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Caesarean section is an abdominal operation performed under general anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. It can be accompanied by large blood loss, violates the integrity of the peritoneum, often provokes the formation of adhesions in it, and endomyometritis or uterine subinvolution are diagnosed among the consequences.

In order for a young mother to return to her usual, healthy, unrestricted lifestyle after surgery as soon as possible, she must initially follow whole line rules Only in this case is it possible to fully restore the woman’s body, figure, and moral state after a caesarean section.

At first (about a week or a little more), recovery after surgery occurs under the supervision of doctors. The woman in labor spends the first day in the intensive care ward. To help her body adapt, the following activities are carried out:

1. blood loss is corrected;
2. Antibacterial therapy is prescribed to avoid infectious complications after surgery;
3. intestinal function is stimulated to restore its function;
4. nutrient solutions are administered through a dropper;
5. the seams are treated with an antiseptic solution;
6. Bandages are changed regularly.

If all is well, on the second day the young mother is transferred to the general postpartum ward. There, her bed rest ends: she has to get up, walk by herself, and feed the baby. In a word, lead an active lifestyle. If a caesarean section did not cause any complications, recovery after 7-10 days takes place at home. It is during this time period that the woman in labor and her child are discharged. And here you will have to decide for yourself what you can do and what you cannot do.

Do not be afraid! Modern antibiotics for restoring the body, used after cesarean section, are completely compatible with breastfeeding, so your baby will not suffer from taking them. But this applies only to light drugs aimed at natural, pathological-free recovery of the body after childbirth.

Restrictions

Before discharge, the doctor advises the young mother on how to recover from a cesarean section, following certain rules. If a woman takes them into account, her body will quickly return to normal, her figure will return to its former proportions, depression and fears will remain a thing of the past. However, all this will require some effort from her. In particular, during this period there will be a large number of restrictions regarding nutrition, lifestyle and even sex.

It is forbidden:

• eat solid food in the first 3 days: on the 1st day you can have lemon water, on the 2nd day - chicken broth, on the 3rd day - boiled meat, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt without fillers, fruit juice without sugar;
• sit down for 3 days;
• take a shower, bath (i.e. wet the seam) for 7 days;
• rub the seam with a washcloth for 2 weeks;
• lift more than 3 kg for 2 months;
• work on your abs earlier than 1 month after giving birth;
• have sex until they stop;
• give birth within the next 2-3 years;
• abuse wearing a bandage.

Compliance with these rules will allow the young mother to recover faster after a cesarean section, both physically and mentally. If any specific problems arise (sutures fester, lochia does not stop for too long, the lower abdomen sag very much, etc.), you also need to be able to solve them competently. The main thing here is not to harm your own body and make sure that the measures taken do not affect the child in any way.

And further! During the recovery period after a cesarean section, a young mother is strictly forbidden to be nervous, worry and not sleep at night. Rest, peace and good mood- this is what she needs most during this period.

Normalization of the menstrual cycle

The problem is relevant because physical activity, like exercise, sports, fitness, dancing, is simply prohibited in the first 1-1.5 months. And while mothers who gave birth naturally are already working hard to normalize the contours of their bodies, those who have had a cesarean birth only sigh, looking at the saggy “apron” (the so-called postpartum fold). And it’s completely in vain. After all, abdominal restoration after a caesarean section is available to them from the first days of the baby’s birth.

Proper nutrition

1. Eat foods rich in iron (boiled lean meat, leafy green vegetables, legumes) and calcium (cheese and yogurt).
2. Take vitamin supplements for nursing mothers from Complivit, Elevit, Vitrum, Alphabet, etc.
3. Eat often, but in small portions.
4. During the recovery period after a cesarean section, it is recommended to drink more juices, fruit drinks, milk, and pure mineral water.
5. Eliminate caffeine, fast food, everything fried, marinated, fatty, smoked, salted.

Physical activity

1. Walk more.
2. Sit on a fitness ball.
3. Maintain your posture.
4. Suck your stomach in.
5. Walk outdoors every day.
6. Perform simple housework.

