With DS1 he was emerg cs at 2132 and I was out of bed showered and bathed DS1 by 1000.
DS2 was elective 0855 and I was not allowed up until the next morning (was going slightly batty stuck in bed)
I was out walking with pram after a week. Best not to do any more exercise than walking until 6 weeks as it is major abdoiminal surgery.
After cs your legs will start to get feeling back a few hours after you return to the ward, you will have your BP, temp, pulse, would, spinal site all checked 1/2 for 4 hrs then frequently for 24 hrs. You will have an IV drip going until you can eat, you will also have a catheter in your bladder until you are able to get out of bed.
I had a semi elective c-section (bubby was transverse). It was at 1pm in the afternoon and the feeling was returning to my legs by 6pm that night - BUT I couldn't get out of bed until the next morning due to my catheter etc. Due to the good pain relief, I thought I'd be able to spring out of bed but alas, was much sorer than I thought I'd be. But that subsided each day and I was ok by the time I got home 3 days later.
As for light exercise, well, it's hard to say how you'll recover. I wouldn't have done anything other than walking for a couple of weeks.
I recovered pretty well but wouldn't have felt confident doing loads of exercise - not sure what you're thinking of doing?
They will give you a sheet that explains some exercises you can and can't do after you go home.
You ill be in hossie for 5-6 days yourself - enjoy it, it is wonderful! lol
Keep in mind it takes around 6 weeks for your stomach muscles to close again before you can do even moderate exercise, and that is after the pregnancy alone, not the cs.
The recommendation is you don't lift anything heavier than your baby - so no wet washing baskets, not pushing heavy prams if you can help it, no driving.
After the cs you will get your feeling back in your legs fairly soon, depending on the type of anesthetic used and you personally - some people take longer than others.
They will leave the catheter in for the next 12-24 hours so you don't have to get up to pee - let them, again , this is a tiny bit of paradise hehe
You will have obs done every half hour, and hepron injections every 2 hours I think it is. These are nasty and will bruise. Make sure you are keeping an eye on where they are putting them - nothing worse than a nurse reusing the same injection site 3 times, trust me.
You will also be given a drip with some happy drugs and a little push button - push it, use it. If your pain gets above a 3-4 on the pain scale, you left it too long and it will get worse before it gets better. Think it was about 24 hours they leave you with the Happy Button.
They will come to check your wound site every half hour too, tell them of any pain, itching, burning etc, it is all important and nobody will think you are whinging but an infected wound site is not fun. They will remove the drain from it after about 12 hours I think it was.
Do. Not. Attempt to get our of bed for 12 hours. Firstly, it is KILL your wound site, second, you will be amazed how quickly you will fall on your arse without support, third, there is no need. When you do get up, they will show you how to get up without popping a staple or stitch. Remember, it isn't just the external staples you can see, but the rows of internal stitches that are vital. These will dissolve on their own, your staples will be removed the day you leave hospital.
When you cough or sneeze, link your fingers together an hold your webbed hands over your wound site firmly. You will need to keep doing this for a couple of weeks.
Don't try to be a hero - the nurses and hubby are there to look after you, so let them. Nothing worse than getting halfway down the hallway with bubs to change a nappy and needing a nurse to get you a wheelchair to go back because you have over done it and physically can't stand up anymore! lol
Once I got home, it was probably about another 2 weeks (so 3 weeks post op) that I felt normal again. Things were still painful, the wound site was still healing, but I could shuffle around well, we went to the shops, etc.
Don't push yourself, there are no prizes for burst scars and you need to let your body heal - the weight will be dealt with after 6 weeks, but you have just experienced MAJOR abdominal surgery, your hormones are changing yet again, your body is 'fixing' itself after the pregnancy and you need to let it do its thing without stress like exercise.
Some general tips:
1 - ALWAYS order the extra plate of sandwiches in the hospital! lol You will be ravenous at midnight, esp if you are breastfeeding, and the extra round of sangers will make everything alright again
2 - If you need a break, ask the middies to take bubs for a while. There is no shame in this! Again, you are a new mum but you are also recovering from major surgery, cut yourself some slack and et some rest.
3 - Before you leave, and whilst you are in hossie, make sure you ask for a pile of non-adhesive dressing pads. they are nice and soft and you put them against your wound site under your knickers so the site isnt aggravated or pulled etc. LIFESAVERS, especially after you get home and the wound is still raw.
4 - CALENDULA OINTMENT, I used "Tinderbox" brand. Best. Stuff. Ever. Put it on the wound site (once it has knitted, so a few days post op) at least twice a day, will aid its healing and prevent infection. Keep doing it for a good 2-3 months after the op.
Hope that helps! And all the best with your cs and birth!
I was up and about about 16 hours after the cs, dd was in the scn and I was able to move around and to go see her for bf, cuddles etc. I wasn't able to drive until three weeks, so once I was home I had to rely on family to take me to the hospital a couple of times a day.
I was able to walk gently at three weeks but couldn't lift until 6 weeks, so using the pram was tricky if I was in the car. I used a sling instead.
It depends on the c/s itself, as well as your pain threshold and general health. There are different ways of performing a c/s and some are gentler on your body post-op than others.
I was up and about as soon as the spinal wore off with little pain relief. I took pain relief for a couple of days and then nothing. I was definitely fine with walking and light household duties as soon as I went home from hospital, but I didn't have to do them because my Mum came to stay. I was driving within two weeks, was able to do an emergency brake without hesitation the first time I tested. Mum drove me around until then.
I started real exercise (a post-natal exercise class) after my six week post-natal appointment.
i have seen women being wheeled is in wheelchairs from the royal women's to royal children's so if you felt ok, this would be one way of getting to see your bub. it would be less walking than walking to the car and then finding a car park near the rch and then walking up to nicu.
Do you have a digital camera and/or digital photo frame so you can have photos of bub with you?
I had a reaction to the morphine so it was 2 days until I could even keep my eyes open. In terms of when I got home, the first mini walk I did was at 3 weeks. When DS did come home I was also really bad about leaping out of bed everytime he cried at night. Really had to train myself to get out slowly, pulled a stitch and it hurt sooo bad.
In terms of not seeing your bubba, make sure its in your birth plan or the midwives are aware that you want to be wheeled to bubba as soon as possible. I did see some mums in SCN wheeled in on their hospital beds, I was taken in a wheelchair. To help with the seperation, take some photos (or have someone take them for you). I filled my house with printed photos as soon as I was released and bubba stayed. It helped alot. Hope bub doesnt stay to long in SCN and is home with you as soon as possible.
How soon could you do stuff after C/S?
Reply With Quote
hehe
Bookmarks