Care after a cesarean section that every mom should have

Care after a cesarean

After living the beautiful experience of having your baby in your arms for the first time, you will have to go through a postpartum recovery process, in which you will require some days of rest and some important care. Of course, not all births are the same, nor are all bodies.

Each mother has a different experience depending on the type of delivery, either naturally or by Caesarean section.

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Although postpartum days are difficult for any mom, this stage can be even more complicated for those who have had a cesarean.

Care after a cesarean section is very important for a quick recovery, avoiding future inconveniences and being able to enjoy our baby.

Women who have had their baby by cesarean section may feel exhausted, limp, and very sore. They may have some very difficult days, especially because they need to care for their baby while they have to recover from the cesarean section themselves.

Although it is a safe surgical procedure, a caesarean is a surgery like any other, so it is necessary to follow the proper care and rest everything you need before resuming your usual routine.

What is a cesarean? What is the care after a cesarean? How is a cesarean scar cared for?

There are many aspects that should be taken into account after giving birth by cesarean, so it is important to know what care after cesarean that you must follow to recover quickly and continue to enjoy your beautiful baby.

What is a cesarean section and why does it require special care?

Unlike natural childbirth, a caesarean section is a surgical operation to remove the baby through an opening in the mother's womb.

Since this is a surgery that involves cutting several layers of tissue, as well as manipulating different organs in the abdominal area, it requires a postoperative recovery with a few additional days in the hospital to avoid possible complications.

Let's remember that caesarean section is a surgery and involves even more care.

Cesarean section is usually the second option as a method of giving birth, as it is usually used when there are problems with the baby being born naturally.

Although this procedure avoids the pain of childbirth, protects the mother and baby from other complications, and ensures the lives of both, it means a greater effort for the mother in terms of recovery.

That's why most women who have a C-section need weeks to fully recover.

Care after a cesarean section before leaving the hospital

After giving birth by cesarean section, you will most likely need to stay in the hospital for a few days so that you can recover under medical supervision and avoid possible complications.

Generally, the time a mother is hospitalized when she goes through a cesarean section is 2 to 4 days, depending on the progress of the cesarean section, which is why care after a cesarean section begins right after giving birth.

It is important to take some care to recover quickly from the cesarean section.

Although during this time you will be monitored by the medical team, there are some important care that you should seek while you are in the hospital so that you can recover as soon as possible and go home to take care of your baby.

Take note of these tips and ask for all the help you need!

1. Get up and walk slowly

After the first 24 hours after surgery, specialists recommend that the mother get out of bed and walk slowly and progressively to ensure that everything is fine and can have a much faster recovery.

As part of this first recovery care, you may even be advised to shower, but after the first three days of surgery to prevent wound infection.

Walking after the operation will help maintain blood circulation and prevent the formation of clots in the belly.

2. Analgesics to relieve pain

After giving birth by caesarean section, you will probably feel dizzy, sore and unwell. In this case, you can ask your doctor to prescribe some analgesic compatible with breastfeeding to help relieve the pain.

It is also important that you call your doctor if the pain persists, or if you notice any type of hemorrhage different from the one that is usually experienced with loquios during these weeks.

3. Hygiene care for loquios

Once you give birth to your baby, your uterus will go through a process of "involution" in which it will begin to shrink to return to its normal size before pregnancy. As your body readjusts, you will begin to experience a loss of blood, or red vaginal tissue, better known as loquios.

Keep your intimate area clean

These losses of blood and tissues from the uterus have the same characteristics that are experienced in natural childbirth, only that sometimes they can be of lesser quantity.

Although lochia can last up to 6 weeks, this is a natural process much needed for mom's recovery, so it is important to maintain some basic hygiene care.

To keep the area clean, wash your intimate area 3 to 5 times a day with neutral soap and use extra-absorbent feminine towels instead of tampons, since the idea is that loquios do not remain inside the vagina.

As the first few weeks go by, the craziness will begin to diminish, however, it can increase if the mother is very active and changes position a lot.

4. Begins to take short walks

Although you may want to rest and not feel like moving around, taking a walk around a hospital room or sitting in a rocking chair can help speed up your recovery and prevent the swelling and gas that usually develops after a cesarean delivery.

If you experience a lot of pain, talk to your doctor.

Care after a cesarean section that you must follow at home

When you return home after the first few days of postpartum in the hospital, you will most likely be anxious to take care of your baby. But you may also feel achy and very fatigued to do all of Mom's chores.

Now more than ever, you need to take care of yourself, rest and ask for help whenever you need it, because contrary to what many may think, care after a cesarean section is not only limited to healing a scar, but a whole process of changes and readjustment that require time and care.

Recovery from a cesarean section is usually much longer than from a natural birth.

Taking care of yourself while all these changes occur in your body is essential for the postpartum recovery is much faster and bearable, especially during breastfeeding, when your baby needs so much from you.

Here is all the care after a cesarean section that you should continue to receive at home, in addition to giving you some important recommendations to reduce possible discomfort.

5. Move without much effort

One of the first recommendations moms receive after a cesarean section is to get out of bed and take a few steps into the room, because this decreases the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) and compromises their health, yet it is important to be careful not to make great efforts when moving because you could hurt yourself and make the recovery process more complicated.

Avoid exertion, exercise, or household chores

The idea is to take walks and short walks to speed up recovery, but that's all. Avoid doing household chores that involve a lot of movement and avoid going up and down stairs and carrying heavy things.

