Riding after a C section?

Baileysno1

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Finally finally home with my little baby he was almost 2 weeks late and I was induced last wednesday night which worked but unfortunately after being in full labour for almost 5 hours without any joy the consultant gave me an hour of the drip that intensifies our contractions and then said he'd get the forceps out after much rummaging this too failed and I was rushed into surgery under a general and little Heath was finally out ready to comence his dressage career
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he was 7lb 15oz and long...59cm long legs for dressage you see.

Anyways I'm now walking wounded but feeling better every day fully intend to rest up for the recomended 6 weeks but desperate to be back on board by xmas, if Mary King did it in 2 weeks surely I'm being realistic. any experiences??
 
congratulations

my baby is 11 weeks old and i got back in the saddle at 4 weeks but that was not a c section so can't offer any advice. i would ask HV or midwife.

i would think at least 6 weeks as classed as major surgery.
 
Congrats! But please have a rest!
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Everybody is different - aim to be on board by Christmas but don;t beat yourself up if it doesn't happen. BTW I was told to rest for six weeks after a normal delivery before getting back on. Would it not take longer for a C section?
 
I have had 3 c sections, (4th just before xmas) and have to say the six week wait is really important, remember it is major surgery cutting through most of the stomach muscles. After my last one I got a bit carried away and was long reining a fairly lively horse at around the six week mark when I got a sharp pain in my side, turned out I had torn one of my internal stitches. It set me back a few weeks in my recovery but reminded me to be careful.
Listen to what your body is telling you, then do a bit less just to be safe!! Have fun with Heath while he is little and adorable, you never get this time back. Congratulations too!!
 
Congratulations, it takes me back! I took my time after my c sec, I had a hard time with a twin pregnancy and problems with pre-eclampsia... My mare was out on loan from my pregnancy so I had no rush to get back on, I felt ready about 3 to 4 months after but even that was only to get on a plod at the local riding school, although I did end up schooling it!!! My biggest shock was not being able to get on from the ground!!! I was so embarrased!!! I can now though so don't worry! As said above, don't push yourself before you're ready, and enjoy the time with your son. I had 2 taking up all my time!!... oh and they still do!!!!
 
Congrats on your baby.
I got back on about a fortnight after both my two. In hindsight first one was a bit of a struggle after a horrible labour, with some (sorry to be blunt) wet pant issues whenever a horse pulled, but a session with a pilates instructor really helped my understanding of pelvic floor exercises and some physio sorted out the scaring/stiffness in my back from my three epidural (dont ask!) holes.

Had a friend who was riding three days after a C-section, but I don't think that is very smart. I would wait until you feel ready and then perhaps lunge for a couple of days to make sure you feel ok around them. When you get on please be prepared to have a few issues - your body has been through a real ordeal, prior to which your muscles have been stretched for 9 months, and it will take a few weeks to get back to riding how you did before. I was out hunting/competing about 8 weeks after both, so it didn't take an age to be back.


On a practical note if you wish to breastfeed and ride, get baby used to drinking expressed breast milk from a bottle now, as it can be difficult later, and nothing turns new dads against horses more than if baby decides he needs a feed the moment you go out riding and there is nothing he can do till you get back.

It is a struggle juggling horses and motherhood, but perfectly possible. I hope you enjoy both as much as I do.
 
Congratulations!!

I've had 2 c-sections and echo what others have said - don't rush it! Both times I was back riding at 6 weeks but only very gentle rides and on a horse I could trust. Listen to your midwife, health visitor and GP, and listen to your own body. It's not a race or a competition. I rode because I'd have gone bonkers otherwise and I decided that mental health took precedence over physical health.

Pregnancy hormones really soften your joints and your seat can feel really unstable. You've also lost most of your core strength and internal healing takes time. Couple all this with sore boobs and disrupted sleep and it doesn't make for successful riding.

Enjoy your time with your new baby and do what is right and healthy for you.
 
I didn't have a c-section with my son and got back in the saddle 10 days after a very normal birth.

I just wanted to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS!!

Take your time, make sure you are really up to it before getting back on. A bit of patience and time now can save you a lot of pain further on.
 
congratulations!

I had a section and after about 2-3 weeks I was itching to get riding but obviously couldn't drive to get myself to the yard. Left it the 6 weeks and jumped straight back on but I felt fine and my body felt ready.
I'm glad I did do the whole 6 weeks just at home, me and my baby as it's great bonding time before you are rushing around trying to ride the horse, feed the horse, feed the child and feed the husband! Try and make sure you can express easily enough as this is a godsend. Make the most of baby time though as my son is 5 soon and it was soooooo much easier when he was a baby, you put them down and they are still there when you turn around, not trying to bury the dog in the muck heap or something
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**whispers so as not to get told off**

I had an abdominal hysterectomy in August this year which is a similar op. I lasted 2 weeks & 2 days before I got back on. **HOWEVER** my ISH is very safe & sensible & doesn't know how to be sharp. I just had a sit-on for 15 mins and OMG it felt fantastic.

I was ready to get straight off if I felt anything was 'wrong', but it was fine so I continued to have a 15 min plod in walk for about 10 days, then started the odd half 20 m circle in trot to see how it would feel, then went on from there.

I would say... don't do more than you feel you can manage, have someone with you in case of trouble (I didn't as I had to wait for o/h (jailer) to go to work), & if your horse is safe, get off using the mounting block too as dismounting is the hardest thing. Also when you feel like trying eg trot, just do a half circle, have another plod then do another half circle, then see how you feel the next day. Don't suddenly go wahey & start whacking up jumps.

Good luck!
 
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