Sports activities

1. From the first day to 5-6 weeks after a cesarean section, you need to perform breathing exercises, thanks to which the body’s recovery will be much faster.
2. As for the tummy tuck itself, they can be done only 1.5-2 months after the operation. And then only if everything went without complications and the doctor gave his permission.
3. There are lungs, thanks to which restoration of the abdominal muscles after cesarean is possible already in the first week after the operation. However, they must be performed extremely carefully, smoothly, without making sudden movements.
4. After the stitches have completely healed, you can sign up for the pool, Gym, to the fitness club, depending on your preferences. All these sports will allow you to quickly restore your former shape after childbirth.

Cosmetics

1. Starting from the 3rd week, figure restoration may include the use of various tightening, anti-cellulite cosmetics.
2. Make wraps for the stomach and sides at home from kelp, cabbage leaves, and honey.
3. Scrubs made from sea salt, table salt or used coffee grounds will also help remove loose folds after childbirth.
4. Store-bought masks and creams with the same effect (tightening) must be used extremely carefully so that their use does not cause suppuration of the sutures.

If a young mother sets out to regain her former slimness and become beautiful and attractive again without any folds or sagging on her stomach, restoring her shape is possible if all of the above measures are followed in combination. It's not that simple, but it can be solved. IN as a last resort, if you don’t have enough time (most of which is spent on the child) or energy (they are still spent at the same address), you can always turn to plastic surgery if you have the finances. She will definitely give you back your flat, tucked-in tummy and slender waist, even after several caesarean sections.

Keep in mind. If you are not sure that you are already allowed to exercise, it is better not to start doing exercises. Restoring your figure is much easier than regaining your health.

If you are aiming for a quick recovery after a cesarean section, so that nothing limits your communication with your child, follow the above recommendations and take note of a few more useful tips.

1. If you decide to wear it after a caesarean section to restore your figure, you don’t need to abuse it. It must be removed at night. And during the day, give your body a break from this structure every three hours. This will force the abdominal and uterine muscles to repair themselves, which is much healthier for them.
2. For two years after a cesarean section, you need to regularly visit a gynecologist and inform him of any abnormalities in your body.
3. To restore stomach function after cesarean section, you should not treat constipation with enemas. It is better to use glycerin suppositories and drink kefir.
4. For pain relief, apply regular ice to the lower abdomen in the first days after cesarean.
5. While still in the hospital, ask your doctor in advance what painkillers you can take after a cesarean section, and stock up on them. Believe me: they will come in handy for you.
6. As a rule, recovery after a second cesarean section is slightly delayed, but not significantly. The uterus contracts more painfully, lochia can last for quite a long time, and the menstrual cycle does not return to normal immediately. And yet, if you follow all the recommendations, everything will go through with the least losses and complications.

If you are about to give birth to a baby via caesarean section, you do not need to worry about the recovery of your body and figure after it. With proper actions and compliance with certain rules outlined above, complications can be avoided and the rehabilitation period can be reduced to a minimum.

A caesarean section is an obstetric operation performed when a woman is unable to give birth naturally. Women in labor need a little more time to recover after a cesarean section. In order for a woman to gain strength faster, she needs to follow some recommendations.

Postoperative period

If the operation went without complications and the child is healthy, after 2 hours the woman and baby are transferred to a shared ward. To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of vital organs. To do this, medical personnel measure the mother's pulse, blood pressure, temperature, assess the tone of the uterus, and the nature of the discharge. The doctor also evaluates the state of urinary function and, if it is impossible for the woman to urinate, a urinary catheter is installed.

The first days after cesarean section require active drug treatment. The operation is inevitably associated with blood loss. To restore the volume of circulating blood and increase the rheological properties, the woman in labor is administered rheopolyglucin, solutions of sodium chloride and glucose. In case of massive blood loss, blood components are administered.

After surgery, the woman may be prescribed painkillers, which are administered over one to three days. When performing any surgical intervention on the abdominal organs, there is a risk of developing intestinal paresis. To prevent this from happening to a woman, she is prescribed prozerin. To prevent infectious complications, it is prescribed (in some cases, an antibiotic is administered intramuscularly or intravenously before surgery).

The woman stays in the hospital for 4–5 days or more if complications develop.

Nutrition for a woman in labor

On the first day after giving birth, a woman in labor should not eat anything, she can only drink still water. But don’t worry, the woman won’t go hungry. All necessary nutrients will be replenished with IVs.

