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C-Section Recovery Timeline and Recovery Tips from a Repeat C-Section Mom

With my first (emergency) c-section, I had no idea what I was supposed to do and what to expect through recovery. I was frantically Googling everything the moment I could at the hospital.

The second time around with my elective c-section, I had a lot more time to prepare and research. As I’m writing this now after 5 months of healing from my second cesarean, I can more realistically give you my recount of my two c-section experiences.

If you are electing a cesarean thinking it’ll be “easier” than vaginal birth, please remember that this is major abdominal surgery. Recovery will be longer and harder than the typical vaginal birth (unless you have 4th degree tear).

I hope this post will paint a realistic picture as to what recovery will look like.

The second time around, the surgeon was able to remove my previously hypertrophic scar and I’ve been MUCH more intentional with recovery and healing.

What to expect in this post (click Page Contents at the top):

  • what to do if you are sick (especially coughing) before surgery
  • what the OB and nurses have told me at the hospital for caring for my body after major abdominal surgery
  • my c-section recovery detailed breakdown starting with the first 12 hours post surgery
  • my c-section recovery must haves
  • my top tips for faster recovery

I will be writing on the difference in my experience between the emergency cesarean versus the elective cesarean. Subscribe to Time Value of Mommy to be updated on when new posts are published!

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C Section Recovery Timeline

Getting Sick Before Elective C-Section Surgery

I had a lingering cough that wouldn’t go away for 3 weeks before surgery. I was TERRIFIED of what would happen during the surgery and post-surgery coughing fits. Thankfully my coughing fits were mostly sporadic and mild by the time the c-section came around.

However, the surgeon and the anesthesiologist did say that it’s not a huge concern. He told me that if I anticipate a “coughing fit” during surgery, I can put up my hand and let them know, and they will stop until I can get it out. Thankfully, I didn’t need to do this. I was also offered some hospital grade throat lozenge (cough drop) that pretty much numbed my throat prior to the surgery. It was so strong I had to spit it out right before we started.

So, this is all to say if you are sick and coughing…speak to your surgeon and/or the anesthesiologist prior to surgery and they will help you figure it out.

If You Need to Cough or Sneeze After C-Section

Use a pillow to gently press and cover your incision. This is the best tip that I got from the doctor and nurses. It minimizes the pain and holds your incision area intact since coughing can really engage your core.

Surgeon’s Post C-Section Care Instructions

  1. I was told that steri-strips will fall off by itself after 2 weeks.
    • Not quite. First time I was terrified of ripping it off, so I didn’t touch it and it was pretty stuck on for the first 4 weeks (!!!). My midwife had to help me rip it off when she saw it still on me at my check up.
    • Tip: as you shower and it gets wet, the corners will lift and you can use an alcohol wipe to help remove the adhesive and help it come off easier. DO NOT let it stay on for more than 3 weeks because it will dry and fold your incision site and I think that contributed to my first hypertrophic scar.
  2. No lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first 6 weeks.
  3. No driving for the first 6 weeks until surgeon clears you.
  4. No strenuous exercise or movements like twisting or deep bending for the first 6 weeks.
    • I had a friend who vacuumed within the first week of her surgery because she felt ok and it popped a stitch!
    • I was worried because I have stairs in my house, and my surgeon told me as long as I took it slow, stairs are ok post c-section.
  5. Look for signs of infection or irritation from the incision site. Any odd smells or leakage should be reported right away.
    • The nurse has told my husband to take a look at the incision area while we were in the hospital to show him what looks normal.
  6. Do not wash the incision site vigorously for the first 2 weeks. Just let the water run off the body and pad to dry.
    • Since the steri-strips gets soaked, I used a hair dryer and aimed an arms length away and dried the incision area.
c section recovery kit

The First 12 Hours (at the hospital)

