Recovering after a cesarean birth (often called a c-section) is a little bit different than if you have your baby vaginally.
Many of our clients are unaware of what to expect, whether they have a scheduled cesarean or the birth plan changed. Granted, this could be because few of us are prepared for what the first few weeks of parenthood are like no matter how it happens. But we’re tackling one thing at a time today!
Like the girl scouts, if you’ve found your way here, we bet you like to be prepared. So here’s a quick guide for what to expect after a cesarean:
Expect to stay in the hospital longer after a c-section birth than a vaginal birth- usually 3 nights instead of 2.
While you may be ready to go home, this hospital stay allows your doctors to ensure that you’ve recovered from surgery. Typical things that will happen before you’re cleared to go home include:
- Getting up and moving after the spinal anesthesia wears off (this speeds up your recovery)
- Switching from a liquid diet to back to solid foods
- Using the bathroom on your own without a catheter, and passing gas (which means that your digestive system is back up and running after abdominal surgery)
- Switching from anesthesia to other pain medication
- Receiving instructions in how to care for your incision, which will likely be covered with Steri-Strips. Usually, your OB’s instructions include keeping it clean and dry
When you go home after a c-section, you’ll be instructed to take it very easy to recover.
You should expect soreness and rest whenever possible.
Most discharge instructions say not to lift anything “heavier than your baby”. This usually includes car seats, your hospital bags, some diaper bags and any older children you have at home.
Our doula clients are also usually instructed not to drive after a c-section, and to limit trips up and down stairs to once or twice a day.
Even though you didn’t push your baby out, you’ll have postpartum bleeding and/or discharge (called lochia). Your uterus is healing just as it would after a vaginal birth, so you should avoid putting anything in the vagina for six weeks. This means no tampons or intercourse.
Much of the most intense healing takes place in the first two weeks when your body is recovering from surgery.
Expect to see your obstetrician at this point, who will check your incision and see how you’re doing, postpartum. You’ll also typically have an appointment at the six-week mark to ensure that you’ve continued to heal well.
Aches, pains, and tiredness are normal- after all, there we can’t think of a surgery besides a c-section where you’re sent home to take care of someone else.
The following things are red flags after cesarean birth:
- A fever of 100.0 or higher
- New abdominal pain or a need for an increase in pain medication
- Chest pain, fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking a pad per hour is a good guideline)
- Swelling, redness, pus and/or a bad odor in or around the incision
- Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
These things mean that you should seek medical care as soon as possible. In fact, we encourage our doula clients to feel comfortable reaching out to their provider. It’s much better to be cautious when you and your family are recovering from birth than to ignore something that’s troubling you.
The good news is, that few of our clients experience red flags. Most of them get to spend time getting to know their baby and adjusting to parenthood.
As postpartum doulas, we want to make that adjustment as smooth as possible, so here are a few tips specific to your c-section recovery:
- Plan on taking a bit longer on maternity leave after a cesarean, to account for the recovery from surgery.
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Let loved ones help you carry things and chauffeur you around. We know you might be Wonder Woman, but your body will thank you.
- If your home has stairs (we’re talking to our clients in DC, Baltimore and Alexandria who live in rowhouses & those of you in the beautiful suburban townhouses), find a way to make fewer trips. We recommend a bassinet with a changing station in the living area as well as bedroom for baby. And for you, put snacks, water and entertainment on every floor.
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If you’re planning on breastfeeding or pumping, know that your mature milk may be a bit delayed coming in. Rather than 3-4 days of colostrum before mature milk, expect 5-7.
- When holding your baby watch out for them squirming against the incision. When breastfeeding we recommend the football hold, and the My Breast Friend pillow (a pillow that buckles around the waist and has a flat surface for positioning baby) is helpful whether breast or bottle feeding.
- To allow your incision to heal, providers say to just keep it clean (a shower is enough) and let it be. Some clients find that cesarean support bands make them feel
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If you’d like to find a community of others who’ve had a cesarean, the International Cesarean Awareness Network can be very helpful. Locally, you can attend ICAN of Northern Virginia meetings.
Whether your baby arrives via cesarean birth or vaginal birth, we want you to heal well and start motherhood off feeling supported. So let us know what you need- we’re here for you. Schedule a call with us!