On the second to fourth days, the woman in labor needs to follow a gentle diet, because her intestines are still not able to function fully. You can eat boiled, pureed food. It is allowed to add non-rich meat broth, steamed cutlets, low-fat cottage cheese and cheese, and mashed potatoes to the diet. Products that increase gas formation (legumes, flour products, grapes, etc.) are prohibited. If a woman is worried, she needs to stroke her stomach clockwise for a minute.

Already on the fifth day, the menu is gradually expanded. But this does not mean that you can eat absolutely everything. Now a woman needs to constantly remember that everything she eats can affect the baby’s condition. Therefore, during breastfeeding You should not eat certain foods that can harm your baby.

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The importance of movement after surgery

The first day after a cesarean section, a woman will feel weak and experience pain in the abdomen, which is why the woman in labor will not want to move again. In addition, with active movements, divergence of the seams may occur. However, already 6 hours after the operation, doctors advise starting to roll over from side to side, slightly pulling your legs towards your stomach, performing simple physical exercises right in bed (rotating your feet, hands, bending and straightening your legs at the knee joint, etc.), and then - and get up (strictly under the supervision of medical staff).

Important: You can sit down and stand up only after the woman puts on a special postpartum bandage (in many maternity hospitals, women in labor are first tightly wrapped in a folded sheet).

You need to get out of bed carefully, without straining your abdominal muscles. You need to slightly pull your knees towards you, turn over on your side, and then, leaning on your hands, take a sitting position. By the end of the first day, the woman can already get out of bed and walk a little.

Many mothers are worried excess weight and they wonder when they can start physical activity. During the postpartum period, only simple physical exercises are allowed. You can start more active loads after a month and a half. This could be fitness, yoga, bodyflex. It’s worth holding off on doing ab exercises for six months.

After being discharged from the maternity hospital, the woman in labor will be warned that in the near future she should not lift weights exceeding three to four kilograms, that is, no more than the weight of the child.

Healing of sutures after caesarean section

During the mother's stay in the maternity hospital, the nurse regularly treats the suture with antiseptics (diamond green, potassium permanganate solution) and changes the bandage. The sutures are removed approximately on the seventh to tenth day. Skin healing usually occurs quickly. The seam is initially very noticeable, red or purple. As time passes it will become less and less noticeable. To speed up the resorption of the scar, you can take special ointments, for example, Contractubex.

You should not shower completely until the stitches are removed. But you can wash your body parts separately. It will be possible to take a full shower only after the stitches are removed, but, of course, you should not actively rub the scar. But visiting the bathhouse and bathing should be postponed for two months until the suture on the uterus is completely healed.

Intimate life

The uterus after a cesarean section is a large wound surface. Therefore, until it heals, and this happens within one and a half to two months, you should refrain from sexual intercourse.

The uterine suture heals completely within two to three years. If a woman plans to become pregnant in the future, she should become pregnant no earlier than after the specified period. This is why you need to use . And, of course, you should not hope that it is impossible to get pregnant during lactation - this is a myth.

The restoration of menstruation depends on whether the mother is breastfeeding. So, if a woman does not breastfeed, the menstrual cycle resumes after two months, if she does, after six months or more.

Grigorova Valeria, medical observer

And at this time, it is important for a woman to know many little things in order to recover faster and avoid making mistakes that will lead to disastrous consequences. Thanks to the analysis of women's thematic forums, we have identified the main questions about the recovery period after a caesarean section.

What can you eat after surgery?

Like any abdominal surgery, a cesarean section is performed under general or epidural anesthesia. The speed of recovery after anesthesia depends on many factors. First of all, it depends on the type of medicine chosen, the correctness of the dose calculation by the anesthesiologist and the characteristics of the patient’s body.

On the first day after this operation, you can drink still water; you can acidify it a little with lemon juice. All nutrients are still delivered to the woman’s blood vessels using IV drips.

The patient is transferred from the intensive care ward to the postpartum ward on the second day after cesarean section. What can you eat? As after another abdominal operation, broths, unsweetened fruit drinks, tea, ground boiled meat, low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt without fruit fillers, and pureed vegetable purees are allowed. Dense food is not recommended, as it is still necessary to spare the digestive organs.

