C-Section Recovery & Support Blog

Having a c-section is major abdominal surgery and any time surgery is performed there could be potential complications.  Fortunately the c-section procedure itself is one of the safest surgeries performed so if you are relatively healthy and have had a pretty good pregnancy there’s no reason you can’t have a healthy, happy c-section.

But if you’re getting anxious and want to do everything you can to ensure the safest, healthiest and happiest c-section possible, here are some things that you might want to think about first:

Create a Birth Plan

You have lots of choices when having a c-section.  From things like deciding the delivery date all the way down to what music to play in the operating room.  There is a lot to think about.

Start out by understanding what happens in those few hours prior to surgery as well as the hours following. Get to know your hospital and their procedures, if there is something that you would like to have done, such as a having your spouse cut the cord or perhaps bond with baby immediately after delivery, check with your doctor and hospital staff and document it in a birth plan.

If you your wishes until the last minute, they are not likely to be fulfilled.  Hospital staff and doctors generally have a routine, but they also get busy and forget your wishes.  If you document your needs in a well thought out plan, it makes it easier for everyone and you’ll be happier with the results.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

Don’t let ‘eating for two’ become your motto.  Focus on quality not quantity. You want to eat healthy for both of you.

Your baby doesn’t require lots of food; she does require good, nutritious food.  Limit starches and sweets and get plenty of fruits and vegetables.  Don’t be afraid of mild exercise.  Get out and walk or do yoga exercises.  If you get hungry keep healthy snacks on hand.   Your diet plays a big part in avoiding things like gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.  You don’t want added complications.

Understand the Risks

If you can understand the risks and complications of having a c-section you will be better equipped to make informed decisions. Your doctor may be your best resource for helping you decide what is best for you but you may not always want decisions made for you.

For example, things like types of anesthesia, types of incisions, catheters, how soon you can bond with your baby, inducing labor or even if you should have a c-section or not are all things you want to understand so you can evaluate the risks, as well as the benefits so as to make your own informed decsions or perhaps question the decisons being made by your doctor.

Keep up Discussions with Your Doctor

Keep the lines of communication open with your doctor.  Don’t be afraid to ask about his/her delivery experience.   Find out how she handles certain procedures and always ask what you can expect next. If you don’t like something ask about alternatives.  If you still don’t like the responses you get, check into getting a second opinion.

Plan for your C-Section Recovery

Your demands as a mom and a wife don’t change just because you’ve had surgery.  Your baby will still need you, your husband will have his needs and if you have older children or a career to get back to, those demands will be there as well.

That’s why thinking ahead about your c-section recovery, particularly your recovery at home will pay off big time.   You will have just had major surgery so you won’t be able to jump up and start doing housework, cooking and getting back to life as usual.  You will will sore and slow, to this is a time when you will want to make it as easy on yourself as possible.

If you will be heading back to work, you’ll want to make the most of your time with baby so think about making prior plans to have older children cared for, have meals pre-planned and prepare an area of your home that is equipped with everything you will need so movement is limited.

Prepare a schedule for you and your baby and stick to it.  This will not only make things easier, you will be giving yourself the time you need to bond and to heal.

If you’re planning to get back into an exercise routine always check with your doctor first, exercise after a c-section should be approached with caution.  You may be use to doing sit ups and crunches but doing too much too soon could cause internal injury which will only delay your recovery.