The C-Section Recovery Thread

[gratefulgirl]

C-section moms, how is your recovery (physical and emotional) going? Any tips? Questions? Rants? Dare I ask for raves?

[kaitkat]

Recovery is ok. I find if I do to much I hurt a lot

Question: how long did it take to start feeling better aka less sore? The full 6 weeks or??

[steph]

I think I got really lucky, tomorrow will be a week since I had him and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm a tad sore but have no issues with walking or stairs. I find the more active i am, the better I feel. If i sit for a while, when I get up I'm more sore than usual.

Someone told me to get myself up and moving asap after surgery and it would help with recovery. That seems to have worked for me both times now. DH has been pretty helpful.

Emotionally I'm okay. I had a RCS with no desire to even attempt VBAC.

[gratefulgirl]

Emotionally I am great. I wanted this c-section given that I am firmly convinced my uterus causes fetal distress.

Physically not bad. I can manage light housework, though I know if I overdo it. My 2 year old is pretty mad I can't pick her up - that is probably the hardest. Tried to march her to time out today and ouch that hurt! I think this is my easiest recovery so far despite adding in a tubal. It was scheduled and she went through my old scar do no new trauma.

Rave: my Wink belly binder! It does not hide the distended abs, but it helps soreness so much!

kaitkat - I find I feel fairly functional except heavy laundry baskets on the stairs by 3-4 weeks. I consider my recoveries on the quick and easy side, though.

[meagpt22]

Aug 14, 2016 17:42:03 GMT -5 kaitkat said:

Recovery is ok. I find if I do to much I hurt a lot

Question: how long did it take to start feeling better aka less sore? The full 6 weeks or??

With DD after 2 weeks it didn't feel like my insides were being ripped apart everytime I moved, but I could still feel things around my incision for awhile if I over did it.

[esquette]

Last night in the hospital. LO is sleeping now and has been passed out for hours. (Gave him Tylenol for post circumcision discomfort.) Sweetie is asleep.

I'm awake. So gassy. Would so love to go poo. I tried stepping down one of my painkillers to see if the constipation would ease up. So now my abdomen hurts more AND im constipated.

Come on body! Let's poo!

[hollyberry]

Hey guys!

I am 3 weeks out and feel pretty good. But the problem is I think i overdo it on days I feel really good and then I am in pain the next day. I did do house work and was fine. But when I walk too much the sides of the incision hurts. Its manageable, but annoying. I still need help to get up if I am laying too far back ony couch and if I typically have to use the stomach muscles, to do whatever.

esquette, definitely get some softeners. They will help a lot!

[gratefulgirl]

esquette - I am constipated too. Next time DH goes out I am asking for (ugh) prune juice. I have cola e, but that won't make me go. I can tell what's in there is soft.

You'd think a steady diet of whole grains, chia seeds, and fruit would be enough!

[gratefulgirl]

My constipation story was horrible. Now over. I am thinking of cutting out the Percoset. Maybe ibuprofen alone can cut it.

Since DH's foot is so bad I dropped laundry over our main level railing into the basement to wash. Brilliant! Only now that it is clean how do I get it back up here?

[steph]

Aug 16, 2016 12:51:15 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

My constipation story was horrible. Now over. I am thinking of cutting out the Percoset. Maybe ibuprofen alone can cut it.

Since DH's foot is so bad I dropped laundry over our main level railing into the basement to wash. Brilliant! Only now that it is clean how do I get it back up here?

You don't you take out what you need as you need it!

[eaglewife]

Aug 16, 2016 13:14:19 GMT -5 steph said:

Aug 16, 2016 12:51:15 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

My constipation story was horrible. Now over. I am thinking of cutting out the Percoset. Maybe ibuprofen alone can cut it.

Since DH's foot is so bad I dropped laundry over our main level railing into the basement to wash. Brilliant! Only now that it is clean how do I get it back up here?

You don't you take out what you need as you need it!

+1. Just work out of laundry piles from the laundry area for now.

[gratefulgirl]

So I have been feeling/doing great.

Today DD1 was riding her bike in our curse sac and DD2 and I were walking. DD1 picked up too much speed and freaked out. I ended up grabbing 27 lb DD2 and running to DD1 carrying DD2. I felt fine. But DH says my incision now looks less closed in one spot. I am planning on calling tomorrow and freaking just a bit (mostly because DH freaked). Also I am sore now, but nothing major.

Ugh. I am so sick of us both being physically unable this freaking summer!

[kaitkat]

Aug 17, 2016 21:08:53 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

So I have been feeling/doing great.

Today DD1 was riding her bike in our curse sac and DD2 and I were walking. DD1 picked up too much speed and freaked out. I ended up grabbing 27 lb DD2 and running to DD1 carrying DD2. I felt fine. But DH says my incision now looks less closed in one spot. I am planning on calling tomorrow and freaking just a bit (mostly because DH freaked). Also I am sore now, but nothing major.

Ugh. I am so sick of us both being physically unable this freaking summer!

