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I had to have a planned c-section, 6 months ago, my baby was breech and so i was booked in on the 31st of January to have my baby.
I had spent my whole pregnancy reading and preparing for a natural birth which was scary enough for a first time mum, and then at 37 weeks pregnant my baby hadn't turned so i had to have an elected c-section, which i knew nothing about, and even if i had read the books and asked questions i still would have been unprepared for the aftermath.

So i turned up early in the morning to have my baby. I didn't really know what to expect, during or afterwards, but what i did know was that i was determined to grit my teeth and get home as soon as possible.

So i had my baby girl, the epidural was wearing off and i was confined to bed, still had a catheter in and a drip, and then there was the whole problem of not being able to move without help, i couldn't even sit up on my own. Until you have something like this done you take for granted the use of your stomach muscles, i have to tell you that you use them to do almost everything.

You need to remember to bring big knickers with you, they are a must, i mean the biggest knickers you can find, forget Bridget Jones go even bigger, it is such an awful feeling having anything rubbing up against your stitches. But at the same time the feeling on the outside isnt that bad because your nerves were cut through during the surgery so actually there isnt that much feeling there all the pain is from your stomach muscles.
Picking up your baby is hard, breastfeeding is hard, going to the toilet is excruciating, sex is out of the question for ages, and if you were thinking about getting your figure back as soon as you can then you can forget that no exercise for at least 3 months, but what drove me mad most of all is when you get an itch around were your scar is even though you are trying to itch it, you cant feel it because it is still numb.

But seriously i got out of bed the next morning, walked to the toilet, went to the toilet, got in the shower on my own then packed my bags and went home.
When you get home make sure you have someone to help you get up off the sofa and out of bed in the morning, but don't sit around all day because when your muscles tighten in your stomach, they hurt so much when you need to make the slightest move, so try and do as many things on your own as you can so you can get used to it, but no heavy lifting that is a definite no, no, because you will risk hemorrhaging.
My advice is not to let people round that first day, how ever excited they all are to see the new arrival you will be way to sore and tired and its not fair on yourself, ask them all to wait until you feel ready, then you will enjoy it more.

Don't leave the house on your own, you don't know when you will need someones help, and don't go out for long periods of time, it won't be good for you.

You will bleed just as much if not more than a normal birth, so stock up on the thickest maternity pads available, you will be using loads, trust me.

Have help getting in and out of the bath, but for god sake take advantage of having loads of baths.

There is so many more things and stories i could write about this subject but then it would feel like i was going on and on, so my best advice is ask questions, have help, and enjoy it no matter how painful someone worth while came from all of this.
Everyone one knows there own body and healing time is different for everyone, and if in doubt ask your health visitor, or midwife or even phone the hospital.

Learn more about this author, Vanessa Howard.
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