C-Section Recovery, Health & Preparation

Multiple c-sections are very common, especially nowadays. When a woman is considering having more children after having her first via cesarean delivery, she may have some concerns about several things including: the type of birth(s) she’ll have in the future, the size of the family she can have, potential risks of complications along with concerns about her body image.

 

 

There was a time when doctors recommended a woman had no more than three c-sections and back then, a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery was practically unheard of due to the fear of risk to mother and baby. Even the way that cesareans were performed was generally different with a midline incision vertically on the woman’s abdomen. Today, most deliveries via c-section are lower uterine sections that involve a much smaller scar horizontally on the lower abdomen.        Read more »

Recovering from a c-section is nothing to take lightly.  I know it was the single biggest concern my family and I had. 

 

Most everyone wants to recover quickly but how long it takes for you to recover depends on several things, your overall health, how prepared you are and how well you take care of yourself, but one of the things I’ve learned is that the single most important element to a quick recovery is your attitude. 

 

Most people don’t realize it but attitude is huge when it comes to getting through difficult or stressful times. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude if you’re scared or stressed but the effort it takes to get there is so worth it. 

 

But what can you do to get there? Here are some of the things that have worked for me:

 

- Maintain fitness
This is an important one!  Every day I try to do something, perhaps walking, chair exercises, gardening, yoga or just listening to relaxing music. It doesn’t have to be a lot — just do something every day.

 

-Keep a positive attitude
This is often harder than it seems but keep your chin up.  Focus on what you have as opposed to what you don’t have.  For me a deep gratitude and focus on my faith helps me a lot.  Open a prayer book or find your favorite bible passage.  Focus on what your life and having a baby means to you.  This deep concentration can work wonders.

 

- Talk with close friend and family members
If it’s all just too much, try calling a friend and talking about it. Talking really helps clear the air about things.  Getting your feelings out in the open can help you destress.

 

This is a very special time for your baby and bonding is extremely important but I also believe that you must not lose sight of your own health. Make time for yourself, make healing a priority and do whatever it takes to stay positive. You can’t care for a baby if you don’t start with taking care of yourself first. 

 

Keep in mind that if you aren’t healthy, happy and feeling well YOU not only suffer but so does baby.

Some of my personal C-section Recovery Tips.

 

I include lots of things in the Worry Free C-section but these are a few extras that I also like:            

 

Get Moving!
Get up and move as quickly as possible… but hold on there, take it slow. Those first few steps are going to be painful and will require assistance. Take tiny steps and don’t rush yourself. Rushing and being too anxious can actually slow the healing process. Be sure you know what pace you should be moving at and don’t try to do too much.  Doing so will only prolong your healing.

 

Find a comfy niche
When you first get home from the hospital, find a place on the couch or your favorite chair, set up camp and nap there during the day.

 

Make a list
When others offer to help, have a list handy to give them for things like meal preparation, housework and taking care of older kids.  It’s a lot easier to hand someone a list than gather your thoughts as people come to you.

 

Avoid the bodily movements that slow down your healing.
Bending, stretching, pulling and bumping can cause your stitches to break open and expose you to infection.  Keep moving on a daily basis but don’t overdue it with movements that can cause your scar to tear, this only slows down your healing.

 

Pace Yourself
Doing too much can cause fatigue and depression. There may be days where you feel energetic, but don’t be tempted to overdo it.  Stay conscious of the fact that you are still healing and pace yourself.  If you don’t you could be setting yourself back with a greater dose of fatigue and possible depression. 

 

It’s the little things that help big ways
For example, using pillows or special comforts help a lot with positioning and breastfeeding at home and in the hospital. When packing your hospital bag don’t forget to bring them. Even something as trivial as a shower brush can help A LOT.  If you don’t have one, you may want to get one and put it in your hospital bag.  

 

Give your baby lots of kisses
They need the extra TLC; they have been through a lot

Wishing you the most memorable & Enjoyable birth of your Baby!

 

For more tips and an easier recovery
the Worry Free C-Section can help!

 

 

A c-section requires delivering a baby surgically, of course as with any surgery there are risks, some risks are minor yet some may be more severe.

