buy cotton pants that are high enough to cover your c-section wound, such as full briefs that come up to your waist. buy a few cotton maternity bras – you may find these more comfortable than underwired bras, whether or not you plan to breastfeed. wear comfortable, loose clothes – your maternity clothes are ideal.
What should I wear to a planned C-section? Wear something comfortable to the hospital. You will need to be in a hospital gown for the surgery, but you may have some time sitting around and waiting before your C-section. Loungewear and yoga pants are both excellent options.
Incision Care
If you go home with a dressing (bandage), change the dressing over your cut once a day, or sooner if it gets dirty or wet. Your provider will tell you when to stop keeping your wound covered. Keep the wound area clean by washing it with mild soap and water. You don't need to scrub it.
If you have a c-section, you'll want loose clothing that will be comfortable over your incision. For going home, have something roomy and easy to get into and a pair of flat, comfortable shoes. Several pairs of postpartum underwear. Some women love the mesh underwear provided by the hospital, but others don't.
The Night Before Your C-section
You will not be allowed to eat, drink or smoke after midnight. This includes candy, gum and water. Try to get a good night's sleep. You may brush your teeth in the morning.
It's important to get out of bed and walk around within 24 hours after surgery. This can help ease gas pains, help you have a bowel movement, and prevent blood clots.
What is the Golden Hour? After the birth of the baby, both vaginal and c-section birth, the Golden hour consists of uninterrupted and immediate skin to skin contact, limited interventions that are not necessary, if possible and desired having delayed cord clamping, and having the first feeding of baby completed.
It is advised that you wear comfortable underwear which does not press on the wound.
Buy at least two or three packs of 12 maternity pads. You may need to change your pad every hour or two hours after giving birth. This will reduce to every three hours or four hours over the next two days. Be sure to buy maternity pads, rather than ordinary sanitary towels.
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.
You can shower with the normal dressing (this dressing is waterproof) or the glue once you are mobile enough to do so.
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.
Start each shower or bath by washing your hair as usual with shampoo. Rinse your hair and body thoroughly to remove the shampoo residue. To prevent infection following surgery, shower the night before using an antibacterial soap, such as Dial or Hibiclens (do not use a soap with no antibacterial properties).
Things to Avoid:
Sexual intercourse until your health care provider tells you that it is safe. The use of tampons or douche. Taking baths until your incision is healed and you are no longer bleeding. Public pools and hot tubs.
One Day After C-Section
C-section pain typically spikes 18 hours after delivery.
The first day after a C-section is often the hardest, and moving around may hurt. Take any prescribed pain medication on schedule, and time your trips to the bathroom or around the room to coincide with when the pain medicine kicks in, suggests Dr. Woeber.
It takes about six weeks to recover from a C-section, but each person's timeline will be different. An incision — typically a horizontal cut made in your lower abdomen — can take weeks to heal. During that time, it's recommended that you avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby.
Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching. Four of the five remaining layers are stitched with a single layer of stitching, but one layer is not restitched as it heals better – with no buckling and reduced chance of scar tissue developing, without restitiching.
How long does an average C-section take? Usually, a cesarean takes about 30-45 minutes.
Shivering occurred frequently during cesarean sections, with the peak incidence occurring after skin disinfection. Anxiety, emergency delivery, and transfer from the delivery room to the operating room increased the risk of shivering development during cesarean sections.
Don't even think of tackling laundry, putting away dishes or climbing stairs (except as necessary) for at least a week after you get home. You may feel a burst of energy, but it's likely to disappear as quickly as it came on--so save your strength for cuddling your baby and other wonderful things, like showers.