So many hugs!! I find it very very hard to not lift DD breaks my heart I can't imagine not having a fully functional DH! You are amazing

[hollyberry]

@greatfulgirl, that sucks. Keep us posted whwn you call. Hopefully you just irritated it. Hugs

[gratefulgirl]

DH freaked out over nothing. But shoot I am sore. Need a way to take it easy. Instead I get big kid temper tantrums because I was gone with the baby all morning. I know I should sympathize with them, it's hard. But I am just too worn out.

[kaitkat]

So many hugs gratefulgirl


Also sneezing sucks oh my goodness

[hollyberry]

Aug 18, 2016 15:59:00 GMT -5 kaitkat said:

So many hugs gratefulgirl


Also sneezing sucks oh my goodness

My midwife said to hold your belly and cough or sneeze to the side. I have yet to need too but am also nervous about the thought.

[gratefulgirl]

Aug 18, 2016 15:59:00 GMT -5 kaitkat said:

So many hugs gratefulgirl


Also sneezing sucks oh my goodness

Definitely get a belly binder. It took the terror out of sneezing. Still not fun, but not something to be avoided at all costs.

[eaglewife]

Aug 19, 2016 10:15:22 GMT -5 hollyberry said:

Aug 18, 2016 15:59:00 GMT -5 kaitkat said:

So many hugs gratefulgirl


Also sneezing sucks oh my goodness

My midwife said to hold your belly and cough or sneeze to the side. I have yet to need too but am also nervous about the thought.

You can press a pillow against your stomach to help too. I second gratefulgirl's suggestion: belly binder!!

[catlady22]

How long after your c-section did you ladies have your first bowel movement? I'm terrified of it lol I'm 48 hours out and haven't had one yet.

[gratefulgirl]

Aug 25, 2016 5:49:54 GMT -5 catlady22 said:

How long after your c-section did you ladies have your first bowel movement? I'm terrified of it lol I'm 48 hours out and haven't had one yet.

About 3 days, just before discharged. Colace helps a lot!

[bocaburger]

Aug 25, 2016 5:49:54 GMT -5 catlady22 said:

How long after your c-section did you ladies have your first bowel movement? I'm terrified of it lol I'm 48 hours out and haven't had one yet.

About 3 days and it was much less painful than I expected. Yay colace!

[agpjt413]

Hey ladies - hope you guys don't mind my resurrecting this thread even though there's a PP recovery thread that's been started.

I know gratefulgirl & eaglewife mentioned the belly binder - my question is would it have the same effects even though I'm probably not going to start wearing it until a few days after the 3wk mark post c/s? I ordered it online earlier this week and it's supposed to arrive Wed.

So far I've been doing ok physically. I never took anything stronger than Motrin for pain. My incision area has been slightly more sore here lately b/c DD loves to kick that area when I'm holding her to burp. I try to hold her legs up froggy style but she loves to kick them out straight. Emotionally - I feel like I've been all over the place here lately. Yesterday, I actually felt so overwhelmed that I almost wanted to just take a solo drive for awhile. I ended up not going and just ugly crying it out in the shower and talked to MH, which helped.

ETA: On a lighter note - I had NO idea how painful it would be post op to laugh! And it's so hard not to when I'm around MH

[meagpt22]

@apgjt413 if it still hurts to laugh/cough the binder will help with that. It won't take the pain away, but it won't feel like everything's being torn apart. The binder will also help protect the incision from kicks.
I never wore one after my first c section, but this time the hospital gave me one and I think it's helped my recovery feel so much better.

[agpjt413]

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to using the band. It's not as painful as days have gone by but more of a discomforting soreness. Thanks for the tip meagpt22!

[catlady22]

Anybody had any bleeding along their incision? I have a little bleeding in one spot (3 weeks post first c-section).

[gratefulgirl]

Sept 15, 2016 10:21:20 GMT -5 catlady22 said:

Anybody had any bleeding along their incision? I have a little bleeding in one spot (3 weeks post first c-section).

3 sections, not had bleeding. Have had a pulled stitch (every time) and bruising. I'd call my OB if I bled.

[meagpt22]

Sept 15, 2016 10:21:20 GMT -5 catlady22 said:

Anybody had any bleeding along their incision? I have a little bleeding in one spot (3 weeks post first c-section).

Not this time but with DD. I kept an eye on how much..it wasn't a lot of was localized to one spot that I could tell opened up. After less than a week it stopped. It was never warm so knew no infection. If you have concerns maybe call dr and look for other signs of infection or issues.

[remylove1011]

Sept 15, 2016 10:21:20 GMT -5 catlady22 said:

Anybody had any bleeding along their incision? I have a little bleeding in one spot (3 weeks post first c-section).

I had a small amount of blood/drainage in one spot, but it was within a few days of the c-section (I wanna say like 4 days later). I'd call and ask to have it checked out. It shouldn't be bleeding at 3 weeks out unless maybe you pulled a stitch or something. Hope you figure it out soon!

[meagpt22]

Has anyone had bleeding for 6+ weeks? Every time I think it's stopped it starts up again. At my 4 weeks PP visit doctor wasn't concerned. But also said starting BC wouldn't help stop it. Now a week on BC and no stopping. Just wondering if this is something to call dr about.