After three days and thereafter, the normal diet is gradually introduced, taking into account the diet for a breastfeeding mother. Pediatric doctors in the maternity hospital will tell you what you can eat after a caesarean section for quality lactation. Milk porridges, vegetable side dishes and broths, fruit jelly, boiled meat and fish, and steamed cutlets are healthy. It is necessary to exclude fried, fatty, flour, salty, sweet, carbonated drinks and other foods that are difficult for the body in postoperative period. It is allowed to completely resume the usual menu after the first independent bowel movement, which, as a rule, should be 3-5 days after the operation.

When can you move actively after a caesarean section?

How long after a cesarean section you can resume activity depends on individual characteristics your body. Listen to doctors' recommendations. And start moving only with their permission. Already on the second day after surgical birth, you will need to get out of bed on your own. Then slow walking is allowed. You can sit down only starting from the third day. In the first month after being discharged from the hospital, you should not lift anything heavier than your baby’s weight.

Starting sports after surgery

Again, it all depends on your body. But doctors usually recommend not starting regular exercise earlier than six weeks after surgery. Many women, puzzled by the restoration of their figure, are interested in when they can pump up their abs after a caesarean section. Loads on the abdominal muscles are recommended no earlier than a month later. Otherwise, you can cause deformations in the scar area and even a hernia on it.

Swimming in the pool, for example, after a caesarean section is allowed only after the discharge has stopped.

When is sex allowed after cesarean section?

There is no clear answer to this intimate question. Naturally, it is necessary that the discharge from the woman in labor stops. And it is worth understanding that the postoperative uterus is an extensive wound surface and an early return to sexual activity can not only lead to pain, but also poses a risk of infection of the mucous membrane. Sexual relations should be resumed no earlier than a month after surgical delivery.

As a standard, gynecologists, when asked when you can get pregnant after a cesarean section, recommend that at least 18 months should pass between the operation and the subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, even if you are breastfeeding your newborn and the menstrual cycle has not yet resumed, do not forget about contraception. After all, pregnancy soon after surgery poses a danger to both the fetus and its mother. And an abortion in this case can also negatively affect the condition of the already weakened uterus and can lead to infertility in the future.

When can you give birth after surgery?

When can you give birth to your next baby after a cesarean section is a question that worries many women. As a result of the operation, a scar remains on the uterus, which can disperse during a new pregnancy, which poses a huge threat to the life of the mother and fetus. Therefore, between surgical birth and the next pregnancy, ideally at least 2-3 years should pass so that the scar tissue has time to fully form.

But too long a gap between pregnancies is not advisable, because it will be a strong argument in favor of repeated surgical births. It is important that the pregnancy after a previous cesarean section is planned and proceeds under the careful supervision of a doctor. First you need to assess the condition of the scar, for which methods such as hysteroscopy and hysterography are used.

First of all, it depends on the reason for which the caesarean section was performed. And if it has not yet been eliminated (for example, problems with the mother’s vision), then only surgical delivery is possible in the future. Is it possible to give birth after a cesarean section in other cases? If during a previous pregnancy the child simply lay incorrectly in the womb, which is why it was necessary to undergo surgery, then subsequent vaginal births are possible. But this takes into account the condition and type of scar (longitudinal or transverse), as well as the course of the new pregnancy. If a woman has a longitudinal suture, a natural birth is usually excluded.

With a transverse scar after a cesarean section, you can give birth yourself if there are no more contraindications for this. But the final verdict on the possibility of vaginal birth after previous surgical procedures is made after 35 weeks of pregnancy. This takes into account factors such as the size of the fetus, its presentation and position in the womb, the location of the placenta relative to the internal uterine os and suture, as well as the consistency of the scar itself. Only then will the woman be told whether she can give birth herself after a caesarean section.

Regarding how long you can give birth after a cesarean section, there is also no single answer. All this is individual and depends on the woman’s health condition. Since pregnancy with a scar on the uterus poses a danger to both the mother and the fetus, and each new operation is more difficult than the previous one, surgeons advise the permissible number of cesarean sections to be no more than three.

All over the world there is a clear trend towards gentle childbirth, which helps preserve the health of both mother and child. The tool that helps achieve this is the cesarean section (CS). A significant achievement has been the widespread use of modern pain management techniques.

The main disadvantage of this intervention is considered to be an increase in the frequency of postpartum infectious complications by 5-20 times. However, adequate antibacterial therapy significantly reduces the likelihood of their occurrence. However, there is still debate about in which cases a caesarean section is performed and when a physiological birth is acceptable.

