This program provides you with tips to help you get out of bed after abdominal or chest surgery. For the first few days when you come home after surgery, it is always best to have a family member or friend help you to get out of bed. Do not get out of bed directly from lying flat. Always sit up in bed for a few minutes. Move the bedcovers well out of the way. Move nearer to the side of the bed. Pivot your body and legs so that you are sitting with your legs dangling over the side of the bed. Hold the mattress with your hands for support and keep your back straight. Gently swing your legs back and forth, bend and stretch your ankles and twiddle your toes. If you feel faint or weak, go back to bed. Have your helper put on your socks, and shoes or sturdy slippers with low heels and non-slip soles. Use a footstool if the bed is too high for your feet to reach the floor without sliding off the bed. Stand still on the floor with your feet slightly apart for a few seconds.
Have your helper put on and fasten your robe. For the first few times out of bed, when you feel strong enough, walk a few steps to a bedside chair with arms. When you reach the chair, turn round so that your calves are touching the front of the chair. Bend your knees, grasp both arms of the chair firmly and lower yourself backward into the chair. Reverse the process to get out of the chair. * if you feel weak * or have chest pain, * let your helper get you back to bed * and inform your doctor. Some additional tips for the helper to follow. * Make sure your own footwear has non-slip soles. * Remove any hazards from the floor, such as slip rugs, frayed carpet or linoleum, or electric cords. * Stand at the side of your patient, not directly in front * Avoid lifting your patient under the arms. This can cause pain or dislocation of the shoulder joint. * Never let your patient put arms around your neck Home > Health Conditions and Treatments > Health library > Patient education manuals > What You Need to Know About Surgery > After surgery > Getting in and out of a bed or chair
Getting in and out of a bed or chair Getting in and out of bedPractice getting in and out of bed the day before your surgery.General tipsUse your arms as little as possible.Avoid twisting your upper body.Don't hold your breath when moving.Raise the head of your bed.Getting out of bedHug your pillows.Roll onto your side.Dangle your feet over the edge of your bed.Use your elbows to raise your upper body.Use your legs to pull yourself into a sitting position.Remember: Exhale as you sit up.Getting into bedAsk someone to put the siderails down.Sit close to the head of your bed.Lie down on your side.Bring your legs up onto the bed.Roll onto the bed.Remember: Don't hold your breath when getting into bed.Getting in and out of a chairPractice getting in and out of a chair the day before your surgery.Getting out of a chairSlide or wiggle your bottom toward the edge of a chair.Place your feet apart for a wide base of support.Put your head forward so your nose is over your toes.Put your hands on your thighs above your knees.
Stand up by using your leg muscles.Do not use your hands to push off the chair.Getting into a chairBack up to the chair until your legs touch the chair.Lean your upper body forward.Place your hands on your thighs for stability.Bend your knees and squat down slowly until you are sitting in the chair.Remember: Keep your feet apart for a wide base of support. Allina Health's Patient Education Department, Surgery: What You Need to Know, surg-ah-21686; Getting In and Out of Bed After Surgery, surg-ah-11108 Allina Health's Patient Education Department expertsA comment from the previous post:Now you have my curiosity piqued, since I have two clients who may have Cesareans in the near future.So, what ARE your tricks for the first time getting out of bed?SarahSo here are my tips for getting out of bed for the first time after a Cesarean birth- this can be applied to anyone with abdominal surgery- that hopefully will make it much easier!No matter what- GO SLOW! Make each movement deliberate and slow and in steps.
First, get yourself over as far to the side of the bed as possible. This can be done while laying flat or with the head of the hospital bed elevated. When moving in bed (as in above movement) place your feet flat on the bed, knees flexed, and lift your hips/midsection with the strength of your legs. Use the arm rails to help move your upper body.Once over at the side of the bed get into a sitting position, as high as you are comfortable.Next, start to turn your entire body as a whole to face the direction you are headed. Use the arm rail as support.Swing your legs down towards the floor while using the arm rail to lift your upper body straight up.Now, get yourself in a proper sitting position, feet flat on the floor. Keep your head up. Now just sit there. Once you feel stable, its time to stand! You may want to scoot yourself further to the edge of the bed to get a better footing.To stand, pretend you are doing a reverse squat- in other words- use your legs! Stand up straight using your legs, trying not to bend at the waist.
Do not hunch once you are standing. Just stand for several minutes, again, getting your bearings.When walking, keep your head forward, not focused on the floor- this can be dizzying.When sitting, do another squat- use your legs!Some like an abdominal binder or support pillow to hug across the belly.I hope this helps!Getting out of bed after surgery It is normal to feel a little weak after surgery. Getting out of bed after surgery is not always easy, but spending time out of bed will help you heal faster.Try to get out of bed at least 2 to 3 times a day to sit in a chair or take a short walk when your nurse says it is OK.Your doctor may have a physical therapist or assistant to teach you how to get out of bed safely.Make sure you are taking the right amount of pain medicines at the right time to reduce your pain. Tell your nurse if getting out of bed causes a lot of pain.Make sure someone is with you for safety and support in the beginning.Bend your knees until your legs are hanging over the side of the bed.
Use your arms to lift your upper body up so that you are sitting on the edge of the bed.Push off with your arms to stand up. Stay still for a moment to make sure you are steady. Focus on an object in the room that you can walk to. If you feel dizzy, sit back down.Sit on the edge of the bed.Gently swing your legs back onto the bed.Use your arms for support as you lie down on your sideRoll onto your back. You can also move around in bed. Change your position at least every 2 hours. Shift from your back to your side. Alternate sides each time you shift.Try ankle pump exercises in bed every 2 hours by bending your ankles up and down for a few minutes.If you were taught coughing and deep breathing exercises, practice them for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 hours. Place your hands on your stomach, then your ribs, and breathe deeply, feeling the stomach wall and rib cage move.Put on your compression stockings in bed if your nurse asks you to. This will help with your circulation and recovery.Use the call button to call your nurse if you have trouble (pain, dizziness, or weakness) getting out of bed.