BACK TO THE WARD

You and Baby will be taken to your room in the maternity ward.

The catheter will only be removed once feeling has returned to your legs and you have stabilised.

If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to attempt breastfeeding. The nurses are trained to help you.

“You will be encouraged to get up and walk anywhere between six and 24 hours after the operation,” Tina says. The nurses will help.

To manage your pain, your doctor would have prescribed medication. Don’t try and tough it out. Rather take the meds as recommended to manage the pain, so you can focus on enjoying your baby and adjusting to breastfeeding.

A day after the c-section you will be allowed to shower. Don’t worry, your wound is protected by that big plaster. You are likely to spend three days in hospital, and your gynae will see you every day to make sure that you are healing well.

Many women feel surprisingly good on the first day, but a bit worse on the second day. You are likely to experience some pain as your uterus contracts and begins to shrink, just like you would if you’d given birth vaginally.

You might especially notice this during breastfeeding.

If you are feeling bloated, try and walk around a bit for relief. Gas can build up and get trapped during the procedure. Also avoid a very full bladder as this can put unnecessary pressure on the wound. When all goes according to plan, you will be discharged after three days. Most hospitals have cancelled visiting hours completely during the pandemic, so grandparents and other family will be very eager to see you and the new baby!