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Is it normal for my legs to hurt after C-section?

Sore calves – It should not come as a surprise that many women experience pain in their calf after giving birth. If you feel an ache or pain in your leg and you also notice some swelling, this could be a sign of a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis. If it is a blood clot, you may not experience any other symptoms other than pain and swelling.

Why are my legs weak after C-section?

A prolonged period of time spent in the lithotomy position can increase the risk of femoral nerve injury. Weakness of hip flexion and knee extension can result. Femoral nerve injury is the most common cause of postpartum leg weakness.

How long does it hurt to walk after C-section?

Your wound will feel sore and bruised for a few weeks. You will need to take pain relief for at least 7–10 days after your c-section. Your midwife or doctor will tell you what pain relief you can take.

How long does it take for feeling to come back in legs after C-section?

Your Incision – Don’t be afraid to look at your incision. It’s actually very important that you do, as you will need to monitor for signs of an infection. The first day it might be covered with gauze. You may also have special drains to help remove fluids that are collecting on the inside.

• There are different types of external incisions that may not match the incision on your uterus.
• Make sure to ask the provider who performed the surgery about the uterine incision.
• The area may look bruised, red, and irritated.
• You will notice that there are staples or stitches.
• These will usually be removed within a few days of the surgery or will dissolve on their own like the internal stitches.

Looking at the incision now will help you note and report any changes that may indicate infection to your provider, One thing that surprises many people after surgery is the numbness and itching. Numbness after a c-section is completely normal. It will usually go away in a few weeks but doesn’t always.

1. It does not mean that there is something wrong.
2. The best advice, whether you’re at home or in the hospital, is to rest.
3. Rest is very important after any birth—particularly when you have had surgery.
4. Ask that visitors wait for a while, and don’t hesitate to enlist the help of hospital staff at keeping them to a minimum.

Be sure to ask for help from your friends and family who offer, and sleep whenever possible.

Can C-section cause nerve damage in legs?

Nerve Pain after C-section – As with other surgical procedures, it is virtually impossible to perform a C-section without cutting into some nerves. That said, long-term nerve injury after a C-section tends to be somewhat rare. Often, nerves will heal without causing any lasting issues.

When injured nerves do not heal correctly, it is considered to be nerve damage. Depending on which nerves are damaged—and their respective functions—there are various short-term and long-term symptoms that can develop. These symptoms can include impaired motor function and nerve pain. If you have had a C-section and are experiencing a superficial pain around the edges of the scar, it is likely the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and/or genitofemoral nerves have been affected.

Usually, the pain presents as a burning pain and hypersensitivity – which means even light touch hurts (like in the earlier examples of wind and water). There may also be “electric shock” sensations. If pushing on the affected area does not reproduce the pain, those specific nerves are less likely to be responsible.

1. The reason for noting the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves comes down to their locations.
2. Surgeons do attempt to avoid important nerves as much as possible, but these ones run close to the edge of a C-section incision.
3. This makes it easy for them to be injured during the procedure (bruised, crushed, etc.) or trapped in scar tissue afterward.

If you are having painful sensations, it is more likely the nerves were injured, instead of being cut. We can say this because cut nerves tend to produce numbness instead of pain. Although, there are times when both numbness and pain result from cut nerves (which is a condition called anesthesia dolorosa ).

Why do my legs hurt so much postpartum?

Warning signs of postpartum health problems Your body goes through many changes after having a baby, so it needs time to recover. In the weeks after childbirth, you can expect to feel certain discomforts, like belly cramps or fatigue, that are a normal part of the healing process.

But some women have postpartum complications that can cause serious, life-threatening health problems. If you ever experience pain or discomfort that doesn’t seem “normal,” call your doctor. If you think your life is in danger, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Why postpartum care is important All women need postpartum care after having a baby.

Even if you’re feeling fine, go to all your postpartum checkups so your doctor can make sure you’re recovering well from labor and delivery. New moms are at risk of serious and sometimes, life-threatening complications after childbirth, so it’s important to get checked out.

