Tips for recovery

Regular pain relief, set alarms on your phone and keep up the tablets. Also laxatives regularly 🫣🫣 to add to my post actually, listen to your body. Everyone recovers at different pace. If you think you can do something just be careful and take it steady. If baby is low down and you can’t pick baby up, just ask for help, there is no shame. You’ve had major surgery and should recover at your pace not what everyone else says. After a week I felt much more “myself” it’s different for everyone. Good luck xx

There's no 'tips' just follow what ya midwives tell you. Regular pain relief and relax. My partner had to return to work 4 days after baby was born as the induction process took too long which resulted into an emergency section for myself. Recovery for me was rushed which leads into a stitch popping off, wound opening and infection cause I was rushed to get back to 'normal'

@Sarah I find the whole 'don't walk up and down the stairs' a load of crap. Not everyone will live in a flat/bungalow or have a downstairs bathroom, so that's unavoidable. Just take your time when you are walking the stairs and make sure you hold on to something when using them

@Samantha literally... to get to my house I gotta walk up a good flight.

@Bianca midwives expect you to fly everywhere after having a section. I was up and out of bed 6 hours after the operation, even though they tell you to stay in bed for 5 days afterwards🙃. You all know your own body and your own limits; just be cautious on doing everything

What Holly said! Keep up with the pain meds and laxatives are your best friend! It has been a week and a half since my section and I’ve really not found recovery too bad so I feel super lucky. For me things like stairs, carrying my baby etc have been unavoidable and I’ve been fine so far! I’ve just not carried baby up and down stairs.. however my partner is back to work this week so will need to!

Wow some of these tips 😂 what a way to scare everyone! - you CAN walk up/down the stairs! I did and I had no complications, just take it easy. - you CAN absolutely hold your own baby! Just nothing heavier than your baby. - keep up with your pain meds, and make sure you have a good diet (I think this helped me). I googled what the best foods are to eat to aid recovery. - drink 2-3 litres of water, and drink peppermint tea. - go for walks when you are ready. I was out walking by day 5, but just little walks round where I live/to the park. - but, of course.. remember to take it easy and go easy on yourself, don’t put too much pressure 💛

@Emily finally someone who's not scaring other mum's! As if having a c section isn't scary enough, you've got people saying 'dont hold/carry your own baby'. Youve carried and grown them for 9 months, last thing your not going to want to do is hold and carry the child you have just birthed! How do they think we manage on the first night AFTER having the c section. There isn't anyone to hand you your baby when they need feeding/changing

I think the main thing is just listen to your body.. do what YOU feel comfortable with. The regular pain meds is a good one.. I was on ibuprofen and paracetamol and took them 1 lot every 2 hours.. so I didn’t get much ‘wearing off’ by this I mean, ibuprofen, 2 hours later paracetamol, 2 hours later ibuprofen etc. My first was a C-section, I had him 538pm, by 6am the catheter was out and I was up dressing him.. then when my husband got there at 8 I went for a shower 🤣 by day 3 we were out food shopping.. just listen to your body.. if you feel you’ve overdone it, take a Netflix day, if you feel up for another walk, go for a walk. Don’t let everyone else pick up and hold your baby all the time because they think you shouldn’t be lifting.. I did that the first few days and it pissed me off.. there will be no issues holding or picking up your own baby and it’s good for bonding with them :)

@Misha I did a really similar thing. I liked to concentrate on the stairs and holding on and not having to carry baby as well was helpful. But once I was 3 weeks past I was much much steadier and could carry baby up and down stairs xx

Take it easy. Don't overdue it like I did! Get family and friends to do a meal train roster so it's one less thing to panic about

@Holly It seems so daunting.. I’m being extra careful as I have an issue with our stairs anyway, we live in an old cottage so they’re steep, narrow and uneven and I actually fell through them whilst pregnant a day before they were due to be repaired 😂 … we don’t get on! 😂

Honestly, scare stories are what made me panic about my elective section..I can honestly say it was the best experience, and I've been extremely lucky with recovery too! I was up and out of bed 6 hours after surgery, catheter was out 12 hours after, and I had the baby all night and had to get up and out-of the hospital bed to get her from the crib and feed/change her.. and also walked to the toilet etc. Keep ontop of the pain meds for sure! I stopped taking and pain meds on day 5 as I felt I no longer needed them, I walked sideways up and down the stairs, slowly, but managed it fine! I've lifted the baby up, not off the floor, but definitely off her moses basket and next to me crib. I was out and about slowly walking around our area on day 4/5. I'm now 17 days PP and walking anywhere, obviously in moderation. All I can recommend is a pillow for the journey home so the seat belt doesn't dig into your belly, I wish I'd done this, I used the babies spare blanket in the end!

I know everyone's experience is totally different but I built myself up to be bed bound for 3 weeks after, and I was so so worried! But it's been a dream, and next time I'll definitely be opting for a section again if I can!

Silky/ shiny pyjama bottoms are really handy for sliding on and off the bed/ sofa. Means you don’t have to use your tummy muscles as much!!

For me, it was just rest! Let your partner do everything 😂sleep sitting up, on an incline (youll do this in hospital) and dont rush trying to lie down! Or lie on your side, I was lucky and didnt need pain medicine other than paracetamol and didnt need anything to help me go 💩 Everyone is different in that department! But for sure make your partner do everything, x

I just had a c section four days ago. I had the regular, heavy bleeding the first night and into the day after the procedure. After that, my bleeding let up significantly. I’m able to wear a small pad and there’s really minimal bleeding. The first night in the hospital I made sure to ask for pain meds. Whenever I felt the cramping come on, I asked for an extra pain med. By day two, I was in pain but it really was not bad at all. All of my pain was in my uterus. Just like bad period cramps. I was discharged after two days. I’ve kept up on my rotation of pain meds (and stool softeners!!) and by day four I am honestly just in the smallest amount of pain. I feel the most pain when I go from laying/ sitting to standing, but it’s nothing too bad. I was terrified for recovery and I really have just had the easiest time. I do highly recommend a bedside bassinet. It’s been amazing to not have to get out of bed every time.

Make sure you’re getting your pain meds on time, rest lots, and use your arms to help you sit up or stand. Try not to use your abdominal muscles

@Sarah not being rude, it's just stupid for anyone to say 'dont use the stairs' when in reality this is NOT possible 😂😂. Everyone appreciates advice but please don't be so daft! I've also had a section myself and I know from my experience that avoiding stairs is not possible at all. Especially when you need to change your pad, or need a wee, or have to get another baby grow because you've had to deal with a poonami.

@Sarah but your ‘advice’ to not hold your baby for 2 weeks is also very wrong. They advise to not hold anything heavier than your baby, so a kettle, hoover etc. I understand the stairs, but you can still go up and down the stairs, you just need to go slow and not run/rush up the stairs and make sure you hold onto the sides.

@Sarah that's absolutely incorrect. My partner was forced to return to work 2 days after I was discharged from hospital meaning that my recovery was rushed. And if ANYONE told me not to hold my baby as you stated I would have social services on my back. Stairs are unavoidable, and so is holding your baby. Some times, picking a kettle up is unavoidable too😂. As a mother, you should know what your body is capable of doing and you should know when your burnt out. Take your own recovery in it's stride, you are your own boss

@Sarah it's also amazing how you can edit your posts on the threads😅. Anyway, good on you for recovering well whilst being stuck at one level and having a baby on the other because you need to avoid stairs and can't carry your baby😂