Recovery Time for C-section

E.,
Good advice you're getting. C-sections in about a week make you feel like you are all better and you are not! Take the doctor's advice on not driving, doing too much, lifting, etc. My daughter didn't and 5 months later she is still paying for it. She just now stopped bleeding! Take it easy, do what they say. It's a piece of cake. Good lUck!

You can't drive for a few days, and aren'ty supposed to lift heavy items or use stairs a lot. i had 2 c-sections, one scheduled and and one emercency. The emergency one I was in a wheel chair for a couple days but the scheduled one I was up walking the halls etc right after. At home doing evrything normal right away, just being careful lifting, bending and walking stairs. Recovery really isn't hard.
G.

The first 2 weeks were bad, but I was up doing normal things (going to the store, etc... )by that second week because I can't sit around on my butt... I would say between 10-12 weeks is when I felt comfortable actually getting back into fitness, walking and starting to run. All in all, it really wasn't that bad.

I hurt for three months. Take it easy!
Deb

I almost didn't post because I don't want to make you nervous, but my experience was pretty different than the rest, yet I wished someone had warned me because I was expecting to feel completely normal at 8 weeks. But I noticed that what one person defines as "recovery" may be very different than another so I thought I'd post so you could hear another side. Yes, I could walk hours after the surgery, yes, I could drive a car at 2 weeks, but I did NOT feel normal at 8 weeks. I defined my recovery time -after a planned c-section at 32 years old - as ONE WHOLE YEAR. It took that long for me to feel normal inside, specifically where my incision was and where my stomach muscles came back. I couldn't lean up against a table, counter, or lay on my stomach without cringing for that whole time. My surgeon was excellent, I have an almost non-existant scar and had no incision bleeding and my midwives/surgeon said I healed beautifully inside, yet I just couldn't walk, run, lift or move like I used to. Another thing, I was in excellent shape up to giving birth, far better shape than 9 months after giving birth. I could swim 20 laps at 9 months pregnant! So maybe I had higher expectations :) Also, I wasn't sleeping as well, so it might have taken me longer to recover because my daughter wasn't one of those miraclous sleeping babies some people are lucky to have. Before getting pregnant, I worked out 5 times a week for an hour and 1/2 each time and was in what many people would call "peak physical condition", so again, my expectations of feeling "normal" may have been quite different. But I noticed you mentioned you run and exercise too, so I thought I'd call out to you that it might not be the same. Again, if I had known that, I wouldn't have minded so much. Four years later, I feel great, yet I no longer have TIME to work out that much but playing at the park with a four year old does have it's workout benefits!

Congrats to you and your new baby and I'm wishing you'll have a much much easier recovery than I did :) It sounds like a lot of women do.

Every body is different, no doubt. Two recommendations for you - listen to your doctor and listen to your body. I had two C sections, the first followed 30 hours of labor, the second was scheduled. A dramatic difference between the two since going through that after a long labor is like running a marathon and then having surgery. Following my scheduled C section, I felt great and was walking to the bathroom the same night. Be sure you are honest about your pain level so you can get the right medicine/dosage. You must stay ahead of the pain. If the nurse comes in with a pill and you don't think you need it, that's good because you are ahead of the pain. If you wait until you feel pain, it takes a lot longer for the drug to work. I'm not a fan of medicine but stayed on the pain killers until I left the hospital. They did write a prescription but I never filled it, just used Motrin for a day or two.

You are thinking about your body and working out now and I promise you will have very different priorities as soon as you become a mother - good priorities. You will find yourself tired and needing a nap but yet not wanting to take your eyes off your sleeping baby. It is such a miracle, take advantage of the special time you have together because it goes very quickly.

Don't drive for the two weeks they recommend. You may feel fine but that advise is given due to your reaction time - if you needed to slam on your brakes, you would likely hesitate due to grabbing your belly and that's not good. Walk as soon as you're ready, the fresh air will do wonders for your mental health. You'll also see many other stay at home people out for walks with their kids and/or dogs and it's fun to show off your new bundle and to hear people say how great you look and good for you for getting out and about.

Be prepared to have trouble getting in and out of bed. I slept in a very comfy chair with a footstool for the first week or so because laying down and getting up from laying down is really tough. You will be up every few hours for feedings so best to get a chair, pillows and a small table set up. Create a little 'station' for sleeping and nursing, you'll need the table for either water for you to drink (critical for milk production if you're nursing) or for a bottle warmer if you're formula feeding. I highly recommend the First Steps bottle warmer. We bought it for our daycare as our kids like their milk at 98.6 degrees.

You will be tired but those late night feedings are something only you can share with your baby. It's a very special time and it will be over too soon. Keep that in mind every time you are awakened for a feeding, it will help the nights when it's especially tough.

Good luck to you, motherhood is an amazing experience that no one can prepare you for!

They will get you up and walking as soon as possible and this is what helps in your recovery. The longer you stay in bed the more it is going to hurt later. It took me about two weeks of not wanting to laugh, sneeze or otherwise stress my abdominal region... I will say that myself and my neighbor both had continual twinges of pain 6 months after which I have heard is normal. My second I had vaginally and I would say that is definetly the way to go if you can! I hope to never have a c-section again for reasons other then physical. Emotionally I did not feel connected to the birth at all. I have had several friends who have had c-sections and half would agree with me and half don't. I hope yours goes well for you!!! =)

One more thing! I wish I would have stayed in the hospital all four days because their bed was easier to get out of. I don't know if you are planning on breastfeeding but it was really hard to find a painless way to roll out of bed several times a night to do the feedings. This seemed to be a general consensus of my friends who had c-sections too. Some opted to sleep in recliners for the first few days. Good Luck!

Hi E. I had a c-section with both of my kids and it was different with both of them. For me I found that it depended on weather or not the doc takes the staples out befor you leave the hospital or not. For my first one they didn't and it took me about 8 weeks to feel like I could do anything without feeling like the incision was going to come open. For my seconed one they took the staples out before I left the hospital and it didnt take as long for me to get better. My sister had one and she was up and getting around very well in about a week. It all depends on your body.

Hi E.: like the other women have said it really varies by woman. I would take it easy after the c-section and just take that time to relax and be with your new baby. My recovery was pretty quick, but I did take it easy for the best possible healing for my muscles, etc. I'm sure they wouldn't advise working out until your six week check up!

Congrats and good luck.

