I've had 3 c-sections.... recovery got better each time. Just didn't like the fact that it took me a week to have a bowel movement after my third section 🙃 and extremely painful gas after the first one. After one week, I was feeling 70% better after each section.
I've only had one section and it was elective with general anesthesia. It took me two weeks to start feeling better, five to feel more myself, and I don't remember exactly for the bowels, but I found coconut water and Colace helped. It was weeks before I slept on my side. But I have heard A Lot of people with better experiences and faster healing than mine.
The pain on the right side might be due to them tightening your stitches that side. I was warned about that. Or from personal experience I had tears from the pain when getting up and down on day 3-4 and it turns out my dressing had pulled at my skin that much it had ripped (nowhere near my scar). As soon as this was removed on day 4 in triage, I was able to move freely without pain just with general inside discomfort x
I’ve had my second cs and I’ve noticed took me a lot longer to recover in comparison to the first. About 2/3 weeks. That’s the same as people I know with their second too. I found sleeping on my back up right is much more comfortable than lying flat or on sides. You need a lot of cushions and pillows though- Under arms and travel one for your neck. Sooooo comfortable that way. Defo recommend!
Oh bowels is another story ! Possibly about 3 weeks too before started to feel semi normal. Ask for lactulose from your nurse. It helps so much.
Honestly, literally straight away for me movement wise I could sleep and move however I wanted as soon as the spinal wore off..but my body's weird and I find c sections extremely easy 😅