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After a c-section

Sambhavi has had a caesarean section. She is feeding the baby comfortably but still feels some pain over the incision.

She has always been an active person and wants to return to her routine as soon as possible. What is the special care she should take?

Activity after a caesarean section

While you are in the hospital

You will be encouraged to get up and go to the bathroom within the first 24 hours after surgery.

When you get up for the first time, you may feel a little dizzy.

Sit up for a few minutes and then get up from bed only after the dizziness has passed.

Urinating after the catheter is removed can sometimes be uncomfortable. The nurse attending on you will help you. You may need help in changing your sanitary pads soon after the surgery because of the incision pain.

After one or two days, you will be able to manage by yourself.

Soon you will be able to stroll in your room and in the hospital corridor.

Walking helps in relieving the gas pain that you may experience.

After you get home

Your activity level should be gradually increased. In the first week after you get home, you can walk around the room and take care of your baby.

Over the next week you can start walking around the house.

In the third week, you can start resuming small domestic chores, like cutting vegetables and making coffee or tea.

A month after you get home, you can resume your normal work, including cooking and washing.

You can start climbing up and down stairs two weeks after your surgery.

It is important not to lift very heavy objects till six weeks after the surgery.

Care of the incision

The incision should be kept clean and dry. You may wash the incision with soap and water after the dressing is removed.

It is recommended that you wear cotton underwear and no tight fitting clothing. The incision itself will heal in a few days, but it takes six to eight weeks for the complete healing of all the layers of the abdomen and uterus.

Bathing

You can bathe every day. Let the water run over the suture line. You can gently apply soap over the wound. There is no need to apply any lotion or cream. You can wash your hair once a week.

Sexual intercourse

After a caesarean section, it is usually safe to resume intercourse six weeks after birth.

By that time, you would have had your postnatal check-up and your obstetrician would have made sure that you have healed well. You may be a little apprehensive about pain the first few times but you will be comfortable soon.

Remember that you can become pregnant even if you are not having a period or are breastfeeding. Birth control should be used shortly after birth.

Talk to your obstetrician about the safest and most suitable birth control option for you

Exercise

After about six weeks you may begin an exercise programme to regain abdominal muscle tone.

Join a fitness programme which will help regain muscle tone, especially of your abdominal muscles.

Reasons to call your doctor

• You should not have a fever after you get home. If you have a fever of more than 100 degrees F, for more than 24 hours, call your doctor

• Sudden onset of pain in the abdominal area, tenderness or burning

• Foul smelling vaginal discharge

• Sudden onset of pain over the incision area along with redness and discharge of pus. This might be a sign of infection in the wound

• Burning urination or blood in the urine which may indicate a urinary infection

• Extremely heavy bleeding that soaks a maxi pad within an hour or the passing of large clots

• Sore, red, painful area on the breasts that may be accompanied by fever. This might be the beginning of a breast abscess

• Feeling anxious, panicky, and/or depressed may be a sign of ‘postpartum depression’ This is common and you might feel down for a while. If this feeling persists and worsens and you are unable to cope, you might require professional help.

GITA ARJUN

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