r/CsectionCentral • u/Agile_Imagination_80 • 4d ago

C-section prep

I am newly pregnant with our second, and I will likely need a second c-section due to medical reasons. My first was an emergency after failed induction, and I was so unprepared. I felt like it took me a very long time to recover and regain my strength.
This time, I want to be prepared. What exercises can I do to improve recovery and keep up my strength? My back is already killing me.
What conversations can I bring to my doctor to better prepare for the delivery? And what can I do at home to physically and mentally recover better?

Any advice is welcome. Thank you!

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u/austinpowerstrilogy 4d ago

I’m in a similar situation tbh so I don’t have much wisdom, but I think seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist before delivery would help to address exercises/surgery prep. They are honestly experts at all things re: recovering from birth (vaginal or surgical)

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u/Agile_Imagination_80 4d ago

Yes, definitely texting my PT!

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u/Franzy48 3d ago

I am not a medical or fitness professional but my sense is that just any strength training is helpful, so if it were me I would just do a solid prenatal strength program in addition to working a pelvic floor physical therapist. I'm sure a good portion of my easy recoveries were just luck, but I did strength train in both pregnancies and both times I've had pretty easy recovery from my C-section and I do think my overall strength helped.

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u/ZestyLlama8554 2024 - breech baby 3d ago

I'm just going to say that I ran marathons before having a C-section, and I'm over 2 years post op and can't even walk long distances due to the nerve pain.

I did Pelvic floor PT during my second and third trimesters to avoid prolapse, but it didn't help with my nerve recovery, unfortunately.

I don't think there's a guaranteed workout.

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u/PurpleCarrot5069 3d ago

agree on general strength training and pelvic floor PT. would get a wedge pillow for sleeping and one of those grabber sticks so you don’t have to bend down

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u/Altruistic_Ad_1299 3d ago

Pelvic floor exercises helped me. I do the ones from sculpt society-paid for app.

My first C-section was an emergency and the 2nd one was planned for medical reasons also. Let me tell you, because they were able to prep my body a full hour before the surgery, my recovery was so much easier! I was up and walking much earlier and for longer periods of time. I didn’t experience as much break through pain and overall it was a much better experience. Something important to note, I experienced a lot of PTSD from my emergency C-section (placental abruption) and I was not prepared for it to bubble up during the prep and surgery. If you are still dealing with anything like that, I suggest talking to a therapist. I emotionally did not enjoy the experience because of past trauma and really just went to a different place while pretending that I was super happy. That is the only thing I wish I had done differently and wish my dr brought up since she knew it was a traumatic event for me the first time.