1. Go to all your postpartum checkups.
2. Take note of any warning signs or unusual symptoms.
3. Call your doctor right away—or go to the emergency room

Know the warning signs Is it a normal part of healing or something else? When you’re busy taking care of a new baby, you might miss the warning signs. Pay attention to the signs below that indicate something could be wrong, as well as signs and symptoms that point to specific health conditions. Warning signs to look for after giving birth

• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Heavy bleeding
• Extreme pain

Signs and symptoms of infection • Fever higher than 100.4 F. When you get a fever, it means your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused an infection. • Discharge, pain or redness around an incision site that doesn’t go away or gets worse.

This includes around a cesarean birth incision, episiotomy or perineal tear. Cesarean birth (also called a C-section) is a surgery in which your baby is born through a cut your doctor makes in your belly and uterus (womb). An episiotomy is a cut made at the opening of the vagina to help let the baby out during birth.

A perineal tear is a tear in the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and the rectum. Your perineum may tear naturally during vaginal birth. • Pain/burning when you pee, increased urination or pain in your lower back or side. You may have a urinary tract infection (also called UTI), including a bladder infection (cystitis) or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis).

Red streaks or new, painful lumps in your breasts. You may have a breast infection called mastitis. This can happen when you have a plugged duct, you miss or delay breastfeeding or your breasts become engorged (swollen and full of milk). • Severe pain in your lower belly. You may have endometritis. This is inflammation (redness or swelling) in the lining of the uterus.

• Vaginal discharge with an odor. You may have endometritis or an infection called bacterial vaginosis (also called BV). BV happens when there’s too much of a certain bacteria in the vagina. Signs and symptoms of sepsis Sometimes the body has an extreme response to infection (called sepsis).

• Chills or feeling very cold
• Clammy or sweaty skin
• Fast breathing
• Fast heart rate
• Feeling confused
• Fever
• Having extreme pain or discomfort

Signs and symptoms of other health conditions Treatment depends on how severe your preeclampsia is and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Most women with mild preeclampsia after 37 weeks of pregnancy don’t have serious health problems. If you have mild preeclampsia before 37 weeks, you need treatment to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

Bleeding that’s heavier than a normal period or bleeding that gets worse over time. You may have postpartum hemorrhage (also called PPH). PPH is when a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. It’s a serious, but rare condition that can happen up to 12 weeks after having a baby. • Pain, swelling, redness, warmth or tenderness in your legs, especially your calves.

You may have deep vein thrombosis (also called DVT). This happens when a blood clot forms deep in the body, usually in the lower leg or thigh. • Vision changes, severe headache, pain in the upper right belly or shoulder, trouble breathing, sudden weight gain or swelling in the legs, hands or face.

You may have postpartum preeclampsia. This is a serious condition that can develop in women after giving birth. It is marked by high blood pressure and signs that some organs—like the kidneys and liver—may not be working normally. • Chest pain, coughing or gasping for air. You may have a pulmonary embolism (also called PE).

This is when a blood clot moves from where it originally formed to a lung. PE is an emergency that needs immediate attention. • Feeling sad or hopeless for more than 10 days after giving birth. You may have postpartum depression (also called PPD), which is a form of depression that can develop after having a baby.

PPD is marked by strong feelings of sadness, anxiety (worry), fatigue and harmful thoughts. PPD can make it hard for you to take care of yourself and your baby. PPD needs treatment to get better, so talk to your doctor right away. • Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up. You may have PPH or cardiovascular disease (also called heart disease).

Heart disease includes conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. They often affect the heart muscle or involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you think your life is in danger, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Why my legs feel so heavy after C-section?

Bleeding: Blood loss at the time of delivery does not end immediately after delivery. While in the hospital, you may have noticed that you have had heavier vaginal bleeding than ever before. This will slowly taper down over the course of the next few weeks.

1. Bright red bleeding that occurred immediately after delivery will slowly change to a darker color and eventually green and yellow.
2. This is all a normal part of the postpartum transition of the uterus.
3. Occasionally, a week or two after your bleeding seems to have stopped, you may have a sudden gush of bright red blood.

