I've been exercising for about 5 weeks now (on week 4 of couch to 5k) and for the last couple of weeks I've been completely back to normal. But its crucial you take time to take care of yourself. 03/02/2022 07:18, Ahhh I had GD too, and an early section as well - don't be surprised if she comes out smaller, their estimations can be a bit off. You notice swelling in your hands, arms, or feet. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The puerperium. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Discharged the following morning and no issues. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. Postpartum depression. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Ob/Gyn Erin Higgins, MD, explains what your recovery will look like and what to expect. If your breasts including the dark circles of skin around the nipples are engorged, latching might be difficult for your baby. Cunningham FG, et al., eds. If you have any questions about how the drugs youre given can affect breastfeeding, ask to speak to the hospitals breastfeeding specialist. And what should you not do? Make sure you keep your incision clean and dry. An abdominal binder, a wide compression belt that goes around your stomach, can also be used to offer additional support and avoid putting stress on sutures. But if you experience feelings like being depressed or feeling hopeless, talk to your doctor about postpartum depression and what it means. Nursing positions: The site of the surgery may make it hard to find a comfortable position to nurse your baby. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Within six to 12 weeks after delivery, see your health care provider for a comprehensive postpartum evaluation. This might include checking your abdomen, vagina, cervix and uterus to make sure you're healing well. During the C-section recovery process, discomfort and fatigue are common. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which An incision typically a horizontal cut made in your lower abdomen can take weeks to heal. Pat dry. I had a normal delivery with a 3rd degree tear with DC1 and an elective c section with DC2 because she was breech and the ECV failed. A few days after birth, your breasts might become full, firm and tender (engorgement) once they begin making milk. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Remember that everybody heals and recovers at different rates so its important to talk to your doctor about how you feel and its OK if you need more time. In: American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Financial Assistance Documents Minnesota, Available Solutions for Postpartum from Mayo Clinic Store, Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, Postpartum care: After a vaginal delivery, Pregnancy and breastfeeding when you have psoriasis, Sex after pregnancy: Set your own timeline. My DS was normal weight, although born in week 38 so perhaps this helped too. To ease breast discomfort, apply warm washcloths or take a warm shower before breastfeeding or expressing, which might make milk removal easier. Theyll check your vagina, cervix, and uterus as well as your weight and blood pressure. Nixon H, et al. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. Office on Women's Health. But he was also a tall little boy which we didn't expect! Dr. Higgins suggests having your partner, family members or friends help with tasks like planning and making meals, doing laundry and even helping to care for your baby. Between feedings, place cold washcloths on your breasts. other information we have about you. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. To manage pain at home, Dr. Higgins recommends taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen on a regular schedule. The backache eased when I did gentle walking, so might be worth giving that a go if you haven't already. Afterward, you can expect to spend 2-3 days in the hospital with your new little one as you recover. Even with the tear, recovery was much, much easier after the normal birth than than the c section. My milk was delayed coming in after my section compared to my normal birth. Take meds if you need them, plenty of water and listen to the physio. 25th ed. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. This discharge will be red and heavy for the first few days. If you're planning a cesarean delivery or you want to be prepared in case you need to have a C-section, you might have questions about the recovery process. Ask your doctor what they recommend. Mood changes. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Postpartum-Depression. From abdominal pain to mood changes, here's what to expect during C-section recovery. What breastfeeding positions might work best for you? Thats when the baby comes out through a cut in the mothers belly and uterus rather than going through the birth canal and coming out through the vagina. The average time taken to recover from a caesarean is six to eight weeks, but it's a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question. When youre washing, use mild soap and water and clean it lightly (dont scrub, particularly if your incision is closed with steristrips or glue). To help your baby latch, you might hand express or use a breast pump to express a small amount of breast milk before feeding your baby. You may feel sick to your stomach, groggy, or itchy from the drugs used to numb you during the surgery. It just takes time. So what can you do? Accessed Jan. 29, 2020. It can be uncomfortable.. Giving birth is pretty exhausting at the best of times (and that's before they send you home with a completely dependent nocturnal animal to . Try a fiber supplement if you are having constipation. It is pretty major abdominal surgery. Here's what to expect: Vaginal discharge. It takes about six weeks to recover from a C-section, but each person's timeline will be different. They tell you horror stories but they rarely distinguish between the planned section and EMCS and it's not the same thing. 09/12/2022 22:21. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. During that time, it's recommended that you avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby. In: Williams Obstetrics. Those muscles are pretty weak because of the incision, says Dr. Higgins. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Cesarean birth. If the cut is closed with stitches, staples or glue, you should be able to remove the bandage and take showers, but check with your doctor first. Then it will taper, become increasingly watery and change from pinkish brown to yellowish white. Understand how to take care of yourself and your baby during C-section recovery. Symptoms include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Your baby may be sleepy, but that should pass and they should be eager to nurse. And do get up and move around, which can help avoid blood clots. You may be given a pump so you can change the amount of pain medication thats going through a thin tube into your veins. Postpartum depression. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that's changing medicine. Recovery was painful. Let your doctor know if: Your incision is red, swollen or hot to the touch. