How to recover after a caesarean section
A caesarean section is major surgery, so recovery is all about caring for your baby and giving your body the rest it needs to heal.
Some cultures have a tradition of birthing mothers staying at home in the first weeks after birth. Whatever your situation, it’s important to:
- take it easy as much as you can
- be kind to yourself.
Going home from hospital
After a caesarean birth, you’ll probably stay in the hospital for 2-5 days. This can vary between hospitals. It depends on how you and your baby are doing.
In some hospitals, you can choose to go home after 24 hours and have your follow-up care at home. Ask your midwife or doctor about what your hospital offers if you go home.
Your feelings
You might feel fine about having a caesarean, or you might feel disappointed or sad that you weren’t able to give birth vaginally. And if you had an emergency caesarean, the birth experience might have been distressing for you.
Whatever your feelings, they’re OK. But it can help to talk through those feelings with someone you trust. Most hospitals offer a birth debrief with midwives or doctors before you go home, so ask for this if you think it will help.
You can also call the Pregnancy Birth and Baby Helpline on 1800 882 436 for advice and free counselling, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Adjusting to the big changes of early parenthood can be stressful. This is why parents are more likely to experience postnatal anxiety at this time. Signs of anxiety can include a racing heart, worry, frustration and restlessness.
Vaginal bleeding
Even though you’ve had a caesarean birth, you’ll still have vaginal bleeding after birth. This is normal bleeding from where the placenta was attached to your uterus.
How heavy will the bleeding be?
The bleeding might be quite heavy in the first week, like a heavy period. It might also be heavy after exercise, when you first get up in the morning, and after breastfeeding. You might see some small blood clots on your pad.
If you’re soaking through a pad in one hour or seeing a lot of blood clots, immediately call your local maternity hospital, or your midwife, doctor or child and family health nurse.
After the first week, your bleeding should gradually get lighter and change from red to dark-red to brown to yellowish-white. You’ll probably be able to use regular sanitary pads around this time.
How long will the bleeding last?
You might have some bleeding for up to 6 weeks.
Can you use tampons?
Avoid using tampons in the first 6 weeks after birth because this could increase your risk of getting an infection.
You’ll need plenty of maternity sanitary pads or period-proof underwear, both in the hospital and when you come home.
Check with your midwife, doctor or nurse if the bleeding gets heavier rather than lighter, you have sudden heavy blood loss or large clots after the first few days, the blood smells bad, your uterus feels tender or sore, or you’re still bleeding after 6 weeks.
Pain and pain relief
In the early days after a c-section, the area around your wound might be sore. You might also find that basic things like coughing, laughing and showering can hurt in the first few weeks.
Pain can affect your sleep and mood. Pain can also make it harder to feed and look after your baby, so it’s important to manage it.
Pain relief medicine can help. Most people need pain relief for only a few days after a caesarean, but it’s OK if you need it for a few weeks.
Talk with your midwife or doctor about which pain relief will be best for you, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
Our article on healthy lifestyle choices for new parents has information on medicines and breastfeeding.
Caesarean wound care
Your caesarean wound will usually be along or just below your bikini line. Very rarely it might be straight up and down your tummy. It will usually have dissolvable stitches or staples that a midwife or doctor will remove.
How to prevent infection
Keeping your wound clean and dry helps to prevent infection.
The wound will be covered by a waterproof dressing for several days, and you can usually shower with this on.
Once the dressing has been removed, you can gently wash your wound with water and dry around it with a towel. It’s best to leave it uncovered to ‘air dry’. It can be harder to keep your wound dry if it’s under a tummy fold, so you might need to place a soft clean pad under the fold to keep your wound as dry as possible.
Is it normal to have bruising and soreness?
Some bruising around the wound is common. Often the side of the wound where the knots from the stitches are will feel sorer than the other side. Numbness or itchiness around the wound is common too. This can sometimes last a long time.
Wearing loose cotton underwear and clothing that doesn’t press on your wound can help in the early days and weeks.
How long will the wound take to heal?
