best tips for c section recovery

How to recover faster after a C section?

Tips to recovery

• Get plenty of rest. Your body needs to heal, so don’t push yourself to return to your normal activities too soon.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects. You shouldn’t lift anything heavier than your baby.
• Talk a walk. Skip the heart-pounding exercise like running or lifting weights, but walking will help your body heal.
• Remember to eat. ...
• Monitor your pain. ...

How long does it take to recover from a C section?

C-section patients typically stay in the hospital for two to four days before going home. But your recovery will be measured in weeks, not days. You'll be able to do some things quickly, like breastfeeding and walking. Other activities, like moderate exercise, may not be possible for up to eight weeks after the surgery.

How to heal faster from a C section?

Proper Home Care for a Fast Recovery

• Take pain medication as needed. ...
• Abdominal binders can help with pain control. ...
• Move and stretch. ...
• Maintain a healthy diet as it provides energy and hastens recovery.
• Continue taking a prenatal vitamin to round out any deficiencies in your diet.
• Mild anemia is common during pregnancy and after a C-section. ...

More items...

What is the healing time for a C section?

Many guides suggest that full recovery from a C-section takes 4 to 6 weeks. Yet every person is different, and much research suggests a significantly longer recovery time. Some studies, for example, have found that 60 percent of women have some pain in the incision 24 weeks after delivery.

Do and don'ts after C-section delivery?

Keeping the area dry and clean. Use warm, soapy water to wash your incision daily (usually when you shower). Pat the area dry after cleaning. If your doctor used tape strips on your incision, let them fall off on their own.

How long will C-section pain last?

Pain relief Your wound will feel sore and bruised for a few weeks. You will need to take pain relief for at least 7–10 days after your c-section.

How many days should take rest after C-section?

Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.

How should I lay in bed after C-section?

Specifically, you should focus on sleeping on your left side since this gives you optimal blood flow and also makes digestion easier. You may need a body pillow or other supportive aids to get comfortable and provide proper support for your abdomen and hips.

Which food should avoid after C-section?

Items like carbonated drinks, citrus juices, coffee, tea, and spicy food should be avoided as they increase bloating and gas. Fermented and fried food can cause heartburn and indigestion. Since mothers are breastfeeding, such foods can affect the milk and cause growth problems in the newborn.

What mom needs after C-section?

C-Section Pain Reliever. Advil Liqui-Gels. ... Stool Softener. Colace Stool Softener. ... Breastfeeding Pillow. Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner. ... C-Section Scar Prevention Treatment. ScarAway Silicone Scar Sheets for C-Sections. ... Postpartum Belly Binder. ... Supportive Postpartum Underwear. ... Baby Sound Machine. ... A Postpartum Recovery Book.More items...•

Can I bend after C-section?

Lifting more than your baby, stretching, straining and deep bending are not recommended until about 4-6 weeks post-delivery OR until you are able to do these movements with no pain or strain and your incision feels like it has healed.

When does C-section pain peak?

C-section pain typically spikes 18 hours after delivery.

What helps with C-section pain?

Treat your C-section incision with careTake it easy. Rest when possible. ... Seek pain relief. To soothe incision soreness, your health care provider might recommend ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other medications to relieve pain.

Is it OK to push to poop after C-section?

Say no to straining. It's uncomfortable for one, and if a stitch were to possibly pop, intense straining is how it might happen. Straining can cause or worsen hemorrhoids too. Having to push hard or force are signs that your body isn't ready yet, so don't force it.

What to do after a C section?

After a c-section, it’s important to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of fluids and eating nutritious foods can help your body recover. In addition to helping your body heal, if you are breastfeeding, your body also needs fluids and extra calories to support milk production.

What to keep in a water bottle for postpartum?

Keep your water and a basket of fresh fruit, granola bars, nuts, and other snacks near the place where you feed your baby as a reminder to snack and drink often.

Why does my incision itch after surgery?

