C-section Mamas -- Tell Me Your Story of Recovery

OK. 2 weeks is definately enough time to be sitting around after a C-section.
I seem to remember that after 2 weeks you could drive a car and take stairs.

If you are feeling up to it, you can go for a slow, short walk. Did you have staples or
stitches? I had stitches. I don't know if there is a difference for staples.

I know, with my first child I followed the rules to a T and almost went insane.
The second child I got moving around sooner. If you are feeling OK and don't have much pain, take it slow, but don't feel like you can't do anything.

S : )

I'm there with you!!! I had my c 1.5 years ago and another coming up in Febuary. I had a great recovery and didn't ask too many questions because I didn't want to hear what I shouldn't be doing (which I was). I'm a fairly fit person so the day I came home I could walk up the stairs no problem, carry around my baby, get in and out of bed, water the garden, etc. It was uncomfortable but it wasn't really a big deal to me. I know what you mean "but you had major surgery!" I love your response "no duh, I was there!" ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH! Yes it was major surgery and no, I didn't go home and go for a jog but seriously, I'm not a damsal that likes to sit around moaning and groaning about every single thing. I too was talking walks within 1 week of delivery, started jogging about 2 weeks later and then started pilates designed for c-section patients literally the same day I was given clearance to do so. But that's ONLY because I felt strong enough to do so. I didn't push myself to do it and did it as long as it felt like everything was doing ok.

Here's my advice. Do what feels like it's working for you. If it hurts, stop. If you feel like something is wrong, stop. But light non-strenuous activities are what is going to help you do away with the post partum body. Think of this...celebrities are at the gym, lifting weights so they can show off their post baby bod within meer weeks of delivery, even c-sections! Granted they're under the supervision of trainers but still, you're not asking if it's safe to power lift, you want to go for a little walk.

My doctor actually told me that moving helps hasten the healing. He didn't mean to go out and run a marathon or move furniture. But keeping active within reason. I couldn't drive for two weeks and I had to limit my stairs, like going into the basement to do the laundry and what not, but other than that, he encouraged it. I have had three C-Sections. With my first I was scared to move and it hurt so I (to my standards) babied the incision. Healing (again to my standards) seemed to take forever. It was a few weeks. But my c-sections following that..... I was up in the chair at the hospital the next day. I was up walking the halls before I left there. When I got home I tried to keep moving. Healing was a x1000 faster. My doctor in the hospital told me that he wished that I could counsel and give some advice to the first-timers in the maternity ward. Because like me, they were babying it and in the end, their recovery was going to be longer. With my last c-section, I had twins. They were born premies, right before christmas. FIVE days after my c-section, I was out christmas shopping at Kohls. I took it easy when my body told me I should, and I didn't rely on my pain meds to mask the pain either. I took them first thing in the morning because I was sore from sleeping. And then I would take them at night so that I could get a decent pain free sleep. Other than that, I just toughed it out. Good luck to you and congratulations!

Hi J.. I'm a mama that had an extremely easy recovery (on my second c-section), due to the type of anesthesia used. It was very different from my first c-section, and I literally jumped out of the hospital bed the next morning, as soon as the catheter was removed.

My first born was 15 months old when I came home with my newborn son. I can honestly tell you that the only restriction I followed was the no driving. I tried my best to not pick up & carry my 15mo old, but that really wasn't possible. During my first 6 weeks, I walked, I grocery shopped, I took the kids to a music class, and resumed life. But after about the first 3 weeks at home, I started very heavy bleeding (I think that was the day that my first born peeled her diaper off and rubbed her poop into the family room carpet.) My OB was very irritated, threatened to send me to the ER, and told me this was due to my over-activity. I had no choice but to slow down. (I wasn't in pain or anything...but I didn't have this much bleeding with the first c-section.)

So...I don't know if this is a cautionary tale or proof that you can continue life as best as possible, but in moderation! Obviously, we should always follow our doctor's orders, but 4 weeks of "extreme rest" just isn't exactly possible for Moms with other children that don't have the luxury of private nannies, cooks, and housekeepers.

Be as kind to yourself as possible and try to get as much sleep as you can. Congratulations on your baby!!

J.,
I think you are doing the right thing by getting out and walking. Of course it shouldn't be a power walk, but exercise gets things going (bowels) and makes you feel better. I had two c-sections. After the second one I was walking in the hospital around the maternity ward and the doctor said that was great. When I got home I kept walking and just listened to my body. I too was off the pain meds within a week without any problems. If you feel up to it walk!!! Sometimes I think doctors have to say things for legal reasons...CYA!

These are just my thoughts, I'm not a doctor! Follow your instincts...no one else can tell you what your body is telling you!

I find that everyone's pain tolerance is different as well as their healing time. I was up walking as soon as my legs regained feeling..I had to have spinal blocks with mine. I've had three and the third did take a few more days to feel okay. The first I took one tylenol. The second I took two vicadin. The third I took vicadin while in the hospital and did stay for the three days. I was walking around and babysitting again in less than a week. I turned 41 a few months after giving birth so I figure that is why I took a few days longer to recover, but I was NOT down for 2 weeks by any means. I didn't over do it by picking up my 3 year old for a few weeks, but I walked, moved, climbed stairs and did what I needed to do. If I felt sore I took an hour or so to rest.

Everyone is different and has to pay attention to their body and what it is telling them. I'm with you some people were really silly when telling me to do this or that and make sure I rested for two weeks and so forth. I paid attention to what my body and said and went about my life. I have two girls ages 5 and 3 I didn't have the luxery of sitting around for two weeks. Wouldn't want to anyway...I would LOSE my mind.

J.,
I had my first C-Section with my first baby 2 1/2 months ago. I had staples and heavy bleeding while in the hospital for 3 days. After about 2-3 weeks of rest and taking care of baby, I all but lost my sanity. I went to the doctor for my two week check up and I begged her to let me go back to work right away. I spent a total of 5 weeks at home, and I couldn't afford to be on FMLA any longer so off I went. Only you know your limits. Sometimes you heal better if you do things for yourself.

I've had three now (will have my LAST in December). Each was different. The first was the hardest, but the second and third were a lot like you are describing. I felt great about a week after and was taking short walks and playing with my older kids in the yard. I think your body will let you know when you are doing too much. Doctors (and family) feel obligated to tell you to take it easy but you can definitely go nuts just sitting still all the time. I say go with your gut (dig the pun?). Good luck and congrats!