It’ll take 6-10 weeks for your wound to heal completely.
If you see any signs of infection around your wound, see your midwife or doctor straight away. Signs of infection include pain, swelling, smelly discharge or the wound coming apart. The skin around the wound might also look red on light skin, or brown, purple or grey on dark skin. Fever is also a sign of infection.
Exercise, food and sleep
What exercise can you do?
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 exercise ideas as you start to recover.
What are the best foods and drinks?
Healthy eating and drinking can help you feel better too. And foods that are high in fibre are good for avoiding constipation. Drinking plenty of water will also help you avoid constipation and stay hydrated.
What about sleep and rest?
Getting as much rest and sleep as you can is another top tip. Try to rest or sleep when your baby sleeps, and don’t feel guilty if the housework isn’t done – you and your baby are more important.
For comfortable sleep, it might help to use a pillow between or under your knees. Move slowly when you need to adjust your position in bed. Some discomfort is normal, and it will start to go away as you recover.
Relationships and friendships after birth
Your relationship with your partner
Your emotional and sexual relationship might feel different in the early weeks after your baby arrives. For example, it’s normal for it to be weeks or even months before you feel like having sex again. It’s OK to wait for as long as you need, until you feel ready.
Friendships
New friendships can open up after you have a baby. For example, many new parents join a parents group in the first few months.
It can be comforting and reassuring to talk in person or online with other birthing mothers who’ve had a similar experience to you.
Seeking and getting support is good for you and your baby in many ways. You could ask for practical support, emotional or personal support, and information or advice.
Breastfeeding
You can try different positions for breastfeeding to find what’s most comfortable for you. Ask the midwives to show you different positions while you’re in hospital. You can organise a visit with a lactation consultant if you’d like extra support, or you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268.
Positions you might find useful for breastfeeding after caesarean birth are:
- sitting with a pillow on your lap to support your baby and protect your wound
- lying down on your side
- holding your baby under your arm with your baby’s feet towards your back – the ‘football’ position.
Check out our illustrated guide to breastfeeding positions to learn more about each of these positions.
Practical help and everyday activities
It’s OK to ask for help at any time, especially in the first 6 weeks after a caesarean birth. It can be a good idea to let friends and family know ahead of the birth that you’ll need their help during this time.
Family, friends and other people will probably appreciate you telling them exactly what you need. For example, you could say, ‘Could you pick up some bread and milk on your way to visit today?’ Or ‘Thanks for offering to pick up some groceries, but I really just need someone to hang out the washing today’.
If you feel you need other support at home – for example, with breastfeeding – talk with your midwife, doctor, lactation consultant or child and family health nurse.
Lifting, stretching and bending
You’ll need help with jobs that involve stretching upwards, lifting or bending, because of the strain these activities put on your caesarean wound. This means you’ll need someone to hang washing on the line, do the vacuuming, and help with any other strenuous household tasks.
Don’t lift any weight that’s heavier than your baby or anything that causes you pain – for example, a full basket of wet washing or a toddler.
If you have other children and they’re used to being picked up, there are other ways for you to be close. For example, they could sit next to you on the couch while you have a cuddle and read a story together. It’s best to talk with your midwife or doctor about when it’s safe to lift, stretch and bend again.
When can you start driving again?
Doctors usually recommend that you avoid driving a car until your caesarean wound has healed and you can brake suddenly without feeling sharp pain. This is usually around 4-6 weeks. It’s best to talk with your midwife or doctor about when it’s safe to start driving again.
Check the policy of your car insurance company because some companies won’t cover you if your doctor hasn’t cleared you to drive.
Your 6-week check
Your health and your baby’s health will be reviewed at a 6-week check-up with your midwife, doctor or child and family health nurse.
This is a good time to ask any questions you still have – for example, why you had a caesarean birth or what your birth options are if you have another baby.
Your midwife, doctor or nurse can also give you information on topics like family planning and baby development.
It’s best to wait at least 18 months to get pregnant again after you’ve had a caesarean. This gives your body time to heal between births.