2. Pee in a bag

After the surgery, before they wheel you into the recovery room, they will insert the Catheter so you can pee in a bag. As you won’t be able to move, for a day or two, this is probably one of the best things! Read further to know why. This catheter will be removed on the second or third day, depending on your doctor. They will encourage you to walk to the toilet to pee as soon as possible

3. On painkillers

This is a major surgery that cuts through 7 layers of the human tissue. While you were on an epidural, you don’t feel the pain for a couple of hours. However, you will be given painkillers once you get back to your room.

I’ve tried a few different painkillers like Tramadol and Morphine but the funny thing is that it didn’t work on me and I could still feel the pain. It feels like a contraction/labour where your back is killing you and you feel like your torso aching everywhere. I took that for 2 days and it didn’t help until I took paracetamol and I was better. Yes, the most basic painkiller worked better for me than the others which caused me to hallucinate and my body developed itchiness as a side effect from morphine.

If your painkillers are not working for you, tell your doctor immediately so they can prescribe something better for you. The pain lasted for a few more days even after I was discharged, so I continued with paracetamol.

4. Cannot sit up

As much as you want to bounce back right after the baby is out, you will be lying on your back for at least 1-2 days. For the first day, completely flat, second day you can incline your hospital bed to the degree where your body can take it. I hate that I’m immobile and it’s super painful when trying to sit up. I’m very used to doing things myself. Hence, feeling this way made me quite frustrated especially when adjusting myself to breastfeed or sitting up to eat/drink. But it’s okay, I always had to remind myself that it’s okay to rely on support and that this will pass soon. Just gotta hang in there!

5. Routine Checks & Cleaning

It will be touched by the doctors and nurses all the time. Never have I had so many people touching (checking) my breasts, my torso, and my privates so many times before in my entire life. Doctors and nurses will come into your room to check on you multiple times a day, just all part of the routine checks. So, don’t be alarmed!

As I was immobile due to the surgery, I was cleaned by the nurses, from my neck all the way down to my toes. They cover EVERY. SINGLE. BIT. They will lift you up and turn you side to side to clean your back and bum too. This usually happens on the first 1-2 days after delivery. After that, you are on your own.

6. Breastfeeding

On the first day, if you and the baby are okay, with no complications, they will bring the baby in after you are wheeled back into your room for the first breastfeeding session! As you are laying flat from the surgery, the nurses will bring the baby to you and you will be breastfeeding from the side.

If this is your first time breastfeeding, don’t be shocked that the nurses will press your nipple and breasts to check if there’s milk production. They will help your baby to suckle on your nipples as you can’t move much. They will help to adjust your body and put pillows or towels to help support your baby’s position so that you can breastfeed your baby.

While you are still in the hospital, you may not need have much milk production yet. Not to worry, it will start to kick in slowly. You can check out more on increasing your breastmilk supply here.

7. Vaginal Bleeding

Though you had a c-section delivery, you must be wondering why you are still bleeding from your vagina. It is called lochia and this lasts 2-6 weeks after delivery. It can last up to 12 weeks but shouldn’t be longer than that. Do consult your OBGYN if it does. It mainly comes from where the placenta is attached to the uterus. Before the doctor stitches you up, he/she will try their best to clean your uterus as much as possible – suck all the blood out.

So, compared to a vagina delivery, c-section delivery is cleaner in that way and has lesser blood discharge compared to vagina delivery. This bleeding can be heavier when you breastfeed as you produce hormones that cause the uterus to contract. You can continue using a maternity pad or switch to a normal pad/pantyliner (depending on how heavy your flow is).

8. Postpartum Constipation

It is completely normal if you are experiencing constipation for 3-7 days. This is usually caused by pain medications, iron supplements, and dehydration from breastfeeding. Your OBGYN may prescribe medicine to help you poop and will check in on you during your hospital stay. Walking as soon as possible will help with the bowel movement. So, try to get back on your feet when you are feeling better!

9. First walk is the hardest

This has to be one of the things I dreaded the most when I was going to deliver my second child. During my first delivery, I could remember the pain and how I felt when I had to take my first walk to the toilet. The doctor’s order was to go to the toilet to pee at least 3 times before he could discharge me. I could feel like my organs were dropping back into position and the weight of my upper body pressed against my abdomen. I couldn’t help but cry as I walked to the toilet. My husband and the nurses were there to help me and encouraged me but it was all too painful.

The trick is to stand upright and hold your wound, don’t hunch or bend your back. The more you do this, the faster you will be able to get back to walking normally. It was faster and better during my second delivery after learning from my first!

10. Wound Closure

It took 1 week for the wound to close. You will still feel numbness and some pain around that area as the outer skin layer may have closed but the inner layers will take longer time to heal. I would still feel numbness around the wound/scar during my first two years of my first delivery. Continue to put the scar gel/medicine after you have cleaned the wound.

For my second delivery, the doctor put on a waterproof bandage for 7 days until it was time to go back to see her for a follow-up visit. So, I only needed to clean my wound after she removed the bandage after 7 days. For my first delivery, the nurses at the Confinement Center would clean the wound for me every day. Remember to clean it properly to avoid infection!

11. No Menstruation for 6-10 months

A hormone called prolactin drives milk production, and it essentially stifles ovulation. More information here in this article – No Period After Pregnancy? When you don’t ovulate, you don’t have your period. It’s normal not to menstruate for six months or longer when you’re exclusively breastfeeding your baby. However, everyone is different and some people get their cycles back sooner or later than others, especially if the are some changes to the nursing or pumping routines.

You have to be very careful about being intimate after giving birth, best to wear protection! I have seen people around me getting pregnant within 4 months after delivery while they are still heavily breastfeeding. If you had a C-section, your OBGYN will recommend that you get pregnant again after 2 years so your body can fully recover before going through another big change. Speak to your healthcare consultant for more information.

12. Blood Clot and Swelling Prevention

Your OBGYN will probably prescribe a medical compression socks to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling after the surgery. If you have been wearing them during pregnancy, you can bring them to the hospital for your delivery. It helps to increase blood flow by reducing the size of blood vessels in the legs. If your doctor recommends it, they will include it in your bill. Some athletes wear them as well.