What to Expect After a C-Section Delivery

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! If you had a Caesarean section, commonly referred to as a C-section, you may have some questions about what to expect during your recovery, both while in the hospital and after you return home.

• A Caesarean delivery is major surgery, so you can expect to stay in the hospital from two to four days for monitoring. Make sure you stay on top of pain management by communicating with your nurse about how you are feeling and taking your prescribed medications.
   
• Your nurse will educate you about caring for your incision. It is important to keep your incision clean and dry, and monitor for any signs of infection, like redness, swelling, drainage, or foul odor from the incision site. After you return home, call your doctor if you develop a fever of more than 100.4° or see other signs of an infection at the incision site.
   
• Seek immediate medical care for symptoms such as bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for two hours or passing large clots (larger than a golf ball). Any type of visual disturbance or headache also warrants immediate medical attention.
   
• A pillow can be helpful to hold over your incision when you cough or laugh. A wrap-around or curved shaped pillow can also make breastfeeding more comfortable.
   
• Your body needs fuel to heal, so make sure you are eating well and drinking plenty of fluids. Eat a high fiber diet, drink 8–12 glasses of water per day, and eat foods high in protein and iron. Increasing your water intake has added benefits, like supporting your milk supply if you choose to breastfeed, and reducing constipation, a common problem after delivery.
   
• Once you return home, make sure to take it easy and ask for help from your support network. Avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby, obtain help for general household chores, and limit use of stairs. Rest frequently and try to sleep when your baby does. Avoid driving for one to two weeks after delivery, and when taking medication that may impair your judgment.
   
• Be aware of emotional changes in the first few weeks after birth. Call your doctor or reach out for help if you are experiencing signs of postpartum depression, such as loss of appetite, crying spells, fear of touching your baby, feelings of hopelessness or loss of control, inability to sleep or excessive sleep. You are not alone, and help is available.
   
• If you have questions about your symptoms, our nurse advice line is available to help 7:00 a.m. to midnight at 540.741.1000.