I'm scheduled for a C-section at 38 weeks. Feeling nervous about recovery. What do I wish I'd known beforehand?
Things that made a huge difference for me: (1) Get up and walk as soon as they allow — 6–8 hours post-surgery. It's painful but it prevents blood clots and gets your gut moving. (2) Hold a small pillow against your incision when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. (3) Wear high-waist underwear and loose salwar that don't sit on the scar. (4) Don't lift anything heavier than your baby for 6 weeks. (5) Arnica gel around (not on) the incision helped with bruising after the wound closed.
Prepare your home beforehand: set up a changing station at waist height so you don't have to bend, move everything you need to bed height, set up a nursing pillow to take weight off the incision. Having someone available for the first 2 weeks is not optional, it's necessary. And be patient — full internal healing takes 6 weeks even when the outside looks fine.
Mentally prepare for the first shower — it feels scary to look at the incision but it heals beautifully. Keeping it clean and dry is the most important thing. My surgeon said no submerging in water (bath, pool) for 6 weeks but showers from day 2 are fine. The scar fades significantly within a year.
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