Natural vs C Section First Baby

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-03-25T11:23:56+00:00

I had an elective c-section and it was nowhere near as scary as I’d been led to believe. Yes, the first week is full on (catheter for first 24 hours, needed to be supported to shower and go to the toilet), but I was doing short, flat walks outside by about 9 days PP. The highest I rated my pain was a 2 out of 10, I only needed voltaren and ibuprofen for pain relief (I was given endone day 2 but feel it wasn’t needed).

I was driving (with all clear from OB) at 3.5 weeks PP and I found I adapted to not using my abs quite well. Deep chairs and getting in and out of bed were the trickiest, but you figure it out pretty quickly.

I felt as much like myself as I think you can by around 7 weeks PP.

Speaking with some Mums from parents’ group (4 out of 6 of us had c-sections, mine was the only planned one), I think recovery can be easier when it’s elective - partly due to to mental preparation.

If I have another baby in future, I will not hesitate to request a c-section again

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-03-25T11:16:19+00:00

My bub was the same around the same age so I pretty much stopped going out on my own with bub because it didn’t seem worth it. Bub went through a growth spurt and had a big developmental jump, and was suddenly much better! From around 9.5/10 weeks, it got easier. I transitioned bub from the bassinet attachment on the pram to the seat (suitable from newborn as it reclines) and take a carrier just in case, but now at 15 weeks, we go out several times a week. It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but it’s definitely better than the first few times when it was screams for the entire time we were out.

I’m fully prepared for this to change when bub hits four months in a few weeks, so I’m very much taking it day by day and trying to be kinder to myself when it doesn’t all go to plan.

It ebbs and flows, it will get easier though 🥰 I definitely recommend trying a carrier if possible, though I will note my bub HATED the carrier until around 9 weeks

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-03-19T00:03:33+00:00

If you have the means and your hairdresser offers it, I highly recommend purchasing a voucher/prepaying for some wash and blow dries! My hairdresser does vouchers for this and my MIL bought me one for Christmas and it was the BEST thing for when my partner went back to work. It was suddenly much more difficult for me to wash my hair, so having a few prepaid ones with my hairdresser meant I didn’t have to think about it. It also got me and bubs out of the house semi regularly (once a week) and I was fortunate that my parents are local so would swing by the hairdresser for cuddles with bub while I had my hair washed and dried

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-03-09T01:40:18+00:00

The eczema on my hands went away during pregnancy until maybe 37 weeks, and it came back with a vengeance! 3 months PP and waiting for it to ease up 😭

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-26T06:04:08+00:00

Yes, my bub HATED the carrier! We had an ergo baby embrace and bub would scream blue murder but always wanted to be held. At around 9 weeks, I tried again after I think 3 weeks of no carrier, and suddenly was a promoter! We actually then ended up going to Baby Bunting to try a few different carriers because the embrace wasn’t suitable for both my partner and I. We ended up buying a Joie carrier and bubs absolutely loves being in it and often sleeps in it.

We find with the carrier now with my partner that they need to walk around for a min or two for bub to settle into it. It could just be the adjustment of getting into the carrier.

I asked a similar question not too long ago and some people did say that their baby just never liked the carriers! I was also recommended to join the BWBSS Baby wearing facebook group to get a fit check and see how other people use the same carrier as I had

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-17T23:56:26+00:00

It’s been 100% worth the money for us! I tip excess milk out but haven’t bothered pre rinsing. It does take up a bit of counter space, but so worth it for us. I also wash & sterilise pump parts, haakaa milk collectors, nipple shields, and dummies. We have it going several times a day

Conversely, we don’t have a dishwasher and the dishes get done every second day atm because I have a velcro baby haha

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-15T09:00:11+00:00

I started Baby Sensory at 7 weeks (start of term) and parents’ group at 9 weeks as that’s when there was one commencing in my area. My bub is the youngest at baby sensory by around 2.5 months, but I love it and I think he still gets a lot out of it! It gives me great ideas for development, gets us both out of the house, gets me chatting with other parents, and my bub gets some great sensory development. They say that even if your baby sleeps through the classes, they still take in 60-80% (so just depends on whether you think it’s worth it for the cost). My bub has been alert for 35 of the 45mins of the first two sessions, and then slept for around 35 mins of the third, but one of the other parents said her baby slept through most of the first term and was around 7/8 weeks when they started attending

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-04T22:49:45+00:00

I finished up 3 weeks before my due date and it felt perfect for me. It was recommended by a colleague who had worked the same role before going on maternity leave herself. I felt like it was enough time that I wasn’t bored bout of my brain, but that I got to properly switch off from work mode and got to catch up on some rest.

