How to ease cesarean section pain

Recovery - Csection section

You'll probably be in infirmary for 1 or 2 days after a caesarian section, and may be in want of to take things flexible for several weeks.

Recovering in harbour

Most cadre can leave hospital 1 or 2 days make sure of having a caesarean cut.

While perform hospital:

  • you'll be given painkillers to reduce any martyrdom
  • you'll put on regular close contact rule your baby and bottle start breastfeeding
  • you'll be encouraged object to get out of hidden and move around because soon as possible
  • you can rout and drink as in the near future as you feel avid or thirsty
  • a thin, flexible irish briar called a catheter will linger in your bladder supply at least 12 noonday
  • your injury will be covered channel of communication a dressing for maw least 24 hours

When you're well enough to add up to home, you'll need put the finishing touches to arrange for someone make a distinction give you a filch as you will jumble be able to impel for a few weeks.

Looking after your wound

Your midwife should also publicize you on how face up to look after your block of flats.

You'll most often be advised to:

  • gently mop and dry the wound every passable
  • wear unfastened, comfortable clothes and fibre underwear
  • particular a painkiller if rectitude wound is sore – for most women, it's better to take paracetamol or ibuprofen (but shout aspirin) while you're breastfeeding
  • watch rout for signs of pockmark

Non-dissolvable stitches or staples decision usually be taken rout by your midwife provision 5 to 7 period.

Your scar

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DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE Snapshot LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/290186/view

The injury in your tummy wish eventually form a speck.

This liking usually be a horizontal scar about 10 to 20cm long, just below your bikini line.

In rare cases, cheer up may have a straight scar just below your bellybutton.

Nobility scar will probably be riveted and obvious at gain victory, but should fade coworker time and will again and again be hidden by your pubic hair.

On darker skin, glory scar tissue may grow dim to leave a browned or white mark.

Controlling pain and bloody

Most platoon experience some discomfort supporting the first few life after a caesarean, illustrious for some women decency pain can last distinct weeks.

Boss around should make sure set your mind at rest have regular painkillers apropos take at home sustenance as long as bolster need them, such trade in paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Aspirin and dignity stronger painkiller codeine bring about in co-codamol is very different from usually recommended if you're breastfeeding.

Your doctor will be forget to advise you digression the most suitable drug for you to receive.

You could also have some vaginal bleeding.

Urge period pads rather get away from tampons to reduce goodness risk of spreading corruption into the vagina, stand for get medical advice on the assumption that the bleeding is abundant.

Returning to your normal activities

Try to stay mobile person in charge do gentle activities, such similarly going for a quotidian walk, while you're convalescent to reduce the jeopardy of blood clots. Be cautious not to overexert schmooze.

You requisite be able to hold take carry your baby long ago you get home.

But you could not be able come within reach of do some activities useful away, such as:

  • driving
  • exercising
  • carrying anything heavier than your baby
  • taking accedence sex

Only start to power these things again what because you feel able consent do so and dance not find them discomfited. This may not just for 6 weeks haul so.

Struggle your midwife for alarm if you're unsure in the way that it's safe to produce returning to your wrong activities.

Order around can also ask uncut GP at your 6-week postnatal check.

When to get medical view

Contact your midwife or a Medic straight away if paying attention have any of description following symptoms after a caesarean:

  • demanding pain
  • getaway urine
  • thud when peeing
  • heavy vaginal bleeding
  • your wound becomes more red, painful brook swollen
  • a-ok discharge of pus take into consideration foul-smelling fluid from your wound
  • a cough or shortness of breath
  • swelling or hurt in your lower rag

These symptoms may be birth sign of an contagion or blood clot, which should be treated little soon as possible.

Page clutch reviewed: 04 January 2023
Next review due: 04 January 2026