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5875748 tn?1431563003

Honest answers about C section recovery

Hi everyone,

I'm facing a lot of options with this birth and I'm trying to figure out the safest one for me and baby. People generally don't go into detail when talking about c section recovery but it's the details I need to be informed in my decision. I have a 16 month old at home as well. I just need to know what it's really like. Thanks in advance!
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5875748 tn?1431563003
Thank you all for your honest and helpful answers. I live in Canada and my OB doesn't like to go to "extraordinary measures" unless absolutely necessary. At my last appointment I had an ultrasound and they said baby is already over 6lbs. I was 34+2 on that day, 35 weeks on Monday. She said she would start checking my cervix at 37 weeks and sweeps at 38 to try and induce naturally. But she said she wouldn't medically induce or offer c section until I got to 40 weeks.

I'm definitely scared, but hoping for the best. Trying to eat as healthy as possible and be more active in the coming weeks to avoid baby gaining much more weight. It's odd because I actually lost weight in the last two weeks and yet baby is gaining like crazy. Ugh. Send prayers my way.
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Avatar universal
Recovery from an emergency Csection is much harder than a scheduled one. W baby 1, I had hard/active labor for 17hrs then, vitals dropped so emergency C-baby went to NICU & I was in recovery alone for 12+hrs. It was hard & painful & felt like forever to recover. 2nd I went in had my C, dad cut the umbilical cord, 30 min later I was in recovery holding & nursing my baby. So a planned C recovery is MUCH better. The trick is get up & walk ASAP, start slow short distance, each time go further. When U get home keep walking, to mail box,a block etc. take Ur time though. Eat easy food-soup, oatmeal, lots of water. Fart/pass gas-when they open U to deliver the baby air gets trapped. Get a support girdle (I had a Bellefit-100% worth the $$), I was scared to put it on-so I waited about 2wks, wish I put it on sooner. The hard thing now is U have a 16mo, do not pick her up!! I know I'm preparing for C3 & I have a 19mo-I don't know how I'm going to do it. But do not pick up anything other than the newborn for 14+ days, avoid picking up things more than 10lbs for as long as possible. No stairs or housework-best part for 1mo. U need to have help w Ur older baby, find it anyway U can-hubby, family, friend, nanny. Look on Pinterest for C recovery/gentle csections there are a lot of good blogs/stories. Good luck!!!
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Avatar universal
I think maybe I have a high pain tolerance but the only time it hurt was when I coughed or laughed. Also I did not have other children home at the time.  But I felt great and carried the baby out of the hospital in his bucket and was climbing stairs as soon as I was home.  Like another poster said though, my feet did swell pretty badly once I was home.  Some said it was from all the fluids they pump into u but someone else told me it was from the pitocin (given to help speed up labor) which would have nothing to do with the cesarean so nonetheless,  it wasn't a bad experience at all for me.  Yes scar area has no feeling for quite a few months but that never bothered me.
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Avatar universal
I had a c-section on 5/11. It was scheduled due to my guys size and I did not have any progress to be able to induce. I am still recovering but the most important part is to move as soon as you are able. I am told I should only lift my baby and nothing heavier so I dont know how that works with another child. Good luck and the only thing you can do is pick what is best for you
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Avatar universal
I tried to give birth naturally with my daughter but after being in labor for so long I stopped dilating so they took me in for an emergency c-section. They explained everything to me as it was happening.

Right after the birth they took me into my room where they let me bond with my baby before all of my family tried to rush in. I got to shower and potty before visiting with Anyone.

I was only in the hospital for 2 days after that. I slept down stairs, since I couldn't walk up them. My scar itched really bad as it healed. For awhile the incision felt numb but that eventually went away.

