When I had my first Cesarean, I was 21. I was in college, and went back to class after 10 days. I don’t remember any difficulty recovering, and the baby weight nearly fell off of me.
My second Cesarean was 6 years ago when I was nearly 32. Totally different story. Every time I thought I was getting better, I’d have a setback. It felt like recovery took forever and it was absolutely horrible.
My 3rd Cesarean was 3 1/2 months ago. While it was much better than my last c-section, it still wasn’t a breeze. I guess I’m not 21 anymore.
(You can read my entire birthing journey here.)
I did realize a few things about the recovery process following a c-section that helped me survive the difficult days this time. Those are the things I want to share with you today.
What to expect in the hospital
(and beyond)
following your c-section
One thing no one told me about was all the extra pain that had nothing to do with the c-section incision. Shoulder pain caused by the gases trapped in your body – so bad your meds won’t touch it. (Thankfully, it goes away after an hour or two) There is also the pain of other gasses and constipation caused by the medications slowing down your system.
My advice: Take stool softeners (without laxatives) and dried plums to the hospital with you! Drink every chance you get (this will help your milk supply too!).
Itching and swelling from the epidural, IVs and other meds was another thing no one warned me about (of course, it’s hard to warn someone when they are having an emergency c-section, huh?) My face itched terribly. I wanted to rub my nose right off my face. And take a look at the difference between my feet from shortly after birth to about a week later when most of the swelling had gone down:
YIKES!
My advice: Be aware of it. There really isn’t much you can do to reduce the swelling other than keep drinking your water. The itching will subside as well. Be sure to bring shoes to go home in that do not require your feet to be normal size.
There were a few things I was super thankful for…
The hospital I birthed at put a binder around my tummy immediately following the surgery. When my OB told me she was doing this, I couldn’t imagine it being comfortable. She told me it actually helps with pain, and she was right! I wore that binder every day for weeks. The binder sold by The Tummy Team is very similar to the one I was given in the hospital. This is the binder I now wear because I needed a smaller size than what I had in the hospital. (I own the 3-Panel Abdominal Splint because I am short-waisted. It is super simple to use and it does a really great job.)
My advice: If your hospital doesn’t do belly binding following a c-section, buy a binder to take with you to the hospital – even if you are having a vaginal birth!
I learned from one of my VBACs to take a heating pad to the hospital with me. That birth had been fast and furious and my back hurt something awful. The nurses gave me a ThermaCare Heat Wrap, but the next birth I chose to buy an XL heating pad and take that with me. Such a lifesaver!
I was also very thankful for the recliner in my room. I felt MUCH better sleeping in the recliner rather than in the bed. If your room doesn’t have a recliner, don’t hesitate to ask, even beg, for one! It is so hard to sleep in a bed following a c-section, and getting in and out of a bed is torture. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself!
Also, be sure to take comfortable clothes with you. One thing I always take with me is my Playful Mama Nursing Poncho. It looks like a shirt, but it is really a big poncho you can nurse under. In those early days, no matter how experienced you are, breastfeeding is a comedy of errors. This poncho helped me feel covered no matter how many gymnastics I had to perform to get baby to nurse. Best of all, it didn’t constrict my belly in any way. (Here is a similar poncho on Amazon for a cheaper price – though I can’t attest to the comfort of this one.)
And finally, take your meds! This is coming from someone who really hates pills. I hate how medications make me feel. I want off of them as soon as possible. I don’t take pain relievers for a headache. I don’t take antibiotics unless it’s absolutely necessary. But, I found I did better and healed faster when I took the medication I needed on the time schedule I was given, and then slowly weaned off of them. The full weaning process took several weeks. I took the lowest dosage necessary to keep me comfortable, but I didn’t try to be superwoman and take nothing before I was ready.
Which brings me to an important side note…
Recovering from a C-section takes time
It’s probably not what you want to hear, but recovery from a c-section takes time. Sometimes a lot of time. I remembered with my 2nd c-section it was a good month before I felt better, so this time I gave myself permission to take a full month to recover – more if I needed it.