This is the normal process of the placental site scab coming off. This too will taper off over a few days. Bleeding more than a pad an hour for more than three hours is not appropriate and we would like you to contact us immediately. Pain: In addition to the recovery of your body from delivery, your body is also now recovering from major surgery.

This includes not only the incision on your skin, but also separation of muscles and tissue covering the uterus and an incision on the uterus. We anticipate that you are going to have pain, not only at the incision site, but also from manipulation of the underlying tissues. We have prescribed pain medication for you, please take it.

It is important to continue to take motrin (600 mg every 6 hours or 800mg every 8 hours) around the clock for the first 5-7 days after delivery. You will find that as you continue to heal, you will need your narcotic pain medication less frequently. Generally, by 5 days after delivery, you should be taking motrin primarily and the narcotic just every once in awhile.

Restrictions: There are very few restrictions to be aware of after a c-section. Most significantly, we do not want you to be driving while taking any narcotic pain medication. Narcotics can mimic the effect of alcohol and impair your ability to drive. For the few weeks after delivery, we don’t want you to lift anything heavier than 20-25 pounds.

This gives your abdominal wall the opportunity to heal without undue strain. Vigorous exercise should also be avoided while healing. Lastly, avoid sexual intercourse until your 6-weeks postpartum visit. Incision care: In general, your incision was likely made across the top of your pubic hairline.

Because this area sometimes falls under a fold of skin from where the previously pregnant uterus was, it requires special care. The most important thing that you can do to avoid infection of the wound is to keep it as dry as possible. You may shower, but please do not scrub the incision with soap of any kind; simply allow the warm shower water to run over the area.

Once you are finished bathing, please blot the area of the incision; and, if not completely dry, use a hair dryer on the cool setting to ensure the area is completely dry. If you find that your incision falls underneath a fold of skin and accumulates some sweat, it is a good idea to place a maxi pad over the incision and change it frequently.

Your incision may leak a small amount of clear or bloody fluid in the first few days after delivery, this is normal. However, leaking of pus, redness around the incision, fever (101) or opening of the wound, may indicate infection and we would like you to call us right away. Incisions are generally closed in 3 ways: stitches, steel staples or resorbable staples.

If you have staples you can see externally, we need to see you back 5-7 days after surgery to take them out. If you cannot see any staples, we need to see you back in 2 weeks to check on your incision. Hemorrhoids: Most women will develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy and delivery, even without pushing.

A lot of hemorrhoids will resolve on their own as your body recovers from deliveryCare of hemorrhoids can be accomplished with use of witch hazel pads, dermoplast, and over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatments. Cleansing your bottom with water after a bowel movement and blotting to dry will alleviate a great deal of discomfort associated with hemorrhoids.

Breast Pain: Shortly after your discharge from the hospital, you likely will notice your breasts becoming sore, tender and hard. This is engorgement, or your breasts filling with milk. Engorgement is a normal process that provides milk for your baby. Using a hand held pump before latching your baby on to the breast can help relieve some of the discomfort.

You can also hand express a small amount of milk while in the shower to relieve some of the pressure. The amount of milk you produce will eventually match up to the amount of milk your baby drinks, but it may take a few weeks for you and your new baby to reach this balance. Motrin is also a good choice for management of breast discomfort caused by engorgement.

You may also find that your nipples are painful at the time of latching, this is normal. The tender skin overlying the nipple takes a bit of time to become toughened up. A small amount of lanolin applied sparingly can be very soothing. If you notice redness or streaking of the breast or develop fever, chills or flu like symptoms you may be developing mastitis, an infection of the breast tissue.

• We would like for you to call the office right away.
• If you choose not to breastfeed, it is important that for the first few days after delivery you keep your breasts tightly compressed, either with a tight sports bra or an ace bandage.
• Try to avoid emptying any milk from your breasts as this will stimulate your breasts to produce more milk and take longer to dry up.

