Advice on C section

beckseven

Just looking for a bit of advice as I am due to have a planned section on the 16th due to Baby being breech and refusing to turn. It is my second child -my son is nearly three. Can anyone let me know how incapaciated i am due to be and what I should do now to get my household prepared so it is in some sort of order! My DH is lovely but am absolutely dreading having to rely on him to run the house, cook etc as he is so badly organised-we will be eating at 11pm and living in squalor! I am a self confessed control freak who likes to do everything myself so am dreading being a patient!

Errata

First of all - congratulations on your soon to be new addition. Here's some general info on c-section recovery on the nhsdirect website.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Caesarean-section/Pages/Recovery.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx

gemz20

I think it depends on each person they say you should take it easy for 6 weeks dont lift a hoover cant drive no heavy lifting etc
you could prepare some meals and freeze them so all they need is defrosting and heating up so less time and plus you will all be eating properly
My friend also bought a changing station with a bath in if you have the room so you can change nappys etc without having to keep bending over and you can still be involved with bathing baby with partners help with out to much strain on stomach and back

Good Luck hope all goes well

billysmum

Hi, i have had 4 c sections, although you are not allowed to drive for 6 weeks, you will be up and about in no time at all, i even went on holiday when my youngest was 2 weeks old after a c section, you will be able to do general light house work, i dont think you are allowed to vacuum ( although i did), dont pick your 3 year old up for a cuddle as this can pull, i used to carry my 2 year old though he climbed on me from the stairs, any question just ask ,
regards Lisa

nearlyrich

Everyone recovers differently, my sister first time mum at 38 had a CS after a long drawn out labour and she was buzzing around like a spring chicken 2 days later. Hope you recover quickly and don't stress too much about DH and his inability to be perfect just let it flow and enjoy your new addition.

peachyprice

Oh Becks, it's not so bad.
No denying you'll be sore for a while but it's one of those things that are better the more you do (within reason of course) once you're up and about you'll find you get more and more mobile every day, after the first week, if you do little and often you'll start to get back to normal. If you spend too long sitting around being waited on it will take longer to heal.

I would say for the first week get plenty of simple meals that can be whacked in the oven, or done in a saucepan, freeze some spag bol, stew, that kind if thing that OH will just have to boil the pasta/pots to go with easy peasy stuff.

Show him how to use the washing machine and how to fold properly now, so he gets in the habit.

And get yourself some extra pillows, one of the hardest things by far is getting down to lie flat, and once you're down there, getting back up again. if you have lots of pillows and can manage to sleep in a more propped up position it will make it esier to get out of bed, you'll just be able to swing your legs out, and you won't have to move too much to feed.

It really is quite a magical experience, are you going to be awake? If so all you'll feel is as if someone is moving you about a bit by your hips, the next thing you'll know is they'll be lifting your baby up for you. You won't even notice them finishing you off, you'll be too busy gazing at your new arrival.

Good luck, i hope it goes well, any more q's just ask.

Barneysmom

HI, I've had 2 c-sections so I'll try and help if I can.
You'll feel low for a while but that's normal. You might cry, that's normal too.
Get all the help you can, from anybody, you won't be able to lift anything heavy, iron, or bend to the oven for about 6 weeks believe it or not. No driving either, I think it's illegal for 6 weeks anyway.
You know those 6-pint bottles of milk, you might not even be able to lift one of those for a week or two, so if you use them, make sure someone fills a jug for you if you're alone during the day.

When you're in hospital you'll probably have a drain on the wound and you might have to have a weewee bag too, things they might not tell you(!)
But it'll be ok honestly you'll recover, you'll be fine.
And a new baby! Congratulations to you, all the best xx

MaximumImpact

I had an unplanned C section and it knocked me for six!! Normally I am, by my own admission, always on the go, house has to be spotless, all that sort of thing...and when OH took over, I could have died!!!

He did his best but noone does your housework and looks after your house like you can!!! I could say all the comforting things about looking after yourself and little one but TBH if you are anything like me, it'll fall on deaf ears and you'll get worked up when you see your OHs' attempts at cleaning etc!!!

My only advice is to grit your teeth and bear it...you'll be restricted to doing almost nothing for a minimum of 6 weeks..It's really important that you listen to the Dr and Midwife, I tried to do things after 1 week and almost killed myself!!!

I always took heart from the fact that 6 weeks to the day, I blitzed the house and felt almost spiritually cleansed!!!!!!! Oh and remember you wont be able to drive for 6 weeks!!!

Good luck from one obsessive to another!!!

Cruiksl

I've had 2 c-sections. One emergency and one planned.

Things that shocked me is that you still bleed (I thought they'd have sucked it all out - lol) so prepare as though you're having a normal delivery. Also pack some straight sanitary towels - they are great for putting across your scar for extra protection.

Housewise, the second time around, I had lots of meals in the freezer ready (would recommend this for anyone having a baby). I'd also suggest taking help when you can get it or anyone offers.

Other suggestions I'd make is to get as much rest as possible in the hospital but do try and get up and move around as much as possible as soon you can - I swear that helped my recovery.

Other things is to take something to get your bowels going (sorry if that is tmi) but the pain killers cause the most horrendous constipation - that was worse than having contractions !

While they suggest that you shouldn't drive until 6 weeks, I phoned my insurance company who were happy for me to drive after 3 weeks as I felt up to it but I would double check that.

hth - feel free to ask any other questions.

Gingham_Ribbon

Moxibustion has good success for turning breech babies and my first was turned successfully using reflexology.

A bag of frozen peas on his head and something warm at his bum/feet might encourage some movement too!

thriftlady_2

I've had 3 planned c-sections -first 2 were breech, 3rd was just because of already having had 2 C-sections:rolleyes: I've never actually been in labour:D

As others have said it isn't that incapacitating. You're up and walking pretty fast albeit with a distinctive stoop.

If your OH is a bit useless lol, it will help if you cook some meals for the freezer (or buy ready-meals -:shhh: don't tell anyone from Old Style I said that:o ).

Biggest help your OH can be is to help with your little boy although without it seeming that you have forgotten him in favour of the new baby.

Best wishes x