Think about this for a moment…
You just had surgery. No one would expect someone who is not a mom to have major surgery and suddenly bounce back. Why in the world do we expect this of moms? Why in the world do we expect this of ourselves?
Even if no one brings you meals (didn’t happen for us this time because we had just moved), even if you have all small children, even if you have a husband who doesn’t help out, please, please, please give yourself time to heal. Simplify your life as much as you can. Let your children listen to audios, watch a few movies, use paper plates, eat cheese and crackers. There will be a day on down the road when you will wake up feeling so much better and THEN, you can get back to normal. For now, do what you need to do to get to that place.
Caring for you c-section incision
Time to talk unpleasantries. We all know we are supposed to keep the incision dry. (This also means no beloved bubble baths until the scar is fully closed.) But, this is sometimes easier said than done.
My advice: Cover the incision with a cloth or maxi-pad. Blow dry the area after you shower. Keep an eye on the incision and know the signs of infection.
What to expect once you are home following a Cesarean birth
You may be super relieved to get home following your c-section. I was! I had a 2.5 hour drive home that was less than fun. I wish I could have plugged my heating pad into the vehicle! Hopefully, you won’t have as far to go!
Let’s just start with the obvious…you will be tired. My husband took a video of me on Christmas Day after my December 19th c-section, and I looked (and acted!) like I had been drug through the neighborhood by my hair. I was highly medicated, highly exhausted, and highly weird.
My advice: Let someone else handle your life. Ty and the kids gratefully stepped up to the plate and kept the ship from sinking. Send your husband to the store for paper plates, plasticware, and easy meals. Keep a pitcher of water and cups easily accessible. Sleep whenever you get a chance. And don’t forget to put together your Mama Basket.
Beware of hemorrhoids! Remember what I said about taking stool softeners and dried plums to the hospital? Well, all the meds you take and all the sitting you end up doing can cause serious problems in the nether-regions.
My advice: Eat a couple of servings of dried plums or dates every day. Drink Smooth Move tea. (just don’t overdo it!) If you need to, take stool softeners as long as you are taking the high powered pain meds. Get up and get moving as much as you can (this is important for preventing blood clots as well).
The final thing I want to mention is the fact that some of the most difficult things you will face in your recovery have very little to do with the surgery itself. (If you are struggling with how your c-section happened, please read THIS.) You are going to have to deal with hormonal emotions on top of the physical pain. Your days will be blurry, and you will feel overwhelmed for quite some time. You will often feel like you are going 2 steps forward and 1 step backward, and some days it will seem you aren’t going forward at all. You will cry. You will hurt. You will want to be normal. My number one piece of advice is to keep your Bible close by. If you can’t read it, have someone read it to you. Cry out to Jesus. Lay your cares on Him. Someday you will look back on these difficult days and it will seem a blink of an eye. He will carry you through.
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Jesse says
Th ank you so much Amy for this. My first c-section was 7 years ago tomorrow and I still feel the crazy emotions following. My second followed 2 years and 2 months later after a failed vbac. My third almost 4 years later was planned. Each of my boys have been bigger babies with large heads and the first 2 simply refused to enter the birth canal. I have spent many days sad and feeling like a failure. I hate the limitations yet I praise the Lord my sweet boys are here and we are safe. My mom is somewhat of a historian klm and told me that on one side of her family in the 1800’s every male in her family had 2 wives, mostly due to death in childbirth! I have watched my sister and closest friends push their babies out [much much hard work) and then get back to normal. I have had to choose to be super patient but the results have been worth it. After baby num 3 my surgeon said my insides were “beautiful”and had only minimal scarring giving me a green light for more little ones to come. Thank you again and lets keep encouraging women to trust the circumstances they are given. By the way I definitely see how c sections are pushed and am not in agreement.