Hi E.,
Having a C-section was not bad at all for me. I was able to walk up and down stairs right away and move about as I would normally in the first couple of days afterwards. The hardest part for me was just getting in and out of bed. You have to kind of learn the log roll technique... To get in sit down on the side, put your upper body to the side (not back) on to the pillow and slowly lift your legs in. To get out... roll to a side close enough to the side of the bed and bring your legs off the bed. Then carefully push your self up sideways. Don't be afraid to ask for pain medication though as needed. It will make this process a little easier. The doctors will tell you that you'll be able to lift the baby carrier and exercise 6 weeks after. The worst part for me I think was just the annoying staples they put in that have to stay in for a few days. They tend to get caught on your pants/underwear. My advice for that would be use the mesh panties they give you and ask for a few Telfa non-adherent dressings at the hospital. This type of dressing can just be placed over your incision; it's not taped in place (unless you want it to be) but it will keep everything from catching on those staples. Good luck!

hi E.,
i had a c-section after 15 hours of labor,my recovery was a little over what they said. however, i've heard that it's a lot easier w/out going through all of that! my advice is take it easy. when you think,
"oh! i can sit up with out using my arms to push myself up!:)", don't! it sent me a week back. go slow. you'll get there faster if you chill out. try and take that time to cuddle that new little baby and take advantage of the extra helpers that you'll have. sleep witt or while your little one when they sleep is huge! it too will help your recovery.

my chiropractor had me check my iron level before giving birth and had me taking iron to assure ,as much as possible, that my levels wouldn't drop too low. that too will ,make you very tired. she also gave me internal arnica to take after birth to help recovery.
good luck to you and enjoy your baby!!!

Hi, E.!

I really feel that 4-6 weeks is an accurate estimate for running errands, lifting and caring for the baby, getting up and down from the floor, and other basic daily and household tasks. You should not "work out" until after your 6-week checkup because your body is still healing and you don't want to end up with tearing at the incision site.

Until my son was about 4 months old, I would occasionally have a little twinge (pain level of 2-3 on a scale of 10) at the incision site after sitting for a long time or twisting wrong or getting up and down too much. It was the equivalent of a menstrual cramp and only lasted a few seconds. I was told by my doctor that this was perfectly normal because they cut through several layers of tissue and muscle and all of those muscles need time to heal and adjust.

Overall, I think you'll find that it's easier to recover from a scheduled C-section because your body will not have gone through the work and trauma of labor first. Best of luck to you and your new little one!

E.~
I had a csection last February for the delivery of my first child. It wasn't that bad at all! You'll be up and walking within a few hours of the surgery. And by the time you go home, you'll still be moving a bit slower but not in a massive amt of pain or anything. I'd say it was about maybe 2 weeks or so and I was going to Target on my own. As far as working out, I didn't even think about doing that for a long while. You'll be so tired... spend your free moments sleeping! Good luck!

I had a C-sect 4 months ago, which was my second. My first child I was stapled and healed fairly quickly. My incision was healed (closed) by the time I left the hospital a week later but with my second they just stitched internally and it took 6 weeks for it to completely close and heal. I was also running around after a 18 month old in the process which I did not have to worry about with my first one. If its your first child you should heal quicker but be prepared to give yourself a couple weeks to just lay low. Good advice given to me when you want to hit the floor running, Remember you are having MAJOR surgery which can come with complications if you start moving around too early. Just take the time to enjoy and relax with your new baby especially if its your first you will never have this time again. Enjoy and Good Luck.

N. V

I had a c-section under general anesthesia because my spinal didn't numb anything but my feet. I was up and moving around after about 24 hours and was even able to shower without help the 2nd day. What was difficult for me was sleeping. It was a couple of weeks before I could sleep flat. If I didn't sleep propped up on pillows (or in the recliner a couple of nights) I had a really hard time getting into and out of bed. Rolling over was out of the question. Even though I could get around, lift my daughter, etc, it was probably a month before I really felt 100% better. One thing I wasn't prepared for was where the waist of my underwear hit. Have some "granny panties" on hand. I wore mine for a couple of months until my incision was completely healed. Also be sure that you dry your incision really well after you shower. Don't rub it dry but be sure you pat it dry or even use a hair dryer on the lowest setting. It is possible to develop a yeast infection if you don't keep the incision dry. Take it easy and don't try to rush getting back to "normal". Use this as an excuse to just cuddle your baby and to get someone else to do the cooking, dishes, laundry, dusting.....

Everyone responds to a c-section differently I never had any problems and I had three c-sections. You may feel just fine immediately after but please give your body time to heal completely before doing anything too heavy. Just take the time to enjoy your new bundle of joy I think taking 4-6 weeks for yourself and your precious baby is time well spent and you are both worth it!

I had all three of my kids c-section. I didn't have hardly any pain at all with my first or third and normal activities were pretty easy to resume. My second had some complications and it took me a bit more to recover.

Follow the no lifting more then 10 pounds. It could cause your incision to stretch or tear and could cause trouble later on with scar tissue (which is why I had trouble with my second, too much scar tissue from my first) I was told with my first not to drive for 6 weeks but I think that is more for how balanced you are or because of the pain killers. I didn't have the need of much pain killers by the time I was released from the hospital (4 days)with any of them. I did find that the sooner you get up and moving, the easier it is to get back to normal. I was up walking the halls by the morning after my son's were born. I was standing and getting my balance just hours after I came out of recovery.

Stretching and lifting would be dangers to beware of so if you work out by walking on tred mills or biking, it shouldn't be a problem.

I was shopping and doing errands (no lifting, so have help) within a week after each of the births.

After my 1st c-section I was ok after probably 6 weeks. Working out the ab area took longer but like walking and beng pain free was like a month or 6 weeks. After my 2nd c-section, it's been 10 1/2 months and it still hurts to work out the ab section. Good luck, I would rather have a c-section than the other way!

HI E.,
I had 2 c-sections and your OB is about right. I think the biggest suggestion I have is that you get on a good pain med schedule (in the hospital) and then when you get home. I didn't have the best schedule coming out of the hospital so when I came home I was pretty sore and didn't want to do much of anything. The pain meds (even just Advil) does wonders but you have to make sure you stay on top of it. As far as running errands - it didn't take long before I could do that. I'd say in about 2 weeks after your hospital stay I felt comfortable getting around. Just make sure you don't do a whole lot of lifting (other than baby). I'd even make hubby do most of the lifting when it comes to the car seat. Your body will let you know - you'll feel a bit sore if you've done too much. As far as working out - stretching and walking is all I did for the first 4 weeks. I started with some simple yoga the last 4-6 weeks and then started back into a little more after 6 weeks (and after the ok from the doctor). Overall, it's a little challenging the first 2 weeks (but, I think it is for anyone that has gone through childbirth). Good luck to you!
J.

