C-Section Q&A
Commonly asked questions about having a C-Section and C-Section recovery.
Please note that I am NOT a doctor. This information and advice is not intended to replace your doctor’s orders or advice.
2. What actually happens during the C-Section Procedure?
3. How long does it take to recover from a C-Section?
4. Does wearing a c-section abdominal binder actually help with c-section recovery?
5. How soon can I drive again?
6. When is it save to have sex again?
7. What is a Doula and should I have one?
8. How much bleeding after my C-section is normal?
9. Why doe my incision area feel numb and when does feeling come back?
10. What are the major c-section complications & Risks?
11. Will having a C-Section impact my ability to breastfeed?
12. How soon can I exercise after my C-Section?
13. How many C-Sections is it safe to have?
14. How big will my C-Section Scar Be?
15. How will a C-Section affect my maternity leave?
17. Can I have a VBAC after multiple C-Sections?
18. Is it terrible to want an elective C-Section?
19. I feel cheated and depressed after my c-section, what can I do?
A C-Section is a surgical procedure whereby a doctor removes a baby from the womb through a surgical incision in the woman’s abdomen. The doctor then manually pulls the baby out through the incision.
2. What actually happens during the C-Section Procedure?
Before the C-Section Procedure even starts, you will be taken to the hospital preparation room where you will prepped for your surgery. Once prepped you will be wheeled to the operating room where a drape will be placed in front of you.
Next to you will be your anesthesiologist who will monitor your anesthesia and will ensure your comfort. Your anesthesiologist will also keep you clued in as to what is going on at each stage of the surgery.
Once the doctor is sure you are completely numb, s(he) will make a small incision just above your public hair line. Next the doctor will lift the baby’s head and suction the amniotic fluid from her mouth, then he will lift the rest of your baby out.
Once the baby is out, the umbilical cord is cut and the baby is handed to the nurse to be cleaned up. At that time the doctor will stitch up your incision and you will be wheeled to the recovery room. Here’s a more lengthy description of what happen during the c-section procedure.
3. How long does it take to recover from a C-Section?
Your c-section recovery takes about 4-8 weeks and the c-section recovery timeline varies for each woman, but here’s a rough breakdown.
Typically you are out of be walking in about 12 hours, but still very sore. Within about a week you should be walking around pretty good but still feeling a little sore around your incision. At about 2-4 weeks your incision should be healing well and at about 4-6 weeks you could be back to your usual routine. Provided that your recovery goes well, most women can go back to work at about 8 weeks after delivering.
4.Does wearing a c-section abdominal binder actually help with c-section recovery?
For most women it does.
An abdominal binder works to limit pulling and any movement sensation around your incision. If you can keep the area free from pain you can move easier and feel better.
For example, when you laugh or move abruptly it hurts, but if you can hold a pillow or something firm over the area it hurts less when you do those things. An abdominal binder works like the pillow.
However most commercial abdominal binders you get from the hospital and retail stores are made of very stiff , even plastic materials that aren’t very comfortable. A C-section mom needs firm support but she also needs comfort as well.
Look for C-Section abdominal binders that deliver firm but comforting support.
5. How Soon Can I Drive Again?
Driving after a c-section can be painful because you’re moving your legs up and down and that can pull on your incision causing pain.
Most doctors will recommend not driving for 3-6 weeks. I actually began driving at about 2.5 weeks, however that doesn’t mean you should. Always follow your doctors orders. Driving is going to be one of those individual things and your doctor is going to have your medical condition in mind when he tells you how long you must wait.
Never drive while taking pain medication or narcotics and once you do begin driving, make sure you can easily move your leg and foot from pedal to pedal without hesitation.
6. When is it save to have sex again?
Again this is no one answer fits all but for most women sex after a c-section is best on or at about 6 weeks.
Your doctor is the best person to ask about when it’s safe for you. Infection and postpartum hemorrhage are the biggest concern. So if the moment arises and you’re not sure if it’s a good time, either physically or emotionally, here are a few suggestions on how to have safe sex after a c-section.
7. What is a Doula and Do I Need One?
A Doula is a trained woman who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support during the childbirth process of labor, delivery and the postpartum period.
A Doula can also perform things like postpartum home care, relay special requests you may have to your doctor and the hospital, answer your questions you may have, explain things you’re not sure about, perform massage, take photos and give emotional support.
A doula does not deliver the baby or have a clinical role at the birth.
Using a Doula is a personal preference. She can be like your own personal assistant. A Doula can cost anywhere from $200-$800, depending on the Doula’s training and experience.
