A c-section scar is usually a horizontal line of about 8-10cm just below your bikini line. Occasionally, the cut is made vertically instead but this is unusual these days.
At first it will look quite red and sore but within a few days it will look much less angry, eventually fading to a silvery line.
How do I look after my caesarean wound?
Your wound will have a dressing on it for the first day. After that you'll need to very carefully wash and dry the area to keep it super clean. If you use a flannel for this make sure it's fresh out of the wash each time so it definitely isn't harbouring any germs.
You also need to inspect the wound every day to check for any signs of infection, such as redness or swelling. If you can't see it properly, get your partner to look for you. If you spot it getting redder, more swollen or oozing any pus, tell your midwives or GP straight away as this can be a sign of infection and needs treating quickly.
Do you still bleed after a c-section?
Yes, though the bleeding may be a bit lighter than if you'd had a vaginal birth. This post-birth bleeding is known as “lochia”. It can go on for up to six weeks but is much less heavy after the first couple of weeks. As with a vaginal birth you'll need to use sanitary pads rather than tampons during this time to guard against infection.
Is it harder to breastfeed after a caesarean?
While you're less likely to start breastfeeding in the first few hours of your baby's life, there is nothing to stop you breastfeeding as soon as you feel up to it. In fact, mums who have had a c-section have exactly the same chances as those who had a vaginal birth of getting breastfeeding going successfully.
If you decide to go for it right after the birth, you might want to ask for help to breastfeed. Your partner or a midwife can help you hold your baby to the breast and position her.
Sometimes it's harder to get breastfeeding started after a c-section because your milk is slower to come in. If that's the case, you can try feeding your baby some colostrum using a syringe in the early days. Skin-to-skin contact also helps get breastfeeding going.
While you're still in recovery in hospital you may want to feed lying down, but once home you can try lots of other positions that make things less tricky with a c-section scar. Lying on your side is often helpful.
Some mums swear by a position called “the rugby ball” where you kind of grab your baby under your arm so they aren't lying on your scar. A nursing cushion can also help to take the pressure off your tummy area.
If you're breastfeeding twins, there are yet more positions you might find useful.
When can I drive after a caesarean?
A common misconception is that you have to wait six weeks before you can drive again, but actually there's no law to say you can't drive yourself home from hospital – although you'd be a numpty to try, and your insurers might have something to say about it.
You need to be fully in control of your vehicle – and able to do an emergency stop – without any hesitation that pain or fear of pain might bring.
There's no point rushing things, but if you do make a timely recovery there's no reason why you shouldn't drive earlier than six weeks – just make sure your motoring insurance isn't affected. In most cases it won't be, but you might be asked to provide written confirmation from your doctor that you are fit to drive.
How long does it take to get back to your pre-baby shape after a caesarean?
It can take several months for your stomach muscles to knit back together – and even then you may feel numb around the scar area for years to come. Despite what the gossip mags would have you believe, it's perfectly normal to not instantly ping back to your pre-birth shape. Try not to get dispirited if things don't look how they used to.
Time – and then exercise – will help strengthen your tummy muscles, but don't hit the gym before you're ready as you can end up doing more harm than good. A gentle walk and a few pelvic floor exercises will suffice until you're fighting fit again.
Are there any long-term side-effects of having a caesarean?
Women who have a caesarean are more likely to have one again with future pregnancies, although nobody is really sure why, as there's not enough evidence to go on.
If you had the original caesarean for a medical reason, that may persist into subsequent pregnancies, but the majority of women will be able to have a vaginal birth next time, if they want one. This is known as a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean).
Sometimes a mum is left with a scar that causes considerable discomfort or that she feels unhappy with. In these cases, it's possible to undergo a caesarean scar revision to improve upon the original. In many cases this can be performed under local anaesthetic. Depending on the reason for the revision, it may be possible to get this operation done on the NHS – however, if the cause is purely cosmetic you should be prepared to have to pay to go privately.
Alternatively, if you have to have an elective caesarean with a subsequent pregnancy, you should flag up any problems with your old scar as your consultant can try to address them during the delivery.
How will I feel emotionally after a c-section?
If your caesarean was planned and all went as hoped you'll probably feel absolutely fine, though it can be hard to get enough rest with a newborn to care for. Being overtired and overwrought never left anyone feeling well-balanced.
Women who have undergone emergency c-sections, though, can feel quite traumatised by the experience. This is perfectly normal and you shouldn't feel ashamed if this is how you feel. It might be that the birth was problematic or traumatic, which is what led to the c-section, or it could just be that you felt a loss of control once things went down the assisted delivery route.
Whatever the reason, it can help to talk through what happened with your midwife and obstetrician – and this can usually be arranged very simply by contacting your hospital.
Some women, particularly if they hadn't planned a caesarean, feel disappointed or that they didn't “get birth right”. It’s a very common way to feel but try not to let these thoughts take over. If you're holding a baby in your arms, you can count the birth a huge success, no matter which exit she took to get here.
And trust us, it might seem important right now, when all your antenatal group friends are comparing stories and scoring points, but by the time she heads off to school with her too-big uniform on, no one will remember how she arrived on the planet – it's possible even you'll struggle to recall the finer details!