It looks like you have received a lot of great advice and what I would offer you is pretty much the same, however, I would like to remind you that a C section is not just a procedure..it is major surgery. I had a C section with my first pregnancy and I think I can agree with the woman that said that a scheduled C might be different than a labor then C experience. I had labor first then the C section. The way I see it though is that the doctor cuts you and that is the same for all. As for the recovery that may be different. I could not just sit around and was up trying to get the nurses to take out my cathider (spelling) so that I could walk around within 6 hours. As I think back to that, I probably should not have done that. Take it easy! Go slow! I definately would still have the cathider taken out because all it did was apply pressure. As for your regular routine..listen to your body, it will tell you when you can do this or do that. Target will still be there in 6 weeks, and you will always have time to work out.... LATER! This is your time to let others pamper you. I would also "Like" to say that you will feel completely normal after 6 weeks. This might be different with everyone but I know 6 women who had C sections and we all said the same thing. We did not feel exactly like our selves again for 6-9 months. This is because your belly is still numb from having th enerves cut with the incision and might remain that way forever..I can finally feel my lower abdomen now without any numbness after one year. Major Surgery is Major Surgery and it takes time. SO relax..sleep when you can, let other do the chores, and if you get house stir crazy...have someone take you for a ride or walk..don't go by yourself yet. Your doctor will probably tell you no driving..no lifting over 10 lbs, and no exercising. Oh and congrats on your upcoming baby!

I have had 3 c-sections, a hysterectomy and an abdominal surgery-take time for healing!!!I tried to volunteer at my job about 3 weeks out of my hysterectomy and ended up having to be driven home. It is not even safe to try things too early. I went shopping after my last c-section because I thought I felt so good-almost passed out at the check-out. It is also important for your future self to take care of yourself now. We do not have to be super women!!

I had both my kids c-section. One scheduled, and one not. The second one was the sceduled one and it was much easier than the first. Since I had a child at home already I was out and about the day I came home from the hospital. I even left the hospital a day before I had to. It wasn't bad. Like you said everyone is different. I also am not one to just sit at home so I had to get out. I know my incinsion opened up after being home 2 days and I had to slow down a bit but I didn't for very long. Good luck.

I recovered so fast from my c-section in December. I could hardly believe that within a week, I was feeling great. The only thing you have to watch for is increased bleeding which can happen when you do too much. Doing too much is when you lift anything heavier than the baby and do to much on your feet. I did a ton of stuff and recovered so quick but I did bleed for over 6-8 weeks. At a week and a half, I was even up to driving. I caution you though, everyone is different but this was my experience and I hope your recovery is as smooth as ever. I bet you can't wait to meet your little one. Congrats!

My understanding is that c-sections that are scheduled, or that do not happen after hours of labor are easier to recover from. Mine - not scheduled, but also not after any labor - was a very fast recovery. I was up walking that evening, about 8 hours after the surgery. They told me not to take stairs more than once a day for the first couple of weeks, but a few days after getting home, I was feeling so good that when I remembered something upstairs, I was up the stairs before realizing I wasn't supposed to do that. At 2 weeks, I did my first walk around the neighborhood. I would definitely feel it in my abs if I did too much exercise, but I think that by 4 weeks I was feeling more or less back to normal (other than the sleep deprived new mom stuff).

I had a C-section a week and half ago, and I am healing up pretty well. It all depends on each person on the healing time. With my first C-section it was really tough, I was in a lot of pain and felt like I was being cut in half, this time it does not seem as bad, yes I am in pain, but I feel like I am in pain a different way, and I am feeling less pain sooner then when I had my first C-section. I know that you will not be able to drive for 2 weeks after your C-section, and as far as exserizing I would think that would for sure be put off for 6 weeks. You can walk, but only walk to what is comfortable. If you are walking and you start to feel disconfort then you need to stop and rest for the rest of the day. Just listen to your body and you will be okay. Just remember that you will have your little joy in your hands.. Oh also you will not be able to lift anything more then 10 pounds unless it is your baby. Also your doctor will let you know what you can and cannot do. :)

Good luck- Everything will turn out okay. :)

Your doctor is realistic. It really all depends on you and how much you are willing to try. The sooner you can get up and moving the better but if you push yourself to hard it ends up making you to soar to make any progress. I've had 3 c-sections now and after the first week you are able to start getting around pretty good with your little one. This is a great time of year. Good Luck

Hi E.!
Just a quick response... I had a c-section with my daughter. I ended up being in the hospital for a week due to an infection I got before the c-section. But even with that I was up running errands at the 2.5 week mark, and working out by the 6 week mark. I think as long as you rest and take it easy the first few weeks, you'll have no trouble bouncing back quickly! Best wishes for a healthy delivery and recovery!!!

E.,

It really depends on the individual and how quickly you heal. Take your doctor's advice. Your doc should have you in around 2-3 weeks postpartum and then around 6 weeks. Some women heal quickly, yet there can be scarring complications that appear later. Don't rush it! Some minor things you can do and work up slowly. Walking is a great exercise to start with and can begin right after birth - they make you get up and walk around in the hospital. But since you won't have use of your abdominals for a bit - some things that you do everyday will not be easy. I couldn't get out of bed and slept on the couch for two weeks! Best advice, follow your doctor's recommendations!

I am sure that the recovery time is different for every person, however it sounds like you live a healthy lifestyle...working out, running, etc. If you have done this through your whole pregnancy you will be up and at em in no time. I had a c-section and I was back running at 4 weeks. I was doing light workouts at 3 weeks. Keep a positive attitude and you will be fine!

Hi, E.,
I had three C-sections and each one the recovery was a little different. I also went through labor then had the C-sections. The last one was scheduled but labor started 5 weeks early. I would say my recovery from my first was the longest, at least 6-weeks, but the other two went much easier, about 4 weeks. In fact one of them I was out gardening at 4 weeks. Listen to your body, get lots of rest if you can and eat healthy. Your OB is giving you a ballpark figure.

Ginnyg

4-6 week recovery time is the standard doctor response for a C-section. It is true that everyone is different. I was on hospitalized bed rest for 10 weeks before having an emergency C-section. My baby was put in NICU right away so I forced myself to move around probably quicker than most. I was able to get up and move two days after the c-section, but stairs were difficult and it wore me out pretty quickly. I would say I was moving better after about 1 week and then 2-3 weeks after the c-section that I began feeling more normal. You need to judge for yourself when you are feeling ready to move around and get back to normal activity.

This is my thinking...apologies in advance in case it scares you.

In the past 6 1/2 years I've had two c-sections and the recovery time was a lot longer than 4-6 weeks. 4-6 weeks is a very cold, clinical estimation lacking the emotional component of recovery.

First of all, for both births, I spent four days each in the hospital. My doctor ordered that once I come home, for two weeks I could not drive nor could I lift anything heavier than the baby. I could barely stand up straight for a few weeks there. I could also barely do any of the housework piling up around me and my baby. By the time I was feeling better physically, I had an enormous amount of emotional stress and then that to deal with. 6 1/2 years later things are much better. Once I got back into the swing of things, sex was painful for a long time (6 mos.). This baffled me because I didn't deliver vaginally. Expect the unexpected is all I can tell you. Oh, and make sure to tell your nurse anesthetist to "BUFFER THE LIDOCAINE" when you are getting your spinal. You must make this clear to them. It is the difference between feeling like your spine is getting ripped out of your back (not buffered) and the smooth part of a paperclip being gently stroked up and down your spine for 60 seconds (buffered). By the way, 4-6 weeks recovery time is crazy. Your OB ought to know better to advise you of that and she/he has obviously never had a c-section. It is more like six months. While you're at it, ask your doctor to describe exactly how she/he will be cutting into your abdomen. This is something you definitely want to look into because there are no do-overs in that part of the process.

