C-Section recovery: all you need to know

Read this post to learn all you need to know about recovering from a c-section, find helpful tricks and tools that will make your postpartum experience and c-section after care go as smoothly as possible.

All information provided in this post is solely based on my personal experience. This article is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your health, contact your medical provider!

This post contains affiliate links.

First of all, if you just had a c-section or know you will have a c-section, I need you to know that birthing your child through your belly is just as much giving birth as birthing your baby vaginally. If people are trying to tell you that having a C-section is the easy way out and that you are not really giving birth unless you push your baby out.. THEY ARE SO WRONG. No matter how women give birth, they are all REAL births.

I had an emergency c-section with my first born, which was not my plan at all. I really wanted to have a vaginal birth. I felt so disappointed afterwards, because I had envisioned everything going very differently. If you are in the same situation right now and feel that vaginal birthing experience ripped away from you, I want you to know that your feelings are 100% valid! It can be very disheartening when our birthing experience turns out differently than what we hoped for.

Nevertheless, giving birth vaginally or via c-section, it all is beautiful in its own way and there is no easy way out. All births are FREAKING HARD and all moms are rockstars.

When it comes to the postpartum recovery after a c-section it can be quite different from recovering from a vaginal birth. Knowing what to expect and having a few tools and tricks on hand can help make that recovery go a lot more smoothly. Even if you don’t expect to have a c-section, it can’t hurt to be prepared for any case since you never know if everything works out as planned.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about c-section recovery!

Stay on top of your pain medication

During the first few days you will probably feel pain around your incision site. The level of pain will depend on a lot of factors, like what type of incisions were made, how the procedure went as well as your personal pain tolerance. Most of the time the worst pain will be over after two weeks but expect to have mild discomfort for up to several weeks.

The most important tip I can give to new c-section mommas is to STAY ON TOP OF YOUR PAIN MEDS. Trust me. Don’t try to be a hero and take your provider's recommended doses of pain medicine, especially during those first few days. The pain will be so much more manageable if you are taking those meds. What type and dosage of pain medication you need varies from person to person, but don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about increasing a dose if your pain becomes unmanageable.

Don’t overdo it

After your c-section your doctor will most likely instruct you to not lift anything heavier than your newborn for the following 6 weeks. I can only tell you: LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. Lifting heavier things will put a strain on your incision and can cause complications and delay your healing process.

After my first c-section I felt really good after 2 weeks and started doing a lot of chores around the house. And guess what.. At the end of the day a small spot on my incision had opened back up and I felt just miserable.

So take my advice and get some rest, every day, for the entire postpartum period. Once you feel better, start SLOWLY. I know that is easier said than done, especially if you have older children and there is so much to do. But healing and rest needs to come first. Focus on that and snuggle up on the couch with your precious newborn.

Have help ready

Since you will most likely be in some pain the days following your c-section and have physical restrictions, plan to have help for you and baby. This can be your partner, family members, friends, neighbors, nannies etc. take all the help you can get. There is no shame in needing support.

You will need help caring for your baby in the hospital until you are able to move around as well as after you are discharged. If you have children at home, make sure you have someone to help you with daily activities during at least the first two weeks. Maybe you have some friends or neighbors who would love to provide a few meals for you or offer to take your kids for a few hours. TAKE ALL THE HELP! The more you rest, the faster you will heal and get back to your normal self.

Don't drive until you can move without pain

After your c-section you should not drive for at least two weeks. The length of time you are supposed to not operate a vehicle depends on your OBGYN’s recommendation and also on how you are feeling. Generally, you should not drive while taking strong pain medication. Once you are completely off pain killers and feel comfortable moving around with a full range of motion you should be good to drive again.

Since you are not going to be able to drive for a few days, you will want to make sure someone can drive you and baby to the pediatrician for a newborn check-up, two to three days after being discharged from the hospital. Especially if you already have children you also want to make sure you have transportation arranged for them, if needed. Maybe neighbors, friends or your partner can do some school and activity drop offs and pickups.

