About C section recovery?

Question

I am planning to have another C section. This will be my third what are somethings that I can do to help speed up recovery?

Because with my first I was afraid to move because I thought my incision will open up so I stood on my butt more. And with my second I was still kind of afraid but it went better than my first and this one I want to just get better and do what I got to do .

So what are somethings I can do ?

Answer 1

I've had 4!  I would get up and take my baby for walks (in the little Bassinetts).  By the time I came home - I was pretty comfortable.

Answer 2

It's very cool and wise that you are thinking ahead to the challenging C-Sect. recovery time!  

You don't say how far along you are, so i'm not sure how long you have to prepare.  But these are some things you can do in advance to help your body be as healthy as it can be.  

Make sure you take your prenatal vitamins.  Take with food if they upset your stomach, but DON'T take with an antacid, as that reduces how much they are absorbed

Try to go out walking for about 30" at least 3-4x a week -- more days are better if you can possible squeeze it in while busy with the other kids!  Take them, too!  It's OK to break up your 30" into three 10" walks, if that way would work better for your schedule.  Walking is an easy, do-able exercise that can help you stay as fit as possible.  It helps keep your muscles tighter and stronger,  and so they more easily return to normal.  

Make sure you get enough fiber to keep those bowels moving!  Obviously pregnancy tends to make us constipated anyway.   But since a C- Sect goes inside your body, the bowels react by shutting down for a while.  This is common with ANY abdominal surgery. By keeping regular NOW, you'll sooner get back into normal bowel movements with less pain AFTER the surgery.  If you need info on high fiber foods, post again and i'll discuss those.

Try to get a good night's sleep before the surgery.  Request as early a surgery time as possible.  It doesn't hurt to ask!

After surgery, get out of bed as soon as possible and moving even tho it hurts so much.  Movements helps your circulation and your bowels to return to normal.  Drink fluids (water, juice, milk) to help stimulate your system.  

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT:  

Take your pain medicine on a REGULAR SCHEDULE!  Don't wait till the pain gets "too much".  The reason for this is,  your body CANNOT heal well when you are in pain.  If you wait till your pain level gets too high, it takes MORE pain medicine and MORE time for the medicine to work, to bring that pain down to a manageable level.  Taking the pain meds BEFORE it gets too bad can help control the pain much more effectively.  

If you are nursing the baby, talk with your midwife, nurse practitioner, or doc about the best kind of pain medicine to take, and how to time it (usually just AFTER you nurse).

When you return home after the birth, restart those prenatals, fluids, stool softeners, and high fiber diet as soon as possible

Finally, plan ahead on meals:  ask friends (or church/synagogue/mosque) to help provide some, call in Grandma, freeze some ahead.... all to save your energy to cope with physical recovery and with all your little ones.  AND...  If there is an area of the house that would just drive you crazy after the surgery because it's not tidy or organized, try to get at it now if you can.  (Maybe ask a friend to help you.)

I hope this helps!  Post again if you have more questions!

Kathy, RN, MSN

Answer 3

Relax as much as you can but don't be afraid to get up and move around I am having my third on Monday and expect things to go even better this time. Walking as much as your body will let you helps, don't go out for a marathon but don't just lay around all the time. Small amounts of walking around the house throughout the day will help speed recovery because it increases oxygen to the blood which helps heal wounds. Eat very healthy and continue to take your vitamins. Listen to your body it will tell you if you have done too much.