The good news is, it's all totally worth it no matter what may or may not happen the way you'd prefer. You get a baby after going through all that and it's the best thing ever, no matter how lousy you may feel. Feeling lousy and feeling lousy about having a baby are two totally different things. We women need to remind each other that just because you are feeling bad doesn't mean you are feeling bad about your baby. Make sure to keep in mind if nursing is difficult it may be because of the pain meds. This was the case for me. Congratulations on your new baby!

E.-

Like everyone has been saying, you know your body best and you know how much you can take. Follow the doc's orders about weight restrictions (which can be hard to remember) during the first two weeks. That means have your husband carry the car seat and the diaper bag should you be out and about. DO follow the RN orders about walking around the hospital (that first day is hard) and it will be hard to do simple things (ie, get dressed) the first week or so...if possible, when at home, avoid having to wear socks because I found putting those on was darn near impossible at first (and I am someone who has been doing yoga for over 5 years)...also you might want to buy some higher waisted underwear to wear at first because when the band from my underwear rubbed against my incision it was uncomfortable. But other than that my recover time was really quick and I had no adverse problems with healing. I'm also not sure how your doc will close you incision (glue vs staples)...mine was stapled and really has healed nicely with a minimal scar.

Hi E., I'm a first time mom who had an emergency C in December. I don't know if you have other children, but 4-6 weeks is a pipe dream unless you have a round the clock nanny. As soon as you come home from the hospital, you are doing things to care for your baby all day and night long. Actually, the more you move the better.

Although you can't drive yourself for 2 weeks, I was at Target the day after I got home getting needed supplies I couldn't anticipate.

Working out is a different story, but honestly, unless you again have lots of help, it is a dream. You are tired, sore and lack any free time to do something like exercise. My little man was colicky and I wish I could have worn a pedometer for the number of steps I took. I quickly dropped to 5 lbs below my prepreganacy weight and have basically held steady there. I would also guess it would depend on how fit you were prior to your delivery.

I, thought my maternity leave would be wonderful to catch up on projects at home, spend time on the treadmill while my DS slept, etc. None of that happens as you will soon find out. Good luck with everything and make sure you have your bedroom set up so you can help yourself get out of bed easily. I remember being so excited to go to the DR's office for my son's newborn appointment because the bathrooms had bars to help me stand up (something not as easy as you think after you've had 6 layers of muscle and tissue cut and three layers of stitches).

Best of Luck!! A.

When I had my C-section I had it vertically, as opposed to the bikini cut. I figured I'd rather heal fast than ever wear a bikini. My doctor was right about healing fast too, 10 days later I was back at college and slowly getting around campus. I was back to working out, gently at first, a month later. The pain wasn't too bad, after the first few days, I was more concerned about infection. I think that much of the difference was the fact that I had my incision vertically. It healed quite nicely too with less scarring than I figured on, just a pale line. I guess I can only help you by telling you what I have experienced, your C-section may go quite differently. Use it as a time to lean on your family and friends, you'd may be surprised how many people around you will be willing to help out. Soon enough you'll be lugging around that car seat and diaper bag yourself. :)

I have had 3 c-sections. If this is your first c-section you would need to take it easy for the 4-6 weeks. My first I was sore for at least 2 weeks and I did not excercise during that time. I wanted to make sure my muscles healed before doing any stressful excercise or house work. YOu will need help the first week or two with the new little one. But it is all up to how you are feeling. I would say having a c-section all depends on how you feel. Just don't over do anything at first cause you have to take care of yourself and the new little one. By the time I had my 3rd child with a c-section I was feeling better by week 2 just cause I knew what was coming and how I would feel. Also when they ask if you need pain medicine take it when you start to feel some pain not when you are at the point you need it. They make you feel 10 times better ~ Good luck

For my first c-section, it took about 6 weeks until I felt good, but I went through labor prior to that. With my scheduled C-section I felt good within a week. I think 4-6 weeks with a scheduled c-section doesn't seem crazy to me at all. But it will take about a year to fully heal. I am 6 months post-partum and still have some mildly painful pulling inside my stomach when I move to fsast, turn the wrong way or my daughter jumps on me.

Well, it really is different for everyone. Also, I had 2 C-sections and they were both very different from each other. The first was fine - I took no pain medication afterwards, I was up and around as soon as I got home, and my incision healed beautifully. I was unable to exercise, though, for quite a while (like 3 months if I remember right) because my legs felt like lead and when I did crunches I could feel the scar tissue inside (not painful, just uncomfortable). The second time was a completely different story. I had lots of pain and the incision took 7 weeks to heal. The hospital sent me home with a staph infection, too. Obviously, it took much longer to get back to normal that time. Just don't overdo it and you'll figure it out as you go. And if you notice anything pimply, pussing, itchy, looks like a sore, or otherwise unusual, near the incision, don't wait - get to the doctor and have it checked out. Staph infections are no fun.

It really depends on the person. I had c section and my Lily is now almost 3. I had an infection in my uterous a week later, but still was up and doing the little things slowly within the first few days. Listen to your body, but don't over do it!

My recovery from my scheduled c-section was quicker than my recovery from my unplanned/emergency one. I'd say that it really does depend on the person and the circumstances though. With my first, even though I was technically "healed" and cleared to go back to work by 8 weeks, I still didn't feel 100% for several months after that. With my second, I was feeling pretty much back to normal by the time my 6-week check-up came. Just because you have a c-section birth doesn't mean you have to be housebound for 4-6 weeks. As you start to feel better, you can slowly ease back into your regular routines and activities. Just listen to your body - if you overdo it, you'll know. :)

I've had 2 c-sxns and an abdominal myomectomy (to remove uterine fibroids). The recovery time got a little shorter each time - anywhere from 4 to 2 weeks. You can run errands within about 2 weeks, but working out (even on a treadmill) will not be appealing for much longer. Your body needs time to heal and with a new baby you will be fatigued on top of it. Plan on getting some help. My mom stayed with me for 2 weeks each time, which was fantastic.
Good luck!

I had a C-section with my first and it was a pretty quick recovery time for me. I have a high pain tolerance so I didn't think it hurt at all. I was moving around normal a couple days after. I took it easy because I didn't want to risk having any complications with the incision. Honestly, you're not going to be wanting to do much of anything for at least a couple weeks anyways! Also, shopping/errands are also more fun if you go with a friend, so find one who will be willing to carry the baby in the carseat so you don't go over your weight limit for carrying. Also, if you plan on having any more children, taking it easy and making sure your body heals right will help with future deliveries. I have successfully had two VBACs and part of it, I believe, is because I took care of my body after my first was born. Just take it easy and enjoy your new baby! :) Congratulations!

