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Chapter 6: Healing at Home
We're going to let you in a little secret. Pregnancy isn't really three trimesters. It's four! Truly, if our culture considered the postpartum recovery period part of pregnancy, we suspect fewer women would feel so overwhelmed by new motherhood. In other parts of the world new mothers are practically worshipped during the first few weeks after giving birth. In India, for example, new mothers are encouraged to stay home and be pampered for 22 days after giving birth. In Holland, new mothers are routinely treated to live-in help (in the form of a midwife) for eight days postpartum. In the United Kingdom, new moms are visited at home six or seven times by a midwife during the first two weeks postpartum. That's standard for a vaginal delivery!
In the United States, we are lucky if we get a single home visit from a nurse, and even that is usually offered only to women who have delivered by Cesarean. Here many women feel compelled to get on with their lives as soon after childbirth as they can. We urge you to consider the first six weeks—or more, if possible—a time when you should be waited on and even exalted. Don't feel compelled to answer the phone every time it rings or entertain every visitor who stops by for "just a minute." (Posting a sign that says "Baby is sleeping" on your front door should cut back on the intrusions.)
We know we don't have to tell you, but women who deliver by Cesarean have some special concerns during the postpartum period. For starters, you are much more fatigued than women who have vaginal births. You can expect to feel pretty wiped out for at least the next couple of weeks. Of course it's important for every new mom to conserve her energy, but it's vital for women who are recovering from a c-section. Your physician gave you specific instructions about what you should and should not do during the first six weeks, and even though some of them—like not vacuuming—might seem silly, she gave them to you for a reason. Strenuous activity, including lifting anything heavier than your baby, could open your incision.
Focus On You
During the first few weeks postpartum, you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Let your spouse, family and friends do everything else. It can take between four to eight weeks for your incision to heal completely. So the less strenuous activity you do during these early days, the easier your recovery will be and the sooner you'll be able to handle those sleepless nights with a smile.
Other information that's included in this chapter:
- Recovery do’s and don’ts
- Relieving common discomforts
- Five things you can do to speed recovery
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