Itching at the incision site is common after surgery. It’s a sign your body is healing. Try your best not to scratch your incision. Ice packs applied to the incision can help reduce unpleasant sensations on and around the incision site, including itching, pain, and swelling.

How to help a splint incision?

Use a pillow to splint your incision when standing for the first few days. Supporting your incision can reduce pain and help you feel more stable. Some people also like to use a belly support band or binder for support.

Is it possible to recover from a cesarean section in 2021?

Ariel Skelley / Getty Images. Recovering from a cesarean section (c-section) is different from healing after a vaginal birth. Not only did you birth a baby, but you underwent major surgery. Post-c-section recovery takes time, but there are ways to ease the process.

Can you climb stairs after a C section?

For this reason, it’s best to avoid climbing stairs as much as you can in the initial weeks following your c-section. For most people, avoiding stairs altogether isn’t possible, so if you do need to use stairs, try to limit how frequently you climb them and take them slowly.

Can you take pain medication after a C section?

Many people stop taking their post-surgery pain medications too early or don't take them on the recommended schedule, which can lead to unnecessary pain. Your doctor may recommend around-the-clock pain management after your c-section, at least for the first several days, so take your pain medications as prescribed and make sure you take them before the pain becomes too bad. 1

How to recover from a C section?

Here are four suggestions to speed up your recovery so you can spend less time sore and tired, and more time bonding with your new baby. 1. Get plenty of rest. A C-section is major surgery.

What to do if you feel sad after a C section?

chest pain. pain in your breasts. Also, call your doctor if you feel sad and your mood never seems to lift, especially if you have thoughts of hurting your baby. Finally, if you have a friend or sibling who went through a C-section, try not to compare yourself to them.

How to get rid of constipation and blood clots?

Also wait to have sex or use tampons until your doctor gives you the green light. Avoid strenuous exercise, but do take gentle walks as often as you can. The movement will help your body heal and prevent constipation and blood clots.

How to get around while recovering from a stroke?

Take extra care in getting around while you heal. Avoid going up and down stairs as much as you can. Keep everything you need, like diaper changing supplies and food, close to you so that you don’t have to get up too often.

How long does it take for a C section to heal?

Expect to stay in the hospital for three to four days after your delivery (longer if there are complications), and give your body up to six weeks to fully heal.

How to get stronger after delivery?

If you’re breastfeeding, you’re still your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Eating a variety of foods will keep your baby healthy and help you get stronger.

What are the symptoms of a swollen incision?

But the following symptoms warrant a call to your doctor, because they could signal an infection: redness, swelling, or pus oozing from the incision site. pain around the site. fever of more than 100.4°F (38°C) bad-smelling discharge from the vagina. heavy vaginal bleeding.

What is the best way to heal a scar?

Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein and is critical in healing your scar well. Bone broth and a diet high in protein will give you the amino acids necessary to help your body build collagen. Or you can pick up some collagen powder to mix into your morning coffee!

Why do you need an abdominal binder?

An abdominal binder wraps around your waist kind of like a corset and is amazing for a few reasons: Provides much-needed muscular support to the abdominal tissues. Keeps your stitches in place. (Moving stitches aren’t a good thing.) Helps you move more comfortably and with less pain.

Do C-sections require recovery?

Planned or unplanned, emergency or non-emergency, all c-sections have something in common: They are major abdominal surgeries, and they require a recovery period.

Does a C section hurt?

Newsflash: It hurts when someone cuts you open and pulls out a human being. A C-section typically involves a longer (and more painful) recovery period than a vaginal delivery. Which makes these pain relief techniques your new best friends.

Is a C section traumatic?

Whether you view your c-section as traumatic or not, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to any symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA). If your birth story was traumatic, you could also experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What to do after a C section?

Forget the abdominal binder. After a C-section, you’ll be given an abdominal binder which provides sustained compression meant to help ease the pain. Yet these binders take over the work of the abdominal muscles which will make them weaker over time, Ryan said.

