Most new parents and babies stay in the hospital for 48 to 72 hours after a C-section.
This section briefly describes your recovery. For more detailed information about your stay in the Pregancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre, visit Preparing for Your Delivery.
You and your baby stay together at all times unless you, your baby, or both of you have a medical problem.
During your recovery, you can expect us to:
- Check your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
- Check your baby’s heart rate and temperature.
- Check your incision and bandage.
The day of your surgery
- Your nurse helps you to get up and walk around your room within six hours of your surgery. Moving around can speed up your recovery and help prevent blood clots and constipation.
- To start with, we offer you ice chips. If you are feeling well and not sick to your stomach, you can gradually go back to eating normally.
The day after your surgery
- We take out your intravenous (IV).
- We remove the Foley catheter.
- You can take a shower.
Two days after your surgery
- We remove the staples that were holding your skin closed. Your skin should have healed enough by this time.
Medicines: We have what is called a ‘Self-Administered Medication Program’ in the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre. This means we give you a supply of medicines to keep at your bedside. You can then take them when you need them (self-administer). Included in the supply are medicines for pain and constipation.
Take your pain medicine regularly so you can move around and care for your baby without too much pain.
We suggest you take stool softeners for a couple of days so you can have softer bowel movements. This helps prevent any pain and straining on your incisions.
Infant feeding: Your C-section should not stop you from nursing your baby. We encourage all new parents to breast/chest feed their babies if they are able. Human milk is the best food for your new baby during the first two years of life and beyond. Our nurses will help you and your baby get off to a good start.
For the first few days, you and your baby will be learning how to breast/chest feed. It often takes practice. Skin-to-skin contact will help you to be successful. To learn more about infant feeding, see Feeding your Baby.