How Long of a Recovery for C-section??

I just had my second c-section. My recovery was much quicker this time. I actually felt pretty good after 2 weeks - though I waited 3 weeks before I lifted my 2 1/2 year old. My new baby is now 5 weeks old and I feel just about 100% better - less the sleep deprivation.

Ok, I just had a section exactly 7 weeks ago today. I will tell you the first week is probably the roughest. 2nd week you will be feeling great and can over do it very easily. You aren't suppose to pick up anything over 25 lbs for 6 weeks. Well by week 4 I was already picking up my 2 year old who is over 25 lbs. I was back to myself and doing everything I use to last week. I wouldn't do too much cleaning like vacuuming for at least 6 weeks. That was basically the only thing I didn't do. Oh, I didn't do any laundry for 4 weeks. Any other questions please feel free to ask. This was my 2nd section.

I had a really long recovery but I had a pretty long labor before having an emergency c-section. I was able to get up in do things but with great effort. I would say at 6wks I was better but 8wks is when I felt more like myself. You still have weird pings and soreness but nothing like the 1st couple of weeks. I over did it when I started to feel better and made thhings worse and set myself back a bit. Take it easy as long as you can.

I would give your self at least 6 weeks(if not 8 weeks). I think it is that long before your lifting restrictions are lifted. I moved every day, but I was very sore. I did not even change a diaper until my sone was 1 1/2 weeks old I was so sore, my husband did it. Congratulations.

I had a scheduled c-section with my first and, physically, it took me about 2 months to recover. I felt able to care for my newborn and do some basic house work after about a month, but did not return to exercise or any type of strenuous activity until I was about 8 weeks pp. It takes a while for the abdominal muscle to heal enough for you to do a lot of bending over, lifting, pushing and pulling, etc... which all sound like typical daycare duties to me! If you can, I would give yourself at least 2 months, if not 3.
Congrats and good luck!

I had an emergency c-section with my son, and I actually had a really quick recovery. I was up and moving with very little pain after about the 4th or 5th day. I was doing laundry by the beginning of my 2nd week home. I would take as much time as you think you'll need given the worst case scenario.

I had a vaginal delivery, but had two friends have c-sections within days of eachother at the same hospital. They both had completely different recovery times. For one, they were up and around the next day and felt great in about 2-3 weeks. The other seem to be much more sore and needed closer to six weeks. Most jobs give off 6 weeks for maternity and give you 8 weeks when you have a c, so that would be a good guideline. I would say err on the side of more time, you can always have the kids come back earlier if you are feeling good. I think more than just the recovery time from the c-section, you should consider that it may take that long just to get on some kind of schedule with the sleeping and eating and getting used to two kids versus one, allow for that adjustment. I totally get where you will be coming from, I have a three year old girl and run a home daycare...we are considering getting pregnant next year and I also want to handle the time off as best as possible. I would say 6-8 weeks if you can.

M.,

Congratulations on your second baby! I had a C-section to deliver my twins. I started feeling good after two weeks, but still a little weak and achy for about six weeks. Be sure to give yourself time to heal since you'll not only have a new baby, but a little girl to take care of! I was very worried about having a C-section, but it wasn't as bad as I expected.

Best of luck to you!

I didn't have a C-Section with my 2 but, I am an RN and most doctors won't let you go back to work until your 6 week appointment. You will be on a lifting restriction during that time and some doctors will have you on a lifting restriction for 8 weeks. Since you are working at a daycare and probably need to lift, I would plan on being off at least 8 weeks. Good Luck!

I had my son via c-section and i want to say it was probably a week for me that i was very sore...but able to return to normal activity - except there was a weight restriction after the delivery for the first two weeks.

With both of my c-sections, I was teaching aerobics, again, at 6 weeks and driving at three weeks.

Hi M.,

Congrats on soon-to-be #2!! I agree with everyone else, especially Melissa the RN. I had a c-section with my son and the doc wouldn't let me even think about going back to work until after my 6 week checkup (which, actually was extended by two weeks, so 8 in total). You don't want to overdo it, Heaven forbid you pop a stitch or get an infection or whatever else.

