After your caesarean birth
Recovering after a caesarean birth
Bowel function
It can take some time for your bowels to get back into a normal pattern after surgery, but this usually happens up to a week after birth. Some women will experience painful trapped wind and constipation. There is medication you can have to help you with this.
Other things that can help normal bowel function are walking, reduced use of heavy pain killers such as morphine, eating small amounts early, and drinking lots of water.
Vaginal bleeding
Vaginal bleeding after caesarean is normal; use period pads (not tampons) to avoid infection.
You can expect bleeding as heavy as a period which will slowly tail off until it stops around two weeks after birth. Some bleeding and discharge is normal after giving birth, it is called Lochia.
Lochia starts as bright red blood/small clots, this becomes lighter and clots became smaller. Usually, in the second week it settles down to pink or brown discharge before becoming yellow discharge that doesn’t smell for up to 6 weeks.
If you are soaking through pads please see your midwife. If your bleeding slows down and then becomes heavier again speak to your midwife or doctor. It may be a sign of an infection.
Managing pain
Pain management both whilst in hospital and at home
You have had a big operation. It will be important to take painkillers regularly to keep the pain under control. You will usually be offered paracetamol, dihydrocodeine and an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen/naproxen/diclofenac). In the hospital you may also be offered other drugs for example morphine if needed.
Caesarean scar pain in the short and long term The scar (usually horizontal below the bikini line) will fade with time. Discomfort may last several days to weeks; but can continue for several months.
References
Caesarean birth. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 33877751. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng192/chapter/Recommendations.
Postnatal Care. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021 April 20. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng194
