Recovery Times

[CKJ]

I have come to the realisation its pretty inevitable I'll have to have a c-section to get this little man out. I had a successful ECV on Friday at 37+4 but I'm pretty sure he has turned himself again, so it's highly unlikely they will attempt again and induce me.

So my question is - how long was your recovery time and at what stages were you able to resume some sort of normality in life.

I'm a single mum, DD is 6.5 (year 1 at school, fathers every 2nd weekend) and then there will be bubs.

My sister lives 1.5hrs away and has demanded I stay with her - not ideal due to numerous reasons, not only my mental health but other things.

I have a cleaner come in weekly, so can potentially change this to twice a week, I can try and get someone to pick DD up for school and bring her home, it would just be looking after myself and bubs.

So hit me where it hurts lol!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i'd like to know as well. :-)

[Astrid]

Personally for me how well I recovered had a lot to do with the lead up to the c-section. I have had two emergency ones, but for different reasons. First one I was a mess for ages, but I had a long labour before hand. Second time, I was really feeling quite good after 4 or so days. Pretty sure I was driving with the two weeks. I did have a cleaner for 4 weeks and DH was around of an evening (more so than 1st time around), so I think that helped.

[~Kim~]

Define normality?
I went home on day 3 this time. For my first two I was only on panadol after a couple of days. This time was a bit longer. I was out of breath for a bit due to swelling but found being up and about helped. I had stocked the freezer priot so didn't need to be standing too long, plus I had my mum to help for a couple of weeks. Can someone stay to give you a hand? If not, it is doable I guess. It is major surgery though so you will have to cut yourself a lot of slack.
You aren't supposed to lift anything heavier than your baby for 6 weeks, but I was back hanging out washing after 2 this time - only light or half loads mind you.
Some insurance companies aren't keen for you to drive until your 6 week check but mine didn't care so again I was at that at 2 weeks.
My kids and I live on our own and they're quite independent. I also couldn't lift during pregnancy so we were practised at that.
I went back to the gym at 9 weeks PP, however that has turned on me now so I don't recommend that atm lol.

[Charlotte91]

I was up and walking after 24 hours. I didn't have DD with me (as she needs to go to the Children's for surgery) so I didn't 'need' to get up. I felt a bit sore and breathless for the first few days, but I never had any issues. I was off all pain medication after 44 hours.
On day 5 we moved into Ronald McDonald House, were we had to go up 2 flights of stairs and that was no problem.
DD was in RCH NICU for 4 weeks, and many times in that period DH and I had races up the stairs. She was in a small SCN for a few weeks after that and we were having stair races every day.

[Astrid]

Once I was out of hospital, I don't recall having any major issues getting up and down. I went straight to co-sleeping, which I think helped me feel rested and meant I did not have all the up and downs at night I had first time around. I used a bouncer and a bassinet during the day.

[Mother Goose]

It varies for each person but at 10 days I went to dinner in the city. Was fine except I needed to push the pram to help me stand I I walked more than 1km.

The first few days were painful and I struggled to go from sit to stand etc.

I was able to do everything I needed to with DD on my own although I didn't lift her bath water or washing.

They say not to lift anything heavier than bub for 6 weeks. You're also not allowed to drive for 6 weeks.

[Astrid]

You're also not allowed to drive for 6 weeks.

I was not advised that with my second, pretty much just when I felt ready.

[CKJ]

How were you getting out of bed? The normal daily stuff?

DD already helps me with the washing, and we have a "bin on wheels" which she can take out to the laundry. I have a front loader so she would have to bend down and do it all. I don't have to pick her up, although DS's cot doesn't have a drop side and the setting is as high as possible but I would have to "lean in".

If I'm able to get myself in and out of bed, to the bathroom etc I'm sure I'll be able to manage. DD is very independent and would love to help me some more around the house.

[~~Snoogans~~]

With my 2nd C section, I was able to do the washing and make dinner etc from day 6 (slowly of course, but still able to do it!).

The hardest part is getting out of yr bed and chair! oh, and pulling up yr knickers after a shower! Miss H helped me with that! hehe

Seriously, your dignity never comes back once having a baby!

As for driving a car, erm, I must admit to doing that after about 2 weeks! Would have been sooner if everyone wasn't so precious!

[RhiChiChi]

I had no issue getting in and out of bed but tended to roll to my side (like now I'm pg) to get out. I was up showered and walking the next day. I drove from 4 weeks but easily could have driven earlier but my DH and mum were around to help me. I didn't lift the bath water either but did lift DD without issue. I am short and found it hard to put her in and out of the cot, so you may need to think about that aspect. I could do washing, top loader, light cleaning duties, cooking etc.... Everyones recovery is different so I guess you just need to be prepared for the worst....

