Q: What is a caesarean section?
A: A caesarean section is a surgery that is sometimes necessary to deliver a baby. An incision (a cut) is made on the abdomen. Usually the incision is made side to side, just above the pubic hair, which is sometimes referred to as a โbikiniโ cut. Less commonly the incision needs to be made up and down. The abdominal muscles are not cut but are moved out of the way, a cut is made in the uterus, and the baby is delivered out of the abdomen and then all the different layers inside are carefully repaired.
Q: How long does the surgery take?
A: On average, the surgery takes about an hour but it can vary. Sometimes it is longer, especially if mom has had previous surgeries in the same area, such as a previous caesarean section, which can lead to scar tissue formation within the abdomen.
Q: Will I feel the cutting?
A: The anesthetist (a doctor who specializes in pain management) will make sure you donโt have any pain. If you have already had an epidural, they add drugs to give you more pain control. Sometimes they give an anesthetic called a spinal, where they put a needle in your back to give you some freezing so you can be awake for the surgery but still be comfortable. Spinal and epidural anesthesia
take away pain, but youโll still feel some pressure and touching. A general anesthetic (or โgoing to sleepโ) has become much less common for caesareans as itโs usually safer for mom to be awake, although sometimes a general anesthetic is necessary, especially in some emergency situations.
Q: Can I still breastfeed?
A: Of course you can! As soon as the surgery is over youโll be able to breastfeed.
Q: Whatโs the hospital recovery like?
A: For approximately 12 hours after the surgery you will have a catheter, which is a tube in your bladder so you donโt have to get up to pee. During this time, most people are in bed. After the catheter comes out you have to get up to get to the bathroom and start moving
around. It hurts getting in and out of bed. Start eating a little bit first and see how you feel. If you donโt feel sick, you can eat more. On the second day, you can move around more but donโt overdo it or youโll be really sore the next day. Youโll have a bandage that comes off on the second day and then you can have a shower. The incision can get wet, but donโt scrub it. You can usually go home by the third day (sometimes even on the second day). If you have a side-to-side incision with staples, they can come out before you go home, but if itโs up and down they stay in at least a week. If you have dissolvable stitches then you donโt need to worry. If itโs a removable stitch it can come out before you go home or sometime over the next few weeks in your doctorโs office.
Q: Now that Iโm home, what do I need to know?
A: No Heavy Lifting: For a full six weeks after the surgery you canโt do any heavy lifting. Basically you can pick up your baby and thatโs it because you need time for all those inside layers to heal. So if you have a toddler at home you wonโt be able to pick her up. No pushing heavy grocery carts or big heavy vacuum cleaners, either. Try and get your family to help with chores. Take it easy with exercise and listen to your body. Walking is fine but I donโt recommend abdominal exercises until six weeks postpartum. Take the Stairs: It is safe to walk up and down stairs although many people find that walking down stairs causes some pain.
On the Road: When you can start driving a car again is somewhat controversial. If you are on painkillers that make you sleepy, then you shouldnโt be driving. Itโs also important that you can control your car, so if you are still having pain please donโt drive.
Healing: It is common to feel numbness in the skin around the incision. This can take many months to go away, so donโt worry if you have it. In the first few weeks, when the skin is healing, try and leave the incision uncovered (no bandage). You donโt need to put anything on it. Just pat it dry after a shower and then leave it open to the air as much as possible. If you have a fever, notice redness around the incision, have yucky stuff coming out of the incision or your pain suddenly gets much worse, itโs important to contact your doctor and explain your concerns.
