Whether you had a planned C section, or an unexpected emergency one, the recovery from such a major operation can be tougher than you might expect. One question I get asked all the time is what we can do to help ourselves to heal, so here are my top tips!
My top tips:
✨Stay active as much as possible – daily walks will help to prevent blood clots and improve the circulation in your body. It will also help your mental recovery too!
✨ If you need to cough or sneeze, pop a hand over your wound to help to support your abdomen.
✨Take painkillers regularly every 4-6 hours for the first week, even if the pain is well controlled. This will prevent it from breaking through and limiting your activity. After the first week you may not need them as regularly and can take them only when needed.
✨Avoid constipation so you dont have to strain on the loo – usually you will be prescribed a gentle laxative such as lactulose or senna which may help if you need. Stay hydrated!
✨Keep the wound clean and dry, and exposed to the air when possible. If you have an overhang then some gauze can be placed in the skin fold to keep it dry.
✨If breastfeeding use a supportive pillow or a lying-down technique to reduce your need for bending. If you invested in a maternity pillow during pregnancy this will come in really handy to help position baby!
✨After showering gently dab the wound dry, don’t rub the stitches
✨See your GP or triage if you have a fever, increasing pain, discharge from the wound or other concerns!
Top tips from my followers who have been through C section themselves:
After sharing some tips on stories, I also asked you guys what things helped from personal experience and I was blown away by the response. Here are some really useful, practical tips:
✨Rest! Don’t lift anything heavier than your baby. Get your food shopping delivered, it was the best thing I did!
✨ Get out of bed ASAP, it honestly made the biggest difference. I’ve had three and they’d be my best tips.
✨I agree with the constipation a billion percent I preach to everyone who has a baby they mostly ignore me then after about 6 days confess they should have listened 😳
✨I would also say I found keeping my feet up when I was on the bed so in a sort of mild U shape lifted the tension off my stomach
✨It may not be popular but keeping weight down will help with over hang at the end and healing
✨Get help with middle of the night nappy changes so you aren’t getting in and out of bed too often because that’s painful.
✨Peppermint water or gum can help with trapped wind.
Scar massage
💥Here are some fab tips from @hannahjohnsontherapies about scar massage:
You can begin massaging once your wound is fully healed and completely dry. Start by massaging your whole abdomen in a clockwise direction with some coconut oil. If you feel uncomfortable touching your scar, massaging above and below is still really beneficial
Featured image from Duvet Days