Caesarean Wound Care & Recovery

Understanding your wound and recovery can help you feel reassured as your body heals

Your caesarean birth may be over, but your body still needs time, care and support to recover.

Recovering From a Caesarean Birth

A caesarean is a major operation, and your body needs time to recover.

Whether your caesarean was planned or unplanned, recovery will look different for everyone. In those first days and weeks, you may have questions about your wound, pain, movement or simply whether what you are experiencing is normal.

During my private postnatal visits, I can support you with your recovery at home, check your caesarean wound and give you time to talk through any concerns.

What Does a Healing Caesarean Wound Look Like?

Your caesarean wound will naturally change as it heals.

Initially, the area may feel sore, tender, swollen or bruised. You may also notice numbness, tingling, itching or different sensations around the scar as the tissues and nerves recover.

Everyone heals differently, so rather than expecting your wound to look a particular way by a particular day, it is important to look at how your wound is progressing.

During a postnatal visit, I can check your wound and talk through what I am seeing with you.

Caring for Your Caesarean Wound at Home

Keeping your wound clean and dry is an important part of recovery.

You should be given advice before leaving hospital about your dressing and how to care for your particular wound. Once your dressing has been removed, gently cleaning and carefully drying the wound each day forms part of routine caesarean wound care. NICE also recommends loose, comfortable clothing and cotton underwear to help avoid rubbing the area.

Different hospitals and different types of dressings can come with slightly different instructions, so follow the individual advice you have been given.

During a postnatal visit, I can help you understand your wound-care advice and answer any questions you may have once you are home.

Stitches, Staples and Dressings

The way your caesarean wound has been closed can vary.

You may have dissolvable stitches, stitches or clips that need removing, or some hospitals use glue.

You may also go home with a dressing covering your wound.

Before leaving hospital, you should be told what has been used and whether anything needs to be removed or followed up.

If you are unsure, we can go through this together during your postnatal care.

Signs of a Caesarean Wound Infection

Knowing what to look out for can help you recognise when your wound needs further assessment.

Signs that should prompt you to contact your maternity team, GP or another appropriate healthcare professional include increasing pain, redness or swelling, discharge or pus, an unpleasant smell, the wound beginning to separate or open, a temperature, or feeling generally unwell.

If I have concerns about your wound during a postnatal visit, I will explain what I have found and advise you about where to seek further assessment.

What if My Caesarean Wound Opens?

Occasionally, part of a caesarean wound can separate or break down.

If you notice your wound beginning to open, leaking fluid or changing in a way that concerns you, it should be assessed rather than waiting to see whether it improves by itself. Wound separation is specifically included in NICE guidance as something healthcare professionals should assess for following caesarean birth.

Please contact your maternity team, GP or appropriate healthcare professional for advice.

Pain and Discomfort

Some pain and discomfort are expected after caesarean surgery, particularly during the early days.

Things such as getting out of bed, coughing, laughing or changing position can initially feel uncomfortable.

Taking the pain relief recommended for you can help you move around, rest, feed and care for your baby more comfortably.

Your discomfort should generally improve as you recover. New or severe pain, or pain that is becoming worse rather than better, should be assessed.

Getting Moving Again

You may feel understandably cautious about moving after surgery, but gentle movement is an important part of recovery.

Initially, this might simply mean getting out of bed, moving around your home and taking gentle walks as you feel able. Staying mobile after a caesarean also helps reduce the risk of blood clots.

You do not need to prove anything by rushing back to normal activities. Your body has been through pregnancy, birth and an operation.

Recovery deserves time.

Lifting After a Caesarean

One of the most common questions after a caesarean is, “What am I allowed to lift?”

During the early stages of recovery, it is sensible to avoid heavy lifting. Caring for a newborn already involves plenty of lifting, bending and getting up and down.

As a general guide, try not to lift anything heavier than your baby while your body is healing.

Accepting practical help with shopping, housework, laundry and other heavier jobs can give your body valuable time to recover.

Blood-Thinning Injections

Some women are prescribed blood-thinning injections following a caesarean birth to reduce their risk of developing a blood clot.

How long you need them will depend on your individual circumstances and the advice of your maternity team.

If your injection is due at the time of one of my postnatal visits, I can administer it for you where appropriate.

We can also talk about why you have been prescribed it and any concerns you may have about giving the injections yourself.

Your Caesarean Scar

Once your wound has fully healed, your caesarean scar will continue to change over the following months.

It may initially appear raised or darker and can gradually soften and fade with time. Some women also notice numbness or altered sensation around their scar for quite a while after birth.

Once your wound is completely healed, you may wish to ask your midwife, or GP about scar care or scar massage if you have concerns about tightness, discomfort or altered sensation.

Driving After a Caesarean

There isn't one particular day when every woman is automatically ready to drive again.

Current NICE guidance says activities such as driving can be resumed when you feel you have fully recovered from the caesarean, including being free from physical restrictions or pain that would prevent you doing the activity safely.

You need to be able to control your vehicle safely and perform an emergency stop without pain or hesitation. You should also consider whether any medication you are taking could affect your ability to drive.

It is sensible to check your motor insurance policy before returning to driving.

Returning to Exercise

Recovery after a caesarean should be gradual.

Walking and gentle movement can form part of your early recovery. More strenuous activity can be introduced when you have sufficiently recovered and can do it comfortably. NICE similarly advises returning to formal exercise once you feel fully recovered from the caesarean and are not restricted by pain or other physical limitations.

And your pelvic floor still matters after a caesarean birth. Pregnancy itself places strain on your pelvic floor, regardless of how your baby was born.

When Something Doesn't Feel Right

You know your own body.

If your wound suddenly looks different, your pain is getting worse, you develop a temperature, notice discharge or an unpleasant smell, the wound starts to open, or you simply feel that something isn't right, please ask for advice.

You do not need to wait until a problem becomes severe before contacting someone.

How I Can Support You at Home

During my private postnatal care, your caesarean wound is only one part of the picture.

I can check how your wound is healing and support you with your caesarean recovery, but I will also make sure that you as a whole are being cared for.

For more information about the wider checks I carry out after birth, including your emotional wellbeing, observations, bleeding, breasts, bladder and bowel function, legs and circulation, pelvic floor and general recovery, you can read Postnatal Checks for Mum.

If you are preparing for a planned caesarean, you can also read about my Caesarean Birth Support.

Further Information

For further information about recovering after a caesarean birth, you can read the NHS guidance on caesarean recovery.

Get in Touch

If you are planning a caesarean birth or would like additional support at home while you recover, please get in touch to discuss how I can support you.

I provide personalised private midwifery care across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.