You may remove your wound dressing and take showers if stitches, staples, or glue were used to close your skin. Do not soak in a bathtub or hot tub, or go swimming, until your provider tells you it is OK. In most cases, this is not until 3 weeks after surgery.
Shower and bath: The incision is water-tight within 24 hours after surgery. The bandage should be removed one day after surgery, and the incision should remain uncovered. Your first shower can be 24 hours after surgery.
Ask your doctor when it's fine to exercise, go back to work, and drive. Also wait to have sex or use tampons until your doctor gives you the green light. Avoid strenuous exercise, but do take gentle walks as often as you can. The movement will help your body heal and prevent constipation and blood clots.
You may shower, bathe or wash your hair at anytime after the birth of your baby. During your first six weeks, avoid strenuous work. You may choose to limit visits with family and friends during the first two weeks, as it may cause undue fatigue for you and could also be detrimental to your baby's health.
Getting up and walking around once you are home will help you heal faster and can help prevent blood clots. You should be able to do most of your regular activities in 4 to 8 weeks. Before then: Do not lift anything heavier than your baby for the first 6 to 8 weeks.
It is OK to shower and pat your incision dry with a clean towel. They should fall off in about a week. If they are still there after 10 days, you can remove them, unless your provider tells you not to.
In general, most people can take a bath about 3–4 weeks after a C-section — although you may be able to take a bath sooner, depending on your circumstances. Heather Irobunda, MD, OB/GYN, says some people may be able to take a bath around 2 weeks after delivery.
Incision care
Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
At the beginning of a caesarean section, six separate layers of the abdominal wall and uterus are opened individually. Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching.
Why you need to wait. The concern regarding having a C-section and driving too soon centers around your physical capabilities and the risks associated with being under the influence of pain medication. A C-section is a major surgery, which means it comes with serious risks and aftereffects during the recovery period.
Side sleeping position
For some people, right after back sleeping, side sleeping is the second most comfortable position. For people recovering from abdominal surgery, it's a great option since it doesn't put additional pressure on your incision, and makes getting in and out of bed easier.
Always sit well back on a supportive chair, your feet should be able to touch the floor in order to support your posture. Use pillows to support your back and to rest your baby on your lap to bring them into a comfortable feeding position. You can then use pillows to support your own arms.
Pillows: You'll want pillows for a couple of reasons. First, they'll help you find a comfortable sleeping position. Some women find relief by placing a pillow under their abdomen while lying on their sides. Second, you might use several to help you find a comfortable breastfeeding position.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take and the higher your risk of serious complications becomes. You will have scar tissue where your wounds have healed after each operation.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.
A caesarean is a major operation that carries a number of risks, so it's usually only done if it's the safest option for you and your baby.
We advise that you bathe and shower as normal but do not hold the shower directly over the wound or spend too long in the bath. Afterwards, you should dry the area completely by patting with a clean towel and avoid rubbing the area.
In the five-to-six week postpartum period after giving birth, it's common to experience bowel and digestion issues, and that's true whether you had a c-section or vaginal birth.
A C-section is a major surgery. Don't lift anything heavier than your baby for the first couple of weeks, and keep everything you might need within reach. Support your stomach. Hold your belly when you sneeze, cough, or laugh to keep it still.
If you're sleeping on your back, it is very important not to sit up directly from this position. First rolling to your side and using your arms to help you sit up will protect your recovering abdominal muscles. University of Washington Medical Center recommends the “logroll” method to get yourself out of bed.
“Sometimes, after a C-section, the bowels can take some time to wake up since you've just gone through a major surgery,” explains Dr. Newlin. “It can take three or four days for your first poop after delivery.” That same timeframe holds true if you're taking opioid pain medications.
Remember, that first 6 weeks you are still dealing with uterus and fluid. For up to 12 weeks, muscles are naturally accommodating and shortening. C-moms can also have mild swelling up to 12 weeks.
Walking after c-section is encouraged and should be your go to for the first few weeks. You'll start to notice day to day movement getting easier and less discomfort lifting baby or moving around.