Planning for a c section can be overwhelming and come with a lot of fears – but you’re not alone. In this post I will lay out the top c section tips so you know exactly what to expect in the hospital, what you’ll want to wear after surgery, ways to manage any pain and a basic recovery timeline.
Tip #1: Know What to Expect in the Hospital
One of my top c section recovery tips is to know what to expect during your hospital stay. This instantly cuts down some of the anxiousness you might be feeling.
You probably won’t feel much for the first 12+ hours after surgery (thanks to the strong medicine you’ll be prescribed), but once it wears off it’s normal to feel sore, tired, and maybe a little weird with the dressing on your incision.
You will spend the first 1-2 hours after surgery in a recovery room while the spinal wears off. In the recovery room, you will be able to do skin to skin, start breastfeeding if you choose to and let’s be real: stare at your little bundle of joy in amazement.
The hospital stay following a c section is usually three to four days. You’ll probably be ready to bust out of there by day 3 but trust me, it’s REALLY nice to have some extra help after a c section. It will probably be a big task just getting out of bed initially and you will be moving a little slower than normal.
Tip #2: Pack Flowy Clothing in Your Hospital Bag
You will want to have flowy and loose fitting clothing to wear while you’re in the hospital (and during the first few weeks of your c section recovery).
Maternity dresses and nightgowns are perfect to wear immediately after a c section. They don’t put any pressure on your incision and the nurses will be checking your incision several times a day so dresses make the process very easy. And if you plan on breastfeeding your baby, make sure you bring nursing friendly clothing.
A bathrobe or zip up sweatshirt will also come in handy in the hospital. Nursing or not, it’s easy to throw on over your nightgowns.
You’ll also want to think about and pack a going home outfit. You will still have a bump when you leave the hospital so a maternity dress or another type of maternity clothing works well. The comfier the better!
I actually wore the same dress home that I wore to the hospital.I wrote an entire blog post about what to wear after a c section in the hospital including some mix and match pieces. You can check it out here and can even grab a free hospital bag checklist for the entire family!
Tip #3: Pain Management
One of the BIGGEST c section recovery tips I can give you is to stay on top of your pain medicine the first few days to week or two. C section pain management can make or break your recovery time.
You just had MAJOR surgery… so you’re not a hero by trying to refuse the medicine. Trust me. From personal experience, you’re going to want to actually stay ahead of the pain because once it sets in it can be hard to manage it.
You will probably have a strong prescribed medicine like oxycodone and alternate with Tylenol and sometimes other medicines such as one to help with gas. TMI but it’s a lifesaver after all the air that got inside your body during surgery!
Your nurse will most likely use the white board in your room to write down the medicine you received, the dosage and time it was given. It’s up to you to make sure you receive your next dose on time. If it’s getting close, push the call button and the nurse will gladly bring you what you need.
Like I said before, it’s so important to stay ahead of the pain, especially in the first few days.
Tip #4: Rest, Rest, Rest
You’re going to want to rest and recover as much as you possibly can with a newborn.
Translation: The laundry and dishes can absolutely wait.
Accept any and all help from your spouse, family, friends and neighbors. You have a physical wound that is healing and just standing up or walking will probably be uncomfortable the first few weeks.
The c section recovery timeline will vary for each person but six weeks is a good initial timeline to assume. You can expect to have your first doctor’s appointment two weeks after your surgery to check the incision and assess how you’re doing. You will then have another appointment at the six week mark, which is usually the appointment where your doctor will clear you to work out. If everything is healing well then you will only see your doctor at your typical annual visits.
A big difference with a c section recovery is you cannot lift anything heavier than your baby. Lifting a heavy object could put you at risk to tear your stitches or cause harm. This means you can’t lift your baby’s carseat into the car or pediatrician’s office, you can’t carry a laundry basket and you certainly can’t be exerting a lot of effort in the initial days of c section recovery.
Tip: Think about setting up a changing table on the first floor of your home and getting things organized so you only need to climb the stairs once at night to go to bed.
If you’re looking for more postpartum tips, you can grab my free guide here.
Tip #5: Have Supplies on Hand
You will leave the hospital with mesh underwear and big pads. Some prefer to wear depends but I personally loved the mesh underwear!
My first suggestion to you is to take as many pairs of mesh underwear home with you as possible and then have long pads (without the flaps) for at home. One thing the hospital will teach you is that not only will you need to stick a pad to your underwear due to bleeding, but it’s also so helpful to rest a pad on your incision to protect anything from sticking to it. You won’t pull the backing off of it but it provides much needed comfort in the first few days as your incision starts to heal.
Essentials I Couldn’t Live Without Post C Section
- Skin and scar balm
- Caddy to keep diapers, wipes, receiving blankets and spare outfits on the first floor during the day
- Pack ‘n play with changing pad and bassinet
- Pre-made foods from family but it’s just as easy to prep a few freezer meals before baby arrives
- Loose & flowy clothing
- A few good Netflix shows to binge
Planning for a c section can seem a little overwhelming at first, but I hope you feel more confident about what to expect after reading through these five c section recovery tips. My son was born via c section so I absolutely understand the fears going into surgery and worry about what recovery would look like.
Do you have more specific questions about what to expect after a c section? Comment below and let’s chat!
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