Tips for C-Section recovery?

[user2233]

Hi All,

I've just given birth via C-Section and was wondering what tips everyone has for recovery/pain relief?

TIA

Congratulations! As much pain relief as you can take as often as possible. Regular gentle walking. Plenty of food and water and rest, especially if you’re not sleeping lots, you’ve got a lot of healing to do.

Are you still in hospital? How are you feeling?

Sorry, peppermint tea or peppermint capsules for trapped wind pain. Wee as soon as you need to.

Following for myself too.

Ask for additional pain relief, on top of the paracetamol and ibuprofen. If you don’t need it fine, but you’ll have it.

I wish someone had warmed me about the constipation! I won’t paint a picture but don’t make the mistake I did and not deal with it before it was too late! A low dose of lactulose for a week or so and see how you go.

lots of liquids and lots of protein for healing

Have good posture so that the scar heals with less over hang.

Don't over do it. But do move every day. Wear over the bump knickers.

I second the peppermint tea. The trapped wind was awful!

Dried fruits (apricots were what I had) helped massively with the constipation too.

Elastoplast Xl scar recovery from about 2 weeks onwards.

massage your scar! And stretch the fascia

REST fully for first fortnight and go slow. So many friends injured themselves “just doing a quick load of laundry” or thinking “they’d be fine lifting up X”

if someone is offering you a big gift get a mummy MOT to assess pelvic floor - c section or not it’s affected in pregnancy. They are about £100-150 and well worth it

Dulcolax, tight tight high knickers, and a positive mindset. My second C-section recovery was a breeze

Congratulations!
Sit on a pile of plastic carrier bags in the car so you can swivel in and out easily without twisting. I also had to lie on them to slide in and out of my bed at home.
If you are a side sleeper, see if there is any way of getting more comfortable at home with cushions (on or under the mattress) to raise your upper body up a bit. You don't realise how comfortable hospital beds are until you have to lie flat at home.
Also, put a sanitary towel face down across your wound. It will keep it clean, help it to dry out and heal better and you will easily be able to see if there is any sign of it weeping/becoming infected.

Definitely a low dose laxative, ask for it in hospital. Get up and moving asap and keep getting up every so often. If you need to cough/sneeze, hold a pillow over your scar area. Drink lots and lots of water. Most importantly, snuggle with that baby, I genuinely think it promotes healing because of all the hormones.

the most helpful tip I was given was: post c section getting in and out of your own bed is really hard, but tying a dressing gown cord to the end of the bed and using it to pull yourself up really helps. I think I’d still be stuck in the bed if it wasn’t for this! Otherwise, make sure you have some help on hand for the first 2-3 weeks afterwards. I couldn’t get off the sofa while holding DS! Fine while DP was on paternity leave, after that, I was pretty dependent on my mum to come and take the baby off me while I got myself off the sofa….

Zero exercise for the first two weeks, then lots of regular, slow, gentle walking.

PS when I say 'lots' I mean one short walk a day at first and build up gradually.

If in hospital ask for oramorph

Some great advice, especially on keeping on top of pain relief. INSIST the hospital give it to you when you need it, don’t fear being pushy. Be pushy.

One I was told after giving birth in India - papaya at least once a day. Helps shrink the uterus. And also is full of water and vitamins so it’s a good way of making sure you get lots of both.

Gentle walks as soon as you feel able. Change baby upstairs so you get up and walk around/ up the stairs/get some steps in.

Fresh air for you and baby on slow short walks and build up

Take the pain relief they give you. The first few days were the worst for me and I rarely moved much, but after two weeks I was pretty much back to my normal self. However, avoid heavy lifting or even too much bending up and down for the first 6-8 weeks or so (I always felt like I took a step backwards pain wise after bending up and down too much throughout the day). Gentle walking is great for the first 2 weeks, but don’t overdo it.

I also found breastfeeding incredibly painful as my uterus would contract back during (never knew this was a thing beforehand!!) and the pressure of the baby lying near my abdomen. If you are planning to bf, you might want to try one of this pillows that hug around you that you can rest baby on so the baby isn’t lying anywhere near your scar.

Make sure you observe how your scar is healing and don’t fret over getting it checked by a doctor, even if it seems silly it’s better to be safe.

Congratulations on your beautiful new baby!

Lots and lots of water!

Try to stand and walk gently as much as possible.

I know everyone is telling you to max out on painkillers, but see how you feel. Codeine makes constipation more likely and made me feel sick. If you don't need it, give it a miss. Obviously, take it if paracetamol and ibuprofen don't do the trick!

Be gentle with yourself and congratulations!

I held a cushion against my stomach when getting up or down, keep on top of your painkillers and the frequency of dosage - don't wait for pain, dried my scar with hairdryer on low hear to ensure it was dried properly, big comfy knickers, use your legs and bum (to swivel) as much as possible to get up.
Listen to your body, you'll know if you've over done it but don't wait for your body to scream to let you know just take it easy, all recoveries will be different.

Congrats OP. Don’t underestimate that you’ve had major surgery and need to allow 6-8 weeks for initial recovery but that full recovery will take up to a year.

Get moving as soon as you can, gentle movement will help

Regular pain relief and staying on top of this when you get home too. Take all the pain relief you need and are offered, no medal for struggling with poorly controlled pain

Don't rush home too soon if your pain isn’t controlled

As much rest as you can get

Lots of pillows to get comfortable in bed and you’ll need help getting in and out of bed to start with. Pillows will help with your comfort when feeding baby too, whatever way you are feeding

Mind your back as it’s lost the support it normally gets from your abs as they heal

Stay hydrated and use stool softeners if you need to to avoid constipation

Gently clean and dry your wound every day. Hairdryer on cool can help to make sure it’s really dry after a clean or wash.

High waisted loose pants and clothes.

You can get silicone scar patches once it’s fully healed. Look up scar massage.

Accept all the help you can get

Straws and an extra long phone charger cable will be your friends

Get your shopping delivered

Allow yourself to recover mentally

Don’t be afraid to delay visitors until you feel you can manage this

Don’t be tempted to overdo it as you’ll set yourself back and slow your recovery

Oh and wind pain is the devil. Peppermint tea will help with this

Hi op, i just had my second section a week ago :)

Big pants and trousers/leggings where the seam/waistband doesn’t sit on your scar.

Keep on top of painkillers, take them anyway, don’t wait until you’re in pain.

Don’t settle for paracetamol and ibuprofen if you need more. I’m still taking codeine.

For constipation, take lactulose asap, drink water, eat dried prunes. Hold a rolled up towel against your wound for your first poo.

Take a cushion to hold between your stomach seatbelt in the car.

Id you need blood thinning injections, get the midwife to show your partner how to do them for you. Ice your skin beforehand, and try to time them about an hour after you’ve taken your painkillers.

As pp mentioned, i have tied a dressing gown cord to the end of my bed to help pull myself up.

Keep stairs to absolute minimum until day 10. Don’t bother trying walks outside until day 10, then just build up a couple of mins

Once your dressing is off, just let shower water and soap run down your wound. Pat dry with a fresh towel, not a hair dryer. Then air your wound as much as possible. Get someone else to regularly check your wound for you.

I would say take regular breaks from holding your baby to give your stomach a break.

Oh yes to pp’s suggestion of peppermint tea/capsules, and don’t bother with any visitors who are coming to ‘visit’ instead of ‘help’