To speed recovery after a C-section, it is recommended that the woman use the postpartum splint to prevent fluid buildup in the scar area, called a seroma, and drink about 2 to 3 liters of water or other fluids. per day. In addition, it is also important to eat protein-rich foods to speed healing and avoid too much effort.
The total recovery time of the C-section varies from woman to woman, while some may stay awake for hours after surgery, others need more time to recover, especially if there is some kind of complication during childbirth. Post-rebarea recovery is not easy, as it is a major surgery and the body will need an average of 6 months to fully recover.
- It is normal for a woman to need the help of a nurse or a close person during the recovery period in order to lie down and get out of bed.
- As well as give birth to the baby when she cries or wants to breastfeed.
After delivery, it is necessary to wait 30 to 40 days to have sex again, to ensure that injured tissues are properly healed before intimate contact. In addition, it is recommended not to have sex before the medical exam, as your doctor may evaluate how the healing process is going and indicate ways to reduce the risk of vaginal infections and other complications.
After the C-section, the woman is usually hospitalized for about 3 days and, after that period, if she and the baby are ok, they can go home. However, in some cases, the woman or baby may need to stay in the hospital to recover from any situation.
After hospital discharge, the woman must recover at home and therefore recommend:
In the first few days at home, women should avoid effort, focusing solely on their well-being, breastfeeding and caring for their babies. Therefore, it’s important to have help at home not only for household chores, but also to help care for your baby during rest.
It is advisable to use a postpartum splint to provide greater comfort, reduce the feeling of loosening of the internal organs of the abdomen and reduce the risk of seroma in the scar. It is also necessary to use a night buffer, as it is normal for bleeding to resemble heavy periods and can last up to 45 days.
It may be helpful to place blocks of ice in the C-section scar, as long as it is not wet. To do this, it is recommended to wrap the ice in a plastic bag and towels before placing it on the scar and leave it placed for about 15 minutes, every 4 hours to relieve pain and discomfort.
Approximately 20 days after the C-section, light physical activity, such as walking or jogging, is already possible as long as your doctor authorizes it. Abdominal board exercises and hypopressive gymnastics can also help strengthen abdominal muscles more quickly, decreasing the sagging of the belly that is common in the postpartum period. Learn how to do hypopressive gymnastics.
Within 20 days it is not recommended to make intense physical exertions, nor to gain weight, nor is it recommended to drive before 3 months after the C-section, as they can increase pain and discomfort at the site of the scar.
After removing the bandage and stitches, your doctor may recommend using a healing cream, gel, or ointment to help separate the scar from the C-section, making it smaller and more discreet. When applying the cream daily, massage the scar in circular motions.
In the following video, you can see how to correctly position the ointment to avoid scarring:
It is important to focus on healing foods such as eggs, boiled chicken and fish, rice and beans, vegetables and fruits that release the intestines such as papaya, to maintain health and production of high quality breast milk. Check out our comprehensive breastfeeding guide for beginners.
The most recommended postpartum position is on your back, with a pillow under your knees to better fit your back. However, if the woman prefers to sleep on her side, she should place a pillow between her legs.
It is recommended to take the pill 15 days after delivery, but if you prefer another method, you should talk to your doctor to find out which one is best, to avoid a new pregnancy before 1 year, because in this case there would be more risk. uterine rupture, which can be very serious.
After a C-section, it is normal to swell and to reduce this disorder, the woman can take infusions of chamomile and mint throughout the day, since these types of infusions have no contraindications and do not interfere with milk production.
It is normal to have a change in sensitivity around the C-section scar, which can be numb or burning. This strange sensation can take 6 months to 1 year to decrease in intensity, but it is common for some women not to fully recover, even after 6 years of C-section.
As for the scar, the stitches should not be removed until 8 days after the C-section and can be washed normally during bathing. If the woman is in a lot of pain, she can take the pain reliever prescribed by the doctor.
During bathing, it is recommended not to wet the bandage, but when the doctor puts on a waterproof bandage, you can bathe normally, without risk of tying. It should be noted that the dressing is always clean and if there is a lot of flow, you should return to the doctor to clean the area and put on a new dressing.
Also see how to prevent the C-section scar from becoming deep, glued, or hard.