OKay....so as I am preparing myself for more than likely having a C-Section, I've asked a few people about recovery time, etc., and with that have mentioned something about going to my parents' house for Christmas. Well the ones I've talked to had their C-Sections quite awhile ago, but they are telling me I can't even leave my house for two weeks so I won't be able to go over there for Christmas. I know I can't drive for a certain amount of time, but to not even be able to ride in a car is a bit ridiculous for me...Is that really how it is? I mean hell, the baby has to see the pediatrician within 72 hours of leaving the hospital, and DH sure as heck isn't going to that by himself :teehee So those with recent C-Sections...What's the deal?

You should be fine to ride in a car. I had my c section in August and had about an half an hour ride home from the hospital. It sucked everytime we hit a bump or anything but I survived. I can write more later.. ds just realized I left the room and is screaming for me :)

You're fine to ride in a car. But no driving. Recovery time? It really varies. It can take up to a year or more for those muscles and stuff to heal. And my incision area is STILL numb. It was tender for quite a few months. You'll start feeling better and better as time goes on but be careful with it. Also a helpful hint is to put a pantyliner on the top portion of your undies. Protects the incision area and keeps it dry. Also..Make sure you have some panties that go high. The last thing you want is to have that area rubbed by your undies. You gotta remember they are severing major muscles in your tummy so recovery will take some time. Within a couple of months I was fine for alot of things but like I said certain things still would hurt some. I did end up with an infection tho and a little while later my incision split open in the middle so my recovery was a teeny bit longer I am sure due to that. Liusten to your body. If it hurts then stop. ;)

G'luck

OKay....so as I am preparing myself for more than likely having a C-Section, I've asked a few people about recovery time, etc., and with that have mentioned something about going to my parents' house for Christmas. Well the ones I've talked to had their C-Sections quite awhile ago, but they are telling me I can't even leave my house for two weeks so I won't be able to go over there for Christmas. I know I can't drive for a certain amount of time, but to not even be able to ride in a car is a bit ridiculous for me...Is that really how it is? I mean hell, the baby has to see the pediatrician within 72 hours of leaving the hospital, and DH sure as heck isn't going to that by himself :teehee So those with recent C-Sections...What's the deal?


c-section? how big do they think the baby is now? z was 8 lbs 7oz and delivered without even a tear... but anyway, i've had some friends who've had c-sections and were up and about a few days after coming home from the hospital... i think it really varies upon the person and as cheesy as it sounds, the attitude of the person :) you heal faster when you set your mind to it... :) good luck with everything!!

Well they estimated with an ultrasound on Wed 8.9 lbs. I was told it could be off by a few, but then found out from my dad that all of the women on his side of the family have delivered 9 plus pound babies. The main concern with the doctor was the size AND his position...he hasn't even dropped into my pelvis yet and I haven't had any thinning or anything. I'm going in on Friday and I'm going to be scheduled for either an induction or C-Section, depending on if I've made any progress.

You can ride in a car...you just can't drive. I think you would be ok for a drive home....how far away is it? If it's a good distance then make frequent stops for you can stretch or your muscles might get too sore. The stops are also good for the baby to be able be gotten out of the carseat so he can stretch some...that helps to keep down on gas bubbles that he might get in his little tummy!

I had a C-section and I rode in a car a few times to go into town and stuff, it hurt pretty bad because of bumps and things, but I wasnt told I couldnt ride in a car!! My healing process was pretty fast. I think if you dont over do it, than you will heal faster! After two weeks I could walk around without any pain, but it took fully around 2 months before I didnt really feel any pain! Good luck!

I had a c-section 7 weeks ago. I was up and about using my pain meds percaset and hell the day we left the hospital we went out to dinner. The first two days were awful see if you can get them to not put in staples that was the worst part. I was driving two weeks after. I had Josh Amanda I don't know if you kept up with my pregnancy with Josh I was measuring big like you and bam I got a c- sec and he was 10lbs take your medications and dont try to do allot even if you feel good you will pay for it latter.

You'll be able to ride in a car.. I drove (a little) when DD was 5 days old, I had to, she had to be seen for jaundice and DH had just deployed. I was prescribed tylenol 3 for pain and never had it filled.. My epidural worked great for the surgery, and I had very little pain during recovery.

NO doing housework(I folded laundry and cooked, but couldn't load washer/dryer, vaccuum or do dishes), and no lifting anything heavier than the baby for 2 weeks are the big rules.

i have had two csections and scheduling my third next week.. my other two were with civilian doctors so I am not sure how it works with the military but, i can honestly tell u that u probably won't feel like a long drive especially if there are lots of bumps lol.. as far as not being able to leave the house for two weeks.. ugh i never heard of that.. i felt fine just after a few days but was up and really moving after a week.. just remember as painful and uncomfortable as it is, make urself get up and move, just rest as well.. that movement is going to save u!! good luck!! dc

I think first c-sections tend to be slightly worse for a couple of reasons...
1. you don't know what to expect. a lot of people go into having a c-section thinking it will be the easier way out when, in fact, it is a much more painful and longer recovery. so, you've got the shock factor of holy shit this hurts :lol
2. a lot of people labor before going in for the c-section since 1st sections aren't usually scheduled, so you've got the c-section recovery on top of recovering from the trauma of natural labor


However, that being said, even after almost 3 full days of natural labor with no working medication (my epi's did not take), then a very bad c-section (the doctors pretty much ripped me from hip to hip), I was still walking around the mall within 6 or 7 days afterwards. I only took me about a week to feel normal enough to be out and about and I'd say I was pretty much fully healed by about 4-5 weeks. With both my other c-sections, I recovered even faster and better. Like Becky said, I think a lot of it is definitely your frame of mind. With Jason going out to sea after Jaxon was born, I didn't really have the choice to not recover quickly. So, I stayed positive and wanted to be well enough to start going on walks with the new baby, getting out of the house, etc. And of course with my other two, I had other children to care for so I needed and wanted to recover as quickly as possible so we could all get back to some normalcy in our lives.

