Caesarean section is a major operation that can leave pain afterwards. Even small movements, such as moving out of bed, laughing, or coughing, can make your pain hurt. This can take up to six months after surgery.
Be patient and give your body the time it takes to recover while doing the following healing steps.
Footwork and Light Walks
The pain that is whipping after a caesarean may make you think you are no longer able to walk. However, strengthen your physique and be enthusiastic to try to move your legs and take a light walk. When in bed, try to occasionally move your ankle. The midwife or nurse will usually help the patient to get out of bed and take a light walk around the room as soon as possible after the baby is born within 24 hours.
The faster you get up and move, the better it is for smooth blood circulation. If you do not move to accelerate blood circulation, the possibility of blood clots forming will increase and blood clots can be blocked in the legs or lungs, so that it can become a serious condition. Try walking around holding your baby. In addition to preventing constipation and helping your body recover, this activity is also a good start in introducing your baby to the circumstances around him. Apart from that, avoid strenuous exercise or lifting weights first, yes
Managing Emotions Well
It is natural for you to experience feelings that you did not expect before. Your feelings depend on your wishes before giving birth and the birth process itself. You might be happy and grateful if you and your baby are fine, and your delivery is according to plan. You may have felt the opposite that you actually want to give birth normally, but what happened was having to undergo a caesarean. These feelings may be related to anxiety about medical complications, pain, stress, fatigue due to major surgery, and the psychological status of the mother.
A study revealed that women who gave birth by Caesarean were less satisfied with their birthing experience. In addition, they also need more time to start the first interaction with the baby. Even mothers who give birth by caesarean tend not to breastfeed their babies when compared to mothers who give birth normally. Another study states that some women who give birth by Caesarean experience strong feelings of anger, failure, and loss.
Try to manage your emotions properly, for example in the following ways.
- Do not hesitate to express what can make you happy and comfortable with your partner and those closest to you. This is because your psychological condition after a Caesarean section can be better if you get attention to your specific needs from the people closest to you.
- If you feel sad, disappointed, or exhausted, don't ignore those feelings. You are encouraged to discuss the emotions felt with your partner, friend, doctor, or psychologist.
- Immediately seek help from a psychologist if you experience postpartum depression marked by the appearance of negative feelings that do not go away. You can feel sadness, despair, want to keep crying, or have disturbing thoughts. In severe cases, a mother can think of hurting her baby.
Caring for Surgical Incision Wounds
After surgery, the area around your wound will be covered with new skin. However, this new skin is easily scratched so you are advised to avoid sun exposure for three months after surgery. In addition, you can also apply how to treat post-Caesarean wounds with several steps as follows.
- Avoid having sex for 4-6 weeks or according to doctor's instructions.
- Change bandages every day.
- Make sure your hands and the hands of the people who care for you are always clean.
- If the nurse attaches the tape to your wound, leave it until it slides on its own or at least wait for a week. But if not released after a week, you can take it off slowly.
- Wash the wound daily using warm water mixed with soap. No problem to take a shower like usual. The important thing is to rinse your wound so that it doesn't leave soap. To dry, pat your wound using a clean, soft towel.
- Avoid cleaning products with ingredients that can slow down the healing process, such as hydrogen peroxide compounds. You can check the packaging label.
- Hold your cut wounds with a pillow when you cough, cry, or breathe deeply to avoid stressing the surface of the injured skin.
- Wear special pads for new mothers and change as often as possible.
- Do not use powder or lotion on the wound.
- Don't rub or scratch the wound and don't swim or soak because it can slow healing and risk opening the wound.
- Use a heating pad or heating pad to ease discomfort in the incision area.
Enough for your rest time
Take a break every time your baby rests, including during the day. Meanwhile at night, try to sleep for 7-8 hours if possible. Sleep is important for the body to support the growth of tissue in helping the wound healing process. Do not forget to drink lots of water and eat foods rich in fiber to prevent constipation.
In addition to getting enough sleep, you are also advised not to do activities that cause increased stomach pressure, such as going up and down stairs repeatedly. Therefore, prepare all your needs and your baby's food, drink and diapers close to you to be easily accessible. Don't hesitate to ask for help from people around you to look after your baby or change your diapers so you can rest for a few minutes. Although it is brief, it is beneficial in keeping your body fit.
Recognize any danger signs
Wound infections are possible, even if the doctor has given you antibiotics during the operation. If you feel unwell for a week or even longer after surgery, you may have an infection and it is advisable to contact a doctor immediately. Here are some signs of infection:
- Fever
- The wound becomes swollen, reddish, and feels warm
- Increased pain in the incision area
- There is pus
- Swollen lymph nodes occur in the armpits, neck, or groin
- Stomach feels full or hard
- Urination is painful, painful, or even difficult to urinate
- Heavy bleeding
- Smells out.
In addition to infection, call your doctor immediately if the wound that was previously covered becomes open or separated. Consult with your doctor also if your breasts are sore and you experience flu-like symptoms.
You need medical help as soon as possible if you show serious symptoms, such as severe stomach pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, or fainting. Because it has many risks and complications, the considerations for a caesarean section need to be consulted with a gynecologist well. If possible, ask the doctor's opinion whether a caesarean section can be avoided.
Don't forget to take pain medication according to doctor's orders. No need to worry because the medicines prescribed by doctors are usually safe for mothers who are breastfeeding. In addition, it is better not to compare the experience of caesarean section that is undertaken with others because each woman has a different experience. It's better to focus on self-recovery.
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