After a c-section, most women remain in the hospital for about 2 to 3 days. This period is a great time to bond with your baby, get help with breast-feeding and caring for your newborn as well as get some rest.

What to expect after a c-section ?

Right after surgery, you  may experience the following :

• nausea for the first couple of day
• groggy from medications you received
• itchy if you received narcotics with your  epidural

After the surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room. Here the nurse will make sure

• your uterus is becoming firmer
• monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and the amount of vaginal bleeding
• take you  to your hospital room ( postpartum) where you will spend the next few days

You may feel tired after delivery. Some women may experience sadness or emotional let down after delivery.

Caring for your baby after a cesarean section

Breastfeeding can usually begin right after surgery. Your nurse can help you find  a comfortable position. Your movement may be limited by numbness from  the anesthesia. Pain from the incision can also cause some discomfort.  Nurses and lactation consultants are there to help if you have any questions.

Bleeding and contractions

After delivery, the worse part of contraction is over. However the uterus needs to contract and shrink back to its original size and prevent heavy bleeding.  Breastfeeding helps to contract the uterus. These contractions are painful but very important.

After your uterus becomes smaller and firmer, heavy bleeding tapers. You may notice  fewer  smaller blood clots passing when the nurse presses on your uterus to check it.

Activity

After labor and delivery, you may feel exhausted.  Getting out of bed may seem like a big deal. However  trying to get out of bed at least once or twice a day can help with  recovery. It decreases your risk of blood clots and helps your bowels to move. However make sure there is someone available , just incase you become dizzy. It’s  better to take a walk after receiving pain medications.

Pain relief

Your epidural or spinal catheter may be used as pain relief after surgery. It may be left in for up to 24 hours. If you did not have pain medication, you may receive pain meds directly into your veins , through an IV line after surgery.

• the line runs though the pump that will be set to give you a certain amount of pain medicine
• you can push a button to give yourself more pain relief when you need it
• this is known as patient controlled analgesia (PCA)

NOTE

Your will also have a urinary ( foley ) catheter in place right after surgery. However this will be removed on the first day  after surgery. The area around the incisions may be sore, numb or both. Sutures or staples will be removed around the second day, just before you leave the hospital. You will be asked to eat ice chips or take sips of water until your health care provider is certain you’re not likely to have heavy bleeding.

You will be able to eat a light diet about  8 hours after  your c-section.