You should not push a stroller or carry the car seat while walking while your incision is healing (at least 3 weeks).
And, most obstetricians and gynecologists highly recommend that moms don't lift anything heavier than their baby for 4-6 weeks or until they've completely healed. Essentially, that means absolutely no lugging around a car seat!
This list may feel restrictive at times, but remember it is with your optimal healing in mind. No lifting more than the weight of your baby for the first 3-4 weeks. No high impact or running for 6 weeks.
Things to Avoid:
The use of tampons or douche. Taking baths until your incision is healed and you are no longer bleeding. Public pools and hot tubs. Lifting anything heavier than your baby.
Women who've given birth via C-section have a few extra obstacles to clear, as they heal from abdominal surgery. Most doctors recommend that C-section patients not lift anything heavier than their baby (or 10 pounds) for the first three weeks, which may prove difficult when there is an older child at home.
Remember that a c-section is a major abdominal surgery that takes approximately 6-8 weeks (or so) to fully recover from, so take it easy! After your surgery, you won't be able to wear your regular underwear (not that you would anyway — hello, mesh undies and massive pads!), or just any pair of pants or leggings.
Recovering from a C-section requires that you give yourself space and time needed to heal properly. This also means that some activities and behaviors may need to be avoided or adjusted until you're at least 6 weeks postpartum, you're fully healed, or your doctor has confirmed it's OK to do so. Avoid: stomach sleeping.
Most doctors suggest not lifting your toddler or anything heavy for at least the first week or two after birth. Why is this the case? Overall, heavy lifting can create intra-abdominal pressure. After birth, the pelvic floor is weak (which is why strengthening it after pregnancy is so important!).
Rushing into things too quickly and even sex four weeks after a C-section can lead to complications such as infection. Six weeks is the average amount of time it takes the uterus to return to its normal size, cervix to close, and C-section incision to heal.
Increased bleeding after your lochia starts to decrease can be a sign you're overdoing it and need more rest. Seeing ongoing clots could mean your uterus is having trouble getting back to its pre-pregnancy size. In either case, it's always best to call.
Doctors, traditionally, have advised women to avoid stairs after a C-section. But Kathryn Houston, a clinical instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco, shrugs off that recommendation. “Stairs are fine as long as you take them slowly,” she says.
It is recommended to avoid using tampons, exercising intensely, taking stairs, or having sex until you have your doctor's permission. Moreover, you should shower normally instead of baths until your postpartum bleeding and incision have healed.
What Are the Risks of Getting Pregnant After a C-Section? Research shows that getting pregnant less than six months after a C-section can increase your risk of complications, such as ruptured uterus or a low birth weight baby.
Although you may experience slightly less bleeding with a cesarean section, it will still take about six weeks for your cervix to close completely. Some women may feel ready to resume intercourse sooner than others, but you should only have sex again once given the ok by your obstetrician and when you feel comfortable.
Once the baby is out, whether by vaginal or c-section delivery, the uterus contracts and shrinks to GRADUALLY go back down to size. That full process takes 6 weeks.
Discomfort while urinating can be par for the course as your body recovers from giving birth — whether you delivered vaginally or via C-section. But intense pain that doesn't ease up could be a sign of a postpartum urinary tract infection (UTI). Postpartum UTIs aren't uncommon.
The time it takes for dissolvable or absorbable stitches to disappear can vary. Most types should start to dissolve or fall out within a week or two, although it may be a few weeks before they disappear completely. Some may last for several months.
Doctors suggest binding after major abdominal surgery, including after a Cesarean section. There are benefits to using an after-birth belly wrap. Supporting your pelvic floor. Your organs move and change during pregnancy to make room for a growing baby.
Don't shave your stomach or pubic area
If hair removal is necessary, your nurse will take care of it with clippers in the hospital on the day of your C-section.
According to Specialty Surgery Center, the best sleeping position after C-section and most surgeries is on your back. Many times sleeping on your back may be the best option to relieve any pressure on your incision.
Week 2 of C-Section Recovery
Although you're only two weeks out from a major abdominal surgery, you should expect to feel tremendously better by this stage. But keep in mind that you'll feel C-section pain and cramping for several weeks.
Lifting more than your baby, stretching, straining and deep bending are not recommended until about 4-6 weeks post-delivery OR until you are able to do these movements with no pain or strain and your incision feels like it has healed.
During a C-section, your organs are usually just moved aside so that the doctor can see your uterus better. But the organs stay within the abdominal cavity and aren't taken out. In rare cases, the intestines may be temporarily lifted out for better visualization and space to operate, but not permanently.