How long after c-section will I need help?

Kathy - posted on 01/14/2012

Thanks Emily! He is a little sweetie. Thought i had done some bad internal damage lifting my toddler and over doing it but had private post natal check done couple of evenings ago and consultant said all looks fine and the internal healing is coming on well. Was feeling lot better until this eve when i pulled heavy curtains across awkwardly not thinking, and feel sore again now. Been a long nearly 9 wks but think its just going to take time! Thanks for sharing ur experience with me Emily.

Emily - posted on 01/14/2012

I was in the hospital for 4 days and after that it took a week or so to be able to get back in my daily things just dont rush yourself and your body will tell you. and the first 4 days will be awful and it will hurt to walk and move but keep on the more you walk the better you will feel :) congrats on you little sweetheart

Kathy - posted on 01/11/2012

Hey ladies, just seen this post and was looking for a bit of inspiration. I am 8 wks post c section with baby no 3, had 2 previous natural births. Baby was breech. My 2 younger children r 19 months and 3 yrs 10 months. I had help from my mum for first 4 wks postop, so didn't lift my toddler, or do anythin strenous. However did keep active as i'm usually an active person. I'm also a small frame. Was feeling like i had made a good recovery after 4 wks. My mum had to go back to work wk 5 so i had to start lifting my19 month old, although i tried to avoid it. Since then i have went downhill. I now have constant pain from my belly button down to my pelvic area. I now have to send my 2 older children off to babysitters everday as i can't manage them on my own. Gettin me down now that i have to send my children to baby sitter. Love to hear from someone that has had similar experience!!

Nicole - posted on 06/29/2011

i had a c-section with my 2nd little guy may 30 and i also have a 2 year old. for the first week my mom stayed home from work to help me out while my husband worked. i was told i could not pick up my 2 year old (who is 32lbs) for 6 weeks, so i am still not able to which makes it a little hard but definately don't want to hurt yourself and have to have another surgery. My husband bathes our 2 year old but if theres a way your little one can get in the tub you'll be able to bathe them. it depends on how your pain tolerance is on how your going to get around. the first week is the toughest but it gets easier. after about a week i felt like i could do everything because i was in no pain, but if you don't heal as quickly then it might be tougher. do as little or as much as you think you can, but don't overdo it & also take rests and nap whenever you get a chance!

Hope - posted on 06/21/2011

I just had an emergency c-section 2 1/2 weeks ago and I have a 2 year old. My advise is to have some who can be there to help for the first 2 weeks, just makes life alot easier. I am still not able to pick him up and I am still avoiding heavy work like vacuuming the floors and mopping. My advice is listen to the drs, be as active as you can but also remember a c-section is major abdominal surgery so take your time getting back into normal life because the last thing you want to a complication.

Megan - posted on 06/20/2011

it just really depends on how fast you heal. both of my prevous c-sections had bad results. so it took a little longer than it was suppose to be. they say not to pick up anything heavier than your newborn. So having a older child is going to be a challenge. just remember take your time, live life day by day.and just in case have ppl on stand by for help. some of my friends were back to there norm in about 2 weeks but with my complications i had went upto 7 weeks. Hope you have a safe and healthy delivery. I will be going in for my 3rd and last c-section on june 28th. (so if it was that bad dont think I would be doing it again). yes 7 weeks of healing sucked but for a healthy baby i will doing it again. the first the incision opened after they took out the staples.(but the bone head dr took them out while i had a bad infection) so that took 3 extra weeks. the 2nd as the dr was taking him out his toe nail knicked my bladder so i had to be on a bag for 7 weeks. that really sucked. (Not drs fault. my little man had long toenails)

GOOD LUCK!!!

Brenda - posted on 06/12/2011

I had a ECV this past Friday and he was not going anywhere. I had also been doing all the silly moves to try and turn him but nothing seems to be working. I had a very easy vaginal delivery with my daughter so I'm disappointed (and a bit scared!) that I will need a c-section this time.

Amy - posted on 06/12/2011

You can still flip a breech baby. go to spinning babies.com. Also, they can flip during labor. Many doctors also do a thing where they manually try to turn baby. My son was 38 wks before he flipped. I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed my floors because my mop broke. FLIP!! and he was a super easy birth. 6 hrs labor total and i was out of hospital 24 hours later, grocery shopping on the way home with my family.

I would try anything at all before a c section. I've had both kinds of births. I'll take a vaginal birth any time. I couldn't even walk to the bathroom for a few days without help. C section was awful for me.

For help......When you get home. Well, it was tough for me with just my daughter after c section. With a toddler.....I don't know. You'll be able to do it, but it won't be easy hon. I hurt to get up for quite some time. to move, cook, nurse. It all hurt. I would loved to have had someone there to help for at least a couple weeks. You'll be able to get around. Take those pain meds after. Arnica cream helped my muscles. Calendula helped my cut heal. For baths with 2 yr old...I'd take in shower with me. Bending over a tub is going to kill. Oh, and if you do have a c section and they try to give you ice water [why do they DO that??], ask for room temp or something warm to drink. Do NOT want to be constipated with all that abdominal pain there and don't want a laxative that will make you HAVE to go and hurt muscles either. Nice warm teas etc. Good luck hon. Wishing you all the best. We're here for you if you have questions or need help.

Rachel - posted on 06/12/2011

ive only had the one section but i am about to have my next on tuesday, but with my first it wasnt soo bad. i was out grocery shopping when they were 7 days old lol. yes you will be slower for sure but id say no more then a week or two depending if you have complications or not. i think the more active you are (within reason) the quicker you heal. the more you nurse it and baby it, the longer its gunna take. i cant wait for them to tell me i can try and get up on my own this time, but thats just me. hope all goes well or he flips again for you :)