How long does it take for pain to go away after a C section?

After a C-section, it’s normal to have pain for up to two weeks, although you will feel better each day. Your doctor will likely prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen and a narcotic pain medication.

Why aren't moms thrilled about having a cesarean section?

Most moms aren’t thrilled with the idea of having a cesarean section because let’s face it — it’s serious surgery that carries a laundry list of risks. Not to mention that some women feel disappointed or sad that they didn’t have the vaginal birth they envisioned.

How to care for a staple incision?

Care for the incision. You will most likely have stitches that will dissolve on their own but if you have staples, your provider will need to remove them. Keep the area dry and if you feel warmth, redness or increased pain, call your provider because the incision could be infected.

How many layers of tissue are disturbed during a C section?

“There are seven layers of tissue that are disturbed—cut or moved—during the C-section and your body needs to recover those and repair in order from the bottom to the top,” Knight said.

How to get rid of swelling after giving birth?

9. Don’t lift anything heavy. For the first two weeks after you give birth, don’t lift anything that weighs more than 20 pounds.

What to do if you don't get help?

If you don’t get help, you’ll be exhausted and it will take your body longer to recover. Ask your partner, a family member or a friend for help with grocery shopping, errands and cleaning so you can focus on your baby and your own health. 13. Get emotional support.

PRESS A PILLOW INTO YOUR C-SECTION SCAR

Your muscles are going to be sore, it’s going to hurt to laugh or cough. Or sneeze, or really do much of anything that moves your abdomen.

START WALKING ASAP AFTER CESAREAN DELIVERY

I cannot even begin to describe what a difference walking can make in your c-section recovery.

Be honest about your pain after your c-section

Not to be super graphic, but remember that someone just cut you open and pulled a tiny human out of you.

Wear high-waisted underwear and pants

What to wear after a c section is a question I see new moms ask all the time in my c section support Facebook group ( you can request to join the Facebook group here ). And high-waisted clothing has got to be one of the most under-rated c section recovery tips around.

Stand up straight-ish

The tendency right after a c section is to want to stay completely hunched over. This eases the strain on your sore abdominal muscles.

rest, rest, and more rest

Your body is healing from major surgery AND caring for a tiny human, it needs rest.

Invest in c section recovery education

You are not going to heal any faster by sitting on the couch and watching reruns of The Office because you’re too afraid to walk.

How long does it take to recover from a C-section?

It takes about six weeks to recover from a C-section, but each person’s timeline will be different. An incision — typically a horizontal cut made in your lower abdomen — can take weeks to heal.

Tips to recovery

Having a newborn and recovering from surgery doesn’t leave a lot of time for self-care. But it’s crucial you take time to take care of yourself. Here are a few tips on what to do.

What to use for C section recovery?

While you’re massaging, you can use essential oils for C-section recovery. These may include lavender, rosemary, chamomile, or frankincense oils. If you find that you have nerve pain after your C-section, a warm water bottle pressed to ...

How to recover from a C section?

You may want to try out yoga for C-section recovery. It will help you build up your strength and flexibility without risking damage to your wound.

How long does it take for a C section to heal?

You can use natural remedies for C-section recovery once the incision wound has fully sealed and healed up—approximately 4-6 weeks following surgery.

How long does it take to recover from a C section?

The C-section recovery time varies. Generally, during the first 3-4 days, you will likely be in the hospital with a nurse who will check your wound and show you how to care for it. When you’re sent home, you may still have stitches or staples that the midwife will remove after about a week.

How does belly binding help with C section?

Your healthcare provider will advise you on steps to gently clean and dry the wound every day to minimize the risk of infection after C-section.

How to heal wounds that are infected?

It is vital to ensure that you consume a healthy diet rich in vitamins and drink plenty of water. This will help boost your immune system and speed up your body’s natural healing processes.