• Home
  • Blog
  • How to Get Mobile Sooner and Recover Faster After a C-Section

How to Get Mobile Sooner and Recover Faster After a C-Section

by SRC Health on March 12, 2020

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutes

As many of you are only too aware, a C-section or caesarean is major abdominal surgery. What baffles me is that when you have a C-section you are expected to be the carer for your newborn once your drip and catheter are removed, usually the day following the operation.

Recovering from a C-section will be a little different for every woman. Elective v Emergency C-section will also make a difference as you may have gone through a difficult labour leading up to operation. Usually elective C-sections are performed under spinal anaesthetic where as a number of emergency C-sections are performed under general anaesthesia. Your wound generally is horizontal and at the top of the pubic hair line and is approximately 10-15cm long. With placenta previa a vertical incision may be necessary. 

It is not easy getting in and out of bed with a “smarting” wound as swelling around the wound makes the sutures somewhat tighter and movement puts tension on that wound. Any incision causes trauma and swelling to the surrounding tissue with accompanying emotional issues.

Application of compression to the C-section wound reduces swelling to the area and improves healing. Research has shown that applying compression to an abdominal wound following surgery reduces pain and increases mobility.

Early mobilisation is not only encouraged but recommended after any abdominal surgery to reduce the risk of deep vein Thrombosis (DVT). To support your wound and surrounding muscles SRC Recovery Shorts will increase muscle support and allow you to be more mobile sooner, subsequently reducing the risk of DVT. 

A garment that is tight and restrictive should not be worn for recovery after delivery as it places too much compression on your muscles and may not allow them to work. This ultimately can cause further muscle weakness.

 

References

The Effect of Abdominal Support on Functional Outcomes in Patients Following Major Abdominal

Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Physiotherapy Can. 2010; 62:242–25

Oren Cheifetz, S. Deborah Lucy, Tom J. Overend, Jean Crowe

Brooks-Brunn JA. Postoperative atelectasis and pneumonia. Heart Lung. 1995;24:94–115. doi:10.1016/S0147-9563(05)80004-4

Kips JC. Preoperative pulmonary evaluation. Acta Clin Belg. 1997;52:301–5. doi:10.1002/pri.231

Smetana GW. Preoperative pulmonary evaluation. N Engl J Med. 1999;230:937–44.

Kroenke K, Lawrence VA, Theroux JF, Tuley MR, Hilsenbeck S. Postoperative complications after thoracic and major abdominal surgery in patients with and without obstructive lung disease. Chest. 1993;104:1445–51. doi:10.1378/chest.104.5.1445

Basse L, Raskov HH, Jakobsen DH, Sonne E, Billesbølle P, Hendel HW, et al. Accelerated postoperative recovery programme after colonic resection improves physical performance, pulmonary function and body composition. Brit J Surg. 2002;89:446–53.

doi:10.1046/j.0007-1323.2001.02044.

Geerts WH, Heit JA, Clagett GP, Pineo GF, Colwell CW, Anderson FA, et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism. Chest. 2001;119:132S–75S.

Melzack R, Wall PD. Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science. 1965; 150:971–9. doi:10.1126/science.150.3699.971

Related Posts

BACK TO TOP

Net Orders Checkout

Item Price Qty Total
Subtotal $0.00
Shipping
Total

Shipping Address

Shipping Methods