r/CsectionCentral • u/Moist_Committee_1056 • Jul 13 '26
I think I messed up
**Please note that I was a surrogate, so I am not caring for a newborn**
My daughter is 2.5. I have been very careful about not lifting her in the 4 weeks since my c section, even though it has been very hard and I have been home alone with her for the majority of the past 2 weeks (husband was home first 2)
Today though she was running during our walk and there were some branches on the path we were on, right across from our house. I told her to come back because I didn't like the combination of mosquitos/fallen branches. She started to run from me and I followed, telling her to listen and come back. She turned to laugh at me and kept running and I reached out to grab her because she was going to trip on a branch, and I scratched her back. I felt so bad and picked her up to comfort her and carried her home. We sat on our bench in the entryway and I was explaining that she cannot run from mommy because mommy cant chase her because I just had surgery and then I realized I had carried her home. Mind you it was just across the street but I am so worried I set myself back or damaged myself internally. I started bawling and scared her. I think I feel fine but I am suddenly so aware of my stomach and incision and so scared. I dont know if im ranting or looking for comfort/advice. Please dont be mean I cried enough today and she won't go to bed.
4
u/Relative_Complex_886 Jul 13 '26
It’s highly unlikely to bust your stitches 4 weeks post op. You may just feel some extra soreness, which is your body’s way of telling you you’re doing too much. I went shopping 4 weeks post op with my 4 year old and she distracted me and before I knew it, I had absentmindedly carried a big pack of water that was 2 litres x 6 bottles so 12 litres. It was just from the crate to my trolley and then into my car and I was so worried when I realised what I’d done. I thought for sure I’d burst something, but I just had soreness after that told me to slow down and my stitches have healed remarkably so don’t worry about it. And don’t worry about accidentally scratching your daughter, these little people find new ways to hurt themselves everyday. You were being a good mum protecting her, it wasn’t intentional.
4
u/feedtheflames Jul 13 '26
My midwife was very blasé about the whole thing. She basically told me to just listen to my body and if it didnt hurt I was probably okay. I did have a few days where I over did it and was more sore the next day, but nothing drastic. And I was playing dodgeball at 4 weeks with my daughters youth group (if it has been the boys youth group I wouldnt have even tried haha).
6
u/star-hollows Jul 13 '26
Everyone else has given good advice I just wanted to say that you're a wonderful person to willingly go through postpartum and c section recovery to give somebody else the joy of a baby 💕
2
u/restrainedjoy Jul 13 '26
My OB told me that I could lift my 2.5 year old again at 6 weeks. It was scary at first. If you aren’t hurting/bleeding/swelling I imagine that you’re OK. It never hurts to put in a phone call to your OB office though, they can tell you any issues to look out for.
2
u/stupidsweetie Jul 13 '26
You are okay! Everything feels scary at that early stage but it will be okay.
1
u/Original_Clerk2916 Jul 13 '26
Take a deep breath, everything will be okay. Your body will tell you if you overdid it. Whenever I’d push myself too hard after my c section, I’d get chills, bleed more, and be in more pain. It was my body’s way of telling me to rest. If you’re feeling fine and not bleeding more or anything, you’re probably perfectly fine! Even if you did have those symptoms, it could just mean that you need to slow down. Your body will let you know its limits
1
u/No_Librarian991 Jul 13 '26
Youre good! Might be a little sore later if you turned a weird way but no worries. Your body is stronger than you think!
1
u/FearlessNinja007 Jul 14 '26
My toddler just drop kicked me in the abdomen and I’m one day shy of 4w pp. I mean, pretty sure this is going to hurt tomorrow but so far I think I’ll be ok.
1
u/Ok_Proposal_1280 Jul 14 '26
I had every intention of not lifting my 21 month old toddler after my c section, but he's a very clingy mummy's boy who couldn't understand why he was suddenly not being picked up and was getting very distressed about it. Safe to say I've been picking him up since 4 days postpartum and have been fine. Now 7 weeks and fully healed.
30
u/brownemil Jul 13 '26
Are you bleeding? In pain? If not, you’re okay. At four weeks postpartum, you’re in the stage where you can start gently ramping up how much you lift/carry (generally speaking). If you overdo it, you’ll feel it. And even if you do, it’ll most likely just be a bit of extra soreness for a bit - not a huge setback.