C-Section Awareness Month: Tips for Recovery

April showers bring May flowers… and Cesarean Awareness Month! 

Each April, we celebrate Cesarean (C- section) Awareness Month. This campaign aims to raise awareness and educate people about a variety of topics related to cesareans. Topics include reducing preventable cesareans, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Whether planned or unplanned, you deserve to feel heard and listened to during your birth and immediately after. You can still use a birth / postpartum plan and be empowered on your journey through parenthood.

If you had a planned or emergency C-section, here are resources and information to help you care for yourself, your body, and your baby after your procedure.

Care After Belly Birth

Self-care is key after a C-section. You’ve done a big thing; labor in any scenario can be challenging. However, after a cesarean, it is vital for parents to take it extremely easy, refrain from heavy lifting, and be gentle with themselves. Discomfort and fatigue after belly birth can be normal as your body heals

To help maximize your recovery process: 

• Call on your support team. Having support during this time might make all the difference. Your focus should be predominantly on recovery. Enlist your support team- whether that be family, friends, or your postpartum doula- to assist with errands, meals, or housework. We’re better together and there’s no shame in asking for help. (You may have also included this in your postpartum recovery plan.)

• Rest whenever possible. Taking it easy during the first few weeks will be very helpful! Resting when you can during this time can be vital. If possible, avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby during this time and keep things that you need within reach. 

• Get your body moving. Taking short, slow walks can help decrease the chance of post-op complications and assist with bowel movements. This action may be uncomfortable but as the days progress, it will get easier.

• Relieve pain. If you experience pain and/or incision soreness, you should talk to your healthcare provider about taking appropriate medication. They may recommend ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), or other medications for pain relief. InfantRisk call center is a great resource available to parents and professionals to call in and evaluate the safety of medication while breastfeeding. It is available Mon-Friday (8am-5pm).

Caring for your Incision Site

Healing isn’t linear, however, most practitioners advise parents that the incision will be a bit sore for the first 2-3 weeks following the birth. 

• When cleaning the area, do not scrub. Gently let warm water run over it and clean around the incision site with mild soap and water.

• Pat dry bandages if dirty or wet. Change them at least once per day.

• Keep your provider in the loop and contact them immediately if you notice that your incision is swollen, red, or leaking discharge.

• Your incision will be mostly healed after 6-8 weeks.

** This is general info, please consult your healthcare provider for incision care following surgery **

Nursing your baby? Try Different Breastfeeding Positions 

When healing from a c-section, you may find some nursing positions uncomfortable. Some super helpful positions are the side-lying hold and the football hold, which we detail below. However, experiment to find out what position works best for you and baby during this time. Please consider also having an IBCLC on your team to assist with feeding guidance, latch/positioning, establishing milk supply, etc. while home.

Some breastfeeding positions and tips that work well following a C- section include: 

• “Football hold”

  • Place a pillow along your side and use a chair with broad, low arms.

  • Hold your baby at your side with your elbow bent. 

  • With your open hand, support your baby's head and face them toward your breast.

  • Your baby's back should sit on the pillow and your forearm. 

  • Support your breast in a C-shaped hold with your other hand.

• “Side-lying hold” 

  • Lie on your side and place your baby on their side, facing your breast. Support your baby with one hand.

  • With the other hand, grasp your breast and touch your nipple to your baby's lips. 

  • Once your baby latches on to breastfeed, use one arm to support your own head and the other to help support the baby.

• Use a nursing pillow or fluffy home pillow to make positioning easier.

• Learn what a good latch looks like to support an effective milk transfer and prevent sore nipples.

For breastfeeding support following a cesarean, you can make an appointment to meet with a lactation consultant or give us a text at 202.293.5182 with any questions or concerns you may have.

Postpartum 

After the birth of your baby, it will be necessary, if possible, for you to slow down and heal. Planning for postpartum recovery and having easily accessible resources available can be lifesaving (literally and figuratively). Below are a few types of support you might consider having a resource list for:

• Lactation Consultant

• Mental Health Therapist

• Pelvic Floor Therapist or Occupational Therapist

• Postpartum Doula

Resources at The Breastfeeding Center

The Breastfeeding Center has several resources for postpartum that might be helpful for new parents:

• Lactation Consultations: Our Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) will meet you wherever you are in your journey and will assist as you define your own feeding goals via 1:1 sessions in our office, your home, or virtual consult.

• Occupation therapy: Occupational Therapy can help you to maintain, resume, or optimize how you engage in your daily life activities physically, mentally, and emotionally! The perinatal year is so full of changes— think of OT like a combination of physical recovery + mental health support + functional “life hacks.” An OT is a healthcare professional specialty-trained in helping people live their best life, with the greatest ease, during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

• Postpartum Recovery 101: Discuss tips and techniques to address the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of the postpartum experience. Some topics addressed include prenatal and postpartum chronic/acute pain, core weakness, c-section or episiotomy recovery, maternal mental health, self-care for parents, body mechanics, and ergonomics. By the end of the class, you will have a better understanding of how to care for yourself while caring for your newborn.

• Navigating Perinatal Stress: Virtually every parent experiences moments of anxiety or emotional distress at some point during postpartum— you are not alone! This support group, led by licensed psychotherapists, focuses on emotional support, skills for coping, and managing stress. You will have a safe and non-judgmental space to share and learn from one another while developing wellness strategies, social support, and community.

• Nutrition Series: topics covered -

Week 1: The Basics - Creating a Nutrient-Dense Kitchen

Week 2: Easeful Digestion - Water and Fiber

Week 3: Supporting Lactation - Lactogenic Foods and Herbs

Week 4: Rebuilding - The Microbiome and Collagen

Week 5: Rhythm - Mindful Eating

• Babywearing: You can still babywear after a c-section! Working 1:1 with our consultant can be super helpful in learning to navigate wearing your baby after surgery. They also offer classes and fit checks if needed!

To all of our parents who’ve experienced c-sections, we see you and are rooting for you!