Recover at Home After a Cesarean
You've successfully made it through the cesarean and have a beautiful, healthy baby. While you've been taken care of in the hospital setting, your recovery at home will take more effort on your part. You must remember to try not to be superwoman. Your body has a lot of healing to do before you are ready to resume your full schedule. The following steps should give you some ideas on make your recovery period easier.
Instructions
1. Keep necessary supplies for you and baby within arms reach. Keep an extra set of diapers, wipes and clothes close to you at all times. If you are spending the majority of time in your bedroom, keep nutritious snacks and water nearby as well.
2. Use paper plates and cups whenever possible. This will drastically cut back on having to spend a lot of time washing dishes or loading a dishwasher.
3. Limit your visitors. If a few people would like to come over on certain days and help with things around the house like washing clothes, fixing meals or taking care of the baby while you have a nap, that would be a great help to you. But, be careful not to have too many people over at once to where you feel you need to be up cooking food and serving your guests. Don't make it necessary to entertain.
4. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, and eat nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day, especially if you are breastfeeding. You will want to keep your bowels as soft as possible and this is one way to do.
5. Rest as needed. During the first few weeks of recovery, you will probably need plenty of rest. Rest will help your body heal. If possible, have a family member or friend come once or twice a day for the first week to help take care of the baby while you rest your body and mind.
6. Talk about what you're feeling. Talk to your partner and family about things you may be feeling regardless of how strange they may seem to you. Get their feedback and take suggestions if they sound appropriate or appealing to you.
7. Plan to get out of the house after the first few weeks with the baby. This may be something simple like sitting on the porch or even taking a very small stroll through the park. Getting out and getting fresh air will be good for you and the baby after some time.
8. Look to to tell you if you're doing too much. After the first week or two, your bleeding will change color and amount. It will most often go from heavy red bleeding to a lighter pink and then brown. Your body will oftentimes let you know that you are doing too much if your bleeding has ceased and then suddenly begins again. If you see this happening and you feel exhausted, make sure you rest the next few days. This is your body' s way of showing that you are doing too much before it is ready.
9. Hire a postpartum doula. If you are a single parent or just need additional help in the postpartum period, you can hire a postpartum doula. This particular type of doula comes after the baby is born and assists with things like light housekeeping, washing clothes, preparing meals and assisting Mom with breastfeeding and diapering. There are also overnight postpartum doulas. These doulas come generally between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and stay awake with the baby while you sleep.
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