Hi There! I had Two c-sections and both were longer than 4 weeks recoery time, but due to different circumstances! The second one was planned but I also had a freak accident and ended up back in surgery a second time! So, I was on bed rest and told to take the "full 8-10 weeks" for recovery. When I asked my OB when I could start working out and stuff she said to basically listen to my body. You are safe to drive once you are off pain killers and no longer having incision pain. (its more for other drivers safety - if you go to push on the brake and it hurts and you let off, you could rear-end someone) Also it has to do with your hemoglobin. If your #s are up and you don't sustain much blood loss your recovery time will be short. If you need a transfusion or more you may just feel tired, weak, and dizzy for a while. My very good friend had 2 c-sections and no complications, and after her second, she was up and around after 4 weeks - it went super smooth for her! you'll just have to wait and see. Odds are it really depends on your pain tolerance. Best wishes and enjoy your new baby! Get some extra rest in advance (we sent our 2 year old to Grandma's house the night before our second one for a night of peace and quiet alone!) :-) Good luck!

I have had 3 c-sections and usually I was pretty painful for the first week, but was then able to get off the pain meds. I am a major control freak and need the house to be a certian way or I freak out! I needed to control this urge to clean and make everything look perfect. Let someone do all this for you as long as you need them to. The hardest thing is when I had other kids and I could not lift them, that was hard to explain to a 2 year old. Not sure if you have other kids? I am still numb in spots, but the scar is not bad and it is super low. No one, except your hubby will ever see it. My best advice is take it easy and take advantage of other people helping you. Just concentrate on you and the baby! The other thing that was hard is after the delivery, they take the baby out and you are left in the OR. I always found this tough. Also during the surgury and all night after I threw up. It was pretty bad. They can give you meds for this, so speak up if you feel like throwing up. Good Luck! Congratulations!

There is a huge difference between running errands and working out E.. A C-section cuts through all of the abdominal muscles in your body. It is a huge incision that will take a full year to heal thoroughly. You will be feeling some discomfort in your belly for a long time depending on your age.

The important thing to remember here is that every human body is unique. No one will be able to tell you (especially your OB who probably has not had a C-section) how long it will take.

My advice is take it slowly and enjoy your baby as long as you can. You can always extend your leave if you need more time, or start working out (slowly at first) if you are feeling energetic.

Hi E.-
I had a c-section about a year ago. And yes, it is different for everyone. I started feeling pretty good by 4 weeks. But I wouldn't say that I felt like working out yet. I did walk, as much as I could. And I had a 3 year old to chase after too! But, my advice to you (especially if this is baby number 1) take the time...let people help you, if you have help; the long term recovery will probably take less time the longer you let yourself heal! Good Luck!

As far as I know the recovery is a lot harder on the body then vaginal birth. Anyone I have known have had one the first couple weeks are rough...basically getting up and going to the bathroom is a mission. You are not able to drive for a little while. But I would say it will depend upon how well you heal. Have you ever had any other surgeries?

I agree--it's so different for everyone! But with my second son, I had a scheduled C-section. I was originally supposed to be in the hospital for 4 days, and ended up checking out after 2. Now granted, my recovery nurse said I had what they call a "wish list" scenario in that everything went smoothly, no bleeding, etc. But I was amazed at how great I felt. I had the baby at 7:30 in the morning, and by that night I was walking slowly and eating solid food. They gauge a lot of how well you're doing on digestive function (if you're able to pass gass, etc.) and that part went really well for me. I was sore, but actually less so that with my very complicated natural delivery 4 years prior. I never even filled my pain med prescription, and just took a ton of ibuprofin instead. When I got home Saturday night I was able to sleep in my own bed, slowly take the stairs, and do small things around the house (sort laundry, make meals, etc.) I think I was driving within a couple of weeks, taking my 4yo to preschool. I had no problems healing and now after a year my scar looks so small and light.

I do know of women who have had similar situations, and others who had a horrible time. But, I think they give you the 4-6 timeframe as a worst-case scenario so you're not bummed out if it does take you that long.

Congrats on the new baby!!

I have not had a C-section. But we use homeopathy and my friends say that their surgery recovery time was much faster using Arnica.
My experience in recovering from birth was that absolutely not getting out of bed and really, really, really letting the body heal before doing anything.
This is a really great resource for c-section, it has recovery info on it

http://www.ican-online.org

I had a C-section and I would caution for at least the first 4 weeks to lay low. Especially the first 2 weeks, no driving. I was in a situation where I had to drive frequently during my first 2 weeks and it kept me very sore. My other recommendation is listen to your doctor, because I just went about my business, lifting, driving, errands and about the 4th week I was in severe pain and had to go in, of course they told me to take it easy. Because of the set back I would say it was about 8 weeks before I felt ready to start walking and light work outs. Bottom line, I would recommend to take it easy and when you start feeling good, take it easy for at least 2 more weeks.

I have had three C-sections and with all of the I was back to work in less than a month. I work out of my home, but I don't just sit around all day. With my first I went shopping the day I got out of the hospital. Our appartment was flooded and my husband was only able to drop me off at home before he had to return to work. I drove to the pharmacy, got my pain meds. and went shopping. I figured it was easier on me than trying to clean up my apt.. I am not one to sit around much to begin with. I am usually ready to get out of the hospital before they are ready to release me. Each person is different. I would just play it by ear.

Yes, you'll be able to run errands and function in 4-6 weeks, but don't expect to have a lot of energy. When my baby was 4 mos old I went back to the doctor thinking I had a thyroid condition because I just couldn't get my energy back and he said I still needed time to recover from my c-section. I honestly don't think I felt totally like myself for about a year. I'm a busy person and didn't let myself rest enough and that was probably part of my problem.

I just recommend that you rest well for those first few months. Be kind to yourself too. Let other people make your meals and if anyone offers to come clean for you, let them. Sleep when the baby sleeps.

I've had 3 vag deliveries and 1 c-section and with regards to recovery I MUCH perfer a vaginal delivery.

Good Luck and Congratulations on your new little one!

I had 3 C-Sections I bounced back quite fast. Took it real easy for about 8 weeks, before I could go back to work. Let's just say that I was cut up and down and my last C-section was 27 years ago. They also, kept you in the hospital for about 5 days. So, with that in mind, it depends on you and your ability to heal and tolerate pain and such.
Don't do any heavy lifting. My niece and girlfriend's daughter had a C-Section a couple of years ago and I think they were on restrictions for 4-6 weeks also and they were ready to do things by then. They were also out in just a few days.
I also know that recovery is alot more intense when you have gone into labor and then have a C-Section. I had two girlfriends and my sister that this happended to and the restrictions and recovery were alot different. Again, this was quite a few years ago.
Everybody recovers differently and when in question consult your Dr. and listen to your body.

