying flat on my back, i feel it and I can barely sleep

Also what are the "milestone" times when you did/can do things again?
My 3rd one and I seem to have forgotten everything.

Do you remember when you drove again, felt yourself again, etc. Its only been a week and I still feel sore, swollen feet (which never happened before) and of course the belly/scar area is still very fresh/sore. Ive decreased the pain meds considerably this time, but we'll see what tomorrow holds Im taking it VERY Easy for a good 4-6 weeks. im still in a daze from the meds, getting headaches..

thanks for any feedback

Message edited 8/10/2006 12:22:55 AM.

Re: C/S Recovery.. questions

Hi Mamma how are you feleing??

ETA, It took a while for the swelling to go down and I could not drive for a week

Message edited 8/10/2006 12:27:51 AM.

Re: C/S Recovery.. questions

Re: C/S Recovery.. questions

Hi anna!

You know the memory of it all is fading for me too.... but I know I was driving at about 2 weeks. Once DH went back to work and I needed to go out for Dr's appts and shopping I drove. The driving was ok, but it was a little touchy carrying the carrier.

To me, I did not have a nice recovery. I did not take any meds or anything but I still had trouble getting myself off the bed for almost 2 weeks. Once I was up I was ok though, stairs were no problem I just didn't overdo it.

The incision remained sore and "fresh" for a good while. I think it was 6 weeks or more before I felt like I was healing. But I was starting to feel like "myself" after about 8 weeks.

I think compared with other moms who had c's thats long but it was very traumatic to me. Maybe alot of it was in my head, I dunno....

I didn't get the gas pains or the swollen feet though. My friend has had 3 c/s's and she said they were progressively worse, something to do with scar tissue.

I hope you are feeling better real quick!!

Re: C/S Recovery.. questions

I delivered at St Charles - they used a band on my belly in the hospital for 2 days - but that was it, never mentioned it again after that.

I was really swollen before I had Ali, but the swelling decrease alot within the first week - actually to the point that the only thing that was still swollen was my belly.

As for the incision, the first week was absolute torture - holy c rap - when I sneezed for the first time, I seriously thought I was going to die!!
Probably felt so much better by 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. Then bothered me again when it started to scab

Gas pockets - I think it bothered me until about 4-5 days after having Ali.

Driving - I don't think I did for 4 weeks - I was paranoid to

I think by 4 weeks - I was completely back to normal. But I was feeling fine for at about 2 weeks.

Getting out of bed was torture my first night home Not to say it was any easier in the hospital.
But about after 3 days - I was having no problems with it.

Oh - and I wasn't on any pain meds, since my 2nd day in the hospital. I probably took Tylenol for about 5 days in total. It helped me before I went to bed.

Re: C/S Recovery.. questions

I had the band and I really don't know how I would have recovered without it.

I drove before the 2 week mark, but I remember still feeling dizzy - I shouldn't have. (I didn't take any Rx pain meds)

I remember not feeling well until the 4 week mark - still with the lingering c/s scar