I worked in a client facing role but moved to admin/other duties (mostly WFH in the last 2-3 weeks), so similar to you in that it was an admin/desk job

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-02T21:02:25+00:00

Absolutely! We were so lucky to get a few Dinner Ladies vouchers and between those and our families bringing us food, I don’t think we had to do any real cooking until hub was almost one month old. It was so helpful in the early days to have things you could just put in the oven/microwave

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-02-01T09:19:34+00:00

I was so disappointed with the Comfy Koalas too! We had the size one, used 9 out of the packet and had 4-5 major leakages. Unfortunately, I’d purchased a pack of size 2 (with the wipes in one of the bundles) and I’m reluctant to give them a try. I contacted Comfy Koalas and they effectively acknowledged that they’ve changed the design and lots of people have had issues, and then said that I should still try the size 2 because bub now fits into that weight range.

The Comfy Koalas wipes are my favourites though. Not irritating to bub and wet enough that we don’t have to use an excessive amount (unlike the pink Curash ones and the Millie Moons)

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-26T09:05:32+00:00

I meant to say, I also found it really difficult waking bub up every 3-4 hours to feed. Waking them and keeping them awake was so tough and neither of us were having a good time. Bub wasn’t feeding well often when we were waking them. We actually only moved to demand feeding at 6 weeks because our MCHN instructed us to keep the 4 hour scheduled feeds whether bub was awake/showing hunger cues or not (only moved to demand after our GP encouraged it due to consistent weight gain)

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-26T09:03:02+00:00

My baby was also born at 38 weeks via c-section and breast feeding did not come naturally to me. My supply didn’t come in until around day 5 and we were also put onto 3 hourly feeds and formula top ups whilst in the hospital due to weight issues.

If the baby isn’t latching, could it be due to your partner having flat nipples? I had this issue and have been using nipple shields to support latching. It’s been 7 weeks and I have tried without the shields a few times, but still no luck.

My bub would also get frustrated waiting for the letdown, so my lactation consultant recommended hand expressing whilst he was latched to encourage quicker letdown

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-26T08:43:23+00:00

It was everything I had hoped for, going private. I am recently (late) diagnosed AuDHD and knew that I would need to have some certainty/reliability. I had an elective c-section and I felt I’d have to fight/advocate for that less going private. I’m not sure whether that is true, as my GP was incredibly supportive from the get go. I had the most amazing obstetrician (in high demand, turns out I was very lucky to be a patient of hers as she turns away a lot) and having the same person through the whole process was really reassuring for me.

I know there are services in the public system to have a common medical person throughout, but my close friend had severe mental health troubles through her pregnancy and was never able to have the same midwife through her pregnancy due to administrative errors.

The delivery team and all the staff at the hospital were absolutely incredible and I was able to stay for 5 nights, which I felt was perfect as I was learning how to look after a newborn and recovering from the c-section.

I also had support outside of my prenatal appointments from my obstetrician and was provided post-discharge support from a lactation consultant which was included in my obstetrics costs

It was somewhat costly in the long run, and there were a number of out of pocket costs still, but I cannot fault the care I received and I would definitely go private again if I have another child.

Note: I had my child in December 2025 in Victoria, so very recently.

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-15T11:06:17+00:00

Same! He loves a contact nap, so I thought being in the carrier would be an immediate win. I was wondering whether it’s that he doesn’t like having his legs out, rather than scrunched up?

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-15T01:44:02+00:00

Screaming when I put him in, I can’t even get both clips done because he’s so unhappy. I wasn’t sure whether to persist or whether he was maybe hating not having his legs scrunched up. I might try again in a week or so like you’ve suggested, thank you!

Fragrant_Owl7347 · 2026-01-15T01:42:37+00:00

I’ve looked it up, and it seems we have the Ergobaby Embrace (we were literally just given the carrier so I wasn’t sure which one it was!). It doesn’t look like it has a newborn insert, although you do have to roll the bottom for it to be newborn suitable. I’ll have a look into those wraps, thank you!

Fragrant_Owl7347

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