Tips For Postpartum Recovery After A Cesarean (CSection) Birth
The thought of cesarean birth (C-section) may sound like a relief for a mom who wants to know what day and time she will meet her baby or like devastating news to the parent who had goals of pushing their baby out. A cesarean birth (affectionately known as a Belly Birth) will look and feel much different from a vaginal birth. More care and precaution will need to happen since you didn't just give birth; you also had major abdominal surgery.
Whether you scheduled your cesarean birth or it was unplanned, there are things you should do for a speedy recovery that is suggested by your doctor and other unconventional recovery methods you may not have considered. Here, we will go over five tips you may hear from your doctor and five additional tips you may not. After all, surgery is no small feat, and the goal is to heal so you can begin adjusting to your new normal with your new baby.
Five Conventional Tips For Cesarean Birth Recovery
Take your medicine - You are likely to be prescribed an anti-inflammatory and pain medication. It's good to note that you could experience pain for two weeks before it begins to ease up. Staying ahead of the pain makes it easier to recover, so be timely taking medication and do it before you are in pain.
Walk around - As mentally draining as getting up and walking around after surgery may seem, it gives a significant physical benefit. Walking helps prevent blood clots from forming in the legs. No one is expecting you to walk miles after surgery, but keeping the blood circulating can reduce the risk of blood clots.
Avoid normal exercise levels for at least 6-8 weeks - Recovering from a belly birth will take more time than a vaginal birth. It should be no surprise, although it may be frustrating, that easing back into a regular exercise routine will take a little longer, too, as your body recovers. This time frame will look different for everybody and may require taking longer than the suggested time. Listen to your body. It will thank you in the long run.
Watch for signs of infection - There are a few red flags to look out for that may warrant you calling your doctor or going to the emergency room. Symptoms that you might have an infection include a temperature of over 100.0, swelling, redness, pus, or bad odor in or around the incision area, increased abdominal pain, chest pain, and/or shortness of breath.
Combat constipation - Between lying down for long periods to rest and pregnancy hormones leaving the body, constipation is likely to try to rear its ugly head. Straining can potentially injure the incision as well. Try drinking plenty of water and eating foods high in fiber to help soften your stool. Not to mention asking your doctor for stool softeners too. Other ways to avoid straining in the bathroom include getting a toilet stool or something to prop your feet on to make it easier for your bowels to move.
We often think of recovery from surgery and transitioning to parenting as being more of a physical adjustment, but it's far more than physical. Consider the mental and emotional changes that will need to happen to be the best parent for your newborn and be the best person for yourself. I spoke with Candice Chunn, mother of two by cesarean and owner of Haute Heels, about unconventional tips that helped her during recoveries, and here are some tips we have that may help you find mental and emotional peace during recovery.
Five Unconventional Tips For Cesarean Birth Recovery
Give yourself grace - Trying to be the superhero you were before having your belly birth can leave you having high expectations of yourself that you can't meet. Try not to put so much pressure on yourself to achieve a goal or deadline in a specific amount of time. Give yourself grace. "Allowing yourself to do what you can when you can and knowing that it was enough," said Chunn. What used to take you 5 minutes to do may now take an hour, but celebrate what you accomplished instead of focusing on what you did not.
Process your emotions - Birth is an emotional experience. There is so much to process that at times it can be hard to fully understand what you went through while simultaneously learning the new little demanding person you have taken home. Managing those emotions can be especially tricky if your birth outcome wasn't what you desired or ended up being traumatic. Don't be afraid to seek out help or ways to process your emotions. It could be as small as writing in a journal daily or weekly to unload your thoughts, seeking out a mental health therapist, or finding a mom support group in your community. The International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) is a convenient place to find a community of others who have had cesareans. There are also two ICAN chapters in Charlotte where you could connect. Whatever method works for you, don't feel guilty about needing to take action to bring yourself mental and emotional peace.
Find an accountability partner - Let's face it, birth is exhausting no matter how it happens! After a cesarean, you may want to lay down and rest as much as you can and forget to do the little, yet significant, things that progress your recovery. Or you may not forget, you simply don't feel like doing anything! Find an accountability partner (your spouse, a close friend, parent, family member) who will check on you to make sure you are eating and drinking, taking your medication, and getting up to move around and get your blood circulating. "Having someone to push and encourage you to keep moving your body so it can heal itself," Chunn said.
Seek out help for long-term problems - Pregnancy takes a toll on the body physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can leave you with a weak pelvic floor, separated abdominals (diastasis recti), postpartum depression, and more. Assess yourself and don't be afraid to seek out specialists such as a pelvic floor therapist, mental health therapist, or physical therapist to get yourself in the best shape after taking a beating from growing a baby. Your doctor or midwife can refer you to a specialist if needed. It's best to attack problems early before they get worse and have long-term effects down the road.
Have support - Much of your focus will be on recovering from birth and learning your new baby. This recovery tends to leave little room for catering to household and other needs. Having a support person that can fill in the gaps such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, running errands, and also tending to some of your needs, so you don't overdo it is a tremendous help in your recovery. Chunn noted, "Having friends that called and checked on me to give me encouragement or to stop by with meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner" were ways she was able to focus on recovery with confidence. A postpartum doula is another way of having extra hands to ease your workload so you can put your focus solely on you and your baby.
Recovering from a cesarean can be hard at times, but it doesn't have to be all the time. No matter how you gave birth, you should feel supported and encouraged to start your parenthood journey with confidence and ease. I'm here to help, and I'm rooting for you!