The biggest issue surrounding c-sections today is that approximately 1 in 3 mothers have their baby by c-section. That’s a lot!  There are certainly medical reasons that justify having a cesarean but we’re also seeing many c-sections being performed by choice. Choosing to have a c-section can stem from meeting personal deadlines, work schedules or convenience. This has been on both the part of the doctor and the mother. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am not against performing c-sections; I’ve dedicated my book, the Worry Free C-Section to the topic of helping women prepare, get through and recover from a cesarean in the easiest, stress-free way possible, however awareness is important.         Read more »

If you are expecting to have a C-section there are a few side effects and complication you should be aware of.

These side affects that could occur following a c-section however many of these complications rarely occur at all.   Having said that, staying aware of possible complications could help you avoid them.

Postpartum depression after a c-section
After having a baby it’s quite common to go through some depression and mood swings due to hormone changes.  Normal post natal blues last about 3-10 days following birth and should subside without treatment, however any of the following indicates you should contact your doctor immediately:

• Depression lasting longer than 2 weeks could mean full post partum depression and can include:
• Strong feelings of depression, anger, doubt, guilt, or helplessness that gets worse over time
• An inability to care for themselves or their baby
• Change in appetite
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Intense concern or perhaps no interest at all in your baby
• Suicidal thoughts

Bleeding after a c-section
Following a c-section some bleeding is normal.  However heavy, persistent bleeding is not. This could mean postpartum hemorrhage caused by placenta or uterine problems.

For example, the placenta can attach itself more strongly to the uterine wall preventing easy separation of the placenta after delivery causing it to bleed.  Placentia problems occur more often in women who have had at least one previous c-section or have had Placentia problems in the past.

Infection after a c-section
Infections occur in about 10-20% of c-section surgeries.  Infections can occur in or around the incision site, urinary tract infections can occur as well as uterine infections

The easiest infection to avoid is around the incision site.  Proper and careful care can help avoid this type of infection. Internal infections are rare however they are often more serious. 

Nerve injury after a c-section
Since a c-section is surgery you will have cut nerves in your skin.  The good news is these nerves will heal along with the healing of your skin; the bad news is some nerves do not heal.  Symptoms can result in loss of feeling in your skin, pain in muscles or problems controlling muscles.  Symptoms often go away in time but some do not and may even require additional surgeries.

Adverse reactions to medication after c-section
Anytime you have surgery you will receive medications.  In some cases reactions to medications or anesthesia can occur causing itchiness or rashes.  Serious or fatal reactions are rare, however be sure to tell your doctor about all allergies and answer questions as accurately as you can.

Delayed bowel function after Cesarean
This is common after surgery. If your bowel function slows after a c-section you will be given clear liquids until activity re-occurs. Once you begin passing gas this will mean normal functions are returning.

Blood clots following c-section
Blood clots are generally your friend.  When you bleed, either inside or outside your body, you blood will clot in order to stop the flow of blood. The problem occurs if the blood clot flows away and gets stuck in blood vessels. If a clot gets stuck in an artery or vein it can block the flow of blood.

After having a c-section blood clots can occure in the veins of the leg. This is known as deep venous thrombosis. This type of clot more often occurs in extremely heavy patients or patients that don’t move soon enough after surgery; it also has a tendency to occur if you’ve had previous blood clots.

Be aware that blood clots after a c-section can move from blood vessels to your lungs causing shortness of breath known as pulmonary embolus.  In such cases blood thinning medications work very well.

Adhesions following c-sections
An Adhesion is the scar tissue that forms a connection between tissues or organs.  This connection can form between the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder, intestines or other organs. Adhesions can occur and cause no problems at all, however in some cases they can cause pain, vomiting or even severe abdominal or pelvic pain and in some cases even bowel obstructions.

Treatment depends on the seriousness of the complications.  If there is significant pain or obstruction you may need another surgery, however another surgery to remove the adhesions can cause even more adhesions making the situation worse.  Having multiple c-sections increases the risk of adhesions; this is because each surgery causes more scar tissue.

For various reasons, more and more women today are getting pregnant at a older age, specifically over 35. 

For many women starting a family at a later age is a conscious decision and often times the best decision for personal reasons such as juggling career and family however, it’s important to note that a first time mother over 35 is at greater risk of pregnancy & labor problems which puts her at greater risk of having a c-section as well.

Why is over 35 a critical time?               Read more »