Jillian says
Great advice to keep in mind. I can attest to the belly binder being a big help even after a vaginal birth. I only used that for the first time with my last (he’s 2 now) but it really helped hold everything in and I didn’t feel like my insides where just floating around aimlessly. Ironically, I was so much more comfortable wearing it than without.
Amy says
That’s how I was – and I was surprised by it for sure.
Heidi Porter says
Excellent post! I think this is something that needs to be talked about more. I have had 3 c-sections so far, and am looking forward to my 4th in September. All three have been easier to heal from than my appendectomy was, amazingly enough! I think that the appendectomy may have prepared me somewhat for the c-sections.
The last 2 recoveries have been coupled with some slight complications – the second I ended up in the ER 5 days later, due to the intense pain from gas and constipation that was making me nauseous. No one had told me about the need for stool softeners while on painkillers! The third one, I ended up in the ER 5 days later (again!) due to pneumonia! I woke up from a nap shivering and burning up. By the time we got to the ER, my temp was 102. Thankfully, we caught it in time that I didn’t have to stay in the hospital. That was also, actually, a blessing in disguise, because it helped me to rest and not try to do too much. I’ve always been such a busy person, and end up with so much energy after the baby is born, that it’s hard for me to rest and let my husband help. I’ve asked my dr at my 2 week postpartum check if I could scrub my floors yet. She laughed at me. 🙂
One other thing that I think is important to mention is how much of the body can be affected by the abdominal surgery. My lungs hurt so bad after my second, that I asked the assisting dr about it, and he told me that it was because of how much pressure had to be applied to get the baby out. I never would have expected that!
Amy says
I also ended up very sick with bronchitis this time. I agree that it forced me to stay down, but the coughing was really hard on me. 🙁
Jennifer Soldner says
This is a very accurate account, especially the swelling! Oh the swelling! I didn’t know my legs could get that big, lol. I have had four cesareans in six years, and two of those were failed VBACs. I wish I had known more before having my first, because the recovery was horrible. Thank you for sharing for those who may unexpectedly need this information. I also wanted to share a post for those who have had failed VBACs and need a little help or support, if you don’t mind: http://www.jennifersoldner.com/2014/04/when-vbacs-fail-womans-guide-to-healing.html
Thank you for all you write. Women really need to hear more about cesareans and know they are not alone in their birth experience.
Andrea says
Very excellent post, and I have never even had a C-Section! Most of what you said resonates with difficult vaginal births as well! You are a blessing to so many women, and I am personally grateful for your insight.
Amy says
Agreed – I have had plenty of rough VBACs and needed much of the same advice.
Ashley says
Amy, my 5th child was born 5 weeks ago by emergency cesarean. I’ve always had very easy births. Big babies, so the pushing wasn’t “fun,” but labor itself was always textbook for me. I never in a million years thought I’d have a c-section. I woke up around midnight thinking that my water had broken, only to see blood pooling at my feet when I turned on the light. A few seconds later I felt part of my placenta come out. I had a placental abruption and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital for an emergency c-section. Thank God my son and I survived. I suffered heavy blood loss and needed a blood transfusion. But ever since I have been riddled with anxiety. The physical healing is rough, but I think the emotional and mental healing has been harder for me…and much slower. I’d appreciate it so much if you could add me to your prayers. I was inspired today to write down Philippians 4:6-7 on a small piece of paper and stick it in my pocket, so I’m trying to hold on to that!
Courtney says
Praying for you too. Experienced a small uterine rupture and placental abruption 5 1/2 weeks ago which included an ambulance ride to hospital as well. Had my 5th c-section, then baby was in NICU for several weeks. When I flash back at times it is very difficult emotionally. Hold onto the scriptures The Lord gives you. I’ll pray that He also gives you songs in your heart as well. He is so faithful and His mercies are new everyday!
Amy says
((HUGS))
Lindsay says
Ask the anesthesiologist to work on your med cocktail. The morphine derivative made me almost crazy with itching, and the benedryl made me loopy and completely miss the first two days of my baby’s life (this latest one was my 4th). I asked them what we could do differently this time and the doc adjusted the meds cocktail a little and used a different anti-itch med post-surgery. Made ALL the difference.
