Disclaimer: The following post outlines the writer’s personal tips for c-section recovery. It is not intended to act as medical advice. As always, please consult your doctor with any questions about c-section recovery.
As someone who has had three c-sections, I’ve learned that there are many things you can do to support yourself during recovery. It is major surgery, after all! I’ve also learned that there are just as many things that you should NOT do after having a c-section. The path to a smooth recovery is paved with so many ups and downs!
Since April is C-Section Awareness Month, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the things you should not do after having a c-section. We all know to limit our physical activity and get enough rest. But did you know that you also will probably not want to sleep lying down? Yep, me neither. I learned that one the hard way.
Recovery takes time. And, every person’s recovery is different. My first c-section was an emergency, and my second and third were scheduled. Each one had a different recovery process. But in the end, the same things applied in terms of what I did and did not do. So, I wanted to share a little bit of that knowledge with you!
You should NOT laugh or sneeze.
Do you know just how much you use your core muscles when you laugh or sneeze? I didn’t, until the first time someone tried to crack a joke and I doubled over in pain. After that, I literally did everything I could to NOT laugh, or sneeze, or cough, because I knew it was going to hurt.
Don’t tell me a funny joke, and heaven forbid I get a tickle in my throat. My incision would instantly hurt and then I’d have to yell at whoever made me laugh while also realizing I was sounding absolutely ridiculous. Laughter is the best medicine, unless you’ve just had major abdominal surgery.
You should NOT allow anyone to drive over speed bumps or potholes.
Especially in Michigan, I know the pothole issue is unavoidable. But let me tell you about the time my husband drove very, very slowly over a speed bump in the hospital parking lot. I’m not one to tell him how to drive, but I sure did let him know that he needed to avoid speed bumps at all costs. My seat belt happened to lie exactly on top of my incision. Needless to say, it hurt.
While I know that everyone’s incision will be placed, and heal, differently, it’s important to note that the pain is very much still there after you’ve left the hospital. While I’m thankful that speed bumps keep neighborhoods and parking lots safe, I tried to avoid any uneven pavement as much as I could.
You should NOT wear regular pants.
I’m sure you’ve heard that you should plan to wear maternity pants home from the hospital. Who doesn’t love the stretchy waistband?! But even once you’re home and on your way to healing, you’ll want to keep them nearby. Just like with the seat belt, chances are your incision will be in line with the wasitband of your pants.
I found it easiest to wear maternity pants pulled WAY up, or pajama pants that could be tied below my incision to stay in place. Any kind of fabric directly on my incision area was not happening. Jeans? Not a chance. Leggings? Only if they were maternity. Long. Live. Maternity. Pants.
You should NOT sleep lying down.
In the hospital, I used the buttons on the side of the bed to help me sit up when I needed to. I could lay flat and then slowly, slowly get into a seated position without too much pain. At home, my bed didn’t have any buttons. And it only took one time for me to never again sleep lying down. It was so hard to sit back up!
I found it easiest to sleep with multiple pillows supporting my back. I also slept in the corner of the couch, sitting up. While they weren’t the most comfortable nights of sleep, it was the easiest way for me to be situated so that when baby was crying, I could get to her with less pain. It took a few weeks before I could sleep lying down again. I sure did miss it.
You should NOT pick up your toddler real quick, just for a second.
We laugh at the whole “Don’t pick up anything heavier than your baby for a while” rule, but do yourself a favor and follow it. Don’t pick up your kids for any reason, for any amount of time. I remember picking up my three-year-old for like, maybe five seconds? And I regretted it. Almost instantly.
Similar to the laughing and the seatbelt, anything that stresses your incision is going to hurt. Ask your partner or spouse to carry the kids, and plan to get your snuggles in while you’re sitting upright on the couch for all hours because you learned your lesson and definitely won’t be lying down anytime soon.
You should NOT rush your recovery.
Just don’t do it! I mentioned above that I’ve had three c-sections. Each recovery was very different. With my first, I was out to dinner and walking around Ikea within two weeks. With my second, I stayed in bed for almost an entire month. And with my third, I was somewhere in the middle. You just don’t know how your body is going to respond and recover.
So please, take your time. Do not feel the need to be “super mom” and rest assured that you’re being a super mom by taking care of yourself while you recover. Your kids can pick up things for you, your partner can promise to never make another funny joke again, and you can relax in your stretchy-waistband pants while dreaming about the day you’ll sleep lying down again. But it will take time.
No matter how you give birth, you’re a rockstar. A c-section is major surgery, so treat your body with grace and patience. You won’t recover overnight, but soon enough, you’ll be chasing your kids around, wearing regular pants, laughing at jokes, and driving over speed bumps. But, you should probably still avoid all the potholes. Your car will thank you for that.
