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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | For those of you who have had a c-section, planned or not, how long did it take for you to get back in the saddle? 8 weeks? 12? Any tips would be very much appreciated! |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I wouldn't ride before 8 weeks personally. You'll need the time to heal. I had a c-section 9/13/16 and have yet to get back in the saddle. I'm in no hurry |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I had four C-sections in four years. We didn't have horses then, so can't help you there but I would say give yourself more time than you think. As far as recovery from C-section get up and walk, walk, walk while you're on good meds in the hospital. I got out of bed every chance I could, nurses were not happy with me but by the time I checked out I was on minimal pain meds. Good luck and congratulations on the new baby ! |
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Member
Posts: 41
| I had an emergency c-section 8 years ago on July 8 and I was horseback not doing anything but riding around in 2 weeks. I am not going to lie stepping on hurt like hell but once I was on I was good! And I rode every since I would say it was probably a month before I tried to rope anything in the pasture or anything fast but I could help pen cattle and do easy things. But I also only rode our good horse that my husband knew and trusted that he wouldnt do anything stupid. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I had an emergency c-section in July of 2014. I recovered quite quickly from the surgery. I was feeling pretty much back to normal within two or three weeks. Just had to wait for the incision site to heal. Went home on leave three months later and rode my horses. It's really just going to depend on you and how quickly your body recovers from it. Just keep in mind that a c-section is a major surgery so don't try to do too much too soon. The last thing you need is to try and over do it and open an internal incision back up. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| I agree with giving yourself plenty of time to heal. My last baby was an unplanned c-section after almost 48 hours of labor. I've been told it is harder on your body if you labor for awhile before c-section rather than just doing a planned c-section. Not sure if that's true or if they were just saying that to make me feel better about how miserable I was! I don't even know how long it was before I rode, I didn't keep track. But it was also winter and all I had were colts, so I wasn't too motivated to ride anyways.
I think the most important thing is to listen to your doctor and your body, whether you deliver naturally or via c-section. It's better to sit out a little longer than to deal with any complications that might arise by not allowing your body the time it needs to fully heal. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I had 2, 4 yrs apart. The first I was still incomfy a week later, by 2 weeks I was getting around fine. The 2nd one I was riding at 8-10 weeks. My best advice is to get some kind of pressure band/belt. Something that goes around and holds you all in in the belly region. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Texas | I had my first (and only) child when I was 41 years old. It was a planned c-section as he was born weighing a whopping 11 lbs 9 oz!! Anyway, that was on August 10. I started riding easy at 6 weeks and normal riding at 8 weeks. My first barrel race back was November 4. I'm sure everyone is different. Listen to your body. ;) |
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Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| wyoming barrel racer - 2017-01-05 2:29 PM
I had 2, 4 yrs apart. The first I was still incomfy a week later, by 2 weeks I was getting around fine. The 2nd one I was riding at 8-10 weeks. My best advice is to get some kind of pressure band/belt. Something that goes around and holds you all in in the belly region.
I definitely agree with the pressure band/belt. I was in the hospital for almost a week waiting on them to release our daughter, so I got to know the housekeeping ladies. One of them suggested I ask for a band when I mentioned that I was having difficulty doing anything because of the pain from the incision. That was a game changer for me, and I was actually able to get up and move around. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 214
| I think it depends on a lot of things. I have had 2. The first one was an emergency c section after my daughter's heart rate started dropping during contractions. That one HURT! I had her Nov 15, 2014 it was a week before I could lay down in a bed and get up by myself and that still about left me in tears from that burning pain feeling along the incision. Since it was winter anyways I wasn't in a hurry to get back on. I took my first ride at 6 weeks and probably would have felt better waiting a little longer. I just had my second c section oct 20 and felt really great before we even left the hospital. I do think planned vs unplanned plays a large role. I made myself wait 6 weeks until I was released by the dr. I had a lot of scar tissue from my first one that caused pain off and on, I wonder if maybe I tried to do stuff too soon with my first without allowing myself to heal completely? Anyways the dr who preformed my 2nd c section was able to clean a lot of it up and so far I haven't had any pain like I did from the first and I have been working out every day since I was released. I would suggest just take things slow and listen to your body, dealing with the excessive scar tissue is not something I would want to do again. And take advantage of those newborn snuggles :) |
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 Regular
Posts: 64
| Glad this article popped up. Got appendicitis on Christmas day and waited until they had to do open surgery instead of laprascopic. The doctor released me to do normal stuff a week and a half after. Went to CVS and got a abdominal binder and I couldn't have rode today without it. Trotting hurt a little but I could lope. Not sure about running how the jerks and twisting will feel, may have to wait about a month for that. My incision is to one side though and probably half what a C-section would be. |
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Member
Posts: 23
Location: Ellensburg Washington | I had a c sect. Last yr and WA back riding 5 weeks later !! |
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Veteran
Posts: 227
Location: Heart of Texas | I had an unplanned c section July 22nd, 2016 and was back in the saddle exactly 6 weeks later. I was also very active in my pregnancy and worked literally until the day I went into labor. I started lunging my ponies 4 weeks after the c section and started just walking ONE around in the saddle at the 6 week mark. I started building my strength from there. I ran my first pattern about 3 months after but that's also because that's the minimum amount of days it takes to leg a horse back up. Everyone is different and every pregnancy is different. My DR's advised me NOT to ride before the 8 week mark but you know your body and I say LISTEN to it. If it hurts to get on. Don't yet. If it hurts to lope, don't yet. It takes a full year for you to fully heal from a c section. And if you injure yourself too soon it's only going to set you back months. So be careful and remember if it hurts, DON'T DO IT! that is your body saying STOP! But good luck and congrats on the baby  |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | I was able to ride slow and steady at 6 weeks and run by 8 and rodeo at 10 |
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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | kj11 - 2017-01-05 5:58 PM I think it depends on a lot of things. I have had 2. The first one was an emergency c section after my daughter's heart rate started dropping during contractions. That one HURT! I had her Nov 15, 2014 it was a week before I could lay down in a bed and get up by myself and that still about left me in tears from that burning pain feeling along the incision. Since it was winter anyways I wasn't in a hurry to get back on. I took my first ride at 6 weeks and probably would have felt better waiting a little longer. I just had my second c section oct 20 and felt really great before we even left the hospital. I do think planned vs unplanned plays a large role. I made myself wait 6 weeks until I was released by the dr. I had a lot of scar tissue from my first one that caused pain off and on, I wonder if maybe I tried to do stuff too soon with my first without allowing myself to heal completely? Anyways the dr who preformed my 2nd c section was able to clean a lot of it up and so far I haven't had any pain like I did from the first and I have been working out every day since I was released. I would suggest just take things slow and listen to your body, dealing with the excessive scar tissue is not something I would want to do again. And take advantage of those newborn snuggles :)
So weird, I could have written this exact post, with different dates!
After my first (emergency) C section, I was riding again in 4 weeks and running barrels in 6 weeks. I didn't give myself much time to heal, because I didn't want anyone to think I was lazy (HAHA, OMG, really?). I had a mess of scar tissue the doc cleaned up at the second one 2.5 years later. I gave myself a little more time to heal, but honestly felt good and strong at 6 weeks so started legging up then and ran at about 10 weeks. Just listen to your body and don't try to be a hero or beat any records! :) |
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