Recent Moms That Had a C-section, Please Answer..

I had 2 c-sections. I didn't want help with either, I just wanted to be home with my family and wanted to get thing to normal as soon as possible.
Think ahead for the 2nd. get things "ready" to make it easier for you. example: set up a changing place that you dont have to bend so far, same as bath and laying down to sleep....you can do it. Just think back to bringing the first baby home and what would make things the easiest for you.
Good luck!

it all depends on how quickly you heal. I've had two c-sections (scheduled for a third Nov. 9) and was back on my feet fairly quickly with both. Definitely set up every thing you need for the day downstairs. After the first week, maybe two, you should be fine.

Hi i am a mom of 3 first was natural and last 2 were c-section i had alot of help with my first c-section but when i had my 2nd it was just me ya granted i had family stop by every once in a while to see how i was and if i needed any thing but i also got my tubes tied to wich put me in more pain then normal but i did itand it was not that bad. i would of had help if my mom dint die 3 weeks before i had the baby. So if u have faith in your self and put your mind to it you can do it just take your time and dont try to rush. Hope i was helpful and good luck with the new addition when it arrives. Also by the way my kids ages are 9 year old girl 3 1/2 year old boy and 19 month girl.

I had 2 C sections: the first was a difficult recovery...I still had pain come and go for up to a year! The second one was 1000 times easier. I was up and at it almost immediately and never had one recurring pain after the initial recovery.

What helped me most was setting up a pack-n-play with diaper changing station downstairs so that I could avoid going up and down the steps a million times during the day for the first few weeks.

Next to the pack-n-play downstairs I had a big supply of diapers, wipes, cream, and many changes of clothes for the baby and also 1 change of clothes for me for those unexpected diaper leaks and spit-ups.

Then either last thing at night or first thing in the morning, my husband would re-stock it for me for the next day.

Hi Mable,

Having your mom would be of great help to you and your family.

After all, she is the new grandmother as well. The exercise will do her good.

Don't worry, all will go well. Good luck. D.

Hi Mable,

I am a mom of four. In Dec 2007 I delivered twins by c-section. My first c-section. I did not realize how different it was compared to vaginal births. With my others I was up and around the same day. Depending on where you deliver you will have a few days to recoup in the hospital. However, you will have limitations to what you can do physically. At the time I delivered my twins I also had a two year old so it was hard. My husband had to work and I don't have family that could come stay. My mom came on every day she had off of work and helped and my cousin came to help when she could. What I did was...I prepared for the day. I could only do the stairs once in the morning and once in the evening so I had my husband set up the living room as my little space. That way I could take care of babies while not hurting myself...I moved everything...diapers, put pack n play in there and took my naps on the couch. The most important thing for me was to try not to lift too much and remember to not use your stomach to get yourself up out of a chair. I let the house stuff go for the beginning....that waited until hubby or my mom or my oldest (12) could help me out. You job is just to care for that new baby...I took whatever help people were will to give and just did not expect things to be perfect.

You will need help...I managed twins and a two year old without someone coming to stay with me and very little help...maybe two days a week. After a few weeks I was able to do more light cleaning so things eventually get back to normal.

Hope that helps.

E.

first of all - congrats on your 2nd baby!
I'm not sure where you live but you might want to consider a doula - I work for Heart & Hands - we help w/ births as well as post partum - we can do overnights, daytime help - we help the parents and with the baby - this covers a wide range of things - mom's rest, baby care, helping w/ siblings in terms of activities/attention, light housekeeping, laundry, cooking - it works on an hourly basis - if you'd like more info I'd love to talk w/ you - and, again, congrats on your addition!

I had a c-section 10 months ago with my twins. Everyone is different. I was up and walking to the nicu on a separate floor within 18 hours. My mom stayed with us for 3-4 days when we came home. I did set up a station down stairs and it worked great.

Hi, I just had a c-section! You CANNOT get in and out of chairs or bed properly AT ALL for the first 7 days. Nursing is hard because you can't sit anywhere properly. You can't get in and out of bed and chairs to get the baby in and out of the crib-you need someone to hand you the baby...you can't get up and down to get enough drinks etc. you need total help for the first 7 days, and the second week, you still need quite a bit. I'm in week three now and doing fine with 3 kids and dad went back to work, but for the first week or two-you HAVE to have constant help. Sorry about the mother in law -I can relate, but you can't possibly manage if your husband goes away to work etc, believe me!!!! Congratulations! You'll love having your baby and your body back after!

You've already received some good advice. Here's my two cents after having 3 c-sections. You should be OK taking care of the kids, as long as you don't try to overdo it. I definitely agree with setting up a station downstairs for naps and diaper/clothes changes. I tried to limit my trips up and down stairs to once or maybe twice a day for the first week.

Also, if your toddler tends to like being carried/held a lot, I'd try to break the habit a little before the new baby comes since you really shouldn't lift anything heavier than your newborn for a while (not that I never did it, but tried not to). Also get him used to getting up into the carseat, chair at the table, etc. by himself if he doesn't already - emphasize he's a big boy (not that you can't do it because of the baby).

I was able to do the basic household tasks, including dishes and laundry, but I made DH carry the laundry baskets up and down the stairs. I also didn't try to tackle grocery shopping for a couple weeks at least (too much lifting, etc., especially with 2 kids with you).

Taking care of the kids will ensure you're staying active enough, but just be sure you rest enough too. Your body will still be healing.

