C-section: What To Expect, And 9 Tips For A Faster Recovery

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How to speed up recovery from a cesarean delivery

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on April 22, 2025

After a C-section
9 tips for a faster recovery
Seeing a doctor
Summary

To speed up recovery after a cesarean delivery (C-section), people can try lifestyle and wellness methods, such as resting and gentle exercise.

C-sections accounted for around 32.4% of births in the United States in 2023. Although common, a C-section is major surgery.

What to expect after a C-section

Doctors Carrying Newborn Baby whilst mother recovers from a cesarean delivery — Javier Valenzuela/EyeEm/Getty Images

The time it takes to recover from a C-section varies. During the first 6 weeks, a person should avoid heavy lifting, driving, having sex, and heavy housework. This will allow the incision wound to recover without risking further injury.

A person is likely to feel soreness and tenderness around the wound for several weeks, and it may last longer than many sources say. People can take pain relief medication for as long as they need, although they should avoid codeine or co-codamol if they are breastfeeding, as this may harm the baby.

In most cases, doctors use dissolvable stitches to close an incision wound. The body will absorb these, and the doctor will not need to remove them. Sometimes, a doctor may need to remove non-dissolvable stitches 5 to 7 days after the surgery.

A person may experience a range of emotions following a C-section. If the surgery was not planned, people may feel a loss of control or feelings of inadequacy. It can also feel isolating — even if a person has a good support network.

The psychological impact

It is important to heal psychologically following any birth experience. Talking with trusted friends or family members, finding an online community of people with shared experiences, or journaling about your experiences and thoughts can help you process your emotions and feel less isolated.

9 tips to recover from a C-section

Every C-section is different, and the way people recover varies. The following tips may help with recovery:

1. Get plenty of rest

Rest is vital for recovery from any surgery. Yet, for many parents, rest is nearly impossible, particularly if there are other children in the home needing care. Newborns may sleep for only 1 or 2 hours at a time.

A person recovering from a C-section should try to rest whenever possible and enlist help from loved ones so they can take a nap.

2. Ask for help

Newborns are demanding. Caring for a baby after major surgery can be exhausting, and it is not possible for many parents to manage this alone. Ask for help from a partner, a neighbor, family, or a trusted friend.

People may benefit from lining up a meal train or a schedule of visitors who can watch the baby while they rest or take a shower.

3. Process your emotions

Giving birth can be an emotional experience for all involved.

People who experience emergency deliveries or traumatic births may have to process difficult emotions during and after the birth.

Talk with a partner, friend, or therapist. Getting early support may help reduce the risk of postpartum depression and enable quicker treatment.

»More on this: What to know about birth trauma

4. Take regular walks

Lifting and intense aerobic exercise are out for the first few weeks of recovery. As an alternative, walking can help with staying fit and maintaining good mental health.

Taking a gentle walk also reduces the risk of blood clots and other heart or blood vessel issues. Some parents like walking with other parents as part of a group. The Mom Walk Collective helps people find a walking group in their area.

During the first 6 weeks of recovery, pushing a stroller or carrying a baby may slow down recovery, so walk with a loved one who can do that instead.

5. Manage pain

A person will feel soreness and tenderness in their abdomen while recovering from a C-section. Talk with a doctor about how to take pain relief medications safely, particularly while breastfeeding.

Doctors may recommend over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If the pain is severe or worsens, talk with a doctor.

6. Watch for signs of infection

A person recovering from a C-section, and those close to them, must be watchful for signs of infection, such as:

fever
swelling
intense pain
red streaks coming from the incision
chills

Contact a doctor or go to the emergency room if these symptoms appear.

7. Avoid constipation

The combination of hormonal shifts, weaker stomach muscles, and spending more time than usual lying down can lead to constipation. Severe constipation can be painful, and straining can injure the C-section incision.

Drink plenty of water and ask a doctor about taking a stool softener. Eating plenty of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, can help prevent constipation.

8. Get support for breastfeeding

Having a C-section is linked to a higher risk of breastfeeding difficulties. A lactation consultant can help a person with breastfeeding, even when they face obstacles, such as separation from the baby after birth.

If the recovering person is in pain, sitting in a comfortable, supportive chair and using a breastfeeding cushion, or nursing in a laid-back, reclining position can make breastfeeding easier.

Health information specialists and breastfeeding peer counselors are available to answer any questions at The National Women’s Health and Breastfeeding Helpline on 1-800-994-9662.

9. Seek help for long-term issues

Some women experience long-term pain after a C-section. Others experience muscle weakness, incontinence, or depression. These issues are common, and people should not feel ashamed if they have these experiences.

If symptoms continue after the final postpartum appointment, a person can contact a doctor or midwife. They may receive a referral to a specialist or be offered tips for resolving symptoms at home.

When to see a doctor

After a C-section, people should call or see a doctor if they experience the following:

intense uterine cramps
uterine cramps that go away and then return
difficulty urinating
frequent headaches
anxiety or depression

People should go to the emergency room if they experience:

bleeding that soaks through one pad or tampon per hour
signs that the incision has ruptured, such as bleeding or oozing from the incision
thoughts of harming themselves or their baby
intense calf pain, especially if accompanied by swelling or numbness in the feet
shortness of breath

Summary

Recovering from a C-section takes around 6 weeks or more. People may be dealing with considerable psychological effects as well as physical recovery.

Getting plenty of rest, gentle physical activity, and support from loved ones is essential to a healthy recovery.

If a person experiences severe or worsening pain, continued heavy bleeding, or persistent low mood, they should talk with a doctor.

Surgery
Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Women's Health / Gynecology
Parenthood

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

About heavy menstrual bleeding. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/female-blood-disorders/about/heavy-menstrual-bleeding.html
Caesarean section: Recovery. (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/recovery/
Coping with emotions after a c-section (caesarean). (2024).https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/caesarean-section/coping-emotions-after-c-section
Hamilton BE, et al. (2024). Births: Provisional Data for 2023.https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr035.pdf
How to recover from a c-section (caesarean) at home. (2024).https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/giving-birth/caesarean-section/recovering-home-after-c-section
Singh J, et al. (2022). Association of Caesarean delivery and breastfeeding difficulties during the delivery hospitalization: A community-based cohort of women and full-term infants in Alberta, Canada.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9849537/

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Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Zawn Villines — Updated on April 22, 2025

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What to expect after a C-section

The psychological impact

9 tips to recover from a C-section

1. Get plenty of rest

2. Ask for help

3. Process your emotions

4. Take regular walks

5. Manage pain

6. Watch for signs of infection

7. Avoid constipation

8. Get support for breastfeeding

9. Seek help for long-term issues

When to see a doctor

Summary

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