A cesarean section is a delivery process that is performed through surgery. A cesarean section is a major operation, and recovery after a cesarean section takes longer than a normal delivery, and requires a different technique. If you have a cesarean without complications, you usually need about three days in the hospital, no longer bleeding, discharge from the hospital, and four to six weeks post-surgery treatment of the incision. With proper care from the healthcare team at the hospital, support from family and friends, and self-care at home, you are more likely to recover in time.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Recovering in the Hospital
Step 1. Try walking
You may have to stay in the hospital for two or three days. Within the first 24 hours, you will be encouraged to start standing and walking. Moving your body helps prevent common cesarean side effects such as constipation and gas buildup in the stomach, as well as dangerous complications such as blood clots. The nurse or nursing assistant will monitor your movements.
Usually you will feel very uncomfortable when you start walking, but the pain will gradually decrease
Step 2. Ask for help breastfeeding the baby
Once you feel well enough, you can start breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby. Ask the nurse or lactation consultant to help you find the right position for you and your baby so you don't put pressure on the healing tummy. You can use a pillow.
Step 3. Ask about vaccinations
Talk to your doctor about preventive care, including vaccinations, to protect the health of you and your baby. If you haven't vaccinated for a long time, you can use your time in the hospital to get the latest vaccinations.
Step 4. Keep it clean
Keep your hands clean while in hospital, and don't hesitate to ask doctors and nurses to sterilize their hands before touching you or your baby. Infections that occur in hospitals such as MRSA can be prevented only by washing hands.
Step 5. Make an appointment for the next consultation
After leaving the hospital, you will need a follow-up examination in four to six weeks or sooner, depending on the doctor.
Some patients come to see a doctor a few days after being discharged from the hospital to remove their staples or have their incisions checked
Part 2 of 2: Recovering at Home
Step 1. Take a break
If possible, get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Sleep promotes tissue growth, which will help wounds heal. Sleep also lowers stress levels, which reduces inflammation and improves health.
- Getting a good night's sleep in the presence of a newborn may be difficult. Ask your partner or other adult in your home to get up at night. If you are breastfeeding, ask them to bring the baby to you. Remember that the baby's fussiness at night will go away on its own. Listen for a few seconds before you decide to get out of bed.
- Try to take a nap if possible. When the baby sleeps, you should sleep too. If guests come to see the baby, ask them to watch over the baby while you take a nap. It's not an impolite act. They'll understand, especially since you've just had surgery and are recovering.
Step 2. Drink enough water
Drink water and other fluids to replace fluids lost during childbirth, and to prevent constipation. Your fluid intake will be monitored while you are in the hospital, but when you get home, it is up to you to make sure you are drinking enough water yourself. While breastfeeding, keep a glass of water next to you.
- There is no provision for the amount of water that must be drunk each day for each individual. Drink enough water so you won't be thirsty as often. If your urine is dark yellow, it means you are dehydrated and should drink more.
- In some cases, your doctor may suggest reducing your water intake instead of increasing it.
Step 3. Eat well
Eating nutritious meals and snacks is especially important for people recovering from surgery. The digestive system is also in the process of recuperating after surgery, so you may need to make some adjustments to your daily diet. If your stomach feels uncomfortable, eat soft, low-fat foods, such as rice, grilled chicken, yogurt, and toast.
- If you are constipated, you may need to increase your fiber intake. Talk to your doctor before drastically increasing your fiber intake, or if you want to take fiber supplements.
- Continue to take the prenatal vitamins your doctor has given you to help speed healing.
- Cooking activities may require you to lift things and bend over, which can put your condition at risk. If a partner, family member, or friend can help, ask them to prepare a meal or order special catering.
Step 4. Walk further each day
Just like when you were in the hospital, you have to keep moving. Try to increase the length of walking time by adding a few minutes each day. This doesn't mean you have to exercise! Do not cycle, jog, or engage in other strenuous exercise for at least six weeks after a c-section, or without consulting your doctor first.
- As much as possible avoid climbing stairs. If your room is on the top floor, move to a room on the ground floor for the first few weeks during the recovery process, or if that's not possible limit the number of times you go up and down stairs.
- Don't lift anything that's heavier than the baby's weight, and don't crouch and stand up while lifting something.
- Avoid sit ups or movements that put pressure on the injured abdomen.
Step 5. Take medicine if you feel pain
Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen, such as Tylenol. Most pain medications are safe for breastfeeding mothers to take, but you should avoid aspirin or pills containing aspirin for the first 10 to 14 days after surgery because aspirin can reduce blood clotting. Managing pain is especially important for breastfeeding women because pain can interfere with the release of hormones needed to help with milk production.
Step 6. Support your stomach
Supporting the wound can reduce pain and reduce the risk of the wound re-opening. Place a pillow over the incision when you cough or take a deep breath.
Compression garments for the abdomen, or "octopus" for adults have proven to be beneficial for stomach support. Consult a doctor before you apply pressure to the incision
Step 7. Clean the incision
Wash the incision daily with warm water and soap, then dry gently. If the doctor/nurse puts a special bandage over the incision, let it come off on its own, or remove it after a week. You can cover the wound with a bandage for comfort or if the wound is bleeding, but make sure you change the bandage every day.
- Do not use lotion or powder on the incision. Rubbing, soaking the incision or exposing it to sunlight can slow the healing process, and risk opening the incision again.
- Avoid cleaning products that can slow healing, such as hydrogen peroxide.
- Shower as usual, and gently dry the incision once you're done. Do not bathe, swim, or immerse the incision in water.
Step 8. Wear loose clothing
Choose clothes that are loose, soft, and won't rub against the cut.
Step 9. Avoid sexual intercourse
After a c-section or vaginal delivery, it may take your body four to six weeks to recover before you can have sexual activity. If you had a c-section, it may take longer for the incision to heal completely. Wait until your doctor says it's safe for you to have sex.
Step 10. Use pads to absorb blood during the puerperium
Even if you don't have a vaginal birth, you will still experience bright red vaginal bleeding during the first month after delivery, which is called lochia. Do not douche (vaginal spray) or use tampons because they can cause infection. Wait until your doctor allows you to do it.
If the puerperal blood is very heavy or smells bad, or if you have a fever over 38°C, call your doctor
Tips
- Many people believe that natural broths, especially bone broth, can speed up the healing process.
- If you have surgery, new skin will grow. New skin is prone to scarring, so avoid sunbathing for six to nine months or longer after surgery.
Warning
- Call the doctor if the stitches open.
- Call your doctor if you see signs of infection at the incision site. These signs include fever, increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness, red lines from the incision, pus, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.
- If your stomach feels soft, bloated, or hard, or if you have pain while urinating, you may have an infection.
- Call 112 for emergency care if you have serious symptoms, such as fainting, severe stomach pain, coughing up blood, or severe difficulty breathing.
- Call your doctor if your breasts are sore and you have flu-like symptoms.
- If you're feeling sad, crying, hopeless, or having disturbing thoughts after delivery, you may be experiencing postpartum depression. This condition is normal and most women experience it. Call your doctor who usually treats you if you need help.