While I do think you can manage on your own, I strongly advise that you have someone "on call" just in case you have complications and need more help. I had planned on doing it myself after my third c-section, but I had complications and did end up needing someone to help out. Even with that, I did do most of it myself, but it was nice being able to have someone help out with the older ones especially. You may even just want to plan on having your mom come for a half day a couple times the first week home even if everything goes smoothly.

Best of luck!

Hi Mable,

I had a C-section with both of my boys. The first was not planned, but the 2nd one was planned. I healed rather quickly with the first and was very nervous about the recovery time with the 2nd. Well for me I ended up recovering a lot quicker with the 2nd, but my mom was over anyone just in case I needed anything. I had steps as well so I would suggest that you use them as least as possible for the 1st 2 day after coming home. The more you move around after coming home, the faster you'll heal. Now that doesn't mean lifting heavy things, just keeping your body active and not freezing up on you. The mornings are the worst b/c your body is still during the night and then it sort of freezes when you go to get up in the morning. You should be fine, but keep my very close just in case. Good Luck, A.

I had 2 c-sections 14 months apart. I really didn't have much pain and didn't have any complications - although some women have different experiences. I followed doctors orders about lifting, stretching, etc and made my hubby do what I didn't feel comfortable doing. I had help for the first week with my first born and for a few days with my second born.

The way our house was set up made it easy for me to function without having to worry about going up and down steps. Everything I needed to make it through the day was on the first floor, even the laundry and a bathroom. We made sure everything I would need to take care of the kids was on the first floor - changing table, bassinet, pack-n-play, clothes... You get the idea. We planned ahead by making and freezing meals so I wouldn't have to do much cooking. All I had to do was thaw and heat them.

My 2 biggest frustrations were not being able to drive and needing to sleep in a seated position. If I laid down I couldn't get back up. I think I slept sitting up, or at least reclined against a pile of pillows, for 3 weeks. LOL

Congratulations and best wishes to you!

Wow. I just read the answers here and must say I must have had a VERY different experience than everyone else here. My recovery was terrible, and I needed a LOT of help (and I didn't have another little one to attend to). This c-section coming up in September my hubby is taking of a MONTH of work to help! I say have someone there as much as you can....its better to have help and not need it than to need it and not have it (btw, your incision can get infected if you do too much...that happened to me and it wasn't fun). Good luck, sweetie.

My first c-section had a lot of complications and healing time was longer. Fortunately my husband was off work for 2 weeks and it was my first baby so the 2 weeks help was all I needed. Second c-section was awesome! I was up and walking within a day and had very little pain. It was twins so I did need the help but am thinking I wouldn't have needed much help if it had been a singleton.

I had a c-section with my triplets almost 5 years ago. Granted, mine was a longer healing process due to triplets, but as long as there's no complications, there's no reason why you can't take care of your baby completely by yourself. I would get a back up person in case complications set in down the road.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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Hi Mable,
I am a mother of 4. My 3rd child was a c-section but my 4th child I chose a VBAC ( Vaginal Birth After C-section). Maybe a VBAC is something you might want to discuss with your doctor. I chose a VBAC because my c-section wasn't pleasant. I had 2 younger children and a newborn to care for while my husband was at work (day shift). The hardest part about a c-section is the getting up and down from a chair, couch, or bed. With a VBAC I was literally walking around that night and the next day I was going about caring for my children without the pain and discomfort of a c-section. My doctor told me many mothers prefer a c-section once they had one but in my experience I would take another VBAC over a c-section.

2nd c-section was this past December & i appreciated the help - it let me spend some time with my toddler son. just remember that you need to limit your stair climbing (if you have stairs) and go SLOW. even if the help is to prepare meals, that's one less task that you have to worry about.

Hi Mable.

I had a c-section 13 mos ago with my daughter. My mom stayed with us for 2 wks to help with night time feeds and postpartum issues (I had it bad). Physically, I was able to take care of the baby fine. I got sick when I came home from the pain meds so I had to stop taking them the first day and I was surprised to find that the pain was actually gone. I didn't even need Tylenol. Of course, everyone's recovery is different, but if it weren't for the postpartum and sleep deprivation, I would have been fine on my own. I don't think stairs are recommended when you first return home, but we don't have any here so I can't quite remember.

Well my c-section was 3 years ago but I remember it well.

I know they told me I couldnt do a whole lot the first week and your on meds. The healing for me took a full year. But you manage, as a single Mom, I didnt have much help but you get along plus I have steps to go up and down and couldnt avoid that but I tried to not do it too often. I kept everything I needed downstairs

I just walked slow and did everything at my own pace and didnt rush things.I would go according to your Dr's recommendations of course.

Good Luck and Congratulations.........
S.

That depends on your body the first at 38 i came home and passed out hallowen candy and felt fine wonder why people complain? then the second c-section at (42) i couldn't even get out of bed and was in the hospital for 6 days due to hernias i had 5 hernias from lifting when i was preg. but i also was 58 inches around John and Kate plus 8 was only 54 and had 6 i was 58 and had 5 hernias and one baby. (snall one)
good lucj
i think you should have some help

Each one is different, but remember that you won't be allowed to drive for 2 weeks, so you will need help with that. I would assume the worst and then be pleasantly surprised-- contact a post-partum doula if you don't have family that can help.

I never had a c-section sorry but, I would see if someone else can help, if your mom can not. Why not ask your husband to stay home for a week to help out. I am sure he can get time off of work. See if another relative could stay home with you for another week and help you out. within a few weeks you should be healed up enough to manage. good luck