Straight talk: The first poop after giving birth can be challenging since it can be hard to pass and may be more painful than you expected. That's because after you give birth, the perineum (the area between the bottom of the vaginal opening and the anus) is still sore and tender, especially if you have stitches.
It can take a few hours or days after your c-section for your bowel to start working again. In some women, this can cause painful trapped wind and constipation.
The stretching and temporary weakening of those pelvic muscles can make it harder to poop as well.
Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.
When you are ready to do a poo, it shouldn't hurt. The area between your vagina and anus (perineum) will feel quite numb. This is because the nerves inside and around your vagina are stretched from your baby's birth. The feeling will normally come back in a few days, but it can sometimes take longer.
After having a baby - especially after a vaginal delivery - many women develop hemorrhoids. Symptoms include pain, rectal itching, bleeding after having a bowel movement, or a swollen area around the anus. How to treat: You can use a sitz bath (a basin filled with warm water) or a bath to soak yourself in warm water.
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.
Swelling after a C-section is completely normal, and gas pains can be excruciating. They should pass within a week, once your bowels are moving normally again (abdominal surgery causes them to "shut down" temporarily, so pooping after a C-section might not come easy).
Just make sure not to push yourself too much, as overexertion after C-section delivery can have serious consequences, including wound infection or injury.
When Can I Start Bending After C -Section? As your body heals and the pain decreases when you move around, you can slowly try bending (between weeks 4 and 6).
Experts note that it is common to use a postpartum stool softener for 1–3 days before seeing any benefits and recommend discontinuing use after 2 weeks. Some foods, drinks, and remedies can naturally soften stools and ease constipation. For example, probiotics, Epsom salts, and aloe vera may help soften stools.
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that help support the organs in your pelvis, such as your bladder, bowels, and uterus. After childbirth, these muscles can become injured or strained and can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction.
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.
At first, your cut (incision) will be raised slightly and pinker than the rest of your skin. It will likely appear somewhat puffy. 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.
If you've had stitches or a tear, doing a poo won't make the tear any bigger, or make your stitches fall out. It's understandable to feel vulnerable about this part of your body at the moment. But your tear won't get any bigger, and your stitches will stay firmly in place.
However, if you're later in your labor or if you have an epidural and can't really feel things and you suddenly feel a ton of pressure, like you need to have a bowel movement, you need to call your labor nurse ASAP.
Pelvic floor changes: The process of delivering a baby stretches the muscles in your pelvic floor, which can also cause changes in the rectum. More stool may collect in your intestines before it's finally expelled.
You can reduce the severity of postpartum constipation by staying hydrated and eating high-fiber foods in the weeks before labor and delivery. Also, make sure to do light exercise to keep things moving and have stool softeners on hand before you need them.