Caring for your C-sectionFebruary 03, 2020

 

Cesarean Section or C-section as it is commonly known is a major surgery. As with every surgery, you need to care for your postpartum body. The postpartum period begins after the delivery of your baby and ends when your body has nearly returned to its pre-pregnant state. This period often lasts 6 to 8 weeks. It will feel overwhelming, especially for a first time mother. You might feel like all of your time is focused on caring for your newborn. But don't forget to take care of yourself. Your newborn can be healthy only if you are healthy and happy.

 

Here are some important pointers in caring for your c-section:

1. Rest when you’re tired

Rest whenever you can. The first few weeks after delivery are an important time for you to rest whenever you can. Whenever possible, sleep or rest when your baby sleeps. A newborn has feeds every 2 hours on an average. This is followed by a nap before he or she is hungry again. It may seem too little. But straining yourself to finish chores isn’t doing you or your newborn any good. In India, visitors are common and often tiresome for the mother and baby. Limit visitors for the first 2 weeks so you can rest and get breastfeeding well established. Excuse yourself and have a nap if you are tired. Hiring a post delivery care giver will give you time to rest while the care giver takes care of the baby and related chores.

2. Caring for the incision

When you get discharged, your gynecologist will give you instructions on how to care for your incision. General rule is to keep the area dry and clean. Use warm, soapy water to wash your incision daily (usually when you shower). Pat the area dry after cleaning. If your doctor used tape strips on your incision, let them fall off on their own. This usually takes about a week. Laughing or coughing for the first 2 weeks after delivery will be hard. Holding a pillow over the c-section would help reduce the pain. Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby. Avoid using the stairs as much as possible.

3. Bathing after delivery

Usually, there is a special post delivery bath for the new mother. There are also oil massages before this bath. Your gynecologist generally will tell you when you can start your post delivery massages. Most doctors recommend waning for 2 weeks before starting any oil massages. Till then most doctors advice to bathe normally and keeping the area dry after your bath. Please consult your doctor for more specific advice.

4. Nutrition

Your body is healing at the same time providing for your child. It is important to have warm, nutritious meals at this time. Including vegetables will make it easier for the body to digest the food and absorb the nutrients, especially in the first 2 weeks of after birth care. A well balanced diet with lots of fiber can actually make you more energetic than you expect. Having more than 8-10 tall glasses of fluids, especially water will make you less constipated. It will also keep up your breast milk supply.

5. Exercise

Most women worry about the losing the pregnancy weight gain. Post delivery care period is not the time for weight loss. While it’s a good idea to take short walks to prevent blood clots and a change of scene, exercise is not recommended immediately after a c-section. Most gynecologists suggest waiting for a 3 month period before starting mild exercise. Same can be said about sexual intercourse. Please consult your doctor for more specific instructions.

 

When to call the doctor

As with your pregnancy, if you feel something is amiss, call your doctor. My Womb Maternity Care provides the best post delivery care services in Ernakulam. Our care givers are trained in professional after birth care at home. However we recommend you experience any of the following, please rush to your Doctor:

• Signs of an infection including pain, pus, swelling, redness, swollen lymph nodes, or a fever.
• A fever of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
• Difficulty breathing.
• Discharge from the vagina that smells bad.
• Severe pain in your belly.
• Bright red vaginal bleeding that soaks through more than one pad every 2 hours (or less).
• Vaginal bleeding that gets worse or is still bright red more than 4 days after you’ve had your baby.
• Signs of a blood clot, including pain in your thigh, groin, back of knee, or calf.
• Your incision comes open.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Vaginal clotting larger than a golf ball.
• Trouble passing urine or stool.