Recovery tips for c-section

I am scheduled for a c-section in just under 5 weeks. Would love in advice on recovery

 

Walking helps a lot. Taking your pain medication on time, consistenly. Don't overdue yourself. Do not pick up anything heavier than your babies.

 

The most important thing is to walk, walk, walk, walk whenever you can. This heals things a whole lot quicker. Sleep wherever is most comfy for you. I slept in a chair for awhile.

Best wishes,
Jen

 

Get up as soon as you can and walk as much as you can. Take your pain meds. Don't do too much, let yourself heal...

 

Walk and take your pain meds on time, that is the best advice!

 

Agree with all of the above, esp taking pain meds as scheduled. It's next to impossible bringing home baby twins, but try to get as much rest and do as little as possible--it is called major surgery for a reason. Looking back I wish I would have asked for and accepted much more help than I did. I did too much too soon and my recovery was much tougher and longer than with my DS. Good luck!!!!

 

• Get up and WALK as soon as you aren't numb!
• Have DH or someone in the room when you take your first shower! (I dropped the soap and was all alone! I also couldn't put on my mesh undies!)
• Take the meds. The 2nd day is the WORST! You'll have a hard day, but if you are up and going, you'll be ok!
• Don't BEND OVER! DO NOT BEND OVER!! Did I mention, DO NOT BEND OVER!
• Use the controls on the hospital bed, they are slow but you won't have them when you go home!!!

BEST WISHES!!! It's not as bad as it might seem!!! :hug99:

 

I will be perfectly honest - the recovery was not difficult at all and I chose NOT to take pain meds (actually I didn't know they were available until after the 2nd night when I couldn't sleep cuz the bed was uncomfortable) I took a few percocet's at night (mostly just to sleep as our hospital does not do rooming in)...I came home, HAD to walk up steps to go to the bathroom/bed so that wasn't an option to not to....I did sleep with my Snoogle body pillow for a few weeks afterward for comfort but the recovery wasn't bad at all!

 

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The first day (delivery) I felt GREAT - so exciting to see babies, and they drug you up pretty well, although I felt really clear-headed. As PP said, the second day SUCKS. Luckily our Pediatrician warned me, so I sort of expected it, but be prepared to be really down. The pain meds controlled the pain really well for me. Don't make the same mistake I did: I waited too long to go pee (I couldn't feel that I had to go to the bathroom, I thought it was just discomfort from the surgery) and I kept drinking tons of water, so my bladder spasmed and they had to put a catheter back in me so that I could go. That was soooooooo painful. Much worse than any of the other pain.
Make sure you pee pretty soon after they take out the catheter, especially if you are drinking lots of ice water.

At first, you will think it is impossible to get up and take a few steps. You will need a nurse's help to go to the bathroom. That was humbling for me. But it really does get easier each time you get up. You won't be getting any sleep once you go into the hospital, so try to rest before then (easier said than done, I know). Have DH help you walk around the halls on your 3rd day or so (earlier if you feel up to it). It will be really tiring, but you will get your strength back very quickly. I felt very good at the end of the first week home and was driving as soon as I was off of the narcotics with my ob's permission.

Good luck! I am excited for you! It is tiring but wonderful.

 

WALK, WALk, and walk some more
Take all meds on schedule AND take your gas pills
Do not drink from a straw
stay in the hospital as long as you can

have scheduled help at your home besides DH for when you come home - this is the one we did not do and REGRETTED it since my husband and I worked in shifts so we could get sleep we were always alone.

good luck - you'll do great

 

Ask for your pain Meds and write down when you took it last as you will not remember (the meds made me very forgetful but they were good with pain management) I had issues with gas from the section, it was trapped up in my shoulders; I know weird but it hurt! Don't use a straw if you can help it this made it worse. They say it is from having your belly open and exposed from surgery. It was not too bad for me but TAKE your meds and don't let it get past the point of going past your time to take your pills. I had slow RN's and had to constantly request mine, hopefully you will get better RN's. Also, walking helps as painful as it is. Pillows, pillows pillows...

 

Ask for or buy a post-surgical abdominal band. It holds everything in and it was a HUGE lifesaver for me.

 

Walk, rest, take your pain meds - these are the biggies!

Also, something that helped me was using heat packs - instead of holding a pillow up to my incision to help me, i held a heat pack instead. The warmth felt WONDERFUL.

 

I second the post-partum support band! I had back pain from trying not to use my ab muscles and this helped me so much...plus I definitely think it helped shrink my uterus much quicker - I was in my pre-preggo clothes in a week. I'm almost 12 weeks post-partum and I still wear it a couple times a week.