Return to riding after c-section

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Booboos

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This may be a how-long-is-a-piece-of-string kind of question, but I would appreciate your experiences, especially dos and don'ts.

I have a planned c-section booked in for the 6th June. Apparently it will involve the more recent method of a transverse cut by the lower uterus and the gyneacologist is very optimistic about general recovery, i.e. out of bed on the same day, out of hospital within 4 days, can be travelling within 7 days (we need to fly home). How long before I can think of riding again though?
 
3-6 months??

I had a natural birth but going from friends, I know they have taken much longer to bounce back and were therefore out of the saddle longer.

Oh wow, it's just dawned on me, that's just over a week :eek:
Good luck, hope it goes well for you :).
 
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I had a full abdominal hysterectomy on Jan 10th this year and was back in the saddle exactly 6 weeks after. To be honest I thought I could have ridden after 4 but thought I had better listen to doctors advice! Glad I did as it took another 3-4 weeks to really be able to do anything that could be strenuous (ie jumping and cantering in a field). Good luck
 
About three months to allow it to heal internally. Baby will probably keep you too busy to have time to think about riding and three months will pass before you know it.

I got on much earlier than advised, ride was ok but getting off was very problematic and painful.
 
I wouldn't ride less than 6 weeks after for sure. Go with how you feel. Good luck do you know what your having? Normally in bed 24hrs and them out at 72hrs ish. Or earlier depending on you, baby etc.
 
I would take it easy too. I had a c section at the end of November and I still have numbness and pain - although I did have a lot of rummaging around and a repair of a uterine rupture. But the actual wound was quick to heal. You may find you get some hip pain as a result of the epidural. I did and because I over compensated when walking I then got knee pain. I think that you should just listen to your body and don't push it. Good luck! X
 
Thanks quirky, I am really counting the minutes now because I am large and awkward and miserable!

That's very encouraging Jules9203, you did very well to be back in the saddle in 6 weeks. I'm going to pop on the really reliable cob in the school to start off with, he is a sweetheart and wouldn't put a foot wrong anyway. I wouldn't chance the maniacs for a while (one bucks, the other spooks!).

singing dawg, three months sounds depressingly long! I haven't ridden since I was 5.5 months pregnant, but despite all my good intentions to keep going I just couldn't do it. Funny how our bodies take over and really dictate what we can and cannot do!

Toffee44, it's a girl! I really have to get my pink matchy-matchy skills together now!

pardalis, on no, what bad luck! I have been warned the epidural can have some complications, poor you!
 
It's not a race!!! There are no prizes for being first on board. You will need to listen to your body and remember that you will have a lot of healing going on internally.

I rode 6 weeks after a c-section when I had my twins and did a jump clinic just after. Far too soon and my body told me off afterwards. Enjoy your baby, your horses won't mind being in fields eating.

Good luck.
 
I have had 2 c sections, both went without complications and I was up and about the next day, but had to stay in hospital for 7 days (the norm I believe in France). I made the most of the weeks stay the second time around as I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me with a 14 month old toddler and new baby!! I couldn't of imagined getting back on a horse after only 6 weeks, so wow thats pretty impressive.

I would just wait and see how it all goes and how you feel, also listein to your doctors advise. The time will fly by anyway.

Let us know how you get on!!!
 
I had an emergency c-section when I had my son. I spent a week in hospital and I was back riding after 6 weeks but to be honest it was 6 weeks only because I couldn't legally drive for 6 weeks to be able to get to the yard. I had no complications and I felt I could have ridden after 4 weeks. However, being sensible and having my level head on now it was probably a good thing that I couldn't ride and had to wait as I would have completely overdone myself and probably done more harm than good.
 
Another encouraging reply for you. I rode on the afternoon of my 6 week check. Other than the fact your stomach muscles will be absent without leave (I found my lower leg swung backwards and forwards because no core stability!!) I suffered no ill effects and was at a small SJ competition (admittedly riding very badly) about 10 days later. Core strength returned quickly and felt my old self on horseback within weeks - however, 15 months on the scar still feels a bit numb and sore sometimes (totally unrelated to riding - more perhaps when I'm having a lardy day and jeans dig in).

enjoy your ELCS - I found mine to be a lovely calm experience and consider my recovery was better than most of my friends who did it the conventional way! Good luck
 
I have had 2 c-sections for both my kids. The first one was emergency and I was really ill afterwards to was out of saddle the 12 weeks however after my son (planned c-section) I was out of bed after 2 hours, out of hospital next day and riding after 8 weeks however would only recommend on a good safe sound horse!

Good luck x
 
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