POST CESAREAN DISCHARGE INSTRUCTION

It usually takes about 6 weeks to recover from your c-section but this will depend on your individual situation. If you had any problems during or after your c-section, or if you’re looking after other children at home, you may feel you need more time to recover.

1. Call your surgeon or
health care provider
immediately
or go to your nearest
Emergency Department
if you have any of the
following:

• Your vaginal bleeding
is soaking more than
1 pad an hour
• You have signs of
Infection including
fever greater than
38°c
(100°f) and chills
• You have foul
smelling vaginal
discharge
• Your incisions
have increased
redness,
bleeding and /or
Yellowish-green
fluid draining
• Your incisions open
up
• You feel nauseous or
have more/different
pain than previous
days and cannot
control it with the
medications
You have
• You are unable to
pass urine
• You have new pain
in your calf or
swelling in your
legs
• You have
unexplained
shortness of breath
or chest pain.
• You have a cough
that does not go
away.









Recovery
• Recovery is different for every woman and depends on many factors.
• Full recovery takes several weeks.
• You may feel more tired than you think you should, but you will
need to rest. You need to take it easy and give your body time to
heal.






OBGYN & SWARAJ MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL, BOLANGIR
OBGYN &
SWARAJ MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL,
BOLANGIR
• Mild bleeding for few weeks following surgery can occur.
Discharge Instructions
Following
Cesarean Birth

2. Discharge Instructions
Pain
• You might have more discomfort once you are at home.
• Discomfort is due to swelling inside your abdomen as you heal.
• Take pain medication as directed on the package or as prescribed by your health care provider.
• As you continue to recover, your pain should get better day by day, and your need for pain medication
should decrease.

Activity
• Avoid strenuous activities and sports until you see your surgeon at your follow up appointment.
• DO NOT lift anything over 5kg for 6 weeks after hysterectomy or abdominal surgery.
• Avoid over stretching or reaching.
• Walk every day. Start with short walks and try to increase the distance you walk a little each day.
• DO NOT over tire yourself, take frequent rest periods.
• You may do light work like washing dishes and cooking. Vacuuming is not light work.
• Being active is important to your recovery.
Follow Up Appointment: What to Expect
Going Back to Work
• Ask your surgeon about when you may return to work.
• Ask your surgeon if you need to send forms to his/her office.
• Your surgeon will assess your readiness to return to work and determine if additional recovery time is
required.

• Review your current medications
• Examine your incision
• Assess your pain and ensure that it is managed

• Optimize your pain medications, gradually reduce the amount you take as your pain gets better.
• A hot water bottle may ease the discomfort. DO NOT use an electric heating blanket or pad.
OBGYN & SWARAJ MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL, BOLANGIR
Your surgeon or associate will:
• Assess readiness for strenuous physical activity, sexual intercourse, contraception, and
return to work.
• Discuss breastfeeding and immunization of your baby.

3. is
soaking more than 1 sanitary pad an hour.
• You may shower after surgery without soaking dressings over incision.

• DO NOT use bath salts or oils, or soak in a hot tub or pool until you are fully recovered and
your incision is completely healed.
Diet
• Goals are to eat nutritious foods to help you heal, drink plenty fluids to stay hydrated, and eat and
drink properly in order to avoid constipation.
• You may resume your regular diet.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses (1 glass = 250 ml) of fluid, preferably water, every day.

Avoid Constipation
• Eat high fiber foods such as whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, and prunes.
• Take a stool softener or a mild laxative if diet alone is not working for you.

• GENTLY clean your incision every day with mild soap and clean water. Pat dry with a clean, soft
towel. And apply any creams or ointments as prescribed.
OBGYN & SWARAJ MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL, BOLANGIR
• You will have vaginal bleeding. See your health care provider immediately if your vaginal bleeding
ONCE STITCHES ARE REMOVED
• DO NOT cover your incision unless it is leaking. Check every day for signs of infection.
• DO NOT rub the incision until after the incision is well healed.
• DO NOT use douches.
• Apron belly / Sagging abdomen usually
interfere with healing of the skin incision,
wearing a postpartum abdominal binder
benefits many women. Special care must
be given in such cases.
• Higher Antibiotic usage may be needed
for little longer.
• Any discharge from the wound must be
notified to the surgery center,
Incision and Personal Care

• Speak with your health care provider if constipation remains a problem.

Sexual Activity
• Once you resume sexual activity, do not worry about damaging your incision or doing harm to

yourself.
Reassure your partner of this.
• .
DO NOT FORGET TO USE EFFECTIVE CONTRACEPTIVE AS EARLYAS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
• Avoid sexual intercourse until you see your surgeon at your follow up appointment.