Fatigue: The first few weeks and months of caring for a newborn can be some of the most exhausting of a new mom’s life. Fatigue is very normal in the postpartum period. Most moms (and dads) will be functioning on a lot less sleep than they are used to.

It is very important that you sleep when the baby sleeps. Though it may feel like there are many other things you need to do, rest is very important to a successful recovery. If you have a baby that is awake multiple times through the night, try to take turns with your partner, so each of you can get a little uninterrupted sleep.

Swelling: Swelling of the legs after delivery is very common. This happens because of the redistribution of the fluid and blood volume of your body from the pregnant state to the non-pregnant state. This may take two weeks or longer to resolve. You can help decrease the swelling by walking, elevating your legs and drinking a lot of water.

Does walking reduce belly after C-section?

5. Get enough sleep – Getting enough sleep is crucial for reducing belly fat after c-section. The American journal of epidemiology says that lack of sleep can lead to weight gain and an increase in belly fat. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night, and try to establish a regular sleep schedule.

Is it OK to sleep on the side after C-section?

Side Sleeping – Side sleeping may be what you’ve gotten used to during pregnancy, and it’s a great option post-birth, too. It may be the easiest way to get in and out of bed while you’re recovering from the surgery, and you may find side-lying an easier way to breastfeed as it doesn’t put strain on your wound. Side sleeping can also help with:

Blood flow, when sleeping on the left sideDigestion, when sleeping on the left side Lower back pain Sleep apnea Snoring Acid reflux

Try placing a pillow between your knees to keep your spine aligned, or keep using your pregnancy pillow or body pillow, if you have one, to take pressure off your joints.

Should I walk everyday after C-section?

Walking after c-section is encouraged and should be your go to for the first few weeks. You’ll start to notice day to day movement getting easier and less discomfort lifting baby or moving around.

What should I avoid after C-section?

‍ Food items to Avoid – ‍ After a C-section, physical activities are restricted for a significant period. Food items that can cause fatigue, lethargy, and slow recovery should be avoided. The diet chart after C-section recovery should also eliminate anything that takes a longer time to digest.

• Items like carbonated drinks, citrus juices, coffee, tea, and spicy food should be avoided as they increase bloating and gas.
• Fermented and fried food can cause heartburn and indigestion.
• Since mothers are breastfeeding, such foods can affect the milk and cause growth problems in the newborn.
• Food made with dals like chana, urad, gram flour, rajma, besan can be stopped for the first two months as they cause gastrointestinal issues.

Similarly, vegetables like potatoes, cabbage, onions can be eliminated for the first 40 days after delivery. Fish and shellfish have high mercury content and are harmful to the baby. Mothers should avoid cold cuts, raw meat, and uncooked vegetables. Alcohol is an absolute no at this stage as it can interfere with breastfeeding and cause developmental anomalies in the baby.

Can I climb stairs after 3 weeks of C-section?

Cesarean Section Recovery About one in three women who give birth end up doing so by Cesarean section, and though every mother is happy to have a healthy baby in her arms, a C-section delivery requires major surgery that takes a heavy toll on a woman’s body.

1. While some doctors say they don’t want to “overload” their patients with too much information, many mothers say they often leave the hospital with too little in the way of recovery advice.
2. I was told the usual of not lifting anything heavier than my baby, but I was never told for how long or why,” says Carolyn, a mother of two in Pacifica.

“I never took pain medication, so I figured that I would just do whatever didn’t cause me pain. “I had an older child who needed to be lifted, my baby in his 10-pound car seat to transport, and strollers to retrieve and open from the back of my SUV, which has a very heavy back door,” she continues.

“Basically, I went about life as normal, trying not to lift heavy items if or when it could be avoided. As it turns out, my abdominal muscles never grew back together, so I look perpetually five months pregnant, and I have chronic hip and back pain two years post-childbirth.” Take It Slow The ban on lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds is tough advice for mothers with a toddler awaiting their return back home.