I had a different experience with my c/s. My first was the worst (I was 23) and my latest one was the best. They even let me do skin-to-skin for 4 hours before any testing, bathing, and such. He just had a quick time with the nurses since he pooped before delivery. They cleaned out his nose and mouth, quick weight and length and then right on my chest. My recovery was even better and I’m 8 years older. I think it depends on the doctor and hospital and how your baby is wedged in there.
Also, totally agree with the binder. I had one from body after baby and it made SO much of a difference!
Amy says
I was so shocked (and grateful!) when they handed me the baby ON the operating table! Totally different from my last 2 c-sections! And my itching is actually from the epidural and not the pain meds. Once I get past that first flush of my system, I am fine. I did ask years ago for LESS narcotic because I do not need much. That is definitely a good recommendation!
Andrea says
Hallo Amy,
I often read your Blogposts. You are a mom of a large family and I am to. I am a mother of seven. Six of them were born with a cesarean. That is not my way, but I wasn´t able to change this way. That is hard for me.
Your thoughts about a c-section are very interesting for me and I agree with you. I want to know, what medicine you have been given. My experience in Germany is, that the doctos have given me not enough. The doctors take me no seriously. The first day was the hardest.
By
Andrea
Amy says
Andrea,
My first 2 c-sections I was given Percocet. This last one they said they had started giving Dilaudid because mothers were complaining of not enough pain management. I took a full dose of it the first time, but it was WAY too much for me, so I asked for a half dose from there on out. It doesn’t take much medication for me, but if you are hurting, ask them to help you out. You might need something stronger.
Andrea says
Amy,
thanks a lot for your answer. I am realy happy, that I am not allone. The pain managment in our hospital is a catastrophe.
While the last 2 c-sections our babies were with me in the OP. That was realy great.
Bye!
Natalie says
Some of this advice would have applied to my emergency laproscopy when I had an ectopic pregnancy. The gas was terrible-and I made it worse with poor food choices. Journal through the emotions.
Amy says
Yes, good idea to journal if that is something that helps you. And if you can find someone to talk to who won’t tire of your need to talk, that is a good thing too. ((HUGS))
Tina says
I had one vaginal delivery and 5 csections. My last was at age 42 and it was my best recovery. (the recovery from my 4th degree tear with my first child was worse than my csection recoveries! The single most important thing (although drinking a little every 15 minutes or so is very close) is getting up and walking as soon as you are able, and doing laps around the halls. My husband goes back to work the day after I come home and I have noone but the kids to help. I (thankfully) am weaned off the pain meds by then and while I dont do stairs, I can take care of everything from the couch.
Shiloh says
Thanks for this post Amy, it was very helpful!
Rebecca says
I have had 3 c sections as well. I had boys the first two times, and recovery was a breeze. My third wasn’t too bad physically but I seemed to have more of a difficult time emotionally after that one. I have wondered if some of that may have been because I had a girl, so that affected me differently hormonally than the boys. It wasn’t depression at all, just baby blues for a few days. The real post partem challenge after that section came on Dec 26, 2012 when my baby was 8 days old.
On that day, we got a call from the pediatrician with results from the heel prick blood draw the hospital does after babies are born. We were told that our baby might have cystic fibrosis and we would have to go to our nearest Children Medical Center to have a sweat test done to determine whether she was a carrier, who wouldn’t be affected but can pass it on to her children, or if she had this incurable disease.
The most nerve wracking week of my life followed, and all the aches and pains of the c setion and my prior baby blues were forgotten. All my husband and I could think about was that this daughter we had hoped so long for might not have the future we’d been dreaming of.
On Jan 3, 2013, we had testing done which determined that she did not have cystic fibrosis, but that she was a carrier of the disease. That was the best news we have ever gotten. I am grateful every day that the Lord was with us during that time and that our baby was spared the fate of medicines and treatments every day of her life, a life which would most likely have been cut much too short.
