Had a C-section delivery? These 5 precautions will help you heal better

Being cautious is the key if you have undergone a C-section delivery because it takes time to heal. Post-caesarean recovery can be very taxing on the mother. Excessive bleeding, pain, and stiffness are often witnessed in many cases.

That’s why the list of precautions to be taken after a C-section delivery is longer than the one that applies to a normal delivery.  In fact, it is advisable that you learn as much as you can about it before the procedure so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.

According to Dr Sandeep Chadha, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, women might feel nauseous right after a caesarean delivery which can last until 48 hours. She also mentioned that there are other things you should know, apart from the obvious nausea, about post-caesarean precautions that will help you heal safely.

Here are five precautions you need to take care of if you’ve just been through a C-section delivery:

1. Restrict your physical activity
Rest is what your body needs after undergoing a C-section. Refrain from doing heavy-duty work or work which requires you to bend. Avoid lifting heavy objects for at least six weeks after the delivery. Dr Chadha says, “Take ample amount of rest and sleep well. The more you will rest, the faster you will be able to get back to your normal life.”

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2. Take your medication regularly
Due to the effect of anaesthesia, you don’t feel too much pain in your lower back and abdomen post the delivery. But, once the effect disappears, you might be in a lot of pain. If you don’t take your medicine properly, this pain will become all the more excruciating. Plus, it will also slow down the healing process.

“You don’t have to worry since these medicines are safe while breastfeeding and will help you cope with the pain of having undergone a major surgery”, she suggests.

3. Take care of your stitches
That’s why doctors advise taking rest so strongly. It has been observed that women tend to get back into their workout routines after a few days of delivery which can prove to be dangerous and in case of a C-section, it can totally wreck your stitches.

“You have to make sure that you avoid the chance of your stitches getting infected. Always wash your hands after and before inspecting or cleaning the wound area. Watch out for any signs and symptoms of infections such as an oozing green discharge or reddish skin around the wound area. If you feel any severe pain, call your doctor immediately”, she explains.

4. Eat a healthy diet
“Good nutrition is as important after the delivery as it was when you were pregnant. You are a lactating mother and have a wound to recover from. So, your food will help you cope with both. Fiber-rich foods are important in women recovering from a caesarean delivery because they relieve constipation and gas formation”, she suggests.

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5. Avoid sex for some time
We know that you and your partner might be missing on some action but it is better to wait for it.

“I would advise not to indulge in sex for the first six months after the caesarean delivery. Talk to your partner, I’m sure they’ll understand your situation”, she explains.

“Lastly, I would like to say that you need to monitor your lochia bleeding which is also called postpartum bleeding and takes place for the first few weeks after the delivery. Ideally, it should stop within six weeks of the delivery but, if it does not, one should immediately contact the doctor”, she concluded.

So, ladies, motherhood only makes the body tougher but you have to give it the right sort of care for it to heal.