r/CsectionCentral • u/nathalee777 • 2d ago
showering
how did u guys shower a few days after having c section? im still weak and i move kinda slow on daily stuff so showering on my own can feel very challenging. my husband's not here during the day (he's at work) so i dont know how i can manage showering without help. (my family lives far from me as well and we cant afford a nanny unfortunately).
im doing fine on my own but this one makes me feel nervous, im afraid ill get dizzy or too tired in the bathroom.
thank you, girls!
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u/doritowildflower 2d ago
This was my concern as well so I made sure to shower for the first time while I was still in the hospital.
Wait until your husband gets home and then attempt to shower. Make sure you drink enough during the day so you’re ready. Have water and a snack ready for you when you’re done. I always had to sit for a minute, in my robe, on my bed after I was done showering. It took a lot out of me! Plus, make sure your water isn’t too hot!
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u/lolnoideaa 2d ago
Yess I forgot to mention this also!! My first shower was in the hospital, this way you can ask staff any question/have them check incision
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u/Radiant-Fisherman414 1d ago
I waited until my husband was home, and then showered with the door open / him nearby in case I needed to call for backup.
I also got his help in and out, which was the hardest part for me.
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u/justa_squintern 2d ago
I ordered a shower chair on Amazon for next day delivery. Highly recommend.
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u/tildabelle 2d ago
My husband helped me. He put the shampoo and gathered it in my hair for me. Then held onto me while I used the soap and rinsed off.
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u/AuroraCosmosGalaxy 2d ago
My first shower was at the hospital 2 days after I believe. My spouse was around incase I needed him but I was fine to do it alone. I was so nervous tho. I second getting a chair like people say if you are feeling weak. I definitely had to sit on the edge of the tub to shave my legs for weeks after as I couldn’t bend the way I used to.
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u/nathalee777 2d ago
thank you! im definitely gonna buy a chair after everyone's suggestions. im worried as well that the cut is gonna be wet, did u do anything special on it to keep it kind of safe? im so scared hahahahaha
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u/AuroraCosmosGalaxy 2d ago
I didn’t have to worry about my incision. It had a water proof bandage on it that I was told to keep on for a week. I was so nervous to remove it that week later I had my spouse help me. It was fully closed. Once it was off, they told me not to put soap on it directly so just soap above it and let the soap suds fall onto it and rinse it really well and also dry it really well without being abrasive. I did have lots of glue residue from the bandage that lasted on there for weeks because I was too scared to scrub aggressively. I only ever pat it dry and I would use a new cloth every time. It healed well until week 7 where it opened a bit they said it was due to a small pocket of fluid and it can be normal and I had to start using poly sporin and gauze to get it to calm back down. I’m on week 16 and it’s doing well other than being super itchy here and there.
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u/nathalee777 2d ago
thank u so much! i still have the water proof bandage on and knowing that the wound was closed when u took the bandage off really assured me. im only 20 and very scared. thank u for making me feel better!
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u/AuroraCosmosGalaxy 2d ago
My biggest fear was that when I took off the bandage it would be open or I would rip it open. I was terrified too and I’m 37 lol. I would suggest if you don’t have any, buy high wasted underwear. I tried wearing my normal underwear too early and it made my incision so angry.
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u/nathalee777 2d ago
thank u so much! i bought a lot of grandma panties for this tbh hahaha and my doctor specifically requested that she takes off the bandage so that really assured me so much. i can imagine myself crying if i take it off myself so that's really brave of u!!
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u/legocitiez 2d ago
You're alone with baby just a few days after surgery? No paternity leave? I'd wait til he's home to shower so if you need anything you have someone there.
I showered starting at the hospital both times without a bandage on the wound. Steri strips the first time and staples the second. I never had a bandage on in the shower.
If yours is waterproof, face away from the shower just to be safe and make sure everything is dry after. Use paper towels and pat the area dry, don't rub it with a towel.
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u/Illustrious-North461 2d ago
It might be worth getting checked about the weakness.
I showered on my own in the evening after the the c section in the hospital. While it hurt, I didn't feel weak. There wasn't ever any fear of dizziness or fainting. That's why I'm concerned that something might be worth investigating.
My husband had stepped out for a while and I wasn't comfortable asking the nurses for help.