[CKJ]

Hmmmm thanks ladies - definitely food for thought. When DD's dad dropped her back today I told him I would let him know what happens on Friday. If I have to have c-section I'll see if we can book it for a Thursday then she can go to school, stay at a friends house that night, then go to her dads Friday for the weekend. It's hard as well as she is a type 1 diabetic so can't just "palm her off"
Going to discuss with midwife on Friday and fingers crossed he may have just stayed head down!

[Rosey]

I had an 'emergency' c-section but have heard a planned c-section is much easier to recover from. I found it difficult, I did have the added bonus of infection however.

I was out of bed and walking the morning after. Stayed two nights at the hospital. Firstly being house bound as i couldn't drive until 5 or 6 weeks was hard. Simple things like sitting up in bed after laying down, turning to swing legs out of the bed, bending in the shower to wash, putting on underpants, lifting my arms to put on tops, bending to change and dress DD was all difficult the first 2ish weeks. I get the groceries delivered and was lifting groceries bags one at a time around 4weeks. I think I began doing house work like vacuuming and moping about 5ish weeks post c-section but not often as it did cause discomfort. Lifting a washing basket with clothes, reaching for higher things etc wasn't until about 8 weeks but I was still very careful. I tired easily and found I couldn't walk or stand for too long, I would also get really sweaty in the first few weeks. I have only just started to wear jeans and DD is 4&1/2 months old, if underpants or any type of band rolled into the scar it caused discomfort.

Overall I found it added stress to having a newborn and made things harder, although this is my first baby so maybe it is just me. Good luck! I hope your bub turns for you.

[wysiwyg]

My first was an e-c sect - I was in hospital for five days, prescribed time but then home and hubby was at work from 13:00 to 23:00 each day. I could pretty much do everything I wanted to with no pain. I didn't drive for the six weeks but could have no problem. DS also a c-sect but home at 3 days - this time I had mum at home to help but if I hadn't had a toddler that needed lifting I would have been fine.

Personally I think if is looking after just you and bubs - I would give it a go, I can't think of anything worse than having to be in some one elses house for that first bit unless they are there to look after your every whim but even then I would find it awkward as am a very independent person.

Can you just decide at the end of your hospital stay? In your situation I would try stay in hosp as long as you can (in public I went to c-sect was 4 days)

[Mother Goose]

If you get medical clearance to drive earlier, you should still check with your insurance company to see if they will cover you. I've also been told TAC (who covers road accident costs in VIC) won't cover you in that 6 week period. Not trying to scare people but make sure you know the risks.

Getting in and out of bed - the staff at the hospital can demonstrate techniques to assist you out of bed. Most patients with abdo surgery find rolling onto their side and bringing knees up (so you look like you're sitting on a chair) and then pushing up from the bed with arm and dropping legs over edge of bed at same time helps.

[peanutter]

I was in hospital 3 nights (DS1 was at home with DH) then home alone with DS2, with DS1 still in full time care for a while. I was driving after 1 week (after being checked over and given the all clear by a GP) but man, getting the pram in and out of the car was tricky ... if I didn't have issues with my sacral bit I would have used a sling, and would have been fine, but I needed to use a pram ... I over did it a little in the 2nd/3rd week (delayed nesting!!) and ended up with my incision getting infected - but I noticed something was amiss right away, got to the Dr before it had a chance to get bad, and anti-bs cleared it up pronto.

And I took probiotics, and managed to steer myself and DS2 clear of thrush, or any other nasties from the infection and the anti-bs.

As soon as that cleared up, I was gold in terms of pain, etc ... I wasn't on meds for very long, and soon enough my back was back in order (took a few more trips to the chiro, but we got there!) I was able to be back at the gym, and all systems were go.

And I was back at work full time when DS2 was 8 weeks old, but I caught a monster bug DS1 picked up at daycare, and was quite sick. The 4 of us were passing it around between ourselves for a while, but that's unrelated, IMO.

HTH

[Three Graces]

I've had 2 emerg c/s and 1 kinda elect (about a day's notice). They're definately harder to recover from if you've already been in labour, so going in for a c.s without being exhausted will make a big difference. They tend to get you up and about the next day (make sure they give you some pain relief about half an hour beforehand). I found this the hardest part with my first two.
With my third, I got off the heavy pain killers in the first few days, but was on panadol and voltaren for ages afterwards. I was in low grade pain at home for the first 4weeks or so and this was mainly in the afternoons/evenings. Like everybody else has mentioned, you have to roll out of bed and take things slowly and I usually had some nanna naps in the early days at home. Stairs and low couches hurt. Washing I would have to carry small loads and I got DH to bath the baby in the first couple of weeks.
Check with your insurance company re: driving before 6 weeks.