For errands and such, I would say 2 weeks. But I would not recommend working out until you get the ok from your doctor, because you can break your incision open.

From experience, i was walking in the mall the weekend after my c-section I had on a Monday. Granted I was walking very slowly but I was up and going. I think the first couple days are the worst, and believe me you will stand up straight again :). As you said everyone is a little differnt.

Hi E.,
I am a mom of 5 kids and I had vaginal births with all of my kids except for my last one because he was so big I had to delliver him by C-section after an over an hour of pushing and I felt that he just wasn't moving anywhere(we now now that the reason is because he was 11 lbs. 7oz.!!). I had never had a C-Section so this was a whole new experience for me and a quite painful one as well compared to my recovery time from my vaginal ones.The drs. had told me that it can take 4-6 weeks to recover but I had complications after so it took me a little longer(I am not trying to scare you;just letting you know that because sometimes things can happen it can lengthen your recovery time).I personally myself took almost 3-4 months to be recovered. Yes, by 4-6 weeks I was mostly recovered, so when I went to my 6 week check-up I had asked my doctor why I was still hurting when they told me that it was only suppose to be 4-6 weeks for recovery and they had told me that it is different for everyone and that most people are recovered by 4-6 weeks.They then told me that the full recovery can take up to a year because even though most of the pain will be gone you may still have things that bother you and it can take up to a year for things to be fully back to the way it was. As for getting up and doing things they told me that I shouldn't do anything for 2 weeks because that is going to be the most painful time and they didn't want me to hurt myself further--no, driving,no heavy duty house work,no climbing stairs and no carrying anything 10 lbs or more etc.. I kinda laughed at the last one because my baby was already over 10 lbs and I had told them, well how am I suppose to take care of my child then? They told me that whenever possible to have someone hand me the baby so I didn't have to hurt myself lifting him. Looking back(he's 16 months old now)I realize that some of the things that I did may have made my recovery take a little longer(I also had a 1 1/2 yr. old at the time)because I had to pick him up every now and then because I was the only one home and if he hurts himself or something I'm sorry but I gotta pick him up and console him or make sure he is okay. Looking back I got some great advice I wish I had gotten earlier that would have helped me.For instance if you have a smaller child at home who can't climb up on the couch put a step stool in front of the couch so they can climb up it to come by you and then you can comfort them without hurting yourself or even sit on a chair and hug them or console them from there. I have to say that it was hard for me to drive and I couldn't do it until after 3 weeks(I didn't think that it would be a problem but with all the pain pills I was on it was probably better because my response time behind the wheel may have been slower being in pain and affected by the medication somewhat. The best advice I would give you is if you can get help, get it because it will make your recovery go much smoother, take it easy and relax you just had a very painful surgery, you may not feel it much the first day after you have your baby because of the spinal or epidural you had but within the day or two after you may feel like you just got hit by a train. Let someone else do things for you whether it is your husband or mom or friend and you just concentrate on your baby and resting so you can recover fully as much as you can so you can be back to doing the things you want to do faster. Good Luck and enjoy your newest blessing in life!:)
J.

Hi E., I've had a C-Section myself, although it wasn't scheduled, and I can tell you that the wound will perhaps be 'recovered' in 4-6 weeks, but don't forget that besides the surgery, you have also given birth to a child. Emotional recovery might influence the physical part of the story. In my opinion and experience, it can cost you at least 3 months for complete recovery, and you won't regret if you take time! If you start too early, you might feel tired for a longer period than you wish. Good luck with your baby!
Anne-Marie (mom of 2 girls, living in the Netherlands)

Every one is different. I was up & moving as soon as my epidural wore off (I really wanted a shower) my cousin didn't get out of bed for 4 days. We both tried vaginal births, both babies got stuck & we had emergecny c-sections. Identical circumsatnces, way different recovery times. Just listen to your body. Take it easy as long as you can & do not start excerising until after your 6 week check up. Make sure the incision is healed before you do anything to strenuous. 4-6 weeeks is an average time, you are the only person who will really know what is best for you.

It all depends on the person.
I have had 3 c-sections and each one of them was different for me. I was up and doing things a couple days after. You have to be careful but you can do things. I found if y ou dont do things then you feel worse.

Listen to your Doc! If you dont you could do more harm to your delicate body and further lengthen your recovery time. I had two c-sections. I felt good about two weeks after the first one. The second one was far easier but just because I felt great did not mean that I was ready for other things such as vacuuming or cleaning windows or floors. I was driving after 2 weeks though, which my doc said was fine as long as I did not feel dizzy. You still need to take it easy or you could herniate. That happened to a friend of mine who ended up having surgery to correct it (she could not even stand up straight). That surgery required her to have a 3 month recovery time which would have never needed to be done if she had listened to her doctor.
Our friends are great supporters and all of us have our own experiences, but when it gets down to your recovery after major surgery, your DOCTOR knows what is best.
Good luck and congrats on your new arrival.

They told me to not lift anything heavier than the baby and take it easy for the first two weeks.
I was up the next day after the surgery and walking slowly around. Every day for me I seemed to get better. Walking around seemed to help my body recover, although i would listen to your body. My body would tell me when I had overdone it. I was running errands after 2 weeks.

The OB GYN specialist who delivered my girls told me after 8 weeks I could start working again. I could have gone back at 6 weeks as i felt well enough to. But I choose to wait until 8 weeks as i enjoyed my time with the girls,

After my 6 week check up they told me that i could start to work out slowly.
I know other people had complications and it took longer for them to start working etc. I think it all depends on the person. But i would go with what your doctor says, especially with working out. you need to give your body time to heal.
Good luck, hope that it all goes well.

E.-

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks.. Depending on the person..I had 2 C-Sections.. 1st one was bout 4 weeks and the second one was bout 3 weeks because they did the 2nd C-section again and its i heard some people it takes 2 weeks or 3 weeks but for me it was 3 to 4 weeks and You do have to rest alot.. No Working out and going to work or running least 6 weeks.. You can go on errrands etc..You have to take some time to heal and listen to your body and if your body starts to hurt or feeling not right then rest! Enjoy your time with your new baby..Good luck and let us know what you are having...

I have had 2 C-Sections and was up and moving about within a few weeks. After my first I was up and about pretty quickly and felt great by the time I left the hospital. The first week home my mom and I were out shopping and having a great time. After my second the recovery was a little slower, but I think by being home for 2 weeks I was doing pretty well and venturing out by myself.

Granted, I made sure to just listen to my body and if I felt tired I rested. Having help lift the baby and my older son was key! Just take it easy. I believe 4-6 weeks is the guideline - but hopefully it's quicker for you.

i had an emergency c-section 6 years ago. and if i had to do it all over again that way i'd say yes. my recovery time was only a week or so. my dr also told me i could drive two days after my c-section. i was up and walking less than 24 hours after ward and i was tol dthe mosre you get up and move and walk the faster you heal!!!!!