8. How Much Bleeding Should I have After My C-Section?
Postpartum bleeding after a c-section is normal even for a c-section mom. Bleeding can be bright red for about 4-7 days. This is called Lochia bleeding which is the normal cleansing of the uterus.
However at about 10 days up until about 6 weeks the bleeding should begin to taper off going from red to pink to a brownish and then stopping altogether.
If your bleeding tapers off to a pink or brownish but starts up bright red again this often means that you are doing too much physically and should slow down your activity.
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Bleeding is bright red and steady for longer than a week
- You smell a foul odor
- Your bleeding soaks several sanitary pads within a few hours
- Experience clots that are the size of a golf ball
- Have a steady flow of bleeding for longer than two weeks
9. Why does my incision area feel numb and when does feeling come back?
It’s normal to feel numb around the area of your incision. The incision cuts surrounding nerves in the skin which can take several months, even a year or more to heal.
These cut nerve endings can leave several inches around the incision feeling numb. Even though the numb sensation feels weird, feeling should gradually come back over time, but it could take a long time. I have complete feeling back but for me it did take several years.
10. What Are the Major C-Section Complications and/or Risks?
Complications can occur but are generally rare. These are the most common c-section complications or risks that can occur:
- Bleeding after C-section
- Adhesions and Scar Tissue
- Infection
- Bladder, Bowel or Organ Injury
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Injury to the baby
Complications from having a c-section are discussed more in detail in the Worry Free C-Section.
11. Will Having A C-Section Impact my Ability to Breastfeed?
Having a c-section won’t prohibit you from breastfeeding, in fact most women can breastfeed after a c-section just fine, but due to the discomfort of recovering from surgery, some women find it difficult.
The key to successful breastfeeding is to find a comfortable position and to relax.
12. How Soon Can I Begin Exercising?
You can exercise after a c-section when your doctor tells you it’s OK combined with when you feel up to it. This is typically about 6-8 weeks after your c-section surgery.
13. How Many C-Sections Can I Have?
Having a C-section is surgery, so how many surgeries is it safe to have? Most doctors and medical professionals will say the fewer the surgeries the better.
Having surgery causes internal adhesions. The more surgeries you have the more adhesions you can potential have. These c-section adhesions or scar tissue can adhere to your internal organs causing pain later on.
14. How Big Will My C-Section Scar Be?
Most c-sections are performed with a low transverse or bikini cut just above the pubic line. The cut is about 4-6 inches long.
In an emergency where the baby needs to be delivered immediately a larger vertical incision may need to be made.
15. How Will Having a C-Section Affect My Maternity Leave?
Most maternity leave for a vaginal birth is about 6 weeks. For a C-section deliver it is about 8 weeks.
A VBAC or Vaginal Birth after C-Section is just what the name implies. It’s where a mother has a vaginal birth when her previous birth was a C-Section.
Having a VBAC is not preferred by most doctors because of the risk of uterine rupture, however uterine rupture has only about a 1% risk.
17. Can I have a VBAC after Multiple C-Sections?
It has been done, however the more C-sections you’ve had, the riskier it is to have a VBAC. Here’s more informaton from the ACOG
18. Is It Terrible to Want a C-Section Instead of a Vaginal Birth?
Electing to have a c-section may depend on the mental state of the mother. For example Tokophobia or fear of childbirth is a real fear for some women and having a c-section may help them through the process.
To have a C-Section out of convenience or to fit a time schedule is not wise. Having a c-section is still surgery and there are risks to having surgery but there are also to the baby such as infant respiratory distress syndrome.
19. I feel cheated out of a Vaginal birth and I feel depressed because of it. What can I do?
It’s normal for some women to feel cheated after having a c-section, especially if it was unexpected.
We’re often told that we should feel grateful that our babies are healthy and that we’re OK, but that’s not always enough to console a mom that wanted to experience a natural birth or feels that she is a failure.
However, no matter how disappointing it may feel a C-Section my is always a hero in my book and I think your child will realize that as s(he) get older. You sacrificed a lot for the health and safety of your child.
I always encourage moms to move ahead and enjoy the moments as best you can. Never dwell on what you don’t have, look at what you do have and embrace it, revere it and by all means live each day with your child to its fullest, these days will be gone all too fast 
===> Still need more information on C-Sections, their risks, complications or help with your C-Section Recovery? That’s precisely what my Worry Free C-Section guide provides. Check it out at http://www.worry-free- c-section.com today.