Get up and move

While I do want to encourage every new mom to get all the rest and slow down, it is insanely important to get out of bed and start moving around as soon as you are allowed to after a c-section. By this, I don’t mean going for a two hour walk, but getting out of bed and just walking the hospital halls or around your house will help your healing so much. When I was allowed to get up and move more after my c-section I made it my goal to always walk to the water station in the labor and delivery ward to refill my water bottle. That for sure did not always feel pleasant, but I felt so much better with each time I got out of bed to walk around. It was also great for my mental health and recovery.

You may also ask your medical provider about using an abdominal binder. They are usually available at your hospital and provide a lot of support for your belly while you’re up and moving around. Have your nurse show you the proper placement of the abdominal binder to avoid putting pressure on your incision.

After the first 2 weeks you can usually start to go for short walks and walk more, but check with your medical provider first. Moving around will also help with something that I wish someone had told me before my c-section: Gas pains!

What no one tells you about: the gas pains

If someone had told me that the gas pains after my c-sections will be worse than the pain from my incision I would have not believed them. But after two c-sections I can honestly say, the gas pains are THE WORST! The anesthetic used during the c-section and the surgery in general can cause a lot of bloating and gas while your intestinal tract slowly starts working again. It can get so uncomfortable and you may feel very bloated.

The one thing that helped me the most to start passing gas and getting my intestines going was moving around. Like I said above, really try to get out of bed and start walking a bit as soon as possible. It will make a huge difference.

Also don’t be shy to mention your gas pains to your nurse and doctors. Nothing to be ashamed of. Your medical team will be able to provide you with medication that eases the discomfort and helps getting all that air out of your tummy.

Bowel movements are scary

Talking about gas pains, brings me to the next aspect of a c-section recovery that I was not prepared for: bowel movements. Like after every surgery, it may take you a few days to have a bowel movement again. When you finally feel the need to go it can feel very strange in your abdominal area and around your incision, since everything feels so loose and you cannot really push. It really is the strangest feeling. I thought my intestines were about to fall out of my belly when I had to use the bathroom for the first time after birth.

What can make bowel movements easier is taking stool softeners for a while after your surgery. Talk to your doctor about your options.

Another great trick I learned is to roll up a towel and place it near your incision site and on your belly. When you have to go potty, gently apply a little pressure onto the towel and your belly. This will help your belly feel more sturdy and can make it easier to have a bowel movement.

I also highly recommend you get a small stool to put in front of your toilet. Resting your feet on a stool or a special potty stool puts your body in a position that makes it easier to have bowel movements.

As always, contact your medical provider if you have any concerns or are unable to have bowel movements.

You will have postpartum bleeding

While it is true that your doctor will 'clean out’ your uterus during your c-section, you will still experience postpartum bleeding. One of my hopes after the c-section was that I would have less postpartum bleeding. Wouldn’t that be miraculous??! But unfortunately, that was not true at all.

Bleeding may be a bit lighter than after a vaginal birth, but you will most likely experience postpartum bleeding and discharge for up to 6 weeks. So stock up on those big sanitary pads. Your hospital will probably provide pads for you during your stay, but it’s not a bad idea to have some pads packed for your drive home.

High waisted underwear will be a lifesaver

I am not lying when I say that the first thing I did after being discharged from the hospital after my emergency c-section with my daughter, was to order high waisted undies! Wearing regular low cut underwear that sits right on, or near your incision is super uncomfortable. So you want to pick underwear that goes way above your incision.

I can not recommend these women’s briefs from Amazon enough. They come in different colors, are made from cotton, super comfortable and sit way above your incision. But not only are they comfortable, they also provide some support for your belly, which will help a lot with the feeling of your bowels falling out of your incision (yes, that is literally what it feels like). They are just perfect for that postpartum period. Even if you don’t expect to have a c-section, I’d still buy these to wear while you recover.

Even tho we can’t predict how exactly our birth experience will look, knowing what to expect from your c-section recovery and having some helpful tips and tools on hand can make your postpartum experience go a lot more smoothly.

xx