Why Can't You Go Up & Down Stairs Post C-Section?

[Anonymous]

I had an unplanned c-section a year ago and my doc never mentioned anything to me about using the stairs. I had always heard that this was the rule and finally asked him about it right before I was discharged... and he laughed! He said that I could go up & down the stairs as much as I wanted and that women who deliver vaginally actually have more trouble with stairs than those who have had a c-section. To this day I've never heard his advice repeated. Can anyone tell me why the prevailing thought is not to use the stairs much for the first 2 weeks PP? FWIW - my doctor is the head of the ob/gyn department at the hospital where I delivered.

[Anonymous]

I think the idea is that you have had a major surgery in which many layers of tissue have gotten sliced open and sewn back together. The less strain and movement on those tissues, the more likely it is for them to heal quickly and evenly, with less chance of infection, scar tissue, etc.

I had a C-section and ended up going up and down the stairs, as well as walking around the neighborhood, way more than "recommended" the first week or two. I figure if it hurt, I would stop.

[Anonymous]

Because it hurts. At least it hurt me.

[Anonymous]

I did - no one told me not too although I had heard this from others. I had a planned Csection so my recovery might have been easier. It was a breeze. I went slow slow - held on to the railing - definitely DID NOT try and carry the baby for the first week and a half. After that was totally fine.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't told to avoid the stairs either. And actually, stairs didn't hurt that bad at all. Now getting out of bed - that was a b!tch.

[Anonymous]

Did no one else feel it in their abs when they did stairs post csection? I sure did! I had no idea how many millions of things I do every day involve my abs, in the smallest of ways. I assumed that was the reason for the stairs restriction.

[Anonymous]

funny for my first c, no one mentioned it. at the same hospital, years later I was told not to go up more than once a day. Who knows??

[Anonymous]

for the same reason you're not allowed to loft weight.
the biomechanics of stepping up/down are kinda close to what lifting weights do to your lower abdominal muscles. and you don't want to mess up with them early on!

[Anonymous]

Because it hurts.

[Anonymous]

they should really say stay away from funny friends...because laughing hurt way more than anything else...including the stairs! (coughing too)

I did try to minimize trips up & down the stairs, but still did whenever I needed and just took it slowly.

[Anonymous]

My sister went up the stairs backwards after her section with the twins. She said it used a different muscle group to carry herself up that way and it hurt less.

[Anonymous]

I live in a second story walk-up, so I had no choice but to walk up and down stairs if I ever wanted to leave the house or come home after leaving the hospital for that matter. I was surprised that it didn't hurt that much. I didn't overdo it. I held on to the railing and walked slowly, but it really didn't hurt. As one of the PPs said, getting out bed was far worse. And pooping. Oh my was that painful. At one point I remember considering taking some Immodium or something so I wouldn't poop for a week until things hurt a little less.