3 Steps for Self Care after a Cesarean
Congratulations on the birth of your baby!
If you have had your baby by cesarean, you need to remember that you have just undergone a major surgery and you must take care of yourself, as well as your new baby. Needless to say, the first important step is to make sure that you have lots of extra help. You'll need an extra set of hands in order to care for yourself and your baby the first few days and weeks following your cesarean.
Here are three more important steps to take after a cesarean birth:
The key, however, is not to overdo it.
You may be tempted upon your return home to start back to your normal exercise routine or to start in on some housework. Your incision site needs time to heal first, though. Most OB surgeons recommend that you wait about a month before you begin any strenuous movement.
You also need to take special care of your body mechanics during the first few months after a cesarean, particularly when it comes to your abdominal area. Use your hands or even a pillow to help hold your abdomen taut when you sneeze or cough and avoid sharp, sudden movements or heavy lifting. All of these activities put strain on the section of your body made most vulnerable by your surgery. Your abdominals will eventually regain their strength and your incision will heal—moving correctly can help speed the process.
With a new baby around, it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. But you can best care for and enjoy your baby when you yourself are healthy and well. Taking good care of your body after a c-section is the essential first step of self-care so that you can best care for your baby, too.
If you have had your baby by cesarean, you need to remember that you have just undergone a major surgery and you must take care of yourself, as well as your new baby. Needless to say, the first important step is to make sure that you have lots of extra help. You'll need an extra set of hands in order to care for yourself and your baby the first few days and weeks following your cesarean.
Here are three more important steps to take after a cesarean birth:
- Move Right: Several hours after your cesarean, nurses should come to help you get up and walk around. You may think that resting in bed is the best for healing, but remaining stationary can actually cause you more pain when you do get up. Walking a little can help speed the recovery process.
The key, however, is not to overdo it.
You may be tempted upon your return home to start back to your normal exercise routine or to start in on some housework. Your incision site needs time to heal first, though. Most OB surgeons recommend that you wait about a month before you begin any strenuous movement.
You also need to take special care of your body mechanics during the first few months after a cesarean, particularly when it comes to your abdominal area. Use your hands or even a pillow to help hold your abdomen taut when you sneeze or cough and avoid sharp, sudden movements or heavy lifting. All of these activities put strain on the section of your body made most vulnerable by your surgery. Your abdominals will eventually regain their strength and your incision will heal—moving correctly can help speed the process.
- Care for Your Incision: In addition protecting your incision by practicing proper body mechanics, you will also need to care for the incision site physically in order to avoid infection:
- Keep the incision clean and dry. You should wash with mild soap and water and/or clean with peroxide. Put on antibiotic ointment and keep clean, dry bandages on at all times. A wet incision breeds infection.
- Wear loose clothing. The scar needs air in order to heal properly.
- If your incision becomes red or swollen, contact your doctor immediately. These can be signs of an infection.
- Stay Connected: The best way for you to recover well from a cesarean is to depend on your OB surgeons and nurse midwives. The more that you communicate openly and early with them, the better they will be able to troubleshoot any problems before they get out of control. You'll need to be open about your bowel movements, any pain or abnormal sensations you may be feeling, how well you're caring for your incision, and your activity levels. While general information can be gleaned about c-sections from the web, you still need to contact your doctor for your own specific post c-section care.
With a new baby around, it is easy to forget to take care of yourself. But you can best care for and enjoy your baby when you yourself are healthy and well. Taking good care of your body after a c-section is the essential first step of self-care so that you can best care for your baby, too.
Source...