No matter how you deliver, childbirth is an overwhelming experience, and there is almost nothing as stressful as taking care of a newborn baby. But, there’s no getting around the fact that recovery from C-section is much longer and more complicated than from a vaginal delivery.

A C-section is major surgery, which requires cutting through several layers of abdominal tissue. It goes without saying: you need a lot of time to heal from something like that. “I tell women to get help if they can,” says Dr. Deirdre Lyell, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University.

“This is not a time to do everything on your own. If someone offers help, your response should be, ‘Thank you.'” First and foremost, you need to rest. Drink lots of water, eat well-balanced meals and continue taking your prenatal vitamin. This general advice – so important for breastfeeding mothers – applies particularly to women who’ve had a C-section.

1. Lots of fluids help maintain a strong milk supply, as well as prevent constipation.
2. There is some evidence that a good diet can help the wound heal.
3. The Importance of Moving In the hospital, the staff will have you up and walking around the day after surgery.
4. Though some women have a lot of pain, walking is important – however you deliver – since there is always a risk of getting blood clots in the legs that could go to the lungs.

That risk is even higher for women who have had a C-section. “I’ve taken care of several women from other countries, where they say that the recommendation is to stay in bed for three months after you give birth,” Lyell notes. “That’s just the opposite of what we recommend.

The overriding principle is that a woman should be up and walking around one to two days after a Cesarean.” Taking those first steps can be scary, and mothers who have been there advise that you hold a pillow over your incision and stand up straight. Don’t look down. Focus on an object – a chair, the bathroom door or the sink – as a goal.

Walking is the perfect activity for the next six weeks, once you start feeling well enough to get out of the house – typically a couple weeks post-surgery. If and when you graduate to another form of exercise, start slowly and stop at the first sign of pain.

And, of course, the standard guideline for sexual intercourse applies however you give birth: No sex for the first six weeks. Most women who’ve had a C-section probably won’t even want to think about it before then. Doctors, traditionally, have advised women to avoid stairs after a C-section. But Kathryn Houston, a clinical instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco, shrugs off that recommendation.

“Stairs are fine as long as you take them slowly,” she says. “I don’t tell people not to go upstairs. I don’t want them running stairs as a workout. But most people have one to two flights of stairs, and as long as you take them slow, it’s okay. That’s because you’re using your leg muscles, not abdominal muscles.” Returning to Normal Don’t be afraid to look at your incision.

1. The first day, it may be covered by gauze.
2. The area may look bruised, red and irritated.
3. You’ll notice staples or stitches, which will usually be removed within a few days of the surgery.
4. Looking at the incision now will allow you to be able to report changes that may indicate infection, including warmth, redness or swelling at the incision site; oozing from the incision site; worsening or sudden onset of pain; and any fever – even if your incision looks fine.

There can be significant discomfort in the first couple weeks, when the uterus is shrinking and contracting. Breastfeeding limits what medications are safe to take. Avoid aspirin. Reach instead for ibuprofen. “I think it’s very important that a woman take enough medication so that she’s comfortable,” Lyell continues.

1. Surgical pain can be significant.
2. There are several narcotics that are considered safe for breastfeeding.
3. A small amount crosses (into the milk supply), so it’s important to minimize the levels.” Itching after Cesarean is not uncommon.
4. Doctors say it’s important to identify the cause of itching, since antibiotics – routinely given before a C-section for reducing post-operative infection – can cause an allergic itching response.

The incision itself can itch for weeks, even months. It doesn’t mean anything is amiss; indeed, itching around the incision is a sign of healing. Products like Aveeno, topical creams like Vitamin E, and cold packs all bring relief. So can antihistamines, but Houston doesn’t usually prescribe them since they can reduce milk supply.

That’s problematic if a new mother is already having issues with breastfeeding. All new mothers experience a major hormonal shift that can lead to depression. The question is, how do you distinguish between the normal “postpartum blues” and something more serious? The risk is no greater after a Cesarean section, according to Houston.

