Interested in real-world experiences following a C-section

[Anonymous]

I am pregnant with #2. I delivered #1 vaginally and my recovery was soo easy. But, this baby is measuring much bigger and I am worried that I might wind up having a C-section, and then will be severely limited in my ability to care for my two-year-old once my husband goes back to work. I have heard that you can't pick up "anything heavier than the baby" for a full 6 weeks following a C-section. If you've had a C-section, was that your experience? How long was it before you could pick up your toddler? I'm esp. interested in your ability to get him or her in and out of a carseat by yourself. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I really think everyone is different. I've had two c-sections and was lifting, walking up stairs and pretty much back to normal after five days (including the 3 spent in the hospital). The daytime was not bad at all. Waking up and needing to move after having been still for several hours is what was difficult.

I can't compare my recovery to a vaginal recovery though. I do have friends that had horrible recoveries. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I was up and about and felt fine after a couple days.

[Anonymous]

I was the same as the PP. Back to normal by the time I left the hospital both times. It was so easy actually made me wonder why everyone always worries about c-section recovery, but I do realize that it varies by individual. Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

I had a much worse recovery than the others. I had the most insane and uncomfortable swelling from the waist down that lasted about 2 weeks (so severe that my slippers barely fit). I also had a lot of pain around the wound and it hurt to laugh or cough. I think it was about 3 weeks before that pain was better. I do think that a lot of this was a result of my 34 hours of laboring in the hospital (I really wanted to avoid a c-section & so I think I let the labor go on too long.) It sounds like most people don't have such problems, so I hope you don't either.

[Anonymous]

I had a fairly easy recovery. Here's some honest info and some advice.

I took pain killers for a few days when home (percoset), and took the advil religiously for over a week. Pain meds work best if you follow a schedule, rather than waiting until you hurt. Advil is an antiinflamatory, which really makes a difference. Please don't let your ego interfere with proper care. You get no gold stars for taking fewer meds. You get gold stars for feeling up to bonding with the baby.

The thing no one told me: The big incision is NOT the one at the bikini line, but a bit further up on the inside. (They don't cut through from skin to baby in one slice). Furthermore, the incision on the inside is kinda small relative to the baby's head. So, they stretch you a bit to get the kid out. Better in the long run for your recovery. However, it does mean that you will hurt in places far from the stitches.

The numbness: stops being weird after 6 months, and may go away completely. I still have some spots without feeling on my back from the spinal, but they don't bother me at all.

[Anonymous]

I've had two c-sections and my recoveries were a breeze, but I'm sure it varies a lot. For instance, unlike the poster above, I didn't need anything other than advil and then tylenol after (no ego, just got lucky) and I only had numbness for a couple of months...the amount of scar tissue is different for everyone I'm sure. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

got a staph infection that would not respond to antibiotics, was in a bed for 6 weeks, and had to have a nurse come daily for the 1st 4 weeks to drain the puss and fluid out of my servely infected wound. I don't know who would have taken care of my newborn if my mom did not come and stay with us. If I had a toddler on top of that, who knows...

C-sections are "routine", but are still surgery and for #2, I will do everything in my power to have a VBAC. Hospitals are dirty and the instruments they use are too sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, PP again...I didn't have trouble picking up my 2.5 year old as soon as I was home from the hospital, so I could definitely get her in and out of a car seat. That being said, it took a longer time before I could carry her for any longer period on my hip, maybe 3 weeks?

[Anonymous]

I had two c-sections and recovery from both was surprisingly easy. I felt no pain once I got home from the hospital and I was able to lift my 2 year old pretty easily (though they tell you not to try this). The first time, I took nothing but Advil once I left the hospital. The second time I took the painkillers for a few days, but I didn't actually feel any pain. (My doctor told me to take the meds BEFORE any pain occurred. I don't think I actually needed them.)

My second baby measured very large but as I'm sure you know, sometimes the late ultrasounds aren't very accurate. She was 9 1/2 pounds at birth, but they were estimating over 10 pounds.

Also, my best friend just gave birth in NYC's best hospital - it was a vaginal birth, no c-section - and she got a staph infection. So it's not only the c-section that puts you at risk. And not only that, but staph was so prevalent at the hospital, they made her sign a waiver BEFORE she gave birth. I was shocked.

Anyhow, my experiences were great. If you choose the c-section, I hope yours is too. If I did it again, I would do exactly the same thing.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

it's not so much that u can't but more that you shouldn't! C-section is a major surgery. Lifting, bending and twisting in the first few weeks can increase the risk related to the incision. as PPs said you r usually up and about in a few days. majority have no consequences, some do though, could be an infection, wound dehiscence, pain. definitely not recommended first two weeks to lift, after that do as much as you tolerate. complete healing of such a wound takes a while!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's not so much that u can't but more that you shouldn't! C-section is a major surgery. Lifting, bending and twisting in the first few weeks can increase the risk related to the incision. as PPs said you r usually up and about in a few days. majority have no consequences, some do though, could be an infection, wound dehiscence, pain. definitely not recommended first two weeks to lift, after that do as much as you tolerate. complete healing of such a wound takes a while!

Have you actually had a c-section? I had two, and I didn't have any of these issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:got a staph infection that would not respond to antibiotics, was in a bed for 6 weeks, and had to have a nurse come daily for the 1st 4 weeks to drain the puss and fluid out of my servely infected wound. I don't know who would have taken care of my newborn if my mom did not come and stay with us. If I had a toddler on top of that, who knows...

C-sections are "routine", but are still surgery and for #2, I will do everything in my power to have a VBAC. Hospitals are dirty and the instruments they use are too sometimes.

I also got a antibiotic resistant staph infection w/#1, had to be readmitted to the hospital for 4 days, and have home nurse for 6 weeks to clean and pack my incision....which didn't heal fully for 8 weeks. This is uncommon, but still happens. I had a c/s after two days of failed induction...and I was almost 2 weeks overdue.

I'm having a repeat c/s this time, but fully aware and prepped for anything.

Wondering where the other poster delivered. I delivered at Inova Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at Sibley. It was great.

[Anonymous]

I am on the "conservative" side and tried to follow "doctor's orders" as much as possible. My c-section was pretty easy recovery (though, as others mentioned, there can be complications such as infections). I was on percocet for about one week and advil thereafter for a couple of weeks, but was very mobile and had no problem dealing with the newborn (at least not in addition to the usual troubles of no sleep, feeling clueless, etc.). When my daughter was 2.5yo, I had an abdominal myomectomy (to remove a fibroid), which uses the same incision as the c-section. While the surgeries are not fully comparable (for the ab myo, they have lift out the uterus and turn it inside-out, so more risks of complications, etc.). I definitely tried not to lift her for the first few weeks - no driving for two weeks so there was always another adult to deal with the carseat. I treid to limit my lifting for another two weeks, though frankly you end up doing what you have to do. I would try to avoid the maneouvering required for the carseat for as long as you possibly can, i.e. avoid unnecessary car trips alone as long as possible, etc. but if you have to "cheat" before the 6 weeks are up, do any lifting as "correctly" as possible so as to limit any possible injuries.