When is surgical delivery indicated?

A caesarean section is a major surgical procedure that increases the risk of complications compared to a normal vaginal birth. It is carried out only according to strict indications. At the request of the patient, a CS can be performed in a private clinic, but not all obstetricians-gynecologists will undertake such an operation unless necessary.

The operation is performed in the following situations:

1. Complete placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta is located in the lower part of the uterus and closes the internal os, preventing the baby from being born. Incomplete presentation is an indication for surgery when bleeding occurs. The placenta is abundantly supplied with blood vessels, and even slight damage to it can cause blood loss, lack of oxygen and fetal death.

2. Occurred prematurely from the uterine wall - a condition that threatens the life of the woman and child. The placenta detached from the uterus is a source of blood loss for the mother. The fetus stops receiving oxygen and may die.

3. Previous surgical interventions on the uterus, namely:

• at least two caesarean sections;
• combination of one CS operation and at least one of the relative indications;
• removal of intermuscular or on a solid basis;
• correction of a defect in the structure of the uterus.

4. Transverse and oblique position of the child in the uterine cavity, breech presentation (“butt down”) in combination with an expected fetal weight of over 3.6 kg or with any relative indication for surgical delivery: a situation where the child is located at the internal os in the non-parietal region , but the forehead (frontal) or face (facial presentation), and other location features that contribute to birth trauma in the child.

Pregnancy can occur even during the first weeks of the postpartum period. The calendar method of contraception is not applicable in conditions of an irregular cycle. The most commonly used condoms, mini-pills (gestagen contraceptives that do not affect the child during feeding) or regular ones (in the absence of lactation). Use must be excluded.

One of the most popular methods is. Installation of an IUD after a cesarean section can be performed in the first two days after it, however, this increases the risk of infection and is also quite painful. Most often, the IUD is installed after about a month and a half, immediately after the start of menstruation or on any day convenient for the woman.

If a woman is over 35 years old and has at least two children, at her request, during the operation, the surgeon can perform surgical sterilization, in other words, tubal ligation. This is an irreversible method, after which conception almost never occurs.

Subsequent pregnancy

Natural childbirth after a cesarean section is allowed if the formed connective tissue on the uterus is strong, that is, strong, smooth, and able to withstand muscle tension during childbirth. This issue should be discussed with your attending physician during your next pregnancy.

The likelihood of a subsequent birth normally increases in the following cases:

• the woman gave birth to at least one child vaginally;
• if the CS was performed due to incorrect fetal position.

On the other hand, if the patient is over 35 years old at the time of subsequent births, she has excess weight, concomitant diseases, and inappropriate fetal and pelvic sizes, it is likely that she will undergo surgery again.

How many times can you have a caesarean section?

The number of such interventions is theoretically unlimited, but to maintain health it is recommended to do them no more than twice.

Typically, the tactics for repeated pregnancy are as follows: the woman is regularly observed by an obstetrician-gynecologist, and at the end of the gestation period a choice is made - surgery or natural childbirth. During a normal birth, doctors are ready to perform emergency surgery at any time.

Pregnancy after cesarean section is best planned at intervals of three years or more. In this case, the risk of suture failure on the uterus is reduced, pregnancy and childbirth proceed without complications.

How long after surgery can I give birth?

This depends on the condition of the scar, the woman’s age, and concomitant diseases. Abortion after CS has a negative impact on reproductive health. Therefore, if a woman does become pregnant almost immediately after a CS, then with a normal course of pregnancy and constant medical supervision, she can carry a child, but delivery will most likely be operative.

The main danger early pregnancy after CS there is a failure of the suture. It is manifested by increasing intense pain in the abdomen, the appearance of bloody discharge from the vagina, then signs of internal bleeding may appear: dizziness, pallor, falling blood pressure, loss of consciousness. In this case, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

What is important to know when having a second caesarean section?

Elective surgery is usually performed at 37-39 weeks. The incision is made along the old scar, which somewhat lengthens the operation time and requires stronger anesthesia. Recovery after a CS may also be slower as scar tissue and abdominal adhesions prevent the uterus from contracting well. However, with a positive attitude of the woman and her family, and the help of relatives, these temporary difficulties are completely surmountable.