If you're one of the 30 percent of American women whose babies are born via cesarean section, as estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your recovery will be different from the recovery of a woman who gives birth vaginally. As you heal, eating a diet rich in nutrients and getting plenty of fluids are essential. When you're ready to resume physical activity, your obstetrician can give you the go-ahead to do so safely.
Make Meals
If your C-section has been scheduled and you know that you'll have a longer recovery than someone who delivers vaginally, prepare meals that you can freeze so that you won't have to cook when you return home. After having your C-section you'll want to rest so that your incision can heal. Add your baby to the mix, and cooking may be the last thing on your mind. With food already prepared in the freezer, all you have to do is put in in the oven to reheat.
Ask for Guidelines
Talk to your obstetrician before your discharge from the hospital to find out what you should be eating and doing. You'll need to know your limitations. Most women cannot lift anything heavier than a baby after the C-section, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Drink Fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids after a C-section can help prevent constipation. Your weakened abdominal muscles may have trouble aiding your digestive system in moving your waste. By drinking fluids you can alleviate constipation and achieve a pain-free bowel movement. The Mayo Clinic recommends emptying your bladder as often as possible to restore your body to a natural rhythm.
Eat Protein
A diet rich in protein will help your body heal, according to the University of Michigan Medical Center. Protein is suggested for post-operative patients because it facilitates tissue repair and muscle maintenance after surgery. Eat foods that are high in protein but easy to digest. You may want to drink protein shakes until you feel well enough to eat solid foods again.
Six-Week Appointment
Talk to your obstetrican about how to manage pain and constipation, She will offer advice about nutrition as you heal and pain relievers that you can take if you are nursing. Never exercise before your obstetrican has seen you for your six-week postpartum checkup. She'll need to ensure that your stitches are healing well enough to engage in strenuous physical activity.
Watch for any Warning Signs
Although most recoveries are routine, you may develop a problem after you return home. Keep an eye on your incision to ensure that it is healing properly. The Mayo Clinic advises calling your doctor immediately if you have a fever over 100.4 F, severe pain in your abdomen or redness, swelling and discharge at your incision site.
References
- CDC: QuickStats: Percentage of All Live Births by Cesarean Delivery --- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2005
- MayoClinic.com: C-Section: What You Can Expect
- University of Michigan: Pre- and Post-surgery Health
- Brigham and Women's Hospital: After the Birth: What to Expect While You Are in the Hospital
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