Question about c'sections

MyBrownEyedBoy wrote: My little sister will be having a planned c-section in October. It is for medical reasons. My question is, who has had a C, and how long did it take for you to feel up to doing much. My mom will be there for week one, my dad for week two. I can make it for week three if she needs me, but she seems to think I should wait until week 5 or 6 so we can do more sister stuff. She will be single parenting, dad is pretty much out of the picture. So, if she is going to need the help 3 weeks later, I want to do that. I don't care if I am cooking and cleaning instead of shopping and having portraits done. She came out to stay with me 7 weeks after Logan was born, but I had him naturally and I really recouperated quick. I am just clueless about C section recoveries. Please let me know.
Thanks, Kelly.

moped replied: Well I would say that yes she will need you - I had help for 2 weeks and that was great - and I did manage ok without anyone (dh worked a lot) but it got lonely and overwhelming with a baby

jacobsmama replied: Yes it would be. I had normal delivery but I work in OBGYN and most patients say takes good 3-4 weeks to feel up to doing everyday normal things. But if this is first baby the stress from that is enough...I think you should be prepared to go and help her. Just IMO though

coasterqueen replied: I was up and moving around with baby by 2 weeks. Dh only stayed with me the first week so I had to do everything by myself when he went back to work.

3xsthefun replied: Rob stayed with me for the first week after I had my c-section with Maegan. I had little bit help afterwards but not much. I done alot of stuff myself after Rob went back to work. He did help me do laundry after he got home from work and stuff.

I'm sure she will need your help, and you probably should be ready if she should call you.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Since my sister lives in Texas and I live in Idaho, I'll have to buy plane tickets before the big event. So, playing it by ear won't work for us. I think I'll talk to her over our visit this coming week and see what she thinks. I want her to feel comfortable. It is her first baby and I vividly remember how tough that was. So, I'll let her know either way is fine with me.

MissyKay2005 replied: I had a c-section with my first and will be again with my second and I remeber it being tough the first week and a half or so. After that I was able to do more on my own. I hope she recovers quickly and has a smooth operation Like other said she will need help ether way after the second week for emotional suport

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Thank you all so much. I have never had a more supportive group online. I am going to plan to go for week three. If she is feeling up to it, we can take the kids (Logan is coming with me) for a walk. If not, I'll rent movies, make stirfry and we'll veg on the couch. Any time spent with my sissy is good time as far as I am concerned.

NummyMommy replied: I had a c with my last and was going to say it depends on how well it goes.....but going for the third week is a wise choice....that way you're there if she needs you

lisar replied: I have had 2 c-sections and within a week I was back to normal. Its tender and sensitive but nothing you cant cope with. I would be there for her for the NO SLEEP and having to get used to it. I would have loved more help with that. And cleaning the house. Those are things I would have loved to have more help with.

Lisa

Insanemomof3 replied: I think it just depends on the situation. And the person. Some people heal up well, I didn't. With Tristan it took me about 6 weeks to be able to do much, but with Demetri it was about 3-4 weeks. I have known people though that are up and about feeling GREAT after a week. I am amazed by those women.

Jamison'smama replied: My opinion....go week 4--give her a week alone with the baby. She will probably be feeling fine--I was okay after the first week and doing well by week 2 with both of my C-sections. I was craving some alone time so even if you gave her a few days (3-4) by herself, she will realize what she needs the most help with and you can pick up the slack. By that time the cooked meals/fresh groceries etc. may bet getting low.

Kaitlin'smom replied: for me it was so unexpected, I was told the best way to get back to feeling better was to walk not tons at first but even up and down the hallway with Kait would be good. My mom stayed with mee for the rest of the week after I got home and DH was of the next week. I do wish he could have been off longer but it all worked out. It was just not at all what I expected.

boobies4virtue replied: I had to have one b/c princess decided that she didn't want to tuck her head or turn right. Stubborn as her father.
...meanwhile, back at the ranch...
I was up walking pretty well by day 2 and I went shopping for a new doggie door when she was eight days old. And since I was out shopping, I just continued. As long as you have pain killers, you can be up walking and going, just take it easy, by the end of the first week.
As for the pain killers, I tried to not take them. Tell her to take them! Maybe not as much as they say, they told me to take 2 every 6 hours and when I came home, i took 1 every 6 hours. By the end of the first week, I only took them before i was going to have to be walking a lot.

Tell her not to laugh immediatly following!!! No matter what! It hurts, it's horrible! No one tells you these things! Be careful when laughing at least the first 5 days. I had to laugh like *the Nanny* for a week. Deep rumbly belly laughs are horrific.

Stairs are not pleasant. Give yourself a good 10 minutes to climb them the first few days.

And my last piece of advice, If the hospital will let you stay, stay. No matter what. That bed that sits you up and the shower chair and the pull bar by the toilet are all very, very helpful!

mckayleesmom replied: I was at the mall shopping before Mckaylee was 2 weeks with no pain meds....With Russell...I was cleaning my house and taking care of all the people that came to help me (they all got the flu). I was again shopping before 2 weeks and going to the mall of America.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I cooked dinner the night after we got home from the hospital and since I had suffered an injury in the 8th month(broke my leg and it required a plate and 7 screws to fix) Dh had to go to work and there was nobody here to help. He had already taken off a lot of work after my first surgery! I just did it! It was very uncomfortable at times and of course all the new mommy stuff that you are getting used to but I think it is all about your mind set~I didn't do drugs with my leg(because of the baby)so maybe that is why I was able to cope with the c-section without! I am more inclined to say that week 6-7 would be better,if she has help those first 2 weeks she may want some time with baby to herself and be ready for some sister fun in a few weeks! I know by that first month's end when everybody has gone back to not calling so often I was REALLY wanting some girl talk and support! That is so great that you guys sound so close!

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
She has become my best friend, ever since we stopped sharing a room that is. I am beginning to think that you guys may be right about letting her have alone time with the baby. My mom and dad were here the day after Logan was born, but we spent most of his first week in Primary Children's Hospital. So, I really craved more time with my folks. I really only had one day after we got back home to spend with them getting used to being a mommy. Not enough, I had nurses helping with EVERYTHING for 6 days, then I was turned loose. It was terrifying. So, I will be seeing her little belly for the first time since April in a few days and I'll ask her then what she really wants.