After my c-sections, the only time I ever recall the bumps and stuff hurting while we were riding in the car were on the way home from the hospital when I was only 2-3 days post surgery. Within a week or so, I wasn't tender enough for it to really bother me.

Like Kristi said, even a year or two later, your incision will probably still be tender and numb but I think that's normal and it doesn't and shouldn't prvent you from doing normal things like riding in a car. I've never heard that you shouldn't or couldn't ride in a car. Just don't drive for a week or two and until you're off your pain meds :)

the baby could drop anytime and you might need the section. :hugs

With DD I had a C-section, and I was fine to ride in a car....though it was a bit uncomfortable, and the only thing I did for a week was try to sleep.
You can't drive for 2 weeks, and no heavy lifting (usually anything heavier than your baby) or strenuous activity....but the only other things you're limited to do is what limits you put on yourself.
I mean, I was up and walking the the day after my C-section....I just refused to be confined to a bed and have everyone do everything for me....I hate that. lol

If its a long ride, you might get uncomfortable....I don't have any advice for that. Sorry... :lol

I think first c-sections tend to be slightly worse for a couple of reasons...
1. you don't know what to expect. a lot of people go into having a c-section thinking it will be the easier way out when, in fact, it is a much more painful and longer recovery. so, you've got the shock factor of holy shit this hurts :lol

Like Becky said, I think a lot of it is definitely your frame of mind.

Like Kristi said, even a year or two later, your incision will probably still be tender and numb...


I think you should wait a little longer before you start thinking C-section for sure...ALOT can happen in 8 days!! Like I said before think positive...you'll have a much better chance to enjoy :sex with dh before cruise with a vag birth...the insicion site really will be sore for a while...
every preg and birth is different for everyone, so just because big babies run on one side of your family or another shouldnt matter to much...The docs thought Val was 10+lbs but was only 7lbs at birth...but I started out plus size too...either way just try to be positive and IMO :pray for a vag birth because I'd rather poke my eyes with a fork than deal with another c-section!!!

I had a little tummy pillow that I used when I had my c/s. I would put the pillow over my incision area, and that made it easier for me to manuver. I had MAJOR complications, but I wish you well & there is still time for him to drop.

You will be just fine :)

After having a csection and being released from the hospital a few days later, I went out to dinner the night I was released and rode in a car for about 45 minutes (that is how long it took to get home). You will be sore, your muscles are cut but it isn't like you can't be around people.

I think you should wait a little longer before you start thinking C-section for sure...ALOT can happen in 8 days!!

It's not going be set up until Friday and it depends on if I've made any progress. If I'm still how I am now, then they won't be able to induce me because you have to either be thinned or dialated somewhat or something, I can't remember exactly, but if there are any changes then they can try an induction instead of automatically doing the C-Section. I'm just trying to prep myself for it because there hasn't been any progress yet...I don't really want to hold out a lot of hope just to be let down, you know? I'm already starting out with bad odds anyway with being overweight. Whatever we do though is going to happen on the 18th so I have time to get out of the hospital and have a few days to re-coup before I have to deal with my inlaws once they get here :sick

Oh...and if he really is that big, I could about guarantee there will be ripping/cutting going on down there if I do it natural and then sex before they leave is definately out of the question, but I've hear different things about having sex before the 6 week checkup after having a C-Section :shrug

It's not going be set up until Friday and it depends on if I've made any progress. If I'm still how I am now, then they won't be able to induce me because you have to either be thinned or dialated somewhat or something, I can't remember exactly, but if there are any changes then they can try an induction instead of automatically doing the C-Section. I'm just trying to prep myself for it because there hasn't been any progress yet...I don't really want to hold out a lot of hope just to be let down, you know? I'm already starting out with bad odds anyway with being overweight. Whatever we do though is going to happen on the 18th so I have time to get out of the hospital and have a few days to re-coup before I have to deal with my inlaws once they get here :sick

Oh...and if he really is that big, I could about guarantee there will be ripping/cutting going on down there if I do it natural and then sex before they leave is definately out of the question, but I've hear different things about having sex before the 6 week checkup after having a C-Section :shrug

I think the one thing you can garantee with kids/childbirth is there are no guarantees!! I just think if you keep an open mind (there are ways to try to prevent tearing during vag births) things wont be as stressful, and the last thing you should be dealing with a few days after getting home from the hospital is in-laws!! I'd seriously ask dh to have them stay in a hotel...but I'm just speaking from my own experience...You'll have your own experience in just over a week!!!

I've never had a c-sec, but recently a friend of mine had one and after a week she was up and moving and ready to get out of the house. She took a pillow in the car and held it against her belly. As far as being ripped or cut down there if you have a vaginal birth....I was sliced from front to back like a fish when I had Elizabeth and the best feeling ever was to have a childs pool ring to sit on at home and in the car.

I'd seriously ask dh to have them stay in a hotel...but I'm just speaking from my own experience...You'll have your own experience in just over a week!!!

Oh my God...yea they aren't staying here!! :scared They're staying at my parents!

i was out running errands the day we got out of the hosptial. We didnt have everything we needed.... Savannah was a month early. I drove when she was a week old. i was just told that as long as i am not taking the strong pain meds and was down to the motrin, that i could drive when i felt ready too. it was the same with Gabe and Chris.

Just remeber.... NO MATTER HOW BAD IT HURTS, WALK!!!! you will heal faster and will be getting around better faster.