08/04/2026
C-SECTION BIRTH RECOVERY TIPS
+just like with a vaginal birth, rest as much as possible! Ask for help and accept when it’s offered. Your body needs to heal, so plan strategically and try not to do too much around the house.
+remember that you are not to lift anything heavier than your newborn for the first six weeks. This includes toddlers, prams and washing baskets (what a shame about that last one).
+it can be tempting to try and sit straight out of bed when there is no longer a baby in your tummy, but that can be painful and damaging to a c-section wound. Practice rolling on to your side first, flop your legs over the edge of the bed, then use your arm to push yourself up.
+to get into bed, try crawling in on all fours, facing the head of your bed, drop down onto one hip, then slide your lower hand out to lie on your side. This is great practice for optimising your abdominal separation and recovery.
+if you have to cough, roll up a towel into a sausage shape, press it firmly against the wound and cover it with both hands and forearms. Press firmly while you cough.
And remember to book your postnatal assessment with us!