Hi E.-
I had an emergency C-section with my first and it worked out so well for me that I am having a scheduled C-section with my second, happening in June. With my first, I wasn't supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, vacuum, drive a car, or anything that would stress the C-area for 6 weeks. I was then allowed to go back to the gym and slowly work into my usual plan. It did take a while to get those stomach muscles back in shape, I recommend belly massages after a workout and wearing a support belt to hold your stomach in tightly either at night or during the day when you are not at the gym. The massages after having worked out really helped my stomach go back to being flat! I do know that my experience has not been everybody's with a C-section though. A girlfriend that was out of shape and did not exercise before having a c-section took a really long time to heal up. I hope this helps a little!
About me: 40-year-old work outside the home mom, 4-yr-old and soon to have a baby again!

It definately takes awhile to recover, and I would say it probably took the 6 weeks before I could work out, but walking I could do after 3 weeks, and running errands I could do after 2 weeks, although lifting the car seat was painful. I had also heard that its different for everyone but by 4 weeks I think I was pretty much back to the usual. Good luck.

I had 2 c-sections and both were different. I bounced right back from my first and returned to the barn chores after 4 weeks. That one was an emergency c-section. The second one was a planned c-section and it took me 6 weeks to be physically released back to the barn but I still tired really easily for a couple weeks after that and the second baby slept through the night right from the start. The first spent the first 8 weeks screaming 24/7 due to an undiagnosed lactose allergy. You need to listen to your body and your doctor. If you do things too soon you can increase the amount of scar tissue that forms, tear stitches out, etc. Amy D.

Whatever you do, just make sure that you listen to the advice of take it easy! I was just on ibuprofen by the second day (no other pain meds), and made sure to walk (slowly) around a bit every day, and seemed to do ok with all of that. My incision ended up opening up about a week after leaving the hospital, which may have been because I did too much at home. Rest when you can, and take the time to just hold your baby. Don't worry about working out for 6 weeks or so - your body has just been through a major trauma, and needs to recover!

Hi E., I have had four c-sects. The first one, I was in so much pain after wards for about 6-8 wks. The 2nd wasn't too much better, and then the other two were a little easier. My last one, the Doc didn't give me a lot of numbing med in the stomach and I could feel EVERYTHING...him cutting me, pushing on my stomach to get the baby to move, then pulling the baby out and last him stitching me up. I was screaming and crying so hard with her, sometimes I think actual labor would have been easier if that had been possible for me, which it wasn't. On the flip side of that, she was my fastest recovery to be healed, and feeling back to normal.

E.,
I think everyone heals differently. For me recovery was very fast. The pain medication they give you obviously helps a lot at first, but even after I got home I would forget to take the pain medication. As for when to start working out, Take your time. Plus its hard to find the time at first anyways. Enjoy your baby:)

When I had my first I was in pain for a good month more so especially when I was laying down and getting to an upright position. I was at Target shopping in a week but I have high pain tolerance. With my second I wasn't in as much pain after surgery like I was with my first. The second time was way better for pain. I was doing the same things as my first though. I would wait until they tell you it's okay to workout. Even though you may feel great doesn't mean that you are healed all the way and the same weight restrictions should be in place.

I think I was told 6-8 weeks for total recovery. But I was able to drive after two weeks. I don't remember when the lifting restriction was lifted. For me recovery went well. Pain was manageable with Motrin after 5 days. You'll see your doctor at 2 weeks and can ask the doctor when you can start exercising.

I had two c-sections and recovery time for each was totally different. I had my first c-section under emergency circumstances, was in my early thirties, and was in great physical shape before my pregnancy. I worked up until a week before I delivered, and even though I had to have an emergency c-section, I felt like myself almost a day or so after surgery. I was back on my feet and moving around about a week after delivery and I was able to doing everything like I did before the baby very quickly.

Doctors recommend 4-6 weeks recuperation time to ensure no "rupture" complications, not because it necessarily takes that long to feel like yourself again. The stomach has many layers of tissue, and so this timeline is an estimated window of how long it takes the stitches etc. to heal without rupture. So they recommend no driving, or heavy lifting, or abdominal exercises for a while.

I think there are alot of factors that go into recovery time. Your age, general health, and the circumstances of delivery have a lot to do with recovery time.

My second c-section was planned, but I was on strict bedrest for 6 months for a high-risk pregnancy and other serious problems. I was also older and had a v-bac in between. Though the c-section was planned, I wound up in an emergency c-section again, and during surgery had some hemmoraging and other related difficulties (including a broken pelvis!!). Recovery for this c-section was about 6 weeks before doctors deemed me healed. I didn't feel physically good for about 2-3 months.

The biggest help is being in reasonably good shape and fairly healthy (no medical issues) to start with. If you exercise regularly, and have reasonably strong stomach muscles, you have half the battle won in quick recovery.

4-6 weeks sounds right if you were sick leading up to the c-section, as I was (pregnancy induced hypertension, bed rest, intensive care, the whole bit). I think if you are healthy leading up to the surgery, it is more like 2-3 weeks.

One thing I remember is that it is important to get up and get moving the very next day, even though it hurts.

I have actually had 2 and my second one was last wednesday. I really had no problems with either, soar but not bad. I was up walking as soon as they would let me, which was like 12 hrs after the delivery. Your right everyone is different, the only advice that I have found is just listen to your body. Don't push yourself to hard. You can't drive, workout or do much lifting over the weight of the baby and the carseat for the 1st 5 days after being discharged. My 1st one took me about 2 weeks before I felt like I was back to myself, this one...well I think I am getting there. I still have a little trouble sitting up in the bed with out like getting on my side first and that 1st time up in the morning, its still hard to do, but once I get moving, no problems. Just listen to your body and doctor and don't push to hard.

Hey. I have had two wonderful kids- (23months and 6months) so they are 17 months apart and both were emergency c-section. I think the first week I was taking it pretty easy, but then I just kind of went back to my normal activities. I know with my 6 month old, it was a lot easier because my 23 month old keeps me busy, so yea it didn' ttake that long., butlike everyone says, eveybody is different and heals differently. good luck and hope it all turns out great!

I had an emergency c-section with my second child. I think the recovery was about 6-8 weeks before I could do more strenuous things like working out. The less strenuous activities were allowed sooner and depended on getting off the pain medication. Driving on prescription pain killers is not advised.

I didn't read the other responses to your e-mail, but I imagine you'll get a few stories that talk about it taking so long. I think that depends on the person and their personal situations. So, take it all with a grain of salt!

Good luck next week!