What to Expect
  • You will be shaking uncontrollably from the anesthesia right after the surgery, also feeling quite cold. Nurses at triage will put socks and warm covers on you to help you stop shaking. I stopped shaking within 15 minutes after my second c-section but I was shaking for a good hour at least after my emergency c-section.
  • Once you are moved into your hospital room, the nurse will come in and take off your dressing, check for bleeding, check for blood clots, and press the stomach area (feel uterus) to control bleeding after birth, change sanitary pads.
  • You will be unhooked from the saline IV bag but they will leave the IV needle still inserted in the hand. This was bothering me the most and it was causing a dull ache in my hand.
  • Your catheter will still be in, but it won’t be that noticeable.
  • You will be sleeping on an incline. You will not be able to comfortably sleep fully on your back or side until about 2 weeks postpartum.
  • Your calves, ankles and feet will be swollen if you do not wear compression socks. It will be uncomfortable.
Tips for Healing
  • Ask for pain medication immediately if you feel elevated pain levels (i.e. above a 4 or a 5 out of 10). My hospital gave me stronger medication for the first 24 hours if I asked for it. This is to eat on top of the acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Do NOT wait until the pain becomes unbearable. It takes TIME for pain medication to work.
  • If you need to cough, sneeze or laugh, press a pillow against your incision site. You don’t want to pop any stitches!
  • Wear compression socks. Get a medical grade pair with at least 20-30 mmHg of compression- see below. Ask your partner or nurse to help put it on right after they take off the ones the hospital provides. Wear this for at least the 7-10 days and it REALLY helps with swelling.
  • Ask for stool softener to drink with juice. My hospital gave the ones that dissolve in water and it was gross to drink it with water. You can also bring your own – see below.
  • Eat a lightly seasoned meal, drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as you can.
Recovery Must Haves
  • Nook Organic Nursing Pillow
  • You’ll want as MANY pillows as possible to help support your breastfeeding journey if you choose to do so. Even if you are bottle feeding, you want to have some support if you’ve had a c-section.
  • Medical Grade Compression Socks (at least 20-30 mmHg compression)
  • You do not need more than 2-3 pairs. I highly recommend you wear it as soon as you are in your hospital room after surgery. It helped me so much with healing because my feet were barely swollen due to the high compression, and thus I was able to walk easier and recover faster.

The First 24 Hours (at the hospital)

What to Expect
  • Catheter will be taken out and the IV needle from your hand will be taken out.
    • You will need to go to the washroom by yourself within the next 6 hours or they will have to re-insert the catheter. This happened to me after my first c-section. See my tip below on how to avoid this.
  • Nurse will come press on belly which is very uncomfortable for the duration of hospital stay to check for bleeding, prevent blood clots and check uterus position.
  • There will be quite a lot of gas pains, some incision pain and soreness especially concentrated on the side where the surgeon finished the sutures.
  • Some burning and sharp pains as you move.
  • Your nurse will tell you to get up and go to the bathroom. This is likely the first time you’re out of bed. Take it SLOW. The nurse will assist you. Your belly is going to feel very “jiggly” like jello.
  • Even though you’ve delivered via c-section, your uterus needs to clear out the contents and you will still be bleeding postpartum.
Tips for Healing
  • Do not miss any pain medications. Set an alarm.
  • Keep hydrated. Make sure you have enough liquids for recovery and to be able to go to the washroom. The hospital is also very dry. You’ll need LOTS of water for breastfeeding!
  • How to get out of bed after cesarean:
    • From an inclined sitting position, support yourself with your elbows.
    • Lift one elbow and roll to your side gently.
    • Pull the side of the hospital bed (it has handles) with the free hand, and slowly drop both legs over the side of the bed.
    • Push yourself up into a sitting position.
  • Use a belly band when you are moving around and walking! This helped SO MUCH during my recovery for my second c-section. I was told to not use one by the nurses for my first c-section, so I didn’t. I asked my surgeon and even she agreed it would be helpful. My midwife also agreed. Walking helps bowel movement and relieves gas while also helps shift things in place.
    • I found that I was feeling way better supported and less “jiggly”. This helped me have the support to walk more, and thus heal much faster.
  • Run the sink water to help your body relieve itself. Nothing else worked for me and I was getting more stressed from trying.
  • Use adult diapers. Don’t bother with pads and underwear or anything constricting. Don’t bother with having to change pads on even disposable underwear.
  • Use an upside down peri-bottle for cleaning down there. It helps to not have to bend any further than you have to.
Recovery Must Haves
  • Postpartum Belly Support Recovery Wrap
  • Remember to start with ONLY the belly band and work your way to add the other bands below as you heal after 6 weeks onwards. DO NOT use the bands that will irritate the incision site until after 6 weeks.
  • Don’t wrap the belly band too tightly for the first few weeks. Use it only for walking around and not for when you are sitting or lying down.
  • Reduce 40oz Tumbler with Handle
  • I am TERRIBLE at drinking water and with this tumbler, I’ve been drinking 2 to 3 of these a DAY!
  • Keeping hydrated is extremely important for recovery as well as breastfeeding!
  • This tumbler fits the bill perfectly because it has 3 ways to drink (I use the straw to sip), it is fully insulated, fits a ton of water, dishwasher safe, has a handle AND fits the cup holder!
  • Always Discreet Postpartum Underwear
  • No need for any pads and underwear combo situation. You don’t want to be bending. Just wear this and rip it from the sides to dispose!

