A C-Section Recovery: Elizabeth's Tips for Quicker Healing
If you're going to have a c-section, at least make it be worry-free. {Photo by Emery Co Photo}
Every single person on the planet (excepting any residing in Area 51), arrived either by vaginal or c-section delivery. And although the end prize (a baby) is the same,
the methods couldn't be further apart.
In a vaginal delivery, the "work" is all on the front end. Your body is getting ready to push...to ride the waves of childbirth...and once the baby is delivered, a calm sea (usually)
returns.
However, in a cesarean section, the opposite is often true. Instead of calm waters, you're thrust into a whole new storm. Your body has just undergone major surgery and is feverishly working
overtime to knit itself whole again.
Having never personally experienced this transition (all my articles are based on interviews and painstaking research), I was thrilled when Elizabeth from
Worry-Free-C-Section.com
offered to write an exclusive article just for my readers.
Here's what she had to say. I hope it can serve you.
C Section Recovery ~ How Tough Is It?
Recovering from surgery, which is what C Section recovery is, is never easy.
Although some women will tell you that recovering from their c section was very easy.
Having had c sections myself and studied women who have had both difficult and easy
recoveries, there are a few traits that I believe help women recover quicker and easier. These are...
Being prepared
Maintaining good health & fitness
Maintaining a positive attitude
Keeping good communications with family members and your doctor
Be Prepared
Of course, not all women are prepared to have a c section. In fact, most first-time moms
that have a c section were completely caught off guard and unprepared for the event.
This is not unusual, especially if you've had an ideal pregnancy, are relatively healthy
and have no foreseen complications. However, with one-in-three births resulting in a c section, it's a good idea to be prepared for the
possibility.
So how do you prepare to have a c section when you don't expect one?
As part of your birth planning, do some preliminary research on what a c-
section is, why it might occur, and how to plan for recovery.
Chances are, if you don't expect to have a c-section you're not likely to have one but in the event the situation
arises wouldn't you want to know how to react, what to expect and understand how to
recover as quickly as possible?
Research has shown us that women who are mentally
prepared for surgery have fewer complications, less pain, and recover more quickly than
those who don't. This is also particularly important with regard to anxiety and
stress control.
Maintain Good Health & Fitness
There are many things that happen to your body when you become pregnant. Hormone
levels change, eating habits can change and your mental outlook can even change.
For all these reasons it's important to adopt and maintain good eating and exercise
habits.
This is not a time to overeat or stop exercising. Continue with daily moderate
exercise like walking or muscle toning and always eat smart. Eat lots of fresh fruits and
vegetables and drink plenty of water and keep up with monthly doctor's visits.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
Your attitude toward any situation can make a big difference in the outcome. The power
of positive thinking goes a long way in reducing stress and anxiety. Never look at having
a surgical birth as a problem or as a failure.
This is a time to reflect on what you have,
not on what you don't have. Also stay focused on the future, not the past and always
keep solutions in mind. Brian Tracy, someone I've always admired says:
"If you can use your mind to think, to exert mental control over the situation, you will
be positive and cheerful most of the time. And you will reap the benefits enjoyed by all
happy people".
Maintain Good Communication With All Persons Involved
Discuss your fears and concerns with your spouse but also discuss them with your
doctor. Make sure your doctor understands your needs and concerns.
It's wise to
create a birth plan and let your doctor review it. If your doctor is not on board with your
wishes or your birth plan consider shopping around for a doctor that does understand
your wishes.
If you do expect to have a c-section prepare wisely. Understand exactly what a c-section
is, how to prepare and discuss the risks with your doctor, but most importantly plan
every step of your c-section birth before hand.
This includes thinking about your wishes
inside the operating room to how you wish to care for your baby following the procedure,
this includes breastfeeding and bonding.
Additionally have all preparations ready for arrival home. Prepare carefully for the
care of older children if necessary, have meals, errands and chores well planned out in
advance.
C-section recovery doesn’t have to be difficult; in fact your recovery at home should be a
time to relax, heal and bond with your baby; however effective preparations can make a
big difference in your recovery and your overall outlook.
Elizabeth is exactly right, spot-on, with her suggestions. If you're pregnant, even if you're not EXPECTING to have a c-section, it is good to mentally go through her suggestions and
become familiar with what an at-home recovery should look like.
She goes in to a lot more detail in her ebook: The Prepared Woman's Guide to a Worry-Free C-Section. Click here to see all the topics she covers, including a bonus gift I've
seen nowhere else that's written just for men.
Return to Your Cesarean Baby Delivery from C-SectionReturn to the Home Page
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