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on Your body will make milk about as quickly as after a vaginal delivery. Tomorrow is a big day, how exciting! https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020. Labor, delivery, and postpartum care FAQ091. Your first postpartum visit should happen during the second week. If your pain has decreased and the incision is properly healing, you may be given the green light to resume normal daily life. An incision typically a horizontal cut made in your lower abdomen can take weeks to heal. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Learn what to expect from a womens health expert. 4-6 weeks before doing heavy exercises that involve your belly or lifting anything larger than your infant, 3 weeks (once you have a healed incision) to take a bath or go swimming, Your incision is red, swollen, hot to the touch, or leaking discharge. You have a cough, shortness or breath or pain in your chest, which could be a sign of a blood clot. Generally, the first few days are the heaviest with the passing of blood clots up to the size of a golf ball. Contact your doctor if youre soaking one pad per hour or passing large clots. At this point, you should have your final postpartum appointment with your doctor. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). Tips To Help You Recover From Heart Surgery, Everything You Need To Know About Mommy Makeovers, Heres How Baby Botox Is Different From (and Similar To) Its Older Sibling, Everything You Need To Know About Creating a Birth Plan, What You Should Know About Postpartum Sex, 3 Exercises to Relieve Frozen or Stiff Shoulders, Artificial Sweetener Erythritols Major Health Risks, Best Ingredients and Products for Your Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Cesarean-Birth-C-Section. How much discomfort will you experience? 2nd ed. 12th ed. Pain can mess with the hormone that helps you make milk. Dont have sex or participate in rigorous exercise either. For the first couple of weeks, avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby. At that time, your doctor will inspect the incision site and check that your recovery is progressing along. Once you return home, its important to take it easy and avoid lifting, twisting or any movements that can put pressure on the incision. When a person has fully recovered, we view it as their graduation day, says Dr. Higgins. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. C-sections account for 31.7% of all deliveries in the U.S. As with any major surgery, it takes time for your body to heal. A heating pad set on low or a warm washcloth can help with pain around your belly. I had an emergency c-section in July after a 36 hour induction that went wrong so my recovery could be different to someone who had a planned c-section. Use this visit to ask questions about your recovery and caring for your baby. If you experience severe mood swings, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue and lack of joy in life shortly after childbirth, you might have postpartum depression. This can help ease gas pains, help you have a bowel movement, and prevent blood clots. It takes about six weeks to recover from a C-section, but each persons timeline will be different. Keep it clean to prevent infections. You'll get there! You can put a pillow over your stomach to ease the babys weight, or try these: Its important to get out of bed and walk around within 24 hours after surgery. You'll have vaginal discharge made up of this membrane and blood for weeks. About 1 of every 3 newborns in the United States are delivered by cesarean section, or C-section. Dont soak in a bath or hot tub or go swimming until your doctor says you can. Many new moms experience a period of feeling down, anxious or inadequate, sometimes called the baby blues. Stretch marks won't disappear after delivery, but eventually they'll fade from red to silver. Most women are awake for the C-section, and you should be able to hold your baby right away. All Rights Reserved. You get a very bad headache that does not go away. After delivery, you'll experience hair loss up to five months after delivery. Some women bounce back quickly, others take longer to recover. You have a lot of vaginal bleeding, it smells bad or has unusually large clots. Try to keep everything that you and your baby might need within reach. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020. McInerny TK, et al., eds. By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Mediterranean, Low-Fat Diets Are Best for Heart Problems, Least Amount of Exercise You Need to Stay Healthy, Nerve 'Pulse' Therapy May Help Ease Sciatica, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, What to Expect if You Have a Cesarean Delivery, C-Sections: Recovery, Risks, Benefits, Pain, and More, Ovulation Tool: Find Your Most Fertile Days. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). Compared to a vaginal delivery, if youve had a cesarean delivery (C-section), you need to take extra precautions and give yourself even more time to recover from childbirth. In some cases, you might have the checkup earlier so that your health care provider can examine your C-section incision. The normal puerperium. After C-Section Surgery Most women are awake for the C-section, and you should be able to hold your baby right away. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. privacy practices. Letting the water run down over the wound should also help with cleaning. Keep an eye out for any signs of infection. Get up ASAP and stand straight without hunching. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology. 20/02/2023 11:55. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Youll be taken to a recovery room, where nurses will check your blood pressure, heartbeat, and breathing and keep an eye on you. Click here for an email preview. During pregnancy, elevated hormone levels increase the ratio of growing hair to resting or shedding hair. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Presidential Task Force on Redefining the Postpartum Visit and the Committee on Obstetric Practice. If you're not breastfeeding, wear a supportive bra, such as a sports bra. Frequently asked questions. Most people will spend two to four days in the hospital after a C-section. Frequently asked questions. The hardest part of my recovery from my normal birth was due to problems from the anaesthetic from when they repaired the tear. During this time, the hospital staff will help with pain management, ensure youre eating and drinking enough and help you move around. I couldn't lie down apart from propped up on my back for a few weeks. Check with your doctor before returning to any of these activities, but in general you will have to wait: Get your doctors OK before having sex again. You may be tempted to ask your doctor to cut back on your pain medicine, but its important that you stay comfortable. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). If those feelings start disrupting your life and cause problems bonding with your baby, your doctor can offer some treatment options, says Dr. Higgins. Rest when possible. You can try gentle exercises a few days after the C-section: Try not to do too much housework or other activities for the first couple of weeks. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2017. https://www.ebscohost.com/ebooks. Heres what you need to know: Medications: You probably got pain-numbing medicine, such as an epidural, during your C-section, but it isnt likely to affect the baby much. Expect any skin that darkened during pregnancy such as dark patches on your face to slowly fade as well. Accessed Jan. 29, 2020.
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