Postnatal Recovery Following Caesarean Birth

• -Rest as much as possible. Catch up on sleep during the day when your baby sleeps and unplug the phone.
• -Take regular pain relief.
• -Drink peppermint tea. This helps to alleviate trapped wind, which is common after caesarean birth.
• -It may feel uncomfortable when you cough or laugh, if you place your hand over your wound when you do this it may feel better.
• -Keep your wound clean and dry, expose to the air whenever possible.
• -Wear big knickers to avoid putting pressure on the wound.
• -No housework, cleaning, picking up heavy objects, or driving.
• -Accept help and support from family and friends.
• -Everyone loves to visit a new baby, limit your visitors per day as too many can be tiring.
• -Try not to skip meals, eat a well-balanced healthy diet, plenty fresh fruit and vegetables. Super foods for postnatal recovery include oily fish as these include essential fatty acids to help restore hormonal balance. Foods rich in vitamin E and zinc help to improve healing (nuts, seeds and avocados).
• -If you have a lack of appetite following birth try to eat smaller portions more frequently.
• -Avoid caffeine drinks as these over stimulate the body. Drink plenty of water, fruit juice and herbal teas.
• -Meditate daily this helps the healing process and releases growth hormones needed for cell repair.
• -If you feel like crying go-ahead let it all go you will feel better afterwards.
• -Talk about your feelings.
• -Above all enjoy this special time in your life, these early days and weeks with your baby are precious. Talk to your baby, cuddle and love, remember and treasure every moment.

By Joanne Scurr, Qualified midwife, Consultant Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner specialising in Fertility, Pregnancy and Childbirth.

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