baby ·
csection ·
newborn ·
OBGYN ·
pregnancy ·
pregnant ·
recovery ·
scar ·
scars ·
skin ·
skincare ·
surgery ·
treatment ·
How Best to Recover After Having a C-section | Biodermis.com
A C-section, also known as caesarean section, is a surgical alternative for delivering a baby if the prospect of having a natural birth becomes too dangerous. C-sections account for approximately one-third of all births in the U.S., leaving many women to wonder how best to recover from one. Because a C-section is a surgical procedure, new mothers can expect to have some downtime and a scar once the wound has fully healed. What many people don’t know is that they do have more control than they think over the way their wounds and resultant scars heal.
Continue reading to find out more about how to recover after a C-section and what you can do to reduce scarring down the road.
The C-section recovery process
C-section deliveries are much more taxing on a woman’s body than a typical vaginal birth. Having a child grow inside of you for nine months and then having to undergo a surgical operation to remove the baby will leave you exhausted. Therefore, it’s important to listen to your doctor and get plenty of rest before resuming your normal daily routine.
Immediately after your C-section, you will likely be too tired to do much of anything. Most women remain in the hospital for several days after the procedure, sometimes more if there were any complications during the operation. Once out of the hospital, you will want to take it slow for up to eight weeks until you’ve regained your strength. This means that you should be doing no heavy lifting, preferably nothing heavier than your newborn baby. It’s a good idea to take light walks to help promote wound healing and reduce the chance of blood clots at the surgery site. After you’ve gotten clearance from your doctor, you can start engaging in moderate exercises and activities.
During your process of recovery after your C-section, you will want to maintain proper wound care. Much like any other wound, the incision from your C-section should be cleaned and covered with bandage or gauze. Keeping your incision site clean and covered can help protect it from reopening or getting infected. New mothers who have undergone a C-section are much more likely to get an infection than a mother who had a normal routine childbirth. Oftentimes, your doctor will prescribe you antibiotics for the first week or two after your operation to reduce the risk of potentially serious complications.
Pregnancy can leave you craving many unhealthy snacks and treats that you, otherwise, may not have eaten. After all, you are eating for two. However, during the weeks or months leading up to your pregnancy, you should be eating healthy foods that will promote wound healing. This is especially true if you think you might be having a C-section. Foods that are high in antioxidants and vitamins like fruits, vegetables, and nuts are always a good option. You should also be on the lookout for foods that are considered anti-inflammatory like olive oil, fish, and many types of nuts and berries. By eating healthy before and after your C-section, you will be doing your body a favor by helping it heal as efficiently as possible.
Post-operative scar care and management
Most C-sections will leave you with a scar that is roughly 6 inches in length along the lower abdomen. While it’s true that some scars fade over time, some people aren’t so fortunate. Hypertrophic scars and keloids affect people based on their genetics or environmental factors like wound infection. Luckily, clinically-proven scar management products that are designed to flatten and reduce abnormal scar types are easily attainable online or through your physician.
Silicone gel technology has been the gold standard for topical scar management for the last 30 years and is backed by a plethora of clinical evidence. Medical-grade silicone is a safe and effective topical solution for the treatment and prevention of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Silicone products are designed for people of all ages and skin types and have proven to be effective for old and new scars. For new mothers who have had a C-section, they can begin using Epi-Derm C-Strips once their wound has fully healed and the sutures have been removed.
Continue reading to find out more about how to recover after a C-section and what you can do to reduce scarring down the road.
The C-section recovery process
C-section deliveries are much more taxing on a woman’s body than a typical vaginal birth. Having a child grow inside of you for nine months and then having to undergo a surgical operation to remove the baby will leave you exhausted. Therefore, it’s important to listen to your doctor and get plenty of rest before resuming your normal daily routine.
Immediately after your C-section, you will likely be too tired to do much of anything. Most women remain in the hospital for several days after the procedure, sometimes more if there were any complications during the operation. Once out of the hospital, you will want to take it slow for up to eight weeks until you’ve regained your strength. This means that you should be doing no heavy lifting, preferably nothing heavier than your newborn baby. It’s a good idea to take light walks to help promote wound healing and reduce the chance of blood clots at the surgery site. After you’ve gotten clearance from your doctor, you can start engaging in moderate exercises and activities.
During your process of recovery after your C-section, you will want to maintain proper wound care. Much like any other wound, the incision from your C-section should be cleaned and covered with bandage or gauze. Keeping your incision site clean and covered can help protect it from reopening or getting infected. New mothers who have undergone a C-section are much more likely to get an infection than a mother who had a normal routine childbirth. Oftentimes, your doctor will prescribe you antibiotics for the first week or two after your operation to reduce the risk of potentially serious complications.
Pregnancy can leave you craving many unhealthy snacks and treats that you, otherwise, may not have eaten. After all, you are eating for two. However, during the weeks or months leading up to your pregnancy, you should be eating healthy foods that will promote wound healing. This is especially true if you think you might be having a C-section. Foods that are high in antioxidants and vitamins like fruits, vegetables, and nuts are always a good option. You should also be on the lookout for foods that are considered anti-inflammatory like olive oil, fish, and many types of nuts and berries. By eating healthy before and after your C-section, you will be doing your body a favor by helping it heal as efficiently as possible.
Post-operative scar care and management
Most C-sections will leave you with a scar that is roughly 6 inches in length along the lower abdomen. While it’s true that some scars fade over time, some people aren’t so fortunate. Hypertrophic scars and keloids affect people based on their genetics or environmental factors like wound infection. Luckily, clinically-proven scar management products that are designed to flatten and reduce abnormal scar types are easily attainable online or through your physician.
Silicone gel technology has been the gold standard for topical scar management for the last 30 years and is backed by a plethora of clinical evidence. Medical-grade silicone is a safe and effective topical solution for the treatment and prevention of hypertrophic and keloid scars. Silicone products are designed for people of all ages and skin types and have proven to be effective for old and new scars. For new mothers who have had a C-section, they can begin using Epi-Derm C-Strips once their wound has fully healed and the sutures have been removed.
Biodermis is an innovative market leader with 30 years of expertise in the medical silicone industry. Visit Biodermis.com today to explore a complete range of scar management and post-operative care solutions.
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: REFER OR RESELL?
Biodermis offers custom tailored referral programs designed to simplify and reduce the cost of your patients' post-op care. Additionally, we offer professional pricing if you opt to retail our products. Give us a call at 800.322.3729, and we will be happy to provide additional details on these programs.
