Recovery after a cesarean section

The time it takes to recover after a cesarean section is often longer than after a vaginal delivery. This is because, in addition to the fact that you have become a mother (again), you also must recover from a (major) abdominal surgery. The most common complaint after a cesarean section is fatigue. It is best to rest as much as possible. Try to rest during the first week, when the maternity care is still in the house, so that you will have recovered as much as possible, when you will start doing more yourself again.

The wound may be sutured with staples or with an internal suture. The midwife removes these staples from the wound on the 7th or 8th day. This is not painful. It is possible that in the first days of the postpartum period the wound produces a small amount of blood or exudate. This is not bad. You can clean the wound with lukewarm water and possibly put a gauze over the wound to protect your clothing.

In the first six weeks you should not lift too much weight. This is to put as little strain on your muscles as possible. You can use your baby's weight as a guideline; you can always lift it. For the same reason, you should not train your abdominal muscles after a caesarean section. You may experience a pulling sensation on the side of the wound. This is completely normal and is due to the stitches under the skin. Some women experience a numbness around the caesarean section scar. This is because the nerves have been damaged by the surgery. It can take up to a year for this feeling to fully return.

The advice is to wait with sex until the blood loss has stopped. The advice when you can become pregnant again differs per gynecologist. Some advise to wait at least six months, others at least one year. This depends on the reason for the caesarean section. It is best to discuss this during the follow-up.