Dos-&-Don'ts-After-a-C-Section

5 Dos & Don’ts After a C-Section (#2 is the Most Helpful)

If you’re reading the article, it means you’re recovering from cesarean childbirth. You should take comfort in the fact that one out of three women doesn’t go through vaginal birth. So there are many like you. In that case, it’s time to find out all about the Dos & Don’ts After a C-Section.

Recovering from such a delivery takes longer as compared to recovering from normal childbirth. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to feel like your healthy and active self again in some weeks. Once you know what to do and what not to do, you can recapture your strength quicker than expected.

So let’s get to that part of the article!

Dos & Don’ts After a C-Section

#1 Skip Heavy/Fatty Foods

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Photo credit: livin3.com

Ditching the buffet is the first “Don’t” on the list. Now you should know that vaginal childbirth leads to women feeling ravenously hungry. So they might want to devour large meals. However, that’s not a part of the cesarean experience. I mean you might feel equally hungry but you can’t consume food in the same manner. At such times, you have to watch what you eat.

The thing about abdominal surgeries is that they topple over the digestive system. If only for a few weeks! So what food to avoid after cesarean? Fatty, rich, and heavy foods as these tend to produce gas!

My advice to you would be to check with the doctor. Only he/she will be able to provide specific dietary instructions. But as a general rule of thumb, stick to nourishing, light foods. Like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, poultry, yogurt, and soup.

#2 Rest, Rest and Rest Some More

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Photo credit: self.com

That’s because cesarean childbirth is not a minor abdominal surgery. So the body requires time for healing. Once the doctor allows you to go back home from the hospital, it’s necessary for you to remain in bed. During the first week, limit your physical movements as much as possible.

Apart from lifting your baby, engage in nothing else but rest. At such times, avoid handling housekeeping chores as well. Even getting dressed and bathing are tasks that might turn out to be tiring during the first few weeks.

So wait to regain some strength. Once that happens, feel free to head out for a short walk. But avoid heavy exercises like jogging or core training. You should also skip driving. The goal is to rest as much as you can. As a result of which your body gets the opportunity to recover more quickly.

Once your incision wound heals and you feel stronger, these are the types of exercises you can incorporate into your workout routine.

#3 Postpone the Bath

Vaginal bleeding after surgery is inevitable. For as long as six weeks! This is where you decide to use postpartum underwear. Whatever you do, don’t opt for tampons to keep the bleeding in check.

Here’s the good news. The loss of blood wanes over time. In fact, it also changes color. So don’t be surprised to watch the color go from red to pink, brown, or yellow.

If the heavy bleeding returns after a period of slowing down, it means you’re over-stressing your body. So it’s time to take it slow.

Now, what about indulging in a little tub time? In that regard, what’s advisable is taking short baths. Your incision needs to heal and bleeding to stop for you to be able to soak in your bathtub. Along the same vein, don’t indulge in sex either. Not until the bleeding comes to a halt.

#4 Care For Your Incision

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Photo credit: livin3.com

Doctor’s instructions should not be neglected. So make it a priority to follow them. It’s important to take precautions after C Section delivery. If your incision was closed using glue, stitches, or staples, you can get rid of the dressing once back home from the hospital.

On the other hand, incisions closed using strips demand daily dressing change. Up until that strip starts to fall off. Clean the wound with soap and mild hot water. But please avoid scrubbing it.

#5 Seek Help When Necessary

All “Dos & Don’ts After a C-Section” stories talk about how exhausting and overwhelming the surgery can be. And this means your body has been subjected to a drastic change. The outcome of which is unexpected or unpredictable emotions. So it’s only natural to feel that way. What you should do at such times is allow yourself to process these emotions.

Talk to your loved ones or partner about how you’re feeling. Don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the doctor if you have a fever, rash, prolonged headache, or severe abdominal pain. You might even develop signs of depression. But there’s no need to panic. These feelings are normal and they tend to leave your system, if well taken care of.

Conclusion

After C section, what to expect? I’m pretty sure you know the answer to that by now. And what to do and not to do are also topics that you have an idea about.

The goal is to keep everything simple. All you have to do is rest as much as possible. Allow your body to recover completely. Only then will you regain the strength to get back to your normal routine.

And if you feel that something’s wrong, that’s what doctors are there for, right?

So I hope you found what you were looking for in the post. I have written many such articles on pregnancy and motherhood. Feel free to browse through the website.

Thank you for reading. Please do look after your health!

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