C-section care after birth: What do you need to know?
Aare you recently recovering from a c-section? Firstly, congratulations on the birth of your child!
Although this is an amazing time in your life, initially it can be challenging to care for your baby after having a c-section and often self-care can take a back seat. It is quite common for belly birthing mothers to feel sore, weak, and fearful to move following this procedure. However, reconnecting to the area and waking up the tissue are two of the most important things to do following caesarean delivery.
The following is a guide of helpful tips on caring for your c-section wound and should not replace medical recommendations nor replace seeking medical advice when required.
Early care
Coughing/ sneezing and getting out of bed can be painful for the first few weeks. To help reduce this pain and support your wound during these activities, try to apply a gentle pressure with a towel or a small pillow over the incision. Mothers are often concerned that pain relief will mask their symptoms and they will push too hard however we have found this not to be the case. Pain relief is there to help you with your recovery and allow you to move in a more natural pattern, therefore avoiding secondary complications. We as physio’s encourage you to take the medication as you required in line with the doctor prescribed recommendations.
Furthermore, the first bowel motion or urination can also be quite daunting. We strongly encourage you not to ignore these urges. Instead ensure you use the correct toileting postures (as in the diagram below) and think about relaxing your pelvic floor to allow for toileting. Remembering not to strain during this time rather try to perform relaxed deep breaths. Drinking lots of fluids will help to keep your stool soft and you may also wish to take stool softener to increase the ease of motion.
There are numerous ways to close a caesarean incision, including stitches, dissolving stitches, staples, skin glue, and more. Your c-section wound care guidelines will be provided to you based on how your obestric team closed your wound. General guidelines include:
Keeping the area clean - Once a day (when you shower), let soapy water wash over your wound. Gently pat the area dry with a clean towel when you are finished and avoid vigorous scrubbing.
Let it dry out - Air promotes healing in skin injuries, so expose your scar to air whenever possible, such as by wearing a loose gown at night to get the air circulating.
Lastly, we encourage you to try to perform little walks and stand up tall to prevent the scar tissue from adhering in a shortened position. We want to try to restore normal movement in the skin as early as possible to ensure easier recovery in the weeks to come.
Postnatal check-up
We highly recommend a postnatal check-up at around the six week mark after birth. This enables you to discuss any concerns that you may have since having bub, as well as our Women’s Health Physio’s a chance to explain how you can assist your body to recover to complete function.
It involves a 1 hour comprehensive assessment to make sure you are on the right track in your post natal recovery.
During this assessment you will have a detailed history taken, discussing any questions or concerns that you might have. Assessment of you posture, abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. A return to exercise programme and advise and education on any further intervention that may be needed.
Call us on 07 5337 9853 to book an assessment.
