The birth of a child is a moment the mother looks forward to. Seeing your miracle take shape is an incredible feeling! This event can happen in several ways, one of which is by cesarean section. Cesarean birth is by far the most common method of delivery in Brazil1. Although it is safe, it is certainly major surgery and should be cared for as such. It should not be treated as a simple or trivial procedure after the baby is born.
A cesarean section involves cutting through 7 layers of skin and tissue to remove the baby from the lower abdomen, approximately along the bikini line, at the pelvis. After the baby is born and the uterus is cleaned of residuals like the placenta and endometrial blood, the doctor in charge begins suturing (stitching) the incision on all the layers2.
After birth, the mother may feel strange around the surgical site. Some doctors place a band-aid style tape over the incision, which is removed during the mother’s first shower. Others prefer not to use this tape, but in all cases it’s important to watch for infection in that area immediately after delivery.
When it comes to pain, it is subjective; the fact is that each person handles pain differently, so it is impossible to know exactly how your body will react3. Some women report pain at the site, others say they do not feel pain but just a pulling or burning sensation in the incision area. Do not give in to the horror stories that may come up in the days before your cesarean birth. Pain is not the same for everyone and remember, there are medications for pain, okay? Usually, the postpartum period requires rest and some care for a good recovery, and some of that care includes the following:
Lifting weight and moving around: Sometimes we feel so well after delivery that we forget we’ve had surgery. It’s not uncommon to see some mothers a few days after surgery, or even in the maternity ward, trying to lift something heavy, like a suitcase or an older child. This is not recommended at all because the stitches are still new and could become inflamed or burst from the effort made to lift weight.
As for movement, it can be uncomfortable at first, but the more the mother walks, the better. Staying still can lead to a buildup of gas, swelling, and poor circulation. That’s why it’s important to keep moving. If you are not comfortable, ask your doctor if you can use a postpartum girdle; it can help make sitting and standing less painful. However, use it in moderation due to the risk of putting pressure on blood vessels in the pelvic area. Going up and down stairs is not a major problem, but it’s best to avoid lots of stairs in the first days after birth. Ideally, you should have someone help you if you need to go up or down, or try to keep things within reach on one floor of the house.
Properly clean the area: Soap and water. That’s what is recommended to clean the incision site immediately and for the first few days after the procedure. You do not need to apply anything else unless your doctor prescribes an ointment or medication to be taken.
Take all medications at the correct times: This is one of the most important points to highlight. In addition to anti-inflammatory medication and pain relief, it is essential that the mother does not forget to take antibiotics if prescribed by the doctor. The pain medication, even if it sometimes seems unnecessary, is important so that you can take better care of your baby without so much discomfort, so if your doctor has recommended it, use it without fear. Usually, drugs like Lisador or another safe medication (as long as you’re not allergic) will be prescribed for the postpartum period.
Monitoring the stitches: When the stitches are dry, that’s a very good sign. However, if there is discharge, redness, intense burning on one or both sides, or if it’s warmer than usual, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. These are signs that something may be wrong. Even if the incision was glued externally, there are sutures inside. In this case, how you feel is most important; if you feel that something isn’t right, talk to your doctor. Sometimes a woman may be allergic to the suture material, in which case recovery takes longer and there is more discharge. If that’s your case, also speak with your doctor as soon as possible.
Recovery Stories After Cesarean Section
In 2002, I had my first cesarean section. I recovered very well despite the normal discomfort of surgery. I didn’t have dizziness or pain, but I still felt the area firmer, perhaps because of the stitches, but it went back to normal over time, except for local sensitivity. The cesarean recovery was excellent—after 15 days, it seemed like I hadn’t had any procedure, except for numbness at the site.
In 2006, I had another cesarean. Just like the first time, everything went well, but two days after birth, I started to feel a burning sensation on the right side of the incision. The stitches were more red and hot and started to hurt from the inside out. I went to the doctor, who told me to take an antibiotic appropriate for the postpartum period because an infection was starting in the stitches due to exertion after childbirth. As opposed to my first experience, I was not prescribed an anti-inflammatory or antibiotics when I was discharged. After ten days of medication, the incision healed and dried very well.
The third time, the procedure was smooth, but my recovery was slower. I felt more pain after delivery due to the adjustment of the pelvic skin by the doctor and because of the tubal ligation, which, yes, burned more than the cesarean stitches themselves. It took more time—about 20 to 25 days to recover as well as I had after 15 days with the other two, but the pain was about the same, not more, not less. I just made sure to take the medication properly so I wouldn’t have the same issues as with the second birth.
