Second c/s recovery?

[weardogbride]

DS2 will be here on Thursday via scheduled c/s. My first was a c/s and I was not a good vbac candidate, so here we are. How was your second recovery? My first wasn't terrible past the first 5 days or so, but I'm really getting nervous for some reason! I have friends who have said their second c/s was worlds easier than their first. I'm so hoping this is true bc with my first, I had insane swelling, high BP and was pre eclamptic. This time has been much better!

[Sloane]

Sorry, I'm just parking here too, my first was a scheduled c/s and was a decent experience but the recovery wasn't a ton of fun. This time around I'll have a toddler to handle too. Thank goodness my parents will be around.

[sproutmd]

My second c/s recovery was much easier than my first. DS2 was also an easier baby. I was a vbac candidate, but he wouldn't evacuate in time. I will say that I sent my DS1 to school, so we only had him wanting to wrestle in the evenings. DH was home to play with him, so he didn't fully focus on me and the baby. I hope the same easier recovery for all of you!

[weardogbride]

At least we are not alone! My first recovery was awful the first two days, bearable the next three and pretty smooth sailing after that. Except for mastitis two weeks pp, that sucked. I had an epi with a pain pump and this time the doc said I will have a spinal with IV pain meds as needed. I'm worried about not having the pump...I pushed the shit out of that button!

[6fsn]

I don't remember my second or third recovery being different. I didn't push for my first so they were all comparable deliveries.

[specka]

My second was sooo much easier than my first. I was up and walking around pretty easily the next day and didn't have nearly as much difficulty bending over, climbing stairs and getting out of bed once I was home the second time. I took a shower without help the morning after my c-section this time but last time I couldn't manage it until right before I left the hospital and I needed help. It was just all around worlds better this time than the first.

The only difficulty I had the 2nd time that I didn't have the 1st was the reaction to the spinal vs the epidural. With the spinal this time, my entire body itched like crazy for about 36 hours after the surgery. I was itching non-stop and had scabs all over my face when I left the hospital. In general the spinal was worse (for me) than the epidural.

[qcinoct]

my second c/s recovery was easier, but it wasn't a walk in the park. First c/s wasn't planned (DS1's heart decel'd too many times) and recovery took about 8 weeks. Second time around, it was easier as I knew what to expect, but I also had a very active 22 month old that wanted attention too (and didn't understand not to jump on mommy's belly)

eta: second c/s was scheduled. I developed cholestasis so we got him out on my due date

[runblondie26]

I didn't think the recovery from my first c/s was that bad, but everything about the second was even easier.

The procedure was nice and calm as it was a scheduled, not emergency, csection. Also, I was well rested since I hadn't labored for almost 24 hours beforehand. I wish I had known to ak for an abdominal binder with my first c/s. I think getting one shortly after the surgery really helped with recovery too. I placed at a 5k race about 7 weeks pp.

Best wishes for an easy surgery and quick recovery!

[rootbeerfloat]

My second c/s was even easier than my first (which wasn't terribly difficult either). Knowing what to expect and not going through any labor helped, I think.

[pescalita]

My second recovery was easier in total. The anxiety going into/during surgery was MUCH worse when I wasn't exhausted from labor, but I have anxiety issues and white coat syndrome in particular. Also, the first 24 hours or so still sucked quite a bit, but that was at least in part due to losing a good lot of blood when my uterus didn't contract down as fast as it should have, and then holding off food until the coagulants they gave me worked through my system. After that, and particularly once I got home, I felt much better much quicker.

[buffysummers]

I'll be the dissenter here and say my 2nd was harder than my first. I was in the same situation, not a good VBAC candidate. The section itself went well, no problems there.

With my first I could concentrate on the baby and healing, so it wasn't too bad. Now I have 2u2, so things were much harder. I had an extra person to take care of, and had to get up and down a lot more often. Also, for some reason I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to pick DD up for so long after I got home. I slipped up a few times and i think it made my recovery longer.

[Amy]

I had an awful recovery with my 1st c/s - my second was worlds better.

[flgirl]

First one was hard because I labored first. Plus, I discovered that morphine is really like sugar water to me, absolutely did not help the pain.

Second time was scheduled and recovery, even with a 2 and 4 year old at home was quicker. I highly recommend scheduled c-sections!!