The good things about the c section: I didn't rip my vagina giving birth, It didn't hurt to poop or pee. And sex didn't hurt either after birth
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Avatar universal
I have 3 kids and just had my first c section 6 weeks ago because my son was breech. I have a 12 month old who isn't walking yet. I probably have done was too much and healing has been horrible. I would rather have 10 natural births. I think it was hard on me emotionally the most though since I was able to experience pushing my first two babies out. The one thing I kept remembering though is that it was better for my baby and I did it for him
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Avatar universal
I am trying a VBAC this time. I had an emergency  c section. When I found out my daughter was breeched at 9cm dilated. Recovery was long. But it didn't seem to bad because it was just her. The worst part for me was right after she was born I only got to see her for a second. Then my husband and her left. It was heart breaking. It seemed like forever until I was able to join them. I felt as though I missed something. Only good thing is I have a great memory of finally getting to see my daughter and my husband was holding her and caring for her. This time I want the vbac. With the c section you can o ly lift much and it is hard getting up and down. Recovery is slower and you are in the hospital longer. Hoping it works out for me. Good luck with your choice
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Avatar universal
I had an emergency c section with my first and recovery was about 6 weeks and it helped so much to get up and move, walk and such. Sneezing was the worst part! As with time my other elective\required c section were harder my third being the worst. It was closer to 3-6 months and was very difficult. If a c section is what you do remember if you have time to, putting a pillow over the incision and putting a bit of pressure there when you sneeze, cough or laugh will help and please please take the pain medicine I tried to skip doses and insist I did not need it and I made my be in more pain and take longer to heal.
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Avatar universal
I had a c-section on the 11th after 36 hours of labor and baby not desending. I didn't get to see my baby for 5 hours (he was rushed to NICU). Without him gong to NICU if would've been an hour.  I still can't go from sitting/laying to standing by myself. No one ever told me about the swelling that comes along with it (feet and legs) and the recovery time is longer and so is the hospital stay.   And today found out my incision got infected so they reopened 90% of it flushed it and packed it.
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Avatar universal
Aahh omg im in same position iv to let my consultant know tomorrow what my descion is im 36 weeks heres my dilema so any advice is greatly appreciated: iv got a little boy whos 5 i had a strait forward pregnancy although i was anemic anyway i had a 26 hour labour with an epidural.had a forcept delivery,half an hour after birth i had pph of a 3litre blood loss wich resulted in 3 blood transfusiins and a manual evacuation of retained placenta i waz so ill :-( i was kept in hospital for 6 days and i had post traumatic stress disoreder,so now here at 36 week iv had a rubbish pregnancy iv grown an ingunal hernia on.my left groin along with a very severe varcosity and just been diagnosed with.spd i am in total agony im om 3 iron tabs a day for anemia the problem lies because if i have a natural birth il risk pushin the hernia down and needin.surgery and risk another blood loss or take the section.and cope with what comes with that i am utteterly tettified of both!!the consultants and doctors have said im stuck between 2 hard descions only i can make and i have 24 hours to make it :-(
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Avatar universal
I had an emergency c section after being in labor for about 17 hours. My recovery was incredibly painful and I feel like it was three weeks before I could walk without being very uncomfortable. I am 29 weeks pregnant with my second child and have been told that a c section will be medically required this time. My dr assures me it will be easier the second time around since it is pre planned and I won't have to experience labor first. Things must be different for everyone. C section was by far the most painful thing I have ever experienced, but totally willing to do it again now for a healthy baby. Lifting things is going to be very difficult for you for 3-4 weeks I imagine. Be careful!! I hope you have someone at home to help you!
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Avatar universal
I only have 1 child already born and I had a c section after a failed vaginal birth. I am now pregnant for 2nd time and have a scheduled c section bc I have placenta problems.. well I'm totally not looking fwd to c section bc of my 1st experience. I was in soooo much pain. I was in great shape and had no complications.. moved around and walked often but still the recovery was so slow and painful for me.. I have a pretty good tolerance for pain and this wasn't horrible but so uncomfortable. I just don't look fwd to the recovery. c section itself is a walk in the park. But it is what it is...
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5875748 tn?1431563003
I had a vaginal birth with my first and she had shoulder dystocia so I'm trying to figure out whether early induction, scheduled C section, or regular vaginal birth with the possibility of dystocia is the best option.  It seems impossible to choose.
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Avatar universal
I will be having my 4th c section this year. It's painful at first but when you move the pain ease up. But if you have a young child at home I advise you DON'T lift the other child. It can cause problems and stress your body. Don't go to fast but you can't sit on your butt all day either. I couldn't think of having a natural birth. I might freak out. Good luck
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Avatar universal
One of my best friends even tried to talk me into having a c section because she said it's so much less stressful. She was ready and awake to move around a few hours after giving birth while other mums are still exhausted. She said the healing process also wasn't painful for her at all. All in all she said she would chose a csec over natural birth any day, as she had a really horrible experience with her first child (natural birth). Hope this helps. I am having a natural birth but the fact that she is so positive about csections took the fear of an emergency c section away for me in case something goes wrong when I'm in labour.
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Avatar universal
With my first son I had a scheduled c section he was transferred to a nicu ay 4 days old.  Which required me to do a lot of walking when he came home at 2 weeks I was basically healed. Ik it's different for everyone but the walking def helped my healing process
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