C-Section Recovery, Health & Preparation

Women who have had even one c-section worry about having others due to the possible increase of uterine rupture or tear in the uterus.

Certainly the risk increases the more C-sections you have; I think I read somewhere that hysterectomies were something like five times higher for women having their fourth C-section than for women having their second C-section and risks like blood transfusions increase after 6 C-sections or more.     Read more »

It is believed that when a baby is born via c-section her immune system may be compromised somewhat.

While I think this may be somewhat true I don’t think it is of huge concern, but there are theories on the topic and they make sense.  Here is what’s being said: Read more »

I had a question come in from a reader asking:

“My incision scar is red and irritated after removing my steri-strips, they got a little pulled so they are very sore.  Is there anything I can do to relieve the redness and soreness?”

Here’s what you need to do..    Read more »

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 »