There are many conflicting stories concerning driving after a c-section.
Should you or shouldn’t you?
It all depends on two basic facts:
I read lots of info about when to have a bath after a c-section and decided I would do it when I was ready. I liked showers straight after – due to being easy and clean – but I am a bath person and enjoy the relax. I had my first bath about a week after the c-section and that was lovely – no looking back – I even had baby in the bath with me.
I have always bathed my babies in the bath with me – they love the warm bath – and I am happy that I do not have to have the back-breaking task of bending over a baby bath.
I do not use a baby bath as I have never got on with any baby bath…. for me, I’ve always bathed baby in the big bath with baby propped up on my legs. It’s easy, natural and free. It is lovely to have someone to help baby in and out of the bath though – but I also been prepared with a towel placed in a rocking baby seat next to the bath and baby usually loves that for 5-10 minutes while I enjoy my bath… it all makes for a more relaxing bath for all!
Enjoy your bath.
Women of size do have very high cesarean rates today, much higher than women of average size. But is this high rate really medically necessary? Or is some of the increase caused by misguided assumptions about obesity and by unneeded interventions and protocols commonly used with women of size? If so, what can a big mom do to lower her personal chances of having a cesarean?
Cesareans can be truly necessary and life-saving. But nowadays, more and more women—especially obese women—may be having cesareans that are not really needed.
This is a very comprehensive article and contains many tips for women of size to help them give birth vaginally – but personally I would struggle to follow some of the recommendations, due to too much worry about whether I was making the right choice or not. But I think it’s a great article and has some great tips for women of size.
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?id=21&compID=125
Great advice from a C-section mother:
Get a cleaner for a few hours for the first 3 weeks after a c-section. They can help with all the heavy or bending cleaning jobs, like cleaning the bath.
It means the house is clean for visitors, you are stress-free and your husband does not have to clean, bond with baby, help in the night, be supportive and try and hold down a job!
We would love to hear any other advice after a c-section – just comment below. Remember your advice from experience could help another c-section mum plan for an easier recovery.
I have talked to many women who have had c-sections and they nearly all say that an emergency c-section takes the longest time to recover from both emotionally and physically. I have had 4 babies and only the final by elective c-section followed the birth plan – so usually it is the shock of the birth not going to plan that emotionally upsets us.
One of the best peices of advice I heard from a recovery nurse was when you are up walking keep your back straight. Bending over only makes to slower to recover by letting the wound heal in an unusal position.
So after your c-section… WALK TALL
For the first 5 lucky readers we have a special trial price on the C-Section Comfort Belt.
Just visit http://www.csection.co.nz/c-section-c-belts.html/ and get the C-Section Belt for $24.95 – a massive saving – now that’s comfort you can’t afford to miss.
What do you have to do:
This offer is only available to NZ residents. Not valid with any other offer.
My c-section was a magical birth experience. Rosie was my 4th baby and the most magical delivery. My husband was supportive and created a lovely experience – placing me and Rosie in the centre. He crouched down holding both of my hands and sang to me while the epidural was being completed – I even started laughing (…well my husbands singing!) and the doctor told me to stop laughing and sit still so she could get it right – but in a nice manner.
I think you need to create a sense of the birth being just for your family – and how you do this will be unique to you – but just focus on the the c-section being the birth of your baby and every birth is a magical moment. The first time you see your baby after 9 months.
Here is a great article for making your c-section birth more baby and mother friendly instead of a surgical procedure
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6028478.ece
This is a great video – but quite difficult to watch – as it is very real.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoCN18ftKzI&feature=email
Great to prepare father-to-be??? but watch it first and check all good for him – as you don’t want to put him off being there!
‘Too posh to push myth’ exposed, say researchers
It is “unlikely” that women undergo caesarean sections to avoid the pain of childbirth, research suggests.
Most caesareans were carried out for medical reasons, the review of 620,000 births in England in 2008 found.
Read the rest http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11485987
Hopefully we can now stop blaming mothers for the rise in c-section.
I have always thought that each intervention that happens in labour is one step closer to a c-section. If you are trying to avoid a c-section – then start early on and plan which birth interventions you are happy with.
This is an interersting article in TIME – and they can say it better than me!
Cesarean Deliveries Rise Alongside Rate of Induced Labor – TIME
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2007754,00.html
