How to Prepare for & Recover from Your C-Section

Rather planned or not, having a C-Section can be very difficult for both mom and baby. Traditional C-Sections can also make it difficult to have the same benefits that we hope from a vaginal birth. Gentle Cesarean provides more options for a more friendly birth experience, and to enjoy the benefits that you would have, if you were to have if had a vaginal birth.

Here are some benefits of choosing to have a Gentle Cesarean for you birth:

  • Having a clear drape
    • this can provide you the opportunity to see your baby be born, so you don’t miss out on that opportunity. They only have the clear drape when the baby is being taken out so you will not see anything scary, just the baby being born.
  • Have music play while the surgery is happening
    • music can help you feel calm as you go through the procedure.
  • Delayed cord clamping
    • Unless there is an emergency, you can keep the umbilical cord attached to benefit baby of all the nutrients and blood from the placenta.
  • You can still have skin to skin
    • Instead of the baby being taken immediately to the warmer, they can be brought to you to hold with assistance, and still provide an opportunity to have skin to skin bonding time with your child immediately.
  • Vaginal Swab
    • Before the delivery, you can have someone swab the bacteria from your vagina, and then swab the baby with it to give it the benefits just as would have had if born vaginally.
  • Newborn procedures done in the room
    • Instead of bringing baby out to the room to preform normal procedures, doing everything in the room so that you and your spouse/partner may see and stay connected with baby. Even delaying the procedures so that you can have your skin-to-skin bonding time.
  • You can initiate breastfeeding immediately.
    • you can have the opportunity to breastfeed there as your incision is being stitched. Breastfeeding there can also provide that bonding experience for you and baby.
  • Mom and Dad/Partner remain together throughout recovery
    • no one needs to be in separate rooms, you all are able to be together in one room.
  • A Doula, and maybe even a photographer, may accompany you to the OR.
    • You can have your doula there to support you as you go through the procedure and post birth experience.
    • You can have pictures taken of the experience as you go through the procedure and bonding experience.

Gentle Cesarean is still quite a new procedure, so make sure the hospital and doctor you have are willing and able to provide you this experience. If they don’t support it, find a doctor and hospital that do.

Postpartum C-Section Recovery

Now that you returning home from you C-Section, here are things to do or consider as you recover:

  • Don’t Carry Anything Heavy or Do Chores!
    • Have or hire someone take care of the cooking, cleaning, and tending to your other children as you recover. This is your time to rest and relax with yourself and/or with your baby. I know this is harder said than done, but don’t injure yourself further, your recovery is more important.
    • Treat your Incision with Care
      • Check and care for your incision daily, so it can decrease the chance of infection and have a quick recovery. Here are some suggestions from the blog Happiest Baby Blog, in helping take care of your incisions.
        1. “Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before you touch your incision.
        2. Change your bandage once a day and more often if it gets wet or dirty.
        3. With a clean washcloth, gently clean your incision with mild soap and warm water daily. Rinse and pat dry using a clean cloth. Do not share soap or washcloths—and don’t soak in the tub.
        4. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
        5. Refrain from applying any lotions, powders, or oils to your c-section incision or area around it.
        6. If you’ve got Steri-Strips on your incision—don’t take them off. They should fall off in about a week. But if they don’t, ask your doc about removing them.”
    • Gentle Walking with Compression Socks
      • Walking is very good for you to help you get back on your feet and increase strength and stamina. Even if it is just for five minutes a day. Make sure you wear compression socks to decrease swelling, increase blood flow, and decrease blood clots as you walk,
    • Get Some Sleep!
      • Rest is crucial to your recovery, but can be so difficult with a newborn baby’s sleep schedule. This is where it is important to ask for help. Have someone help care for your baby so that you can get the rest you need. Make sure you sleep on your back, to decrease pressure on your incision.
    • Have Pain Management Options
      • talk with your doctor of pain management that works best for you. Until then, here are some simple tips to help you:
        • have an ice pack
        • wear a wide compression belt
        • choose a breastfeeding option that does not put pressure on your incision, like the football hold.
        • keeping a pillow close to you
        • log roll off the bed, sitting up can hurt your incision.
    • Keep Things Accessible
      • keep your basket of snacks, food, medication, and diaper changing area close to you, so you do not need to leave far from your bed.

These are many of the few ways you can prepare for your C-Section procedure and recovery. If you are looking for Postpartum Doula Support, reach out to us via https://theutahbirthplace.com/contact/ and we can get you set up with someone who can help you!

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