“Being a new mother is overwhelming for everyone,” she says. “The physical recovery is harder with a C-section and can add to the stress. But in terms of clinical depression, it doesn’t make a big difference. “Most people don’t go in wanting a C-section, but the fact is that 25 percent of people get one.

Does C-section weaken muscles?

Impacts of a c-section on the body – You’ll notice some differences in your body following your c-section. Breaching the abdominal wall can destabilise the spine and front of the body, which is why a rest period of 6-8 weeks is recommended following a c-section.

How do I know if I have permanent nerve damage in my leg?

Injuries – The Main Cause for Nerve Damage – When you injure a part of the body surrounded by nerves, you can damage the nerves as well. In return, you may experience sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning. Some people feel weakness in a spot that has sustained,

How many C sections can you have?

The most common major operating room procedure performed is a cesarean birth, or C-section for short. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 percent of births in the United States are via C-section. Given how common they are, is there an increased risk associated with opting for that birthing method? An expert from the Texas A&M College of Medicine explains.

Even though they’re common now, C-sections can have issues,” said Hector Chapa, MD, associate clerkship director for obstetrics and gynecology at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “We, as a society, may take it for granted, but it’s still a major abdominal surgery.” Today, one in three babies is born via C-section, and according to recent data, that’s a 50 percent increase over the last decade.

It wasn’t always the case that women can walk into their health care provider’s office and decide to have a C-section. Physicians may have recommended a C-section if the baby was large and if the mother has a small pelvis, or if the baby was not in a heads-down position and efforts to turn the baby before a woman gives birth had been unsuccessful.

• However, it was usually at the discretion of the physician.
• While it’s hard to say how many C-sections is too many—for each individual—it’s generally accepted that risks increase as the number of repeat C-sections increases.
• As a physician, it’s difficult to put a limit on the number of children a couple is seeking, but the evidence does show that the risk begins to increase even faster after the third C-section,” Chapa said.

“So, every patient is different and every case is unique. However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”

What day is hardest after C-section?

Immediate Recovery – A typical C-section procedure takes about an hour: The baby is usually delivered within 10 to 15 minutes, and stitching the incision takes the rest of the time. In emergency cases,the period of time between when an obstetrician decides to perform an emergency C-section and when the baby is delivered is referred to as the decision to delivery interval.

1. The recommended decision to delivery interval when there is an immediate threat to the life of mother and baby is 30 minutes.
2. If the situation is not life threatening, then the decision to delivery interval may be up to 75 minutes, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Cesarean Birth,

National Institute of Health Care and Excellence. Accessed on 11/16/2022. After delivery, you’ll be moved to a recovery room, where a nurse regularly checks on you, reviewing vital signs (blood oxygen, heart rhythm and blood pressure readings), pain levels, the firmness of your uterus, the incision area and the amount of vaginal bleeding.

“Breastfeeding may be a bit delayed,” notes Kate Woeber, Ph.D, a certified nurse midwife and associate professor-in-residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Breastmilk production may be affected by C-section-related stress on the mother or reduced secretion of oxytocin—an important breastfeeding hormone.

Factors that can delay breastfeeding initiation following a C-section include separating the mother and baby (reduced skin-to-skin contact), low birthweight, inadequate milk production, a baby’s poor suckling skills or refusing to breastfeed, according to a 2016 study published in the BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Journal Hobbs AJ, Mannion, CA, McDonald SW, et al.

• The impact of cesarean section on breastfeeding initiation, duration and difficulties in the first four months postpartum,
• BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2016(90).
• It will help to ensure that the mother’s pain is well-managed so she can breastfeed whenever the baby shows some interest and that skin-to-skin time is facilitated.

Also, a breast pump and professional assistance (from a lactation consultant) should be available. For some people, hand expression of breastmilk, even before delivery, might help,” says Dr. Woeber. The first day after a C-section is often the hardest, and moving around may hurt.

Should I still have pain 4 weeks after C-section?

You may be able to recover more quickly from a C-section by getting rest and avoiding demanding physical activity. Other practices that support your overall health may also help. Childbirth is an exciting time. You finally get to meet the baby growing inside you for the last 9 months.

