Recovering from c section was one of the hardest times in my life. Its been almost two years since my first c section surgery and I wanted to share some tips that I learned to help you recover faster and what helped me with my c section recovery. Its so important to be prepared and know what to expect afterwards. 
1. Be Prepared.
I knew that recovering from C-section wasn’t going to be easy, I knew that I will have some pain as expected with every surgery. But oh boy, I did not know it was going to be so bad. I woke up in pain and the meds did not seem to work. Don’t expect to be pain-free if you take pain medication, they will help but the pain won’t completely go away.
I wasn’t able to make any kind of movement that requires you to use your abdominal muscles. And if you think about it, we use abdominal muscles for almost everything. That was one of the hardest parts of recovering. I could not sit up in bed, or even turn to the other side without the help of my husband and nurses.
Walking will not be easy, so accept help and take it slow. C section is major surgery and shouldn’t be taken lightly, and the recovery isn’t easy but trust me with time it gets better.
2. Start Moving as soon as you can.
I wish I pushed myself and started walking the same day I had my surgery, but I was in too much pain so the doctor let me rest and I waited until the next day to walk. A few hours after my surgery I was experiencing gas pains, and the pain was excruciating and it only got worse. The pain was so bad I couldn’t sleep at night, and the pain meds did not help at all. Walking and any kind of movement get the bowels working again and helps to ease those sharp gas pains. The next day I felt much better after I moved around, the more I walked the fewer gain pains I had.
3. Rest.
I know I just said how you need to start moving and now I’m saying rest. But its important not to overdo it to also, let your body recover. Your muscles and uterus need time to heal especially the first few days. I do recommend gentle walking, but don’t overdo it, take it easy. Rest is very crucial for recovery, it helps your body heal. You will most likely feel very weak after surgery, so trust me to take naps whenever you can. Sleep helps your body regenerate and heal faster.
4. Don’t skip pain meds.
I know everyone has different pain tolerance, I usually don’t like taking strong pain medication, but myomectomy is very painful and without the pain meds I was just miserable. Don’t skip a dose, it takes time for the pain meds to kick in, so don’t wait until your pain. Unfortunately, pain meds can cause constipation, make sure you also take Gas X and Stool Softener they will help you feel more comfortable.
5. Pillows will be your best friend.
Hold a small pillow against your stomach if you need to sneeze, cough or laugh. Also, prop as many pillows as you can in bed to help you sleep and get out of bed.
6. Getting out of bed will be difficult, especially when your home without the guard rail like the hospital bed. Try rolling on your side and use your elbows and hands to push yourself up.
7. Take daily showers.
You will feel like a new person (well almost) after a fresh shower. Showering helps you relax and loosen up, and you will feel so much better. It’s the little things that make a big difference.
8. Accept all the help you can get.
My husband took two weeks off to take care of me, and I don’t know how I would have survived without him. The first two days I was not able to move at all without his help, and I am so blessed to have my family close by. In the beginning, little things that you take for granted like standing up is very painful, so don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.
10. It’s Ok to Cry.
C-section is major abdominal surgery and it’s very emotional, you will most likely feel weak and not to mention in pain. Crying acknowledges the feelings and emotions you’re experiencing, it’s ok to let it out and it could even help you relieve stress.
11. Eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water.
Eating a good healthy diet helps to heal the stomach wall and the uterus. Nutrition plays a major role when recovering from a C Section. Bone broth is amazing for speeding up the recovery time, it’s packed with gelatin and amino acids which help with collagen production and wound healing.
12. Take it easy.
Don’t compare your self to others, and when you start feeling better remember to take it easy. I remember 3 weeks after my surgery I felt much better and took a very brisk walk, and later that evening I started to feel very sore and had lots of pain around my incision. Just because your feeling better does not mean that you completely healed and you don’t want to slow down the healing process.