First 48 Hours (at the hospital)

What to Expect
  • You’ll still be sleeping in reclined, semi seated position.
  • It will hurt to walk, bend, or do any large movements. Take it slow!
  • Taking medication, taking care of your newborn, hospital staff coming in and out…it will all be A LOT. There will be interruptions constantly, but you’ll want to rest as much as possible with all of the help you have at the hospital.
  • Assuming all is well and your baby does not have other concerns (most commonly jaundice), you will be discharged on the third day (in B.C., Canada).
Tips for Healing
  • Walk around (using the belly band). I was feeling much more supported with the belly band, and I would take short walks around my room and down the hallway at the hospital. This was tremendously helpful because I remember with my first c-section I could barely walk and I was asking for a wheelchair to be discharged and the nurse denied me saying I need to walk to heal. Second time around, I was walking out (slowly) with no cold sweating!
  • Shut your eyes. Bring a sleeping eye mask to get some rest because likely the lights will almost always be on at the hospital for different checkups. You need to rest if you want to heal fast!
  • Ask for help. If you need any assistance, especially physically. Do NOT strain. Press that nurse button, they are there to help you. Do not feel bad, and do not wait too long because likely the hospital is very busy and the nurse may not get to you right away.
  • Ask questions. The time to ask questions is during the time you have at the hospital. Do not spiral and worry if you are not sure about what they are doing to you OR your baby at the hospital. Ask and speak up. Minimize stress and worry because it will not help with recovery. If you forgot, ask again. Get your partner to listen.
Recovery Must Haves
  • Silk Sleeping Eye Mask
  • I’ve tried a few sleep masks and this one is super affordable, comes with 2 (one for you and one for your partner!) and super comfortable. I like how it is lightweight and doesn’t press against the eyes/head. You’ll get a blackout effect at the hospital and won’t be super sad if you lost it.

First 10 Days

What to Expect
  • First 10 days is the worst for recovery. You’re going to be in slight, dull pain (assuming you’ve taken your medication) and swollen.
  • I was walking with a slight bend (like a grandma) and moving slowly, especially up and down the stairs.
  • You’ll be taking pain medication consistently for at least the first 7-10 days after surgery without lowering the dosage or increasing the medication cycle.
  • It will be uncomfortable to sleep on side since your belly feels like it has little support and the incision scar is fresh.
Tips for Healing
  • Take your pain medication on time. Set an alarm. Do not wait too long between medication cycles. I was warned by the doctor and midwife if I waited too long and the pain is severe, the medication will do little to help because it takes time to work.
  • Sleep on your back with an incline and your feet up. Use lots of pillows under your back and head area so you have a slight incline. You’ll want your feet to be slightly raised because it will be swollen. Mine was swollen for almost 10 days after surgery after my first c-section because I didn’t wear compression socks!
  • Wear compression socks. See my sock recommendation above.
  • Take supplements. I took the prenatal from Garden of Life – see below because it has higher iron content than the regular daily supplements. I was also told to take an additional iron supplement from my midwife. You’ll want to use the stool softener if you are taking iron supplements because it can make you very constipated.
  • Take it slow, but movement is important. You’ll need to take everything VERY slow with gentle movements. Walking and moving around is important for healing.
  • Stay hydrated. I cannot stress this enough! Important for recovery and breastfeeding.
  • Eat balanced meals. Quality over quantity, and it is especially important for healing and breastfeeding!
    • Foods to avoid: seafood, eggs, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, fast food, and junk foods.
    • I was also told by my mother in law to avoid any “dark” foods like soy sauce to minimize scarring, but this is an old wives tale with no scientific backing. Minimizing sun exposure WILL minimize darkening of scars, though!
  • Ask for help. If there is ever a time to ask for help from your family and friends, THIS IS IT. You’ll want as much help with the chores around the house, cooking, taking care of your other kid(s), dog(s), etc as possible. You NEED to rest and be gentle on your body.
Recovery Must Haves
  • FeraMax Iron Supplement
  • My midwife had told me to continue taking iron supplements for 3 months postpartum. This will help with ensuring you have sufficient iron levels for healing and recovery.
  • You can also consider Palafer which has a higher dosage. Please consult your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

Week 2

What to Expect
  • You’ll be able to walk mostly normally, but will be sore if not careful.
  • You’re going to feel MUCH better but walking too quickly/ too much, going up and down the stairs too quickly, or generally trying to do too much around the house will cause pains.
  • You’ll be able to sleeping fully flat on your back now. Sleeping on your side will still cause minor soreness. Use pillow between legs for side sleeping.
  • You can start to lower the dosage for pain medication and increase medication cycles. My midwife told me to first lower dosage, then increase the time between medication. Do it slowly over the next week for your body to adjust. Never go cold turkey!
Tips for Healing
  • Take it slow. Even though you feel much better, you are still fresh out of the surgery. Give yourself AT LEAST the first 6 weeks before resuming your pre-surgery activities. Your wound requires time to heal, and your body requires time to heal from the birth.
  • Ask for help. You’ve just gone through major surgery and your body is not feeling like your own. This is a huge life transition, and you need a village! I am TERRIBLE at this, but I really pushed myself to just take the nice gestures and say Thank You instead of saying It’s Ok. Take up all of the kind offers, show gratitude, and don’t try to do everything yourself!

