Recovering from a Cesarean Delivery

Post-surgery

There are many similarities in recovering from a vaginal delivery and a Cesarean delivery. However, there are some distinct differences you should be aware of if you had a C-section.

In the Hospital
Immediately after your C-section, you are taken to a recovery room or recovery area for about an hour. Here you will be watched for any signs of problems, such as bleeding or pain. Your blood pressure and other vital signs, such as pulse and temperature, are checked frequently. At this same time, your baby may go to the nursery to be weighed and evaluated, but he is often returned to you while you are still in the recovery room. This is a good time to begin nursing your baby. When you leave recovery, you will go to a room where you will spend the remainder of your time in the hospital.

How long a woman stays in the hospital after a Cesarean delivery varies quite a bit. Most women stay for 2 to 4 days after delivery. Your insurance company or HMO has the greatest say about this, not you or your doctor. An average stay is 3 days after a C-section.

Dealing with Contractions, Pain and Bleeding
If the incision from your C-section gets red, oozes pus or yellow fluid, bleeds or becomes painful, call your doctor.

Cramping and contraction of your uterus are normal and desirable after a C-section. Contractions of the uterus help control and decrease bleeding after your delivery. With a C-section, there is pain from the surgery itself, but at least you won't have episiotomy pain.

Pain control after a Cesarean is accomplished in different ways. If you had an epidural or spinal anesthetic for the surgery, you may be able to have pain medicine injected through the epidural or spinal catheter; this is called Duramorph or epidural morphine. Medication usually offers pain relief for the first 24 hours and helps you avoid painful injections or pain pills for the first day after surgery.

Other choices for pain relief are those traditionally used following surgery, such as injections of pain medications (Demerol or morphine) through an I.V. or into a muscle during the first 24 hours after delivery until you are able to eat. Once you're able to eat, you may be offered oral pain medications, such as mild narcotics (Tylenol #3 or Lortab) or anti-inflammatory pain medications, such as ibuprofen.

It is normal to bleed vaginally after a Cesarean; this continues for several days up to a few weeks. It should decrease each day. The nurses will check to see it is not excessive and instruct you what to look for after you go home.

If you were in labor for a long time before delivery, you may be exhausted. Get some rest so you're ready for the challenges awaiting you at home. Don't be afraid to accept help or suggestions from the nurses or others at the hospital. There are specific areas the nurses can help you with and teach you about, such as nursing, caring for your baby and warning signs of problems when you go home.