My c-section recovery & essentials

 

Hello, there! I've received many questions via DMs on my c-section recovery and here I am, sharing it in this post.

I think I've mentioned in my previous labor post, how a c-section is not intentional and I only read about it the night before my operation. But I'm blessed with aunts that had gone through c-sections and they helped me out with some tips and tricks.

Due to C-section, I had to stay in the hospital for three days after the surgery. During this time, I was given pain medication as necessary. I was given painkillers every 4 hours to help me with the recovery. Despite the use of medication, I was still quite sore.

After my procedures, I could not feel my feet for the next 24 hours. I felt nauseous and I could only eat 6 hours after I returned to my ward. I threw up twice after my operation. I still had a catheter placed, so I didn't have to commute to the toilet for a pee for at least the next 12 hours. Nurses at Mahkota Medical Centre helped me out with changing too when I still couldn't feel my feet.

The next morning after my c-section, I started experiencing soreness at my incision site, before feeling cramp-like "after pains" when my uterus started to contract and shrink in size. Later, the nurse encouraged me to try to walk again within 24 hours of my operation. She even helped me walk to the loo, just in case if I felt dizzy. I also read online that walking will help my body to pass gas, which was true. I forced myself to walk around my hospital room, though it hurt, gas can be very uncomfortable especially when it occurred under my incision site.

Another painful thing that I felt was at my bladder, I needed to urinate frequently, so my bladder did not get too full, or else I would have to pay for the pain.

The pain did make me cry once a while in the first two weeks post-childbirth. But it's not good to cry during postpartum days because it may result in postpartum depression. I just had to keep telling myself that a full recovery from a c-section will take up to 6 weeks. This pain shall pass. I was depending on painkillers for four weeks. Consuming paracetamols every 4 hours helped with coping with the pain.

C-section pain is one thing, breastfeeding pain is another. But I will share on breastfeeding some other time because that deserves a whole new post. I was always reminded to not lift anything heavier than my newborn, to walk every day as walking helps prevent blood clots and constipation, to hold a pillow over my incision when I need to cough or laugh. And I had to remind my husband and siblings to not crack so many jokes because I cannot laugh like normal people. 

I wanna share my c-section recovery essentials, that might help you in the future :)

1. Pain relief - can be paracetamol or anything that your doctor recommends. I took it every 4 hours, it really helps with the recovery. I prefer Celebrex :)

2. Vitamin C - I take a Vitamin C tablet, the one for kids (30mg) because the pharmacist told me a breastfeeding mom cannot consume vitamin C tablets more than 30mg. Vitamin C helps in speeding the recovery.

3. Stool Softeners - this helps make that first poop less scary and more tolerable. Stool softeners also help prevent you from straining, which could irritate your incision. I request this from my doctor because being discharged.

4. Incision care - Although the doctor said, I can shower normally, I still cover my wound with plastic during the shower. 

I cover my incision with plastic and adhesive dressing tape when showering.

After showering, Pan helped me cleaning my incision with warm water. He soaked cotton ball in warm water and cleaned the wound. Later, he'd pat the area dry after cleaning.

5. Dermatix Advanced Scar Formula

Many women say that their scars are still tender to the touch for months after surgery, and some say that it is still numb for up to a year.  My doctor advises me to apply this gel after cleaning the wound and after it dries, to help avoid having a noticeable scar, 

I'd wear high-waisted underwear later.

5. High-Waisted Underwear 

6. Nursing pillow

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, having a nursing pillow of some kind is helpful for all parents. Having a soft pillow designed to fit around your body is a nice barrier between your incision and the weight of your baby. It also helps bring the baby closer to you so that you don’t have to bend or lean over, which can irritate your incision.

7. Sleep and have enough rest

Sleep is essentials! Yes, with a newborn it seems impossible but when she sleeps, I sleep. Sleeping helps me recover fast and ofc I need extra help from my family.

8. Eat healthy food!

I know Malay Pantang can be very limiting but eat healthy food is a key to fast recovery. No, I don't eat pati ikan haruan / gamat. Just normal nutritious food. I love this makanan pantang set from shopee I bought!

 During the first two weeks, I felt very exhausted. I know women who give birth by cesarean section have a much more difficult time regaining their energy compared with those who give birth vaginally. I'm glad I receive extra help from my mom, my husband, and my siblings to take care of Iryss during this time.

After a month, I was no longer in much pain, though I still need to hold a pillow to cover my incision when I need to cough or laugh and I still cannot lift anything heavier than my baby. But it's all good. 

Do I want to go through it all over again? Maybe, if I need to. But as for now, I'm just gonna let my body recovers and enjoy every moment with my baby Iryss.