Recovering from a Caesarean Birth

There are two main ways to give birth.  They are the normal delivery and the caesarean delivery.  Under the normal delivery there are methods such as natural (no anesthesia), water birth (also no anesthesia), and normal/vaginal (with anesthesia).  Under the caesarean delivery there are scheduled caesareans (often done when doctors find out early that it is safer for the mother to deliver using this method) and emergency caesareans (often done when a baby has gone into distress or if labour has begun while the baby is still in breech position).

Caesarean deliveries involve doctors having to surgically remove the baby from the mother’s womb by cutting into the mother’s abdomen.  They have been performed for hundreds of years, and as medical science developed almost guaranteed the survival of both mother and child.  During the procedure the doctor will cut through a mother’s belly, choosing either a classical cut or closer to the middle of the belly (often only done when baby’s are in real distress), a low vertical cut which is similar to the classical cut, but slightly lower, and the low transverse cut or the “bikini cut”.  Following this initial cut the doctor must cut through the uterus in order to safely deliver the baby.

As one might imagine, recovering from this type of delivery is very different from the other.  Cutting through skin and muscles means women will not only have a visible exterior wound, but also an invisible interior wound that takes much longer to heal than the vaginal tear or cut that comes with a normal delivery.  Most doctors and resources will say that the initial recovery period of a Caesarean section (also known as a C-section) is roughly 6 to 8 weeks.  That is the estimated time for the visible wound to heal and for the interior wound to be more or less healed.  Doctors will often recommend an additional 2 months after this initial 6-8 week period before a woman begins performing strenuous activities again so as to allow the abdominal muscle tissue to fuse back together and for a woman to fully heal.

What to expect when recovering from a C-section

There are three ongoing recoveries that happen post-operation.  These are the physical recovery (most obvious to the woman), the emotional recovery, and the psychological recovery.  The latter two are much like the recovery of a normal delivery, with women encountering the baby blues.  The former is what will be discussed here.

Physical Recovery

Right after delivery you will be taken to a room where you will rest and recover.  If there are no complications with your baby, a nurse or midwife will be with you so you may begin breastfeeding right away.  This can be a bit tricky since you will be tired and maybe groggy, plus you are likely to be wearing a postpartum binder, which will constrict some movement.  In approximately two hours your anesthesia will wear off and the nurses will give you more pain medication so as to help with the pain.  In the first week or so following delivery, it is important that you take your pain medicines regularly and on time. (Nurses will give you a schedule on when to take the medication).

The next day the nurses or midwives will very likely encourage you to stand and take a few steps.  Walking will help prevent blood clots in your legs and help move your bowels, which is necessary.  Doctors may not discharge you if you are not urinating and moving your bowels naturally or on your own.  Walking–Within limits! Don’t tire yourself out!–will also hasten recovery.  The day after delivery or perhaps two days after (depending on how you are feeling), you should be able to take a shower.  (One good trick is to ask the nurses for a plastic chair so you can sit while you do this.  Using a plastic chair for bathing is also a good trick for when you go home.  It ensures that you do not stand for too long or put too much pressure on your pelvis and core.  When showering, be sure to follow the wound care instructions given by your doctor.)

During the first week, take it easy!  Your focus should be on yourself and your baby.  Stay in bed, and don’t move around too much.  Some doctors recommend staying on a single floor of the home for about two to three weeks, since taking stairs can put a strain on the abdominal muscles, which are not yet fully healed.  If the muscles do not properly fuse together, you may risk continuing to look pregnant for years.

If you do need to move around (such as go to the bathroom or move to another part of the floor), be sure to take care as you get in and out of bed.  Move slowly, rolling first to your side and then letting your legs slide so that your feet are on the floor before you lift yourself with your arms, not your core!

About a week after your delivery, you will have to revisit your doctor so that your stitches or staples can be removed.  You will have another post-surgery check at roughly 4 weeks or 6 weeks.  During this time, exercising caution while moving is still advised.  You are also recommended not to lift anything heavier than your baby or to sit down when holding your baby.  Some doctors recommend not to carry anything heavier than 10 lbs.

You may experience vaginal bleeding with the passing of some clots during this time.  This is normal because as the uterus shrinks down to its original size, it will pass the remaining tissue and blood.  So long as the clots are not much larger than a bottle cap, it should be fine.

Throughout these initial 6 to 8 weeks, be sure to religiously wear your postpartum binder or other postpartum clothing that compresses your abdomen and pelvic area.  This will help with the healing, the pain, and with some of the walking or moving around.  Light exercise, such as swimming and walking (for 30 minutes at a time) will be allowed at around 4 to 6 weeks, but it is safest to check with your doctor.  Rigorous exercise will come much later, at around the 3 month mark.

There are some warning signs to look out for during the physical recovery process.  Should any of the following occur, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.

• A continued fever

• Rising blood pressure coupled with a headache and swollen extremities (feet, legs, arms, hands, and face)

• The wound becomes red, swollen, or begins to discharge or ooze liquid

• Pain upon urination or incontinence

• Increasing pain, increasing soreness, or tenderness in the abdomen

• Very heavy vaginal bleeding (able to fill two menstrual pads of blood), large clots, or vaginal blood with a strange odour

• Coughing or chest pain (could be indicative of a blood clot)

• Pain, redness, or swelling in the calf muscle (could be indicative of a blood clot) 

The bottom line most mothers need to remember is that a Caesarean operation is exactly that: an operation.  Women need to take their time to heal, should follow doctors’ instructions precisely, and be aware of what to look out for in terms of warning signs that the body is not healing correctly or has encountered a complication.  Doing this will allow for a smooth and easier healing process.

Need a postpartum binder to help with your Caesarean recovery?  Here is Mommy Mundo’s top pick! Click on the photo to learn more.