Caesarean wound care Keeping your wound clean and dry helps to prevent infection. The wound will be covered by a waterproof dressing for several days, and you can usually shower with this on. Once the dressing has been removed, you can gently wash your wound with water and dry around it with a towel.
Two Days After C-Section
"Increased physical activity helps with circulation, improves bowel function, and will get you back to baseline sooner." You also can shower within a day of your surgery, and doing so helps reduce the risk of infection. Don't scrub your incision, but let the soapy water run over it.
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.
Also during this period, the doctor will encourage the bathing after cesarean section. Hair washing and other personal hygiene activities such as brushing teeth, washing face... do not need to be restricted. However, when bathing, it should be noted: Use a gentle shower with warm water, take a quick shower with soap.
Things to Avoid:
Public pools and hot tubs. Lifting anything heavier than your baby. Repeatedly using stairs. Exercise, at least until your health care provider gives you the go-ahead.
The swelling typically peaks 3 or 4 days after delivery. The hand will be tight in the morning and the ankles will be swollen late in the day; and it can be WORSE than during pregnancy. Overall, you should just get better. Each day should be better than the day before.
The first 60 minutes after birth—often called “the Golden Hour”—is a magical period rife with bonding opportunities for mama and baby. Many mamas are able to experience this intensely wonderful first hour immediately following that final push or once the doctors have safely removed baby via C-section.
You should have a shower or bath daily and keep your wound clean and dry. You should also change your sanitary towel frequently. Your vaginal blood or fluid loss should gradually decrease with time but if you have any concerns then please discuss these with your midwife or GP.
After a c-section, you should sleep on your back or side. This shouldn't put too much strain on your c-section wound. You can also try sleeping on your back with your head elevated. Use pillows to keep your spine aligned and take pressure off your joints.
Side sleeping is a great choice when you're recovering from a C-section. Research shows that sleeping on your left side can help increase blood flow to vital organs, aiding healing. It's also the most common sleeping position – you're bound to find this one relaxing.
Laughing, Sneezing, and Coughing Can Hurt—A Lot
While it's rare for your stitches to come apart, it is important to give yourself literal, physical support after a C-section.
How long do you bleed for after a c-section? You will have some vaginal bleeding (called lochia) for 2–6 weeks after the birth. Bleeding sometimes lasts longer than this, but it should have stopped by 12 weeks. This bleeding happens after vaginal and c-section births.
For example, it's always advised to avoid housework, heavy lifting, and other strenuous physical activity immediately after giving birth and during those first days and weeks postpartum.
It usually takes about 6 weeks to recover from your c-section but this will depend on your individual situation. If you had any problems during or after your c-section, or if you're looking after other children at home, you may feel you need more time to recover.
Plus, following your C-section, it's likely that you're taking pain medication to manage your pain and symptoms which can impair your judgement on the road. Basically, there is a higher risk of things going wrong if you start driving too soon after your delivery.
For a planned C-section, you may have a choice of anesthetic, although you should be aware that a spinal block or epidural are generally considered the safest options for both you and your baby. In an emergency or when bleeding occurs, general anesthesia may be necessary.
Any pain should decrease after 2 or 3 days, but your cut will remain tender for up to 3 weeks or more. Most women need pain medicine for the first few days to 2 weeks. Ask your provider what is safe to take while breastfeeding.
You'll also want to wait for at least four to six weeks to take a bath if you delivered via c-section – immersing your c-section scar in water could lead to an infection at the incision site.
Bath or shower daily but do not use scented soaps or bubble bath. A rubber bath mat may be useful to prevent slipping. Dry the wound carefully with a clean towel, and do not put talcum powder or creams on it.
Once your dressing is removed, clean and dry your wound thoroughly every day with plain water (no soaps or oils), do not have a bath i.e. submerge your wound fully in water for two weeks, you may shower and allow the water to run on your wound, do not scrub or massage.
Women should walk for about 20 minutes at a moderate pace to increase circulation and speed up healing. Fit mothers recover quickly and can be back on their feet in a matter of weeks. Walking after a cesarean delivery is regarded as an important part of recovery exercise.
A c-section is major surgery, so it may take a while for you to recover. You may be really tired for the first few days or weeks after a c-section because you lost blood during the surgery. The incision (cut) on your belly may be sore.
Post Cesarean: Days 3-5
During this time, you should gradually regain your mobility and your pain will begin to subside, but you still need to take certain precautions. Strenuous movements, for example, can place undue strain on your incision site.