Cesarean Section Recovery Tips

Recovering from a cesarean section, planned or unplanned, can be difficult and time consuming. Having a new baby is joyful, but exhausting. Adding physical pain and emotional turmoil to the mix can leave you feeling overwhelmed. While recovering after a cesarean birth, there are several things you can do to speed healing and make yourself more comfortable.

Drink, drink, drink

One of the most important things you can do to help your recovery is to stay hydrated. Without enough water you will not be able to function effectively. The easiest way to get enough water is to have a glass every time you nurse or bottlefeed the baby. Drinking enough water is easy to overlook, but is essential, particularly if you are nursing. Caffeine should be avoided, as it will dehydrate you, but juices and decaffeinated teas will help keep you going.

Take care of the incision

As your incision heals, it may be painful, tender, sensitive, or even numb. It is not unusual for one side to hurt more than the other; often the side that the operating doctor was standing on will be sorer during recovery. Every woman's experience is different, but if something doesn't feel right to you, contact your doctor. Complications are rare, but it is important to follow your instincts. You know your body best; listen to what it is telling you.

Before a cesarean surgery takes place, the nurses will generally shave the top portion of pubic hair in order to sterilize the area where the incision will be made. After surgery, as the hair grows back, it can start to itch. This can be exacerbated by any folding of skin in the area. To ease the itchiness, try placing a clean cloth diaper or burp cloth over the incision area. This will prevent any rubbing or additional irritation.

Another common complaint is odor around the incision area. Be sure to check with your doctor immediately if a foul odor develops, as this could be a sign of infection. If there is no infection, but a slight unpleasant odor persists, try drying the incision area after every shower using a blow dryer on the low cool setting. Once the incision has healed over well, cornstarch or baby powder can also help maintain dryness.

Feeding Support

Whether you are nursing or bottlefeeding, holding the baby can cause painful pressure on the abdomen. Using a nursing pillow, such as a Boppy or Mother's Breast Friend, can help by supporting the baby in your arms, and by padding the tender areas.

If you are nursing, holding the baby in the "football hold" can also relieve abdominal pressure. Be sure to support your back and the baby with well placed pillows. Your partner or support person can help with pillow placement to get you both in a comfortable position.

Take the drugs

Many new mothers are hesitant to take the painkillers that their doctors prescribe because they are worried about the drugs' impact on their newborn. It is important to discuss what you are taking with your doctor and understand the side effects of all prescriptions. Once you are comfortable with the prescriptions you have been given, you can feel free to take what you have been prescribed for pain relief. While some mothers don't need prescription painkillers when they leave the hospital, most mothers are still too sore to go without, and that's okay. Being in pain doesn't help you and it doesn't help your baby. Being comfortable and relaxed is important in these early weeks as you bond with your child. The pain should subside over the course of two to six weeks. If you run out of a prescription and are still in pain, call your doctor. Often she will refill your prescription as needed. If your pain is severe and the drugs do not help, call your doctor right away.

There are several non-prescription drugs that can also ease those first few weeks. If you are taking prescription pain relievers, a stool softener can be vitally important. Prescription painkillers can cause constipation, which is particularly uncomfortable after a cesarean delivery.

You should also continue to take your prenatal vitamins, either prescription or over the counter. In addition, many have found that adding a good quality B-complex vitamin will give them an added energy boost, something that every new mom can benefit from.

Lastly, if you were given IV antibiotics during your cesarean section, you may want to consider taking a quality probiotic with every meal. The antibiotics, while preventing infection, also kill off the good bacteria in your digestive tract, which are important for immune function. No new mother wants to get sick.

Get up and move

One of the strangest, yet almost universal complaints after cesarean delivery, is the sensation that your internal organs are about to fall out whenever you stand up. Holding a pillow over your midsection can help fight this feeling. Alternatively, some doctors will prescribe an abdominal binder. This is like an oversize ACE bandage that wraps all the way around the midsection. It has also been shown to speed recovery, so if you believe it will help you, be sure to ask your doctor about providing one for you.

At the hospital the nurses prod you out of bed and make you walk around as much as possible. But once you are home it can be tempting to sit on the couch with your newborn all day. While taking it easy and resting as much as possible is important, getting up for a walk every day will improve your pain level, mobility, and your mood. Even if it's just to the end of the block and back, a little walk can do a lot of good.

Get lots of rest

This is the hardest recommendation for many new mothers to follow. There is a baby wanting to eat every two hours, friends and family who want to visit, and dishes that won't do themselves. Nonetheless, you must get as much rest as you can. If you don't sleep, you will not heal. Let your visitors throw a load in the laundry or do some dishes, and say yes when they offer to bring you a meal, as long as you don't feel compelled to entertain or clean for them. For the first few weeks, try to have an adult helper around as much as possible, to entertain older siblings or to wait on you hand and foot. Do not feel guilty about accepting help if it's offered this is every new mother's right.

Trouble sleeping is not uncommon. If incision pain bothers you when you lay on your back, try sleeping slightly elevated, in a recliner or on a bed wedge. If you prefer lying on your side, use lots of pillows around your stomach and back to make yourself comfortable. Try to clear your mind and don't watch the clock. And of course there is the oft repeated adage, sleep when the baby sleeps. It can be hard, but as much as possible, it's a great idea.

Talk to others

Having an unplanned cesarean can be emotionally traumatic for many women. You may have had a particular idea of how your baby's birth was going to go, and ended up shocked and disappointed when a cesarean occurred. Or perhaps you are pleased with the birth itself, but are feeling sad and depressed, and don't even know why.

Whether it's called the "baby blues," post-partum depression, or birth trauma, many women are left feeling saddened and shocked after the birth of their child. Hormonal upheaval can turn what should be a happy time into a time of confusion and tears. Talking to your friends and family about your feelings may help, or you can seek out a support group for new mothers in your area. Many hospitals run such support groups, and La Leche League has meetings in most areas. There are also a variety of online groups and message boards where new mothers can connect and feel supported, and less alone. ICAN, or the International Cesarean Awareness Network, works to provide support for cesarean recovery, and has both online groups and local chapters.

If you are worried that your feelings of sadness or depression have gone on too long, or if they are too intense, or if others have become concerned, it may be time to talk to your doctor. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength, as you do your best to take care of your baby by taking care of yourself.

The recovery period is a stressful time, whatever the method of delivery. Healing may seem to take forever, but by the time your baby is six weeks old, you should be physically ready to get back to your normal activities. Despite the challenges and lack of sleep, welcoming a child into your life is a joyous event, so don't forget to stop and enjoy your baby.