Vaginal birth after a c-section (VBAC) If you have only had one c-section before, you should be able to give birth vaginally if you're carrying one baby and you go into labour after 37 weeks. Having both vaginal stitches AND a caesarean scar is understandably rage-inducing. Fortunately, this is a fast operation, with the procedure itself lasting just 10 minutes or less, followed by another 30 minutes or so to stitch you back up. And that makes it totally worth it. If you can't walk long distances yet, ask your nurse if you can rock in the glider in your room; sometimes the rocking motion can help relieve built-up gas too. If your doctor used tape strips on your incision, let them fall off on their . In the meantime, taking anti-gas medication and a stool softener will helpand so will walking around. Ive done the c section recovery thing twice and its not easy at all. He was the first baby in our family in over 20 years, so it was a huge deal for everyone in my life. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. ", Good news: Your initial primary healing is done. Microfiber and spandex are a match made in postpartum heaven. As your c section recovery timeline continues into the first week you might realize that you are sore and tender. Your midwifery team should advise you on how to get in and out of bed, but it can help to put your hand over your scar and apply mild pressure if you need to cough, laugh or do anything that will involve you tensing the area. I do know it was because of foetal distress and my blood pressure rising. Your physician might recommend taking simethicone tablets (such as Gas-X), which can help alleviate gas and bloating. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Read more here. All support is intended to be anecdotal and informational only. You can ask to speak to someone after you have left hospital. A C-section is typically only recommended in medically necessary cases, such as in some high-risk pregnancies or when the baby is in the breech position and can't be flipped before labor begins. A common misconception is that you have to wait six weeks before you can drive again, but actually there's no law to say you can't drive yourself home from hospital although you'd be a numpty to try, and your insurers might have something to say about it. For women who decide to go through with an elective C-section, ACOG recommends scheduling the procedure no earlier than 39 weeks of pregnancy. Should You Take a Pregnancy Test Before Each Birth Control Shot? Your friend from high school the one who posts 14 times a day on Facebook she just had a baby last month and her feed is filled with pictures of her laughing and smiling.