My C-Section Recovery Tips

I’ll admit that I knew nothing about c-sections before I had one. I knew it was a major surgery and that was about it. For some reason I never considered one, so never read into it. Which I am kind of glad about, as I didn’t have the time to work myself up and get nervous about it; which you will understand if you’ve read my birth story.

However not reading up about it, meant I didn’t know what to expect from the recovery. And in my opinion, the recovery is worse than the procedure. As I write this post I’m ten weeks postpartum and I still have pains in the bottom of my stomach. Recovery takes a really long time, and it’s something that shouldn’t be rushed. As the post goes live it’s been 12 weeks and things are better, but there’s still a way to go.

My recovery has gone really well so far. I’ve had no infections, which is something I was really afraid of. So I thought I’d share some of my c-section recovery tips with you. All of these are things that have helped me, and I hope they can help you too.

These are my c-section recovery tips.

Get Up and Move Around as Soon as You Can

I think this will pop up on any advice that you read. As moving about will help to reduce the swelling, which will aid the recovery process. Of course don’t get up for the first time without speaking to a midwife or doctor first. I had my c-section at 6pm, and the midwife came to get me up at 9am the next morning. It was hard, but I’m glad I did it. So don’t put it off, you have to do it at one point, so it’s best to get it out of the way.

But Don’t Over Do It

Even though moving helps, it can also hinder. A c-section is a major surgery, so it’s important to take things slow. Walking around the house is enough movement for the first few days, and do not even think about bending. The first night home from hospital we decided to sleep downstairs, just so I didn’t have to conquer the stairs. When I did decide to tackle the stairs I took my time and I was soon able to get up and down without gripping on for dear life. Recovery is a long process, and trying to rush it will only make it longer, so take your time.

Take the Painkillers

Seriously. Even if you’re feeling ok, take the painkillers. I slept through my second lot of meds and I can not put into words how bad the pain was. It was a million times worse than any cramps I’d felt during the pregnancy. I was hunched over in tears, whilst Jake had gone to find a midwife. They said that sleep was the best healer, but I can confirm; that it is not.

You’re also sent home with meds and a round of daily injections that prevent blood clots. I had to have the injections for ten days, which Jake injected into the top of my leg every morning. They aren’t the nicest, but they’re much better than having blood clots.

Don’t be Afraid of Disposable Pants

I remember being so embarrassed of the thought of wearing disposable pants before I gave birth. As let’s be real; it’s a fancy way of saying nappy. Which doesn’t really appeal to me as a 26 year old. However the high waisted ones are a game changer. They sit above the wound, and you don’t have to worry about leaking. I used the Tena ones, and don’t get me wrong; they are expensive, but they really helped my recovery.

Wear Loose Comfortable Clothing

It took me a long time to wear something that wasn’t a nightie. I just couldn’t stand the feel of trousers on my stomach until I bought a pyjama set in a bigger size. Which really helped my recovery, as I didn’t have to worry about having anything pressing on my wound.

Ask For Another Pair of Compression Socks Before You Leave

With having surgery you’re sent home in a pair of compression socks to wear 24/7 for ten days. However they only give you one pair, and I did not like the thought of having to put the same socks back on after a shower. When we were having the discharge chat, I asked for another pair and they gladly gave me some to be go home with. This isn’t an essential, but it’s nice to have.

Don’t Throw Out the Pregnancy Pillow

Getting up from a lying or seated position is one of the hardest parts of recovery. In fact it took me a long time to lay down properly in bed. I used my pregnancy pillow to prop me up and it made sleeping much more comfortable. It was very strange to go from not sleeping on my back to only being able to sleep on my back, but the pregnancy pillow made it much more manageable.

In fact pillows in general are great. I was sitting on practically every cushion we owned at one point. As I couldn’t get up from the sofa without them, they bump you up a little bit and make standing up and sitting down easier.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

A c-section is a major surgery and those first few weeks are tough. I don’t know what I would’ve done without Jake or our parents, they really made those first few days easier. When the everyday tasks become impossible it’s important to have people you can rely on. It’s important not to put any pressure on yourself, so accept the help and take the time to recover.

There we have it, those are my c-section recovery tips.

Thank you for reading.