It was not until the after my C-Section that I began to feel like myself. I was talkative, moving around (mostly my arms and mouth) and enjoying time with my son. The little things were still extremely difficult. I was finally brave enough to attempt to sit, and that was painful. My husband helped me sit and we had lunch together. A nurse advised me to place a pillow horizontally over my belly (on top of my gown). She told me that would help with the pain if I moved too much or if I laughed.
OH BOY DID I LAUGH! My husband has always been a silly guy. He knows what to say and how to say it to make me CRACK up. It was so incredibly painful to laugh. I mean agonizing pain. I cried and laughed all at once. The pain did not get better until about two weeks after the procedure.
The first time I was asked to stand up and walk I was terrified!! It was so painful when I laughed and moved slightly, that the thought of actually getting up and moving around was freaking me out. I told my husband how I nervous I was feeling. He advised me to take it slow. So assisted by the nurse, I counted before I sat down. I counted when I was asked to swing each leg over the bed. I did so showing the pain my body was experiencing on my face. Grimacing as I moved, painfully slow. I counted as I mustered the courage to step down. When I finally had two feet planted on the floor, I was hunched over!! Boy was that the hardest part! Standing up straight!! My mind had me convinced it would be the most horrible pain I had ever experienced!!! And it was the worst pain I've ever felt!!
But then I just kept going. The medicine I was given helped too. After standing up, I shuffled around in my brown hospital socks. After some time I felt confident I could walk without help or being too scared of pain. I walked the best I could and held on to the IV machine and wheeled it around with me. The nurses happily encouraged me. That helped my ego a lot. I needed that encouragement to remember that I am a tough chica!
And then I decided to take a shower...
Everything was at level one speed inside the tiny restroom. I couldn't change fast enough. I was just taking off my gown and that hurt. I was scared of falling once the water started coming down the drain. I was shuffling my feet around while trying to keep a fresh wound clear of water and I found that to be very difficult. I couldn't bend more than a few inches, so taking a "real" shower was not a real option. It all felt too difficult in that little shower. I cried in there. I was in pain. I felt ugly, fat and sad. I still looked pregnant, something that I had not really thought about. When I slowly got out of the shower, still fearing I would slip and fall, I took a long look into the mirror and surveyed the damage. I looked sad. I looked pregnant. I looked pale. I wanted to put on makeup or put my hair up, but I also wanted to leave the tiny bathroom. Dressing was also a tough experience. Thankfully I had a new gown to slip into! I did not want to deal with shirts or pants or underwear. Like ever.
***
The same day I delivered my son there was another scheduled C-Section right after mine. She was literally being wheeled in to the operating room as I was going out (there was more than on operating room). It turned out that the she was placed in the delivery room next to mine. Our recovery times were off by about an hour and a half to two. After spending two days at the hospital I was released. As I was being wheeled out of the hospital we went by her room and heard her telling someone she was in pain.
....My advice is to know it will feel uncomfortable, painful and
perhaps shocking. The whole experience is brand new, once! No matter if it's a C-Section or natural birth. Some parts
will be easier than others. Either way, know that you are not alone.
Everyone wants you and your baby to be safe and comfortable. At all
times! If you don't feel well, or need anything, let a nurse know, or have a family or friend say something on your behalf.
Also, Recovery varies from person to person. You just never know how your body will tolerate such a procedure and what your mental state might be. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone long enough to truly assess your pain tolerance. If it hurts like a mother...Stop! But if you realize you can give a little more, do so cautiously. Your willingness to try to work with your pain can be the difference between a day or more in the hospital.
Everyone's birthing experience is unique :)
Happily pain free,
-km