Week 3

What to Expect
  • You’ll be back to normal mobility for most day to day tasks and activities with no pain medications.
  • Your scar is still numb to the touch, and I highly recommend to take steri-strips off if not off by itself at this point. You can use alcohol wipes to get the sticky residue off your body.
  • You will still have a visible belly postpartum and what people call a c-section “shelf” where there’s a bit of belly hanging over the incision scar. This is all normal. Your body grew a human for 9 months! Don’t worry about vanity and focus on healing.
Tips for Healing
  • Massage around the c-section scar area (with some body oil). You can look up many different massages to help reduce the numbness and promote healing around the scar area. I did NOT know this the first time and I was too scared to touch that area. Massaging this area helped significantly to reduce the area that felt numb to the touch.
  • Start using scar gel and silicone scar sheets. Once steri-strips are off and the incision area is clean and healed, you can start using scar gels and silicone scar sheets. I can tell my scar is significantly lighter, thinner, and more even because of this gel used WITH the silicone sheets compared to my first c-section recovery!
  • Use stretch mark oil to massage the belly and breast area. I use the Weleda stretch mark oil all throughout pregnancy (1 bottle last 1 trimester used everyday) and I also use it postpartum to add hydration into the skin and massage the c-section area. Just as your body was stretched to grow your baby, the rapid shrinking of your belly and your milk coming in can also create stretch marks.
  • Continue to move and take short walks for faster healing. Take it slow and don’t push your body at this time, but it is important to keep some movement in your day to day to help with healing.
  • Continue to take supplements, eat balanced meals, and stay hydrated.
Recovery Must Haves
  • Alcohol Wipe Pads
  • After my first c-section, I tried to take off the steri-strips myself when the corners were starting to curl but it was stuck to my skin pretty well. I was terrified to rip the stitch or pull my skin so I left it as is. After my second c-section, the nurse gave me some alcohol wipes and it worked WONDERS. Using the alcohol prep pads made it so easy to take off any sticky residues off your body.
  • CytoDerma Advanced Scar Gel
  • This has a slightly oily consistency, very runny. A little goes a long way and it does make a difference to the pigmentation of my scar. I tried this on some older burn scar on my knee and it has also helped lighten it.
  • The important thing is to keep it consistent and to apply at least once daily, especially within the first 8 weeks of using it.
  • Silicone Scar Sheets
  • I use these silicone scar sheets after I’ve applied the scar gel. These are quite sticky once on the skin, so you don’t have to worry about it falling off. They are also waterproof, and you can freely swim or shower with it on.
  • I changed the sheets out everyday for the first 8 weeks then I progressively increased the duration to changing it about every 2-3 days and leaving a day or two in between to let the skin breathe.

Week 6 to 8

What to Expect
  • You’ll see a significant reduction of belly (especially if you are breastfeeding) around this time.
  • Your incision area will still be numb to the touch for a while, and sometimes even months after surgery.
  • Your scar will look red. Some areas bright red, some areas like the ends might start to look more like shades of brown.
  • Your postpartum bleeding will likely have reduced significantly to spotting occasionally or completely gone by this point.
  • You’ll see your surgeon for a 6 week check up for them to examine and clear you to resume your activities. This is the time to ask all of your questions!
    • I recommend you asking pointed questions if you are specific about certain exercises.
    • Ask about long term care, family planning, expectations for next baby (even if it’ll be far away)
Tips for Healing
  • Continue everything mentioned from week 3.
  • Based on your recovery and body condition, incorporate some light exercise into your routine.

Long Term Recovery

What to Expect
  • By month 3 and 4, you will still have a visible pooch and the c-section shelf. With light exercises, you’ll slowly but surely build up core strength.
  • The c-section scar is still red and visible for the first couple of months, and will heal over the next year.
  • As your scar heals, it may itch. If clothing rubs against it, it could also itch. If you see any visible signs of infections or other issues, reach out to your doctor right away.
  • The scar and the nearby area could be numb to the touch for many months. This is normal.
Tips for Healing
  • Keep the incision area clean. I also use a gentle feminine wash to clean that area.
  • Be consistent with scar gels and silicone strips. I highly recommend to continue putting the silicone and scar gel on for as long as you can. I am still doing it now (5 months postpartum at the time of writing), though not as frequently.
  • Massage the area consistently. This helped me a lot in terms of reducing the area of numbness the second time around.
  • Floor exercises and keeping active. This will help with tightening the core and building those muscles up over time.
Recovery Must Haves

This post was all about my c-section recovery experience and c-section recovery tips from my two cesarean sections. If there are other questions around c-section recovery that I’ve not covered, please feel free to leave it in the comments below!

All the best if you are going in for an elective c-section!

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