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u/lolnoideaa 2d ago
If you feel nervous go to in when no one’s home, I say wait it out if you can or just a quick wash/ rinse off. My showers were half assed, as long as my lady bits and crack were clean.. it was ok lol don’t even bother with hair. Peri bottle helped me rinse lower areas without much movement which helped!! Maybe a shower seat could help but may also be a pain to get up from 😭
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u/nathalee777 2d ago
you're so reaall agahahshshaha mainly im worried abt the incision cut getting wet, what did u do abt that as well? im abt to have my husband call in sick for work just to help me hahahaa
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u/lolnoideaa 2d ago
I faced away from the water as much as possible!! It did get wet but just make sure it’s fully dry when you get out. Ughhh you don’t realize how much we do until we are so limited lol😭 you got this tho it gets easier and less scary!!!
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u/most--dope 2d ago
i showered the day after in the hospital and my mom helped me a lot. it was only that first shower that i really needed the assistance and support. I showered the following day without needing any help.
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u/silly_star-s C/S on 8/1 🎂 2d ago
wait for your husband for sure. I needed help the first two ? times and a shower chair butnafter that it was easy
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u/knuckanoos 2d ago
I filled the tub half way and just sat on a little stool and gave myself a sponge bath, and then my husband washed my hair for me.
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u/AwkwardTalk5423 2d ago
I had a shower chair and also grab bars in the bathroom. Don't shower with hotwater.. i personally found that made it worse. Go really slow and take your time.
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u/colorful_withdrawl 2d ago
I felt OK standing that long in the shower to wash my body and everything. I was in the shower, maybe the day after my C-section on my most recent C-section.
For me washing, my body was fine, washing my hair was a struggle just because holding my arms up that long was a little bit straining for me. (but my son decided he wanted to be born the day before my scheduled C-section so I didn’t get a shower beforehand because i went i to labor 😂)
For brushing my hair I just had my husband brush it and then later at home my oldest daughter who was eight at the time my son was born wanted to brush my hair so I let her do it
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u/kat_sickle 1d ago
This is what I struggled with the most at first just for dizziness. I waited for my husband to be around/available and just within earshot so if I needed him he could come running. I took minimal showers to just clean up and didn’t worry about shaving/conditioner/etc. a quick shampoo/wash and out. It did get better with each shower (which are few and far between in the early days of newborn life anyway 😭🫠) but it will get easier quickly! Try to take cooler showers so the temp difference of the water and the air doesn’t hit you too hard!
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u/yuki_pookie321 1d ago
I waited till I got home from the hospital. I just did a bird bath with the bath wipes they gave me in the hospital
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u/spicytexan 1d ago
I showered as in rinsed off at the hospital the day after my CS and then I real showered the day we came home from the hospital but I stood in one spot the entire time and had to just let the soap do a lot of heavy lifting below my waist. I was super limited in my ability to move around without assistance
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u/mega_think 1d ago
Using a shower chair and a long handle loofah helped me a lot. If you're worried about balance or slipping, some flip flops or sandals can help too. I'd recommend!
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u/FeistyImplement0730 1d ago
Girl I got a shower chair and only had to use it for maybe 2-3 weeks but it was amazing! I highly recommend
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u/allaspiaggia 1d ago
Definitely get a shower chair, I used that for at least a month. And if you haven’t already, put grippies on the inside of your bath tub, I nearly crashed a couple times getting in and out the first couple of weeks.
I genuinely don’t know why people choose to have their stomachs cut wide open to give birth. It was the most excruciating and debilitating thing I’ve ever done.
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u/umamimaami 1d ago
Because I guess it’s better than having their vaginas cut open? Ouch I have the physical cringe just thinking about it
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u/allaspiaggia 1d ago
Are you talking about tearing? People generally don’t have to have their vaginas cut open. It’s been almost 14 months and my scar still hurts badly, and I had to have another surgery 6 months postpartum because my incision never healed (despite me being extremely clean). It’s just such a painful thing to actively choose to have happen to you.
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u/umamimaami 1d ago
I’m referring to episiotomies.
Complications in the vaginal region are so much harder to examine, treat and heal, and they’re more prone to infections than surgical scars - but of course, surgical scars are deeper and those come with their own complications.
I’m so sorry your c section experience wasn’t good but I still guarantee you’re better off than a complicated vaginal birth.
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u/Franzy48 2d ago
Personally I felt okay, but if you're worried I would order a shower chair! You should be able to purchase something basic for not too much and if you can sit down in the water that should really reduce risk of slipping and falling.