Timing is everything, and at first, you might feel very discouraged but trust me on this one. It does get better, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. The first week is the hardest and after that, you will start feeling more like yourself. It’s important to mentally prepare yourself that it’s not going to be easy, celebrate small victories and hang in there mamma our bodies are amazing you will get through this.
-Mila
This was near to my heart as I had three C-Sections with my 3 daughters. Many blessings.
Such an informative read. Thanks for sharing ur experience xx
Thank you for sharing your experience! If I come across anyone having this procedure I will make sure to pass it along.
I had two C sections and they take time to heal. I would do it all over again. Totally worth it!
I hda a friend who had a c-section and yes, rest is key. She also needed to walk around alot to recover faster
Yes, my biggest recommendation for c-section recovery is to start moving as soon as possible. I felt so much better after I started walking, my only regret is that I waited so long.
Wow, didnt know how much was needed to recover.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I also had to c-sections for both my babies, and I think reading other people’s stories, and knowing what the experience can be like, is the best way to prepare yourself.
Women are so powerful, all that our bodies endure and our ability to fight through our own pains to take care of our babies.. tough! These are great tips for moms who just had a c-section.. Some of them apply for vaginal births too.
Thank you Ozella, and yes I totally agree it’s amazing how our bodies can go thru so much and the ability to heal itself.
Super helpful! I’m expecting soon and hoping for a vaginal delivery, but it’s good to be prepared! Sorry you’re experience was tough!
Thanks, Nicole, I hope you have easy and fast delivery.
These are all great tips! Recovering from both of my c-sections was awful! I had horrible gas pains my second day after delivery, too. My only relief was walking around, no matter how painful that was to do.
Yes I know exactly what you’re talking about, gas pains were the worst for me too. I wish I started walking sooner, its amazing how simply moving helps to relieve those gas pains.
I’m recovering from a C-section which l had 2 months ago! These are really helpful tips, I definitely need to focus more on the nutrition part and rest.
You’re halfway there mama, the first few weeks are the hardest after you have a c-section. Hope you have a quick recovery.
Ooohhhhh….alright! This is a new one to me. Another day, another something learned.
My first two babies arrived via completely uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. My third was a different story. I had vasa previa and was hospitalized starting at 30 weeks and knew this delivery would be via C-section. Having had both deliveries, I can definitely say that recovery from the C-section was the tougher of the two! Taking care of yourself, physically and emotionally, is so important but can be difficult after having a baby because you now have someone else to think about. My biggest advice is to not be afraid to reach out and ask for help before you feel overwhelmed. I also found an abdominal binder to be incredibly useful in helping me be mobile shortly after surgery. Regardless of how baby arrives, be patient and give yourself grace as you recover. Adjusting to your post-baby body and the new little life takes time but things will normalize! Great tips!
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. Childbirth is already difficult, I couldn’t imagine adding C section recovery on top of that. Strong moms! ❤️
Thank you for the advice. I’m due to have a c section in 16 weeks. My first baby was a very traumatic vaginal delivery that made it impossible to ever go through a natural delivery again. It took almost 18 months of recovery/physical therapy to heal so I’m hoping the c sect will heal faster
Ive had 2 c sections so far and my first was a complete breeze surprisingly, but my second was an absolute nightmare. In 3 in a half months ill be having my third and final c section and im honestly nervous considering im 30 and not in the best shape anymore lol.
I had an emergency c-section 17 days ago (after 2 days of horrific back to back labour) and I’m still struggling with the pains in my abdomen and back. Definitely get up as soon as you’re able, even if it’s just to go to the toilet or get a drink. And my midwife told me to overlap the pain meds so they never run out (2x paracetamol then two hours later 2x ibuprofen then two hours later 2x paracetamol etc).
Reading this made me emotional all over again. I recently had a C section I wasn’t prepared for and it has been tough. I’m two weeks pp and just reading this made me feel validated with how I feel. Thank you.
Awe I know exactly how you feel, I hope you are feeling better. It gets better with time.