It is important that you rest as long as possible, so we recommend that you ask for help when you need to hold your baby in your arms and breastfeed, as well as to lay him in his crib and change because these are tasks that require a little forced movement for you.

In case you need to sneeze, cough or laugh, you can apply pressure with the help of a pillow, in the area where the scar is to prevent these actions from hurting you. As the first few weeks go by, the doctor will tell you when and how to resume your usual routine.

Don't hesitate to ask for help! Because of the care you need to recover, a little support in caring for your baby will be a big help.

6. Procures the necessary care for the scar

Among the care after a caesarean section, the wound or scar that remains after the operation occupies a very important place, as it requires very specific daily care to avoid complications, infections or the possibility of this opening again.

To make the cures the right way, from keeping the area clean using water and neutral soap, place a little iodized antiseptic to accelerate healing, dry very well and place a sterile gauze on it to prevent infection. It is also very useful to place an ice cube on the wound to relieve some of the pain and inflammation.

It is very important to take care of the scar and deflate the area.

Occasionally, it is advisable to let the skin in that area breathe so that it gradually desinflamando. It is also very likely that you will feel the area reddened and feel a little itchy, but don't worry!

It's a normal reaction that's part of healing.

Now, if you notice that they do not ooze one or more points, you have a fever and the wound has secretions, it is important that you call the doctor.

When you are going to make any movement stronger than normal, remember to hold the scar to avoid pain.

7. Wear a postpartum girdle

A very important aspect when caring for the scar of a caesarean section is the use of abdominal girdles to cover it.

Fajarte for at least the first month after the cesarean section, not only will you get the necessary care but you will also get better support to perform movements that put to work the abdominal muscles, such as sitting up.

By using girdles or bandages, you are helping the wound heal faster and all tissues close tightly. When placing the girdle you can use bandages like the ones placed in the hospital, but only during the first few days.

After two weeks, when you feel less inflamed, you will need to wear a postpartum girdle that gives you good support. You can choose between spring, velcro or classic buttons.

To make sure you adjust it correctly, you must make sure that the scar is right in the middle, so that the edges will not hurt it when you touch it.

8. Breastfeed your baby the right way

Breastfeeding your baby will inevitably coincide with recovery and all the care after a caesarean section that you must try, but that does not mean that you cannot breastfeed your baby, on the contrary, it is extremely necessary that you start breastfeeding from the first hours after giving birth, because this is a crucial moment of breastfeeding between the mother-baby bond.

When breastfeeding your baby, it may be hard to find a comfortable, painless breastfeeding position for the first few days. Don't worry!

We know that supporting your baby on your abdomen can be a little painful especially because of the difficulty you have in moving freely, but there are several breastfeeding postures that you can easily try without needing to support your baby on your belly.

When breastfeeding your baby you should find a position that does not rub or hit the area where the abdominal was performed.

One of them is to stand on your side holding your baby like a "soccer ball" or to stand on your side in bed so that your baby is right in front of you, belly to belly.

You can also help yourself to a better support with a pillow or breastfeeding cushion.

The idea is to breastfeed your baby at all times but without neglecting the abdominal area, and the scar, as it will help you recover quickly and care for your baby without pain.

Find comfortable breastfeeding postures where you don't have to support your baby in the womb.

9. Wear comfortable clothing

Other care after a caesarean section that you must take into account, is the time when you choose the clothes to dress, because not just any garment is recommended for you.

To avoid hurting yourself in the scar area, which tends to be very delicate the first few days, you should dispense with tight clothing, elastics and buttons that can be nailed in this area.

The ideal is to opt for comfortable garments, loose and easy to remove.

Instead, we recommend wearing loose-fitting, comfortable garments that fit under your breasts like short dresses.

It is also important that you take into account how difficult its placement can be, remember to avoid bending down and bending the abdominal area. As far as footwear is concerned, avoid wearing high heels as much as possible, at least for the first month.

10. Take care of your diet

During postpartum recovery from a cesarean section, following a balanced diet rich in fiber is as important as the rest of the care after a cesarean section that we have previously shared.

Having a good diet will not only ensure that you receive all the nutrients you need during your baby's lactation, but it will also help your intestines regain their mobility and proper functioning, thus avoiding the gases or constipation that are so common after a caesarean section.

By walking, drinking plenty of water and taking care of your diet, you'll be avoiding all kinds of intestinal problems and contributing to regaining your natural stomach rhythm ahead of schedule.

Avoid junk foods, spicy foods, and over-spicy foods.

Watch for these signs and consult your doctor.

Caesarean section, like any surgery, is exposed to possible complications during the recovery process, such as wound infections, urinary tract infections and severe bleeding.

Therefore, you should pay close attention to any signs or symptoms that might indicate that something is wrong, and consult your doctor immediately to prevent any serious problem or infection.

It is very important to pay attention to the symptoms of a possible infection.

Remember that paying attention to the evolution of your recovery and being aware of the following signs is also part of the care after a cesarean section that you must seek to take care of your health.

Some important signs and symptoms of infection are:

• Fever
• Excessive pain in the vaginal area
• Drainage of the C-section scar.
• If you notice a red, hot, or swollen wound or scar.
• foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Heavy vaginal bleeding accompanied by pain
• Swelling in the legs

Recovery from a cesarean delivery is often much longer than from a natural birth, so all the basic postpartum care that normally must be followed must also be much more rigorous than usual.

Just try to follow all the care we've shared with you, so you can have a successful recovery and take care of your baby by giving him all the love and attention he needs.

If you are experiencing any symptoms or have any inconvenience in the abdominal area do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

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