Your guide to recovering from a c-section

After all the joy and excitement of giving birth, you want to bring your little one home and shower them with love and care. But if you've given birth by a c-section, then you also have to concentrate on yourself – as you’ve undergone major abdominal surgery. Some of this recovery process will take place in hospital before a longer period at home. 

Here’s some information and c-section recovery tips to help you through the process...

What happens in hospital after a c-section?

After you’ve given birth, you will be taken to a recovery area where you’ll be looked after and given pain relief as needed. Your little one will stay with you, so you can start breastfeeding if you want to. You’ll have a catheter in place for at least 12 hours, so you don’t have to get up to pee. You’ll also have a dressing on your operation wound, which may remain in place for a day or longer. Your midwife will advise you on proper dressing and wound care.

When can I leave hospital?

Once you have regained enough strength, and the midwives are happy to discharge you, then you can leave hospital and go home. The normal length of a post-caesarean hospital stay is four days, but it may be less if you and your baby are well enough to leave. But you must arrange a lift home, or get a taxi, as you can’t drive for a while following a c-section.

How long does full c-section recovery take?

Recovering from a c-section goes on for some time after you’ve left hospital. It will be several weeks before you are fully recovered.

What sort of things should I avoid when I’m recovering at home after a c-section?

There are some things you should avoid doing during your c-section recovery, such as:

• Using tampons. Some light vaginal bleeding is likely during your c-section recovery. But you should use sanitary pads instead of tampons, as this reduces the infection risk
• Eating badly. You should ditch the junk food and eat lots of fruit and veg instead, so you keep pooing regularly. If you become constipated, it can cause problems  as straining on the loo could put pressure on your wound.
• Touching your wound with unwashed hands. You must ensure that you – or anyone else – only touch your wound with thoroughly washed hands.
  

How can I best care for my wound during my c-section recovery?

It’s vital to take good care of your wound during your c-section recovery. Your midwife will visit to help you with this, but you should try and do the following:

• Wear underwear and clothes that are loose fitting, so nothing rubs on your wound
• Hold your tummy if you laugh, cough, sneeze, or move suddenly, so your wound is supported
• Take showers instead of baths, then pat your wound dry gently with kitchen paper or a towel
• Watch carefully for any signs of infection (see below) and seek help if you think anything is wrong
• Don’t allow yourself – or anyone else - to touch your wound unless you/they have had a thorough hand wash

When should I get medical advice about my recovery from c-section?

Your midwife will visit you to monitor your c-section recovery, but it’s also vital for you to look out for signs of infection and blood clots. So, if you notice any of the following then contact your GP or midwife immediately, as you may need treatment:

• Coughing/shortness of breath
• Pus, or foul-smelling fluid, coming from your wound
• Your wound feels painful, or looks red and swollen
• Severe pain in your abdomen or womb
• Pain and/or swelling in your lower legs
• Pain when you pee
• Heavy bleeding from your vagina

When can I get back to normal activities?

This is a rough c-section recovery timeline in regard to activity:

Driving – This should be avoided for around 4 to 6 weeks, until your wound has healed and you’re able to do an emergency stop without sharp pain. You should also check with your insurance company, as they may have specific rules about when  you can drive again after a c-section. You may be asked to wait until your GP clears you to drive.

Sex - You can start to have sex again when you feel ready to do so, but it’s usual to at least wait until any bleeding has stopped and your wound’s healed.

Exercise – It’s good to do some gentle exercise as soon as you feel able. But high-impact exercises - such as running, aerobics and weight training – should be avoided until about 3 months after your c-section.

What sort of pain relief will I get during my c-section recovery?

The hospital will give you paracetamol and/or an anti-inflammatory painkiller like ibuprofen to take home with you. You should take these regularly to manage your pain. Remember that, if you’re breastfeeding, you can’t take aspirin and codeine-based drugs such as co-codamol.

What will happen with my c-section scar?

Your wound will soon heal and you’ll be left with a horizontal scar that’s about 10cm to 20cm long and sits just below your bikini line. In rare cases, c-sections are performed with a vertical incision. If that happens, you’ll have a vertical scar just under your belly button.