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A cesarean section, also referred to as a C-section, is a surgical method of giving birth. It is a major surgery, and the recovery process takes longer than a vaginal birth and requires different techniques. If there are no complications, you will need to stay in the hospital for about three days. Recovery will take four to six weeks to stop bleeding, discharge, and most wound care. With proper healthcare, support from family and friends, and self-care at home, you will recover swiftly.
Steps
Recovery at the Hospital
Take a walk. You will stay in the hospital for two to three days. During the first 24 hours, you will be encouraged to stand up and take a walk. Movement helps prevent common post-C-section issues like constipation, bloating, and other dangerous complications like blood clots. Nurses will monitor your movements.
- Starting to walk may feel uncomfortable, but the pain will quickly lessen.
Request help with breastfeeding. Once you start feeling better, you can begin breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Ask a nurse or a lactation consultant to guide you in positioning both you and your baby in a way that avoids pressure on your healing abdomen. A pillow will be very helpful.
Ask about vaccinations. Discuss with your healthcare provider about preventive care, including vaccinations, to ensure the health of both you and your baby. If you haven't received the latest vaccines, the time in the hospital is a good opportunity to get them.
Keep things clean. Keep your hands clean at all times during your hospital stay, and don’t hesitate to ask doctors and nurses to sanitize their hands before touching you or your baby. Hospital-acquired infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can be easily prevented by handwashing.
Schedule a follow-up appointment. After leaving the hospital, you will need to see your doctor for a check-up within four to six weeks, or sooner, depending on your doctor’s advice.
- Some patients visit the clinic a few days after discharge to have their surgical stitches removed or to check the incision site.
Recovery at Home
Rest. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep every night, if possible. Sleep encourages tissue growth and aids in wound healing. It also reduces stress levels, which in turn reduces inflammation and promotes better health.
- Getting enough sleep with a newborn can be challenging! Consider asking your partner or another adult in your household to take over nighttime wake-ups. If you're breastfeeding, they can help by bringing the baby to you. Remember, nighttime crying is temporary: take a moment to listen before deciding to get up.
- Take naps whenever you can. When your baby naps, you should too. If visitors come to see the baby, ask them to watch the baby while you rest for a bit. This isn't impolite: you're recovering from surgery.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and other fluids to replenish what was lost during childbirth and to prevent constipation. While your fluid intake will be monitored in the hospital, it’s your responsibility to drink enough once you're home. Keep a glass of water nearby when breastfeeding.
- There's no specific amount of water you need to drink daily. Drink enough so you don't feel dry or thirsty. If your urine is dark yellow, you may be dehydrated and need to drink more.
- In some cases, your doctor may advise you to reduce or maintain your fluid intake.
Eat well. Eating nutritious meals and snacks is essential when recovering from surgery. Your digestive system is healing, so you may need to adjust your normal diet. If you experience stomach discomfort, stick to bland foods low in fat, like rice, roasted chicken, yogurt, and toast.
- If you're constipated, increase your fiber intake. Consult your doctor before significantly adding fiber-rich foods or supplements to your diet.
- Continue taking prenatal vitamins to support your recovery process.
- Cooking can involve heavy lifting and bending, which may be risky. If you live with a partner, family member, or someone who can care for you, ask them to prepare your meals or join a meal train program (a service offering free or paid meals for new parents) if you're in the U.S.
Walk more each day. Just like in the hospital, continue to move around. Try to gradually increase the time you walk by a few minutes each day. This doesn’t mean you need to exercise! Avoid biking, jogging, or doing any strenuous activities for at least six weeks post-surgery, unless approved by your doctor first.
- Avoid using stairs as much as possible. If your bedroom is upstairs, consider moving to a downstairs room for the first few weeks of recovery, or limit the time spent going up and down stairs if you can’t move rooms.
- Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby, and refrain from thigh exercises or weightlifting.
- Steer clear of abdominal exercises or any movements that put pressure on your incision site.
Take pain medication as needed. Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen, such as Tylenol. Most pain medications are safe for breastfeeding mothers, but avoid aspirin or products containing aspirin for 10 to 14 days after surgery, as aspirin can reduce blood clotting ability. Managing pain is crucial for breastfeeding mothers, as it can interfere with the hormones necessary for milk production.
Support the abdominal area. Providing support to the wound helps reduce pain and prevents the wound from reopening. It’s advisable to place a pillow over the incision when coughing or taking deep breaths.
- Abdominal belts or "shapewear" often do not provide significant benefits. Consult with your doctor before applying pressure to the incision.
Clean the incision site. Gently wash the wound with warm soapy water and pat dry daily. If medical staff have applied a bandage over the incision, let it fall off naturally or remove it after a week. You can cover the wound with a sterile dressing for comfort or to absorb drainage, but make sure to change it daily.
- Avoid applying moisturizers or powders directly to the incision. Scrubbing, scrubbing, soaking, or sun exposure on the wound can slow healing and increase the risk of reopening the incision.
- Do not use products like hydrogen peroxide, which may hinder healing.
- Shower as usual and dry the wound after bathing. Avoid soaking in a tub, swimming, or submerging the incision in water.
Wear loose-fitting clothing. Opt for loose, soft clothing that doesn’t rub against the incision.
Avoid sexual activity. After either a C-section or vaginal birth, your body requires four to six weeks to recover before engaging in most sexual activities. If you had a C-section, more time will be needed for the incision to heal completely. Wait until your doctor gives you the go-ahead to resume normal sexual activity.
Use regular sanitary pads for vaginal bleeding. Even if you didn’t deliver vaginally, you will notice fresh red bleeding from the vagina, known as lochia, during the first month postpartum. Avoid douching or using tampon-style sanitary pads, as they can lead to infections until your doctor permits.
- If you experience heavy bleeding or notice an unpleasant odor, or if you develop a fever above 38°C, seek medical attention.
Advice
- Many people believe that natural broths, especially bone broth, can help speed up the recovery process.
- During surgery, new skin will form. New skin is more prone to scarring, so you should protect it from sunlight for six to nine months or longer after surgery.
Warning
- Contact your doctor if your stitches come undone.
- Seek medical attention if you notice any signs of infection at the incision site, such as fever, severe pain, swelling, warm skin, redness radiating from the incision, pus discharge, or swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin.
- If you experience abdominal pain, bloating, stiffness, or discomfort while urinating, you may have an infection.
- Call emergency services at 115 if you experience dangerous symptoms such as fainting, severe abdominal pain, coughing up blood, or difficulty breathing.
- See a doctor if you experience chest pain along with flu-like symptoms.
- If you feel sad, want to cry, feel hopeless, or have negative thoughts after giving birth, you might be experiencing postpartum depression. This is a common condition for many women, and you can contact your healthcare provider for help.
