C-section - Orlando,FL

I had a repeat csection and to be honest I think it is the same recovery time as the first one. The only thing I wasn't as sore the second time as I was the first. Good Luck!!!

I thought the second was easier immediate recovery, but harder long term to be honest.

I wasn't tired like the first one because I didn't attempt labor before hand. Afters it was exhausting trying to still entertain and keep up with a three year old afterwards. I think I was sore for about 4 weeks afterwards. I also just took vicadin. I don't take percacet.

Just had my third one myself & I thought the recovery time was quicker. I had two others at home so that makes you have to get up & going more than when its your first. It still hurts, I am not going to lie, especially coughing & having a BM for the first time after. I am two weeks out from having mine & will say I am almost back to normal. I met with the surgeon today to make sure I was healing correctly and I am. Be sure to get lots of rest while you can. If you have help for two weeks, you should be good! Best of luck to you!

Actually i think the recovery from the second was easier.

I recovered very quickly with both c-sections. Just be sure to not do too much too soon, like lifting the 5-year-old and you should be fine.

Hey!!
First off, Congratulations on your 2nd baby!!
I've had 2 c-sections. My first was harder to recover from than my 2nd. I think the first time around, you don't know what to expect. When I had my 2nd son, my oldest was only 19 mos old. A young & still very needy baby. I was terrified to hurt myself having to lift him in & out of his crib, high chair, etc.
You are not supposed to lift anything heavier than your baby for the first 6 wks. I had someone w/me at my house for the first 2wks, I think the most important time.
With a 5 yo, you'll be fine.
Take it easy once your little one arrives. If I can do it w/a 19 month old, you can too!!!
Best of luck!!

I had two. Both were ok recovery times. The second wouldn't have been so bad if my back didn't go out! I had a refill of my pain meds for my back. Other than that it was no biggie. Just don't lift your 5 year old. He is old enough to understand it. My 2 1/2 year didn't quite understand it. I think THAT'S the hardest part.

Was your first c-section scheduled? If not and you labored before having it, that would make a huge difference. If you were scheduled, like your second one will be, then you know it is so much easier!

Best of luck. It will go just fine and you'll be up and at 'em in two weeks with limited ability to pick things up - and of course, sleep deprivation! :)

I have had 3 c-sections. My second one did take me an extra week to feel mostly normal again compared to my first one. You will have help for two weeks and that is huge. Just try to relax as much as you can, and let other people do as much as they can for you, that will help you to heal faster.

I had a repeat c section with my now 3 year old. It was so much easier this time around, because I kind of knew what to expect, and what worked and what didn't.

I had my second c-section when my twins were 2.5 years old. The recovery was great, but I started doing way too much too soon. Just be cautious of over doing it taking care of your son. Since you have help the first two weeks, you'll probably be fine.

My second was a piece of cake, way easier than my first! I had a 2 1/2 yr old at home at the time. Getting out of bed made my scar achy and so did going up stairs for about a week, but after that I was totally fine.
I had a 4 year old and a 19 month old at home when I had my 3rd c-section. Now that was tricky trying to put all 3 in the car when I had to take my son to preschool every morning.

My first was an emergency after hours of laboring pain- very scary and exhausting. But I remember walking through Target 4 days later feeling pretty good. And not taking meds after day 2 in the hospital. The worst part was just being so tired at first and scared for the baby/surgery- it was all a blur. My husband even went back to work a week earlier than planned since I felt good. I had him at 41 weeks.

The second one-scheduled at 39 weeks, 22 months later, was not so pleasant. The actual surgery itself was planned and therefore I wasn't tired - I remember every detail. But I was in a lot of pain, needed meds for more than a week after I left the hospital. And I had to stay a day longer due to getting a secondary infection. My husband helped for more than a week after leaving the hospital, but I had a hard time taking care of my 2 year old all day after that- still sore.

I have had 2 c-sections, 20 months apart...my oldest was 20 months when I had my twins. I honestly dont know which was worse. I feel like the 2nd hurt worse but honestly I dont remember the pain from the first. I am glad you sill have help for 2 weeks. you should be okay by then i would hope. Congratulations on your new baby!