Only you will know how your body will react and heal and while it might seem like a long time at first, those initial 6 weeks will go by like that. And hopefully the parents of the kids you take care of will be more than understanding.

You might find it more difficult than originally theorized to deal with healing with a c-section, taking care of a newborn, AND your little girl, without adding the concern of whether or not you can handle the daycare kids.

Listen to your body, enjoy the addition to your family!

Good luck with everything!

K.

My total recovery was about six weeks. I'd say maybe after two or three weeks you might be ready to start watching kids again. It's really hard for me to remember now. It's hard to say. Like you said, everyone is different and you certainly don't want to over-do it. You're supposed to be in the hospital for 4 days with a c-section. I only stayed for two. I found that although it really hurt, the sooner I made myself get up and start walking around the better I felt.
Good Luck!

Hi M. ~
I had a c-section last August. I would say I needed about 6 weeks if not a little more. Even after the 6 weeks I was still a little sore. I was lucky enough to have 12 weeks maternity leave so that really helped. But of course everyone is different. I would say at least 6 weeks though. Like another woman said...this is major surgery you are having. So definately give your body and mind a chance to heal :) Especially with having to take care of the newborn and a 3 year old!

Good luck to you!!

I think it has a lot to do with how fit you are sometimes. Also, there is a recovery difference between the bikini cut and the vertical cut. I had to have a vertical cut due to the moose-like size of my son (lol) and it took me about 10 weeks to start getting up and down easier. I used to run a home daycare, but not at that time. I know the physical demands it can take on your body. I would say if you have kids that you have to pick up (other than your baby), tell the parents 6-8 weeks and take it really easy as they come back. I know it is difficult for everyone involved when a home daycare provider takes time off, but you could really hurt yourself if you lift and overdo it too early.

Good luck and congrats in advance!
A.

Hi M.,
I had a c-section with my daughter and can tell you my experience. I would recommend a bare minimum of 8 weeks to recover. That is if you really, really can't take any more time. I would say I was still a little sore, but able to walk and lift things again at that point. If you can take 10-12 weeks, that would probably be better for you and baby in the long run. A C-section is major surgery! Esp if your job is running after little ones all day long, you will want to be as recovered as possible before going back to work.
Good luck,
MC

I really needed 6 weeks. You are having major surgery, and you have a lot on your plate with a newborn and three year old. I recovered well, but I have friends who needed 8 weeks too, so I suggest you start with 8 and can always go back earlier. Good luck.

You have a very demanding job! At least 8 weeks. If there's a way to ease into it, do.

Depending on your age stitch healing can be4-8 weeks. As far as daycare, you can't be lifting preschoolers when they fall or even pushing a vaccuum for a couple of months. Not much on stair climbing etc. Get some help for daycare so you don't injure yourself internally.

hi well i had a c-section May 10 2008 i wasnt scedualed to have it but the little one heart rate droped and we had to have an emergecy c-section no fun. i was told it would be 8 week or more just depending on my body and how i was feeling. in the end it took longer because i got an infection. so i was back in the hospital a week after going home. as long has you follow the rules like little to no staries and no lifting heavy thing for the first week or more you should be fine. dont over do it take your time to do things and if people ofer to help with thing let them it will let you rest and you will heal a lot faster. hope this helps good luck with everything

I would think about at least 8 weeks to heal before being able to lift kids and bend/play with them.

You don't mention what your complication is, but consider a second opinion as well. C-section is major abdominal surgery and you would be surprised at the different answers you get from different providers.

Best wishes either way!

I am a daycare provider and have had two c-sections. After my first I started watching kids after 3 weeks. I was feeling great and had no problems at all. My 2nd was born on a Thursday. I started watching the preschoolers the following Wednesday and was fine because I didn't have to do any lifting. The younger kids came the following Monday (11 days). Things were a little more difficult that time around. If I was able to afford to take more time I would've been much better off waiting one more week for the younger ones. Immediately after my kids were born I wondered how in the world I would be able to take care of myself and my own kids. It's amazing how quickly I healed though. After about 5 days I was feeling so much better. Just make dure to take it easy at first so that you don't set yourself up for a longer recovery.