What essentials help you heal after a C-Section?
If you are scheduling your C-Section, you may have the opportunity to prepare with the essentials needed postpartum. If an unplanned C-Section becomes part of your plan, these suggestions will help provide care and a framework to help you after your baby is born.
Postpartum Necessities
Even though a C-Section operation includes a thorough flushing or draining, you will still experience postpartum bleeding. Your care providers may or may not explain this to you but I was totally naive to the fact that wether you have a vaginal birth or delivery via C-Section there's days and weeks following the birth of your baby that you too will be wearing diapers!
A peri bottle provided at the hospital, or purchased independently will keep you clean as you experience discharge after birth.
Managing chaffing after birth is crucial, read the full article here.
High waisted disposable underwear. Frida has created specific C-Section underwear that will not interfere with the position of your incision.
High waisted Depends and pads will also provide leak free confidence as you continue to heal. I personally placed the pad inside of my depends for a few days for maximum coverage.
Wound Care
Is wound care possible even while caring for your babe? Yes! Wash your incision with antibacterial soap and allow fully to dry before you put a silicone pad on your incision. This can be held in place with high waisted underwear. Although it may be tempting to dress the wound immediately after cleansing, make sure you keep the scar dry by using a hair dryer on cool or a fan to blow dry the area.
Silicone scar strips may help to minimize itching or redness to your scar. It can also help to reduce permanent scarring over time.
Medication
Oxycodone and hydrocodone may be offered as a Prescription post surgery. If grogginess ensues, tylenol and ibuprofen may be used to help your recovery!
Rest
As I have personally experienced 1 C-Section and 2 VBAC's I have become a proponent of the saying, "5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, 5 days around the bed" as a metric of healing with any mode of delivery in birth! It is not luxurious to rest, it is necessary to heal. As it may be difficult to find help for 15 days if you have additional children, make plans during pregnancy, and consider hiring a postpartum doula.
Digestion
Your body requires an added measure of fluids to keep everything moving. Hydration is one of the most important elements of your recovery. Think Luke Combs, "all I wanna do is put a drink in my hand" and consistently have a tall glass of water nearby.
Laxatives or stool softeners help you to have regular bowel movements. After each of my babies, it was an event to have the first bowel movement, and that was while consciously eating leafy greens and a prescribed stool softener after birth.
Gas X can relieve well, gas. Your physician might recommend taking simethicone tablets which can help alleviate gas and bloating. There can be trapped gas following your surgery that may need an outlet.
Binding
The use of an abdominal belly binder can aid with post-op pain and may enable you to move around better. Some facilities will include the binder with your operation. The binder is helpful in the event of a C-Section or vaginal delivery to reorganize your internal organs after 9 months of pregnancy.
Movement
Follow the suggestions of your physician, and listen to your body when it comes to movement. You'll be expected to walk and be able to use the bathroom unassisted before you are discharged from the hospital, but what are the limitations after that? Should you move or resist movement? A light walk a trail, or a stroll in the sunlight, starting after day 5 can be very rejuvenating. Obviously do not overextend yourself. I was surprised even 4 or 5 weeks post C-Section that it was painful to vacuum, so those crummies on the floor will have to hang out a little longer.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is highly recommended as your pelvic floor is not only affected by vaginal deliveries, but C-Sections additionally.
If you experience painful sex after your C-Section, seek pelvic floor therapy or meet with an expert for health and healing.
These suggestions are not intended to be another laundry list of To Do's after birth, but recommendations to consider for C-Section healing. If you have had a C-Section and need additional information and support, please email us at info@birthmademindful.com We'd love to hear from you!
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Hi! I'm Sarah. A Doula, Mother and Woman on a mission to empower families preparing for birth. I'm obsessed with my boys and going on adventures, turning trash into treasures, crafting, crafting the most perfect chocolate chip cookie, and enjoying the beautiful trails and mountains of Utah.
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