How long/hard is the recovery after a C-section?

[phathui5]

Have you read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth? She heals with preventing and dealing with dystocia really well.

[HayesW]

I've never had a c-section. I HAVE had a true shoulder dystocia baby. I also had a baby who weighed a full pound PLUS more than my SD baby. He came out with no problems at all, even though he was much larger.

 

C-section is a surgical recovery on top of a birth recovery. I would avoid one at all costs.

[CatMomof3]

I had a c-section with dh (emergency, fetal distress - he was also 10lb 1oz) and a scheduled c-section with dd.

Recovery with my ds was only a couple of weeks. Felt great no problems. But recovery with my dd was months before I felt back to normal. I was in pain all the time and could not seem get myself together.

 

So with this next one I am making sure I am liquid diet for about a week. Also my dh is taking a complete 2 weeks off when the baby comes (I have already threatened both him and his boss). I think this will help with recovery time, this time around.

 

Good luck

[Rhonda in TX]

I've only had c-sections (2), so I can't compare to v-birth. However, I did not find them that bad. The key is to get up and walking as soon as possible.

[Brenda in FL]

I din't have time to go through all the replies - I've had 3 c-sections, the planned ones are the easiest to recover from because I didn't spend 24 hours in labor and then 2 hours pushing! But the last one I did have a slight complication that showed up a few weeks later (liquid/swelling that supposedly wasn't an infection, but . . .)

 

I would say having help for at least the first week would be very helpful. It can be difficult getting up and down the first few days (especially from a lying position!)

 

If you can begin to teach your 2 year old now - how to get into his car seat, into his bed (mine was still in a crib, so we lowered the side and taught him to climb over and in), how to get in his chair at the table if necessary - without you having to lift him/her that will be helpful.

 

Comparing notes with friends that had vaginal births - a lot of the restrictions are the same post recovery regarding how long to wait for driving, lifting, sex, etc.