Hi E....I know you have gotten tons of responses, but I figured I would tell you my opinion anyway. I agree that it depends on the person (and your pain tolerance)...but the quicker you get up and moving the better your recovery. You have to take it easy...but you'll know when you're overdoing it. I went grocery shopping with my husband the day we came home with our second baby (my MIL babysat for an hour). You'll be good and sore for a week or two, but after two weeks you'll feel a whole lot better. I started running 4 weeks after my second one, but with the third one, I bled a little longer, so I waited 6 weeks...but I was an avid runner...both prepregancy and during. So I definitely agree it depends on the person. Enjoy the time to recover..it's the perfect excuse to do NOTHING :) For once.

that all depends, most likely, on your condition before the pregnancy. if you were and are pretty fit, you have a higher chance of bouncing right back. if you werent you probably will take a little longer to get back into it. take it easy, dont rush ANYTHING... you dont want to hurt yourself during your healing.

if you are breastfeeding, use a little breastmilk on the area once in a while/daily ... see what happens. i have heard a lot about breastmilk being VERY good for just about everything. i used it in my son's eye when he had an issue there.. and it cleared right up. still havent remembered to try it on a cut or anything... so i cant guarantee anything.

good luck, and dont rush!

Honestly it was about 6 weeks with my first that I started to feel normal. However, I still ran errands took care of the baby, ect.

My second one I felt better sooner. As a result I was alot more active..cleaning, taking care of a toddler and an infant, ect.

HOWEVER, I did learn that there is a reason they tell you take it easy and not lift. I ended up tearing my inside incision and have a HUGE hernia now, which will have to be repaired in the future. So head your doctor's advise about taking it easy--but it is not like you will be laid up that entire time.

Good luck.

A.

I've had 3 c-sections and each time it was different. You will have a weight restriction put on you for 4-6 weeks for sure where you cannot lift anything over 15-20 lbs - (you don't want to pull your stitches). After 24 hours of labor with my first child they performed the c-section and I was unprepared for it and the pain so when they told me to get up and walk afterwards I didn't want to so I didn't. I believe that hurt my recovery so I would encourage you to get up and walk right away when they tell you to even though you won't feel like it. It did take me about 4-6 weeks before I felt "normal" again. I also had a couple of infections, one with my stitches and also mastitis within that time frame.
With my second I made myself get up and walk right away and 1 1/2 weeks later I was feeling pretty good. With my third it took a little longer again before I felt "normal" (2-3 wks) but I believe I had some depression going on then too which probably contributed to my recovery. Good Luck and enjoy your little miracle. No matter how they get here they are still precious! M. N.

I had a c-section a year ago and all I have to say is the more you move the better you will feel. At least that is how it worked with me. I found in the hospital the less I moved the more it would hurt when I got up. I was doing normal things soon after I got home. I didn't even need my pain pills a few days after I was home. My doctor was suprised that I didn't need my pain pills any more. The main thing to remember is that everyone is different in the healing process and your body will let you know what you can do. Good luck.

I couldn't do anything for 6 weeks, until released by the doctor. No driving for at least 4 weeks (for me) and lifting nothing heaver thatn the baby (including NO heavey l;aundry baskets, etc..) So that all i did, was lift my baby... lol. I healed faster after my second c-section than i did the first. Thake the meds as you need them...it was alot of pain for me. Take it easy and just focus on the baby. Let you husband (or visitors) focus on the house and other kids (if there are any). I know a gal who ripped open her incision after 8 weeks so do listen and not rush doing the working our, running....listen to your Ob's advise. Good Luck!! Taker advantage of only being able to lay in bed a few days after the c-section, its then best rest i'd ever gotten .. lol

I had 2 C's I was able to run errands with out pain in about 2 to 3 weeks. I went back to work in 7 weeks with my 1st and I took 8 weeks to be home with my 2nd. I would not try to work out heavily till at least 6 to 8 weeks. My job is 10 hours on my feet and 2 miles (on a pedometer) of walking a day. I had no problems either time. Just play it according to you not your doctor. They have to base their advise on the side of caution, which is a good thing but not always practical.

I had 2 c-sections and 1 natural. I was up and about pretty quickly. However, I moved a lot slower. My doctor didn't let me exercise until 8 weeks after delivery. I would say that the first 1-2 weeks were the roughest. I can't say about returning to work because I was a SAHM for both. Good luck with yours. I personal had very smooth c-sections. Just make sure you follow your doctors instructions.

Actually scheduled c-sections do better than non-scheduled. You do not have to go through labor and therefore do not have to recover from labor and major surgery. The truth is within two weeks you will be feeling great. You still should take it easy though. No lifting nothing heavier than the baby for 2 weeks and no DRIVING. Many forget this. The truth is, you will probably get the thunmbs up at your six week check, but should start slow with exercise before giving it the full force. I would wait until the 8 week mark as everything is usually back by then. Remember it took 9 months to make your body, give it 9 months to recover. Happy baby bonding and speedy recovery.

I've had 2 c-sections and both were different. The first one, I was very sore and painful for several weeks, but I had a premature baby and was going back and forth to the hospital daily and not recovering the way I should have. The second one was a breeze - no comparison on pain levels, but this one, I had help with my other child and I was able to sleep and relax for a week after and that made a world of difference!

Regarding activities: it is important that you allow the tissues to heal, regardless of pain levels. I was told no driving for 2 weeks (because it takes abdominal strength to move your foot on the pedals and reaction time may be slower due to pain, etc), no lifting anything heavier than the baby, limit walking up stairs, no vacuuming (yeah).

Good luck and congrats on the baby,
K.

Dear E.,
It really depends on the person and their health. My mom had c-sections with all three of us girls. 4-6 weeks was about right for her. I have known others to recover more quickly, and yet others to take much longer to recover. Make sure you eat right, get plenty of rest and nurture the wound post-surgery. It is probably best to plan for the longest scenario, just in case.
You might try putting activated charcoal poultices on the wound 1-2 times/day for several weeks after the surgery. It's amazing what that stuff can do to speed healing!!! For instructions on "making a charcoal poultice" directions and supplies see www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com (p.s. you don't have to heat the flax-charcoal mixture to make the poultice, just mix ground flax meal and charcoal with warm water and stir, add more flax or charcoal until it starts to gel up enough to apply -- you might avoid getting the actual incision area wet for the first week, but after that it will be okay to do so -- make sure you clean the area thoroughly when done -- you might mix the charcoal with 100% pure aloe gel, found at health-food stores, instead of flax meal).

Also, contrary to the advice of some, it is best to stay off pain meds if you can. Always remember, what you ingest or absorb, will affect your baby when nursing. You also might want to check out the following sites on milk and vaccinations to help protect your baby later on:
www.notmilk.com
http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/calcium_foods.htm
http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/print/2003-N...
http://www.safeminds.org/mercury/

I have had 2 C-sections and 8 weeks is a good full recovery. You spend the first 2 weeks trying to get out of bed and walking because of the stitches. You really shouldn't be lifting anything and only doing light house work. I would suggest have a good support system at home for your recovery. I unfortunately had my mother in law as my care taker for my 1st c-section and she was no help at all because all her births were natural delivery and did not understand the difference. She felt a week was sufficent to be in bed!! Good luck to you.