You can expect your incision site to be sore for some time after your baby is born. You may want some form of pain relief, as well as additional help and support for getting around while your incision is still tender.

Pain Relief

You'll be given strong pain relief for at least the first couple of days after surgery. Your epidural or spinal block may stay in for up to a day after your c-section so that you can get more medication if you need it. Your anesthesiologist may also put morphine in your epidural, which can help with pain relief for the first day or so after surgery. Sometimes anesthesiologists will give a systemic narcotic for pain relief, or they may hook you up to a system that allows you to deliver more medication via IV when you're feeling uncomfortable. No matter what kind of pain relief you're given, be sure to ask for more if you're in pain. If you hurt, it will be harder to get started with breastfeeding, and you'll have difficulty enjoying your baby.

Effects of Medication

You may feel some aftereffects of your analgesic, such as itching, grogginess, or nausea, and your abdominal area will be sore for some time. While you're in the hospital, the staff will check your vital signs regularly, make sure that your uterus is firm, assess your bleeding, and look at your incision site to make sure it's healing properly. Anything that puts pressure on the abdominal area, like sneezing, laughing, or even moving your upper body, may hurt, especially at first. You'll need to make sure to support your incision with a hand or pillow for the first few days whenever you do anything that may strain your sutures.

Gas and Bloating

Gas and bloating are two common and uncomfortable side effects from abdominal surgery, and they plague many new moms who've delivered via c-section. Getting out of bed and moving around can help. If you're very uncomfortable, tell your nurses — they can give you an antigas medication that's safe to take while nursing.

Getting Around

Your nurses will probably encourage you to get out of bed the day of or possibly the day after surgery. Don't get out of bed by yourself the first time — you'll need a nurse to be with you in case you're shaky or dizzy. You'll want to take a few short walks, with help, each day starting the day after surgery. This will help get your digestive system moving and increase circulation, which can help you avoid developing blood clots. It may be very uncomfortable to walk at first, but keep at it; you need to move around to aid your recovery. Try timing your walks for a half hour or so after you've taken pain medication so you're experiencing its peak effectiveness. Before your first walk and while you're lying in bed during your hospital stay, you can help keep your blood circulating by moving your legs and feet.