10 Tips for Recovering from a C-section
A C-section is a MAJOR surgery, and yet many women aren’t given the information they need to help them take care of their bodies and heal properly.
I’ve had 3 C-sections and have worked with tons of mamas who’ve had them too. I’ve learned so much about improving the experience and speeding up recovery and I want to help even more women learn the same.
Before we dive into our top 10, we have to mention our recovery app that takes ALL the guesswork out of you recovery. You can try it free for 7 days here!
So what should new mamas be doing immediately after surgery to improve recovery? These are our top 10 tips for a speedy recovery after C-section.
1. When you arrive at the hospital, get settled in
It might sound obvious, but getting yourself situated and settled can be really helpful prior to giving birth.
Unpack your bags, put your toiletries and shower stuff in the bathroom, and set up your nightstand with water, your phone charger, and anything else you want within close reach.
But why, you ask?
Moving and bending over after a C-section can be really challenging. Prepping your stuff ahead of time can help prevent any unnecessary pain from searching or reaching for things you need.
2. Advocate for yourself
Although a C-section may be more regimented than a vaginal birth, you’re still giving birth and have some control over your experience.
We recommend advocating for yourself before, during and after your surgery to make the birth YOURS. Here are a couple of ways you can do that:
C-section scar and closure: For my second birth, I had a discussion with my physician about the scar and closure. After my first C-section there seemed to be a lot of scar tissue and the closure was really tight, leaving excess skin hanging over. I wanted to be proactive in discussing this with my surgeon prior to my second C-section. I'm glad I did because it looks a whole lot different!
Timing with nurses. The nurses had to do rounds to check on both me and the baby, but I would ask them to come back if Avery was sleeping. They have a window of time to accomplish this, so the answer won’t always be yes. Of course, if there are complications, you might not be able to have control over this.
We dive into this in more detail in our blog post: 5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Ask for During a C-section.
3. Stay on top of your pain medication
We get it. Some people (me included) don’t love taking pain medication. After my first C-section, I didn’t take my pain meds after the first day and it was a big mistake — I was in a world of hurt.
Research shows that inadequate pain management after a C-section increases the need for opioids, delays recovery, and increases mama’s risk of chronic pain and postpartum depression.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and pain and are commonly used after C-sections. But depending on your situation, your physician might prescribe different medications to help manage pain.
Moral of the story: Talk to your physician about the best plan for you and follow that plan.
4. Use ice and compression
Controlling inflammation during this initial period is essential, so we’re going back to the basics: ice and compression.
We recommend icing every 2-3 hours for 15 minutes at a time for the first five weeks after a C-section. Make sure you’re wrapping an ice pack in a clean towel before applying directly to your skin.
We also recommend wearing compression leggings. Check out this pair from Baobei.
5. Hydrate and eat healing foods
The golden rule: Drink lots of water! Water is obviously important for everyone, but research shows that early hydration after a C-section can help speed up recovery by helping you return to normal eating habits and light activity (like walking) sooner.
Also, if you’re breastfeeding, you might be feeling extra thirsty — so hydration is key.
In terms of food, many hospitals don’t have the most nutritious options. If yours does, that’s amazing! But if it doesn’t, ask your partner, friends, or family to bring you more nutritious options from outside the hospital.
Either way, do your best to choose foods that are nutrient-dense like baked potatoes or protein-packed like eggs.
(we cover all this and SO much more in our C-section birth + recovery course. Make sure to check it out here!
6. Take stool softeners
You’re more likely to get constipated after having a C-section because of anesthesia, pain meds, and/or dehydration.
Constipation after a C-section is NOT fun. You’re already dealing with incisional pain, so you want to avoid added pain from straining while using the bathroom.
Along with getting proper hydration, I highly recommend taking the laxatives your nurses offer you and staying on top of your stool softeners.
7. Wear the pressure cuffs when you are in bed
Pneumatic compression devices look and feel a lot like blood pressure cuffs. They’re an effective tool that’s often used to prevent fluid build-up in the lower limbs after surgeries — including after C-sections. This helps keep your blood pressure from dropping, which reduces your risk of postoperative complications.
Whenever you’re in bed, make sure that your nurses are putting them back on you. And no, don’t do it yourself — putting them on requires some serious bending that will not feel good.
During my C-sections, I had to gently remind my nurses to put them back on. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself — they’re an important tool in helping you heal.
8. Get moving when you can
It can be painful and scary, but do your best to get moving as soon as you and your nurse think you’re ready.
Taking a short walk to the bathroom or just walking from the end of the room and back when you’re feeling up to it will help your recovery process. In fact, a 2022 study found that patients who walked more during their post-cesarean hospitalization had fewer complications.
Once you start moving more, be sure you’re making smart movements that minimize the physical demand on your body — like raising your bed when you get in and out of it.
9. Think about waiting on visitors to give you time to adjust
Not only is this such a special time for you, your baby, and partner to get acquainted, it’s also your time to figure out how to feed your little one. Whether you’re planning on breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle feeding, there’s a lot to learn — which you might not want to do with visitors around.
Take advantage of your ability to plan ahead with a non-emergency C-section and consider setting aside one specific time for your family to come to the hospital to meet your baby. My family is huge, so giving them one time to come visit made it a lot easier on me and my babe.
10. Follow Expecting and Empowered’s C-section Recovery Program
We know that recovering from a major surgery while mothering a brand new baby is a lot, so we’ve put together a recovery program to take all of the thinking, planning and worrying out of it.
Starting from the day of your delivery, our program will help you restore your pelvic floor and rebuild strength after birth. You can learn more about our program (and new app!) here. Also, take a look at our C-section recovery box which has even more information and helpful equipment for those first weeks postpartum or take our online course!
We hope these tips help you in prioritizing your healing because mama, you are SO worth it!
The right movements are key to helping you be able to get your abdominal muscles back after a major surgery.
RECOVER FROM YOUR C-SECTION IN CONFIDENCE
The only app you need in motherhood to help you safely and progressively heal from your C-section. Never wonder if it’s safe to do, or how to work your C-section scar again once you download the E + E App.
References
Arroyo-Fernández FJ, Calderón Seoane JE, Torres Morera LM. Strategies of analgesic treatment after cesarean delivery. Current state and new alternatives. Estrategias de tratamiento analgésico tras cesárea. Estado actual y nuevas alternativas. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2020;67(3):167-175. doi:10.1016/j.redar.2019.11.005
Engel O, Haikin Herzberger E, Yagur Y, et al. Walking to a better future? Postoperative ambulation after cesarean delivery and complications: A prospective study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022;157(2):391-396. doi:10.1002/ijgo.13815
Malhotra N, Khanna S, Pasrija S, Jain M, Agarwala RB. Early oral hydration and its impact on bowel activity after elective caesarean section--our experience. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2005;120(1):53-56. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.08.009
Prajith KR, Mishra G, Ravishankar M, Hemanth Kumar VR. Hemodynamic changes under spinal anesthesia after elastic wrapping or pneumatic compression of lower limbs in elective cesarean section: A randomized control trial. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2020;36(2):244-250. doi:10.4103/joacp.JOACP_72_18
Zeng AM, Nami NF, Wu CL, Murphy JD. The Analgesic Efficacy of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents (NSAIDs) in Patients Undergoing Cesarean Deliveries: A Meta-Analysis. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016;41(6):763-772. doi:10.1097/AAP.0000000000000460