After a surgery, you may need extra support while breastfeeding. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Your hospital should have a lactation consultant on hand to help you get started. In Family Centered Cesareans, those wishing to breastfeed are encouraged to begin breastfeeding in the operating room.

Everyone’s recovery will be different, depending on your age, body type, and general health. However, some basics of recovery will be to remember that you have just had major abdominal surgery, as well as given birth to a new baby. You may experience gas pains, incision pain, uterine contractions (your uterus will still need to work to get back to its original size). If you have staples or steri-strips, they may be removed about 4-7 days postpartum, but every provider has a different post-op plan, so you should discuss this with them. Try to rest. Get as much help as you can with your daily activities. If you have any questions, or concerns, reach out to your provider immediately. There are no “stupid questions”. It is important to discuss your concerns with your provider so they know how to help you.

By the end of six weeks, some people say they are feeling better, although the timeline is different for everyone.

CBAC stands for “Cesarean Birth After Cesarean”. This is usually used to refer to an unplanned cesarean after a precious cesarean.

A  repeat cesarean is a scheduled cesarean after having had a previous cesarean.

A planned cesarean is simply one that is scheduled ahead of time.