I had 2 c-sections. The second was easier - less pain by far. (I believe they used "astra gel" when they numbed me - and it worked wonders - so ask about that.) I kept waiting for the pain medication to wear off.........and it never did! I left the hospital wondering why I didn't have any pain! :-)

On a different note: Why are you having a repeat c-section? It's not too late to research VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and find out if your doctor is VBAC friendly. That way you wouldn't have to recover from a major surgery. And vaginal birth is safer for the baby as well. I'm actually pregnant with baby #3 right now and I'm planning a VBA2C...I'm really excited! Send me a message if you have any questions - I'd be happy to share what I know.

Good luck with everything!! :-)

My first C-section was so good, never asked for pain medication at the hospital, the one given was enough and never touched the pain medication bottle at home, walked righ away with no problem, it was a breeze.... bad suprise with the second one.... at the hospital I almost pass out at my first stop to the bathroom and took me a long time to feel a little better... I would cry of pain day and night and beg the nurses for whatever could easy the pain, pills did nothing so I would beg and count the hours for the next inyection, finished the whole bottle of pain medicine for home (but did not order more) and took me way longer to move "normally".

Everybody is different and I really wish you the best, fast and painless recovery!
Good Luck!

Mine was infinitely easier. The first was emergency, the second planned. The first was after 18 hours of labor, the second less than an hour after I got to the hospital.

The main difference, though, was that the second time the OB gave me a tummy wrap--if you go online, check for a "post-delivery girdle belt"--you can get one at amazon for $16.99.

That wrap made all the difference for me. With the first one, I felt my incision constantly, and everything pulled it. With the wrap, I just felt supported. It made all the difference with being able to walk earlier, showering, etc., even though I didn't wear it in the shower. I just felt like everything tucked itself in better, like I was normal earlier. I sent mine (thoroughly washed, of course) to an aunt who was having a C-section, and then she sent it on to someone who had hernia surgery. That belt was WONDERFUL.

Good luck! I hope your surgery recovery goes as well as mine did!

I thought my second one was easier too! Maybe it was because I didn't spend 16 hours in labor, and then 3 hours pushing first. :P

My older one was 3 when little one was born . . . (it's been a long time - they're teens now). But I remember being up and around within the first week and a half.

Good luck and I hope things go smoothly.

My second C-section was better than the first. I didnt have the placenta fusing to the uterus and i knew what to expect.

First, get the c-section supporter. Its like wearing a backbrace but for your stomach. I tried a regular gridile from Jcpenny and the hook closures were too much. Some hospitals give them out but usually you have to buy them. Check the back of a pregnancy magazine, google, or ask your doc about where to get them. Also, take a pillow where ever you go. Its great support in the car ( especially coming home with all the bumps).

Second, i didnt' try to do as much chores or anything the first couple of weeks like i had with the first.
Thirdly, ask strangers for help. Many times did i ask someone to put my stroller in the car for me or help from the bagger at the grocery store.

Fourth, find a playgroup. I found some on meetup.com

Fifth, look at places like My gym, the little gym, gymboree to take your 5yr to help burn off some of his energy.

Finally, I asked for more pain meds after my original douse was about up. I broke them in half so i wasnt sooo high feeling and this way it took the edge off the pain while still leaving me clear headed. This helped too i think in not becoming addicted or needing them too much.

I've had two scheduled c-sections--both at 39 weeks. My second was easier...I drove myself to the pharmacy right after I got home from the hospital I felt so good.

Looks like you got 50/50. My second one I think I'm still recovering from and my daughter is two. Do not do two much. I don't have any help; and having small children at home make it much harder. I'm sure you will be fine. Make sure you have pain killers and if you don't need them, great!

Congrats!!! I love newborns. I love each stage but newbys don't get into any thing. Make sure you rest.

My 6 year old was an emergency c-section and my recovery was horrible, to say the least. I remember a year after sometimes I'd still feel pain. My 4 year old was a planned c-section and I felt amazing. Maybe because my OB had more time and was not rushed to keep my baby alive? Or maybe because I was more prepared and knew more of what to expect?

I don't know - but my second one (which was only 23 months after my first) was a million times easier.