Recovery After a C Section - How to Have the Best Recovery After a C Section

With the increase in frequency of c sections it is really easy to forget that a cesarean section is major abdominal surgery and that a full recovery does rely on several factors.

It will take 4-6 weeks for the initial scar to heal enough for you to even contemplate doing anything other than the basics of caring for baby.

During this time it is really important to lift nothing heavier than your baby until the external wound has had a chance to heal over. Using the vacuum cleaner, hanging washing out or playing sports are definitely discouraged. This is because until a certain amount of healing has occurred it is very easy for the wound to tear open - which at best means more rest and more antibiotics or may even mean that you need to head back to the surgical table.

Because your stomach muscles have been separated you will need to improvise a bit to protect them, the wound and your back. Either hold a pillow against your stomach or invest in a support belt, not only will it help your tummy heal, it will also help to prevent back injury occurring.

It is important to get some form of gentle exercise as soon as possible.
Pelvic tilts, stomach tightening exercises and short walks are about as physical as it should get for the first few weeks. Everyone is different so take your cue from your body as to how much to do.

Often the intestines are affected by the surgery, so eating a fiber rich diet is also incredibly important to aid your recovery after a c section.