Your first C-section appointment (often a pre-op visit) involves meeting your medical team (midwife, anesthesiologist, doctor) to review your health, sign consent, discuss risks, and get fasting/preparation instructions for the surgery day, including blood tests and possibly medication to reduce stomach acid, ensuring you're ready for the planned delivery.
Most planned C-sections use an epidural, so you are awake for the delivery. However, in some cases, you're asleep under general anesthesia. Your abdomen will be cleaned with an antiseptic, and you might have an oxygen mask placed over your mouth and nose to increase oxygen to your baby.
A caesarean section is a surgical operation to give birth to your baby. Planned and unplanned caesareans have some differences in the lead-up to surgery, but they're the same afterwards. Caesarean section surgery usually takes 30-60 minutes, although the entire process can take a few hours.
You can do the opposite to get back into bed. “I was not prepared for how difficult I would find getting out of bed after my second c-section. The first few days are the worst so if you can sleep sitting up, it's probably worth trying!”
For women who underwent a cesarean section, the first follow-up visit should be two weeks after delivery. At this appointment, the incision scar will be checked and steri-strips will be removed if they have not yet fallen out on their own. Another appointment will be scheduled for the standard six-week postpartum exam.
Recovery Time: After a C-section, you can expect to stay in the hospital for approximately 2–4 days. It may take six to eight weeks to fully recover.
But you may not be able to do some activities straight away, such as:
Keep the wound area clean by washing it with mild soap and water. You don't need to scrub it. Often, just letting the water run over your wound in the shower is enough. You may remove your wound dressing and take showers if stitches, staples, or glue were used to close your skin.
Sour fruits: starfruit, tamarind, persimmon, and unripe mangoes. Strong spices such as chili, pepper, and other intense spices. Inflammatory foods may interfere with wound healing, including sticky rice, water spinach, and egg whites. Oily and fried foods.
The night before
To reduce the risk of aspiration, you can vomit after having your anaesthetic or whilst having your C-section. Ensure you have a late evening meal or plan a substantial pre-bed snack.
The Day Before Your C-Section
Eat a healthy dinner the night before, but please remember, do not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to surgery, including mints or gum.
The “Golden Hour” is the first 1-2 hours after baby's birth, an extremely precious time for both you and baby. A period of uninterrupted time, ideally skin to skin, to rest and regulate after labour and birth.
Generally speaking, you'll want to avoid bottoms with buttons, snaps, and zippers as they may irritate your C-section incision. Instead, focus your postpartum wardrobe search on pieces that are light and breathable; look for super-soft clothes that will provide the comfort you crave while you heal.
You could also use an eye mask. Touch - The use of gentle touch of your head or arms can be really calming and grounding during a caesarean, your birth partner can practice this in advance too. Smell - you can use aromatherapy oils, dabbing your wrists or soaking some cotton wool and taping it to your hospital gown.
You should be able to hear and see your baby once they are born. The doctor should let you hold them right after the C-section is finished. If you're planning to breastfeed, you may also be able to try feeding your baby.
Regardless of the type of skin incision, the uterine incision is made horizontally and low down on the uterus unless the position of your baby or the placenta demands a vertical cut instead. The amniotic sac will be opened and the amniotic fluid will pour out.
A c-section is major surgery and your partner will need time to recover. It can take at least 6 weeks, but they may have discomfort for much longer than this.
How long do you bleed for after a c-section? You will have some vaginal bleeding (called lochia) for 2-6 weeks after the birth. This is the mucous, tissue and blood that is shed after birth as your womb (uterus) replaces its lining. Bleeding sometimes lasts longer than this, but it should have stopped by 12 weeks.
1. Papaya: Raw papaya is a great food that acts as a galactagogue. It helps boost the production of oxytocin. Oxytocin increases the production of milk.
C Section Recovery Must Haves Kit - Peri Bottle,Disposable Mesh Underwears,Witch Hazel Pad Liners,Silicone Scar Patches, Abdominal Belly Binder,Socks,C-Section Recovery Essentials Kit.
Your stitches are dissolvable. They usually take up to 6 weeks to dissolve completely. You may notice some knots at the edge of the wound, these will fall off as the stitches dissolve. If you have staples half of these will be removed after 7 days, and the remaining removed after 10 days.
Most women will remain in the hospital for 2 to 3 days after a cesarean birth (C-section). Take advantage of the time to bond with your new baby, get some rest, and receive some help with breastfeeding and caring for your baby.
After Going Home:
Initially, you should avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby, and avoid most housework. Your lochia bleeding will change over time and can increase with activity and position changes. Use your bleeding as a way of making sure that you are not involved in too much activity.
The 5-5-5 rule for postpartum C-section recovery is a guideline for the first 15 days, emphasizing 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, and 5 days around the bed, focusing on rest, gradual movement, bonding, and healing by limiting activity and staying near a resting spot for essential needs only. It's a structured way to encourage vital rest and set boundaries with visitors, preventing overexertion during the critical initial healing phase after major surgery.
In some hospitals, women are not allowed to have food or fluids for more than 24 hours after the operation, in the belief that it might take a while for the bowels to settle down after abdominal surgery. However, caesarean section may not disrupt bowel function at all.