clothmama wrote:What should I be expecting in the coming 2nd week?
My pain has definitely reduced, I am just taking Voltaren and panadol now, none of the stronger meds, and the last 2 days not taken until 4pm. Emotionally I feel more overwhelmed and
than after the others, but perhaps that is external stuff! I'm definitely tireder than normal too. My dressing came down on day 5 and there has just been the steri stips, I took them off today and there was a bit of ooze, not a lot and I'm hoping just old stuff from the strips. I'm washing and drying well twice a day.
By the end of the second week I was still taking pain killers and anti inflammatories twice a day. I wasn't in significant pain in the mornings but I found I kept on top of it and was less tired if I took a dose in the morning and another at about 4 or 5 pm. By the end of week 3 I was meds free.
The toll on my body and emotions was definitely significantly greater with Ewan's CS than Lachlan's VBAC. It was an 'emergency' but no one was at risk, he was just stuck.
If you had a caesarean:
- What were you doing when physically wise?
- When did you start driving?
- When did you start walking (as in going for walks not just walking - I'm all good with that )?
- Have you got any other tips or advice about the healing?
- Did you put anything on your scar - cream / oil or anything like that?
I was getting out of the house at the end of week one, going for short slow walks in the park at the end of week two and largely ok by the end of week 3 unless I over exerted myself. I did no lifting or bending for the first 2 weeks other than picking up Ewan and carrying him in a sling and very little for the next 2, which I think helped a lot.
I started driving after about 4 weeks as our insurer didn't stipulate a time frame and I was happy I could safely do an emergency stop if needed.
I took arnica to help with bruising but that's all. The MW suggested tucking a pad into my knickers on the scar to absorb any moisture or ooze which also helped cushion it a bit too.
I've not put anything else in the scar and it's barely visible unless you know it is there. I still have numbness in parts but that's all. It was mentally itchy when healing though!
I did suffer PTSD after having Ewan, but that was associated with the fact the epidural failed on one side as I was being stitched up and I felt that the cascade of interventions that led to the CS were all but forced on me without proper discussion, explanation or reasoning.
I agree with ems that talking about it helps