So while c section recovery is hard, we are blessed to be alive, and blessed that our children have been safely brought into the world. Sometimes it easy to get caught up in those aches and pains and the emotional rollercoaster that so often follows childbirth, but for us, we gladly bore every ache and day of exhaustion and thanked God for it, that although I might be up all night with a wakeful, fussy baby, at least she was healthy.
That was the most challenging time of my life, as that same day, my 20 month old fell and broke his arm. But we made it. We are talking of, and praying for, baby number 4, but after last time I am scared to go through it all again. We are considering blood testing on myself and my husband to see who has CF gene. At least 1 of us must be a carrier, but if both of us were we would have a 25% chance of having a baby with Cystic Fibrosis. I’m not sure if that is a risk I want to take. We are trying to work on always strengthening our faith in the Lord, and trusting Him with the future. It is hard.
Please support CF research, it is a horrible disease that doesnt get much publicity, but it affects too many.
Amy says
We had the same thing happen. I have not written about it yet, but it does factor into my recovery in a big way that I will be writing about later on.
May says
It’s interesting that you’re told to keep the incision dry – we advise women that they should remove the dressing after 24 hours, and have a bath (without bubbles though) if they wanted. Wounds need warm damp environments to heal, although obviously that’s a great environment for bacteria too so lots of cleaning.
For trapped gas, peppermint tea, capsules or oil is a good approach. I spent some time on the gynaecology ward and made a lot of cups of peppermint tea!
Marita says
Isn’t pepperment interfering with breastfeading?
Kaylee says
I needed to see this post today! I want to tell you that you inspire me! I just gave birth to my second son less than 3 months ago and while I watch him in amazement I can’t help but think about how much I would LOVE to have a few more! But I am in awe of your ability to have them so close together! As much as I love raising babies I do not want to raise more than 1 at a time! (my oldest is 5). And I do not enjoy being pregnant so I need a break before doing that again. So, being 27 and wanting to wait a couple years before getting pregnant again I was very worried that my age would keep me from having a large family. Reading your years of birth stories has given me hope that it is not too late even if I choose to space them out! Thank you!
Marita says
I have had my 7th c/sec two months ago.
Having been through the all meds, four days in hospital c/sec, with shoulder pain, feeling groggy, being sore 24/7, recovering taking a month, I thought I would try something different.
I told my gynea no pain meds. If I need them, I will ask for them. (My gynea knows me well, and went with it)
I did start a high dose of Vit C before the c/sec and took it daily till well after the c/sec, slowly weaning off it. I think this might be the reason for what follows.
The results was very manageable pain.
I left hospital within 24hrs and recovered at home. I felt very good after only one week, compaired to my previous c/sec’s.
No bladder infection (I always used to get those from the catheter), other aches like shoulder pain, etc.
Also, no groggy feeling. The nurses were stunned, also the doctors. Nurses watched me carefully in hospital, because they thought I was slightly mad, but I didn’t need the pain meds at all.
I took one of the pain tablets two months later because of flu. I just couldnt handle the sore muscles.
I might be unusual, but maybe I am also on to something. I thought my experience might be worth mentioning.
Emily says
Thank you for this post! I am 37.5 weeks pregnant with a baby girl (my 7th child) in the frank breech position. We had an ECV (external cephalic version) today in hopes of turning her, but it didn’t work. I have never had a C-section, and I’m facing the possibility of one in a couple of weeks if she still hasn’t turned. My vaginal deliveries were no cake walk, but now I’m facing fears of the unknown. I’ve heard mostly horror stories (my sister in law almost hemorrhaged) of C-sections and very few positive stories. Thank you for sharing that C-sections can be rough but not always. This post also gives me an idea of how long to take off from homeschooling and what I need to bring to the hospital. I need to save a Walmart pickup order for paper plates and other necessities just in case! Once again, thank you for this post. If you get a chance to read this comment, please pray for me and my family! my due date is 17 days from today!
Amy says
Definitely praying!