Talk to me about c-sections

[thedash]

I just read what PP said about not being able to clean up around the house at 8 weeks pp. That's definitely not normal! I went back to work full-time at 9 weeks and I was on my feet half the day. I was totally fine. Tired due to a newborn, but fine.

One suggestion - set up an area at home that is easy to recline and then get up from. Tons of pillows on the bed should work as long as your bed isn't super high. It's hard to sit up from a flat position the first few days home. Good luck!

[statlerwaldorf]

I didn't mentally prepare for it since it was an emergency c-section. I was in labor when my blood pressure dropped and it they rushed me to the OR. I was scared because they were having trouble keeping me stable. It didn't take long. I couldn't feel any pain, but I felt pressure like someone was standing on my stomach. Once she was out, I was pretty relaxed. I was annoyed that I couldn't hold her very well. They kind of placed her on my shoulder and I got to see her before she had to go to the NICU. Afterward I went to the recovery room until I could move my toes. It was pretty weird sitting there not being able to move my legs, but I was pretty relaxed. The worst part was being hungry and having to wait until I passed gas to eat. I just wanted something to eat and a shower. It was about 18 hours later that I was able to walk around and get a shower. I really wasn't in a lot of pain. I was slow moving, but I was able to walk around the hospital. I was off pain meds in a couple of days. The recovery was pretty painless. I really liked my maternity yoga pants since my normal stuff hit too low and bugged my incision. They were comfy enough to wear to bed too. Oh and I had to buy awful high waisted underwear. The postpartum bleeding wasn't too bad. I wish I would've brought the high waisted underwear to the hospital. I hated those mesh underwear.

I had some complications with my c-section afterward. I'm not sure if I should mention that. Considering it was pretty much a worst case scenario, I honestly didn't have a lot of pain. I had to wait a while before returning to exercising other than walking. I had a hard time getting my abs back in shape, but I also didn't exercise much during my pregnancy and was on bedrest for a while. By abs I mean just strengthening the muscles. I don't have a six pack even prepregnancy.

[statlerwaldorf]

But seriously don't do too much when you first get home. I ripped open my incision less than a week postpartum. The first week I was able to walk short distances without pain. By 3 weeks I was able to walk long distances without pain.