C-Section Recovery & Preparation: Personal Advice
Today’s guest post is from Carrie of Growing Baby Reviews where Carrie offers her personal advice, preparation and her own c-section recovery experiences.
Thanks Carrie 
I’m the mom a 2 ½ year old son and an 8-month-old daughter, both born via c-section, but the two experiences could not have been more different!
My first c-section was a surprise, done after one failed induction attempt and one “successful” induction attempt that resulted in my son failing to come out after 4 hours of pushing. It was not an emergency c-section, but due to my utter exhaustion and experiencing excruciating back pain when put on the operating table, I chose to be put under general anesthesia.
Unfortunately, this meant that my husband was not allowed to be present for our son’s birth, and he had an hour-long wait in the labor room. It took me a few hours to fully get out of the anesthesia, but I was still able to breastfeed right away and hold my son.
My second c-section was completely planned and scheduled. We showed up at the hospital, checked in, and walked to the operating room. My husband was with me the entire time, and everything went smoothly.
Even though it was my second child and second c-section, we had no idea of what had gone on at the first, so it was all new to us. The worst part for me was the spinal block, because the sensation of not being able to move my legs really bothered me for the first few minutes. I did calm down pretty quickly and everything went really smoothly from there. My daughter was born 45 minutes after we walked to the operating room, safe and healthy. Everything was very calm and easy- I was even a little bored while I waited for the doctor to finish up!
Again, I was able to breastfeed as soon as we got to the recovery room and hold my baby.
I had a fairly easy recovery from both c-sections, with no infection or problems with my staples. I did have to take it easy and not lift much, especially the first few weeks. And climbing stairs was definitely out for about a month.
There were however a few things that I learned with my first c-section recovery that really helped with my second.
1. Take your pain medications on schedule, particularly the first few days. Your body has been through a lot and you will be hurting. It’s easier to deal with the pain if you take the medications on schedule than if you fall behind and have to try to get rid of the pain.
2. Accept any and all help offered. A c-section is major surgery, on top of all the hormones and exhaustion that come along with being a new mom. It’s sometimes hard to ask for help, but you need to try.
3. Think carefully about your c-section recovery at home and about who you allow to come into your home. Again, you’re recovering from major surgery, pregnancy and trying to figure out breastfeeding. You do not need to be playing hostess as well. If someone is bringing you food or cleaning your home or entertaining other children, great, if they’re expecting to be entertained, try to say no, or make your husband do it.
4. Be educated on the possibility of a c-section before you go to the hospital. Decide with your partner before hand what you will do in certain situations. Talk things through before you get to the high-emotion, very exhausting world of labor and delivery.
5. Have an idea of what you want for your child’s birth, but be aware that might not go exactly as you think it will. And remember that, even if you have a c-section, you’re still a mom, and the important thing is that you and your baby are okay.
You May Also Find These Interesting...
Great article, Carrie!! I couldn’t agree more!