One-fifth of women who undergo cesarean delivery will experience severe pain in the acute postoperative period, increasing their risk of developing chronic pain and postpartum depression, and negatively impacting breastfeeding and newborn care.
Most women experience some discomfort for the first few days after a caesarean, and for some women the pain can last several weeks. You should make sure you have regular painkillers to take at home for as long as you need them, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
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.
C-section pain typically spikes 18 hours after delivery. "That's when the pain medication you were given with your spinal anesthesia wears off," says San Diego perinatologist Sean Daneshmand, MD.
Stronger painkillers can be given on request: Dihydrocodeine up to four times a day Oral morphine, maximum every 3 hours. Please ask for a laxative if you are prone to constipation, and are needing these stronger pain killers. You can be prescribed dihydrocodeine to take home after discharge.
Increased bleeding after your lochia starts to decrease can be a sign you're overdoing it and need more rest. Seeing ongoing clots could mean your uterus is having trouble getting back to its pre-pregnancy size. In either case, it's always best to call.
You may have some pain in your belly and need pain medicine for one to two weeks. You can expect some vaginal bleeding for several weeks. You will probably need about six weeks to fully recover. It's important to take it easy while your incision is healing.
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.
How long does it take to recover after a c-section? 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.
But if you're experiencing pain that's severe or steady, it's time to contact your provider. Consistent abdominal pain can be a sign of postpartum endometritis, a bacterial infection in the lining of your uterus. It may also be accompanied by a fever, chills or generally feeling unwell.
After a caesarean, you are not advised to sleep on your front. Your incision is across your abdomen, so putting pressure on it will be painful and risk interfering with healing. Usually, doctors recommend avoiding sleeping on your stomach for six weeks post-C-section or until you no longer have any pain.
Research shows mothers who have a c-section tend to get an average of four hours of sleep a night, and 34% wake up during the night in the first week postpartum. More research needs to be done on sleep after birth in general, as well as sleep after both emergency and elective c-section deliveries.
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.
A gentle walk each day can help your body and your mind feel better. You could start with 5 minutes walking around your home. You might like to ask a physiotherapist at the hospital to give you some other good exercise ideas as you start to recover. Healthy eating and drinking can help you feel better too.
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.
With a little one to care for and so much to do, you might be anxious to resume your normal daily activities. But it's important to listen to your body and not overdo physical activity. Avoid bending, stretching, or lifting — and don't carry anything heavier than your baby for the first four to six weeks.
Seek medical care if you have any of the following warning signs or symptoms: Heavy bleeding (more than your normal period or gets worse) Discharge, pain or redness that doesn't go away or gets worse. These could be a signs of infection in your c-section incision or episiotomy incision.