Great C-Section Recovery
- 10 Apr 2019
After your C-section, you’ll be totally distracted by your beautiful new arrival and excited to get on with your lives as a family. However, you don’t get to do that just yet! You’ve just had major surgery, so you need some time to heal. But, don’t worry, in about six weeks you’ll be fully recovered.
Having a baby is a miracle of nature, and c-sections truly are a miracle of medicinal science! Although there are some different accounts, there is strong evidence that modern C-sections were invented by African women and commonly practised on that continent centuries before anywhere else. When a baby couldn’t be delivered naturally, tribal healers would sedate and secure the mother before making an incision with a knife thoroughly sterilized in a fire. They understood that they would have to work quickly to minimize potential blood loss and to prevent damage to other organs before stitches were applied. Apparently, their amazing skills and technique made the procedure a surprisingly painless experience! Most women and babies survived because women rarely development infections. The importance of thorough sterilization was something that midwives on other continents just weren’t aware at a time when almost half of the women were dying in childbirth. It wasn’t until the late 19thcentury that detailed guidance of C-sections was made available globally and the rest of the world began practising them safely. What an amazing history! Now, here are a few tips to remember as you recover…
Take it easy!
Before you start to move around and get busy, remember you’re still healing…Don’t lift anything heavy or put yourself under physical stress. In the first weeks after surgery, hold your abdomen when you cough or sneeze to protect the tender incision area. Although your skin will generally heal in about 5 to 10 days, the muscles and the abdominal wall takes about 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover. After about 2 to 3 weeks you can start moving again but be sure to introduce exercise back gently.
Be kind to yourself
This is a time to call in all the support you need…Your only job is to recover, and tend to your beautiful baby, of course! You’ll be busy feeding your baby and changing its diaper regularly, so make sure you keep everything you need as close to you as possible. Focus on eating well and hydrating regularly, and don’t hesitate to ask the help of family and friends.
Don’t be in pain
If you’re in pain, contact your doctor to find out what pain killers are safe to take – especially if you have decided to breastfeed. Remember, everyone’s experience is different. You may have fewer bowel movements for a few hours or a couple of days after the procedure and experience some abdominal cramping, slight nausea, or even vomiting, but much of this is normal. However, you should always contact a healthcare professional for guidance.
Heal well!