Yet, having a baby can be taxing on your body, especially if you’ve had a cesarean delivery, commonly referred to as a C-section. You’ll need more time to recover than you would after a routine vaginal delivery. Here are six suggestions to help speed up your recovery so you can spend less time sore and tired — and more time bonding with your new baby.

A cesarean delivery (C-section) is major surgery. Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.

• That’s easier said than done.
• It’s hard to crawl into bed for hours on end when you have a baby who’s demanding lots of attention.
• You’ve probably heard this advice from well-meaning friends and relatives: “Sleep whenever your baby sleeps.” They’re right.
• Try to sleep whenever your baby naps.
• Ask for help from those friends and relatives with diaper changes and housework so you can lie down when possible.

Even a few minutes of rest here and there throughout the day can help. Take extra care in getting around while you heal. Follow these tips:

Avoid going up and down stairs as much as you can. Keep everything you need, like food and supplies for changing diapers, close to you so that you do not have to get up too often.Do not lift anything heavier than your baby. Ask for help from your partner, friends, or family members.Whenever you have to sneeze or cough, hold your abdomen to protect the incision site,It could take up to 8 weeks for you to get back into your normal routine. Ask your doctor when it’s fine to exercise, go back to work, and drive, Also wait to have sex or use tampons until your doctor gives you the green light.Avoid strenuous exercise, but do take gentle walks as often as you can. The movement will help your body heal and prevent constipation and blood clots, Plus, walks are a great way to introduce your baby to the world.

Ask your doctor what pain medications you can take, especially if you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Depending on the level of your discomfort, your doctor might prescribe a pain reliever or advise you to take an over-the-counter (OTC) one, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

In addition to pain medication, you can use a heating pad to relieve discomfort at the surgical site. Good nutrition is just as important in the months after you deliver as it was while you were pregnant. If you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding, you’re still your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Eating a variety of foods will keep your baby healthy and help you get stronger.

A 2017 study shows that eating fruits and vegetables while breastfeeding imparts flavors in breast milk that increase your child’s enjoyment and consumption of those foods as they grow. Also, drink plenty of fluids, especially water, You need extra fluids to boost your milk supply and to avoid constipation.

afterpains, a type of cramping that occurs as your uterus returns to its prepregnancy size breast engorgement, or swelling lochia, a type of vaginal discharge mostly made of blood vaginal dryness diastasis recti, or the separation of your abdominal muscles hair loss skin changes, like loose skin or acne night sweats headache

Some of these, like afterpains and lochia, will eventually go away on their own. Treatments and home remedies are available for some of the others. Try the following:

lubricants or vaginal creams made of estrogen for vaginal drynessexercises for diastasis recti or loose skinsupplements and topical treatments for hair loss topical treatments, oral isotretinoin (Absorbica, Amnesteen, Claravis), or birth control pills for acnelightweight pajamas for night sweatsOTC pain medications for headache

There are a variety of options to help you manage breast engorgement, like:

a warm compress or warm showera cold compress or an ice packnursing to expel the milk breast massage during nursingOTC pain medications

The 12 weeks after your baby is born are sometimes known as the 4th trimester, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that people see their OB-GYN or another doctor multiple times during this period. The first assessment should take place no later than 3 weeks postpartum.

your physical recovery your mental health your energy levels and how you’re sleepinghow your baby is doing and their feeding schedule birth control and whether you’re considering having more children chronic condition managementhow you’re managing any pregnancy-related complications, such as high blood pressure

You’ll probably feel some soreness in the incision, and you may have bleeding or discharge for up to 6 weeks after the C-section. That’s expected. However, the following symptoms warrant a call to your doctor, because they could signal an infection :

redness, swelling, or pus oozing from the incision sitepain around the site fever of more than 100.4°F (38°C) bad-smelling discharge from the vagina heavy vaginal bleeding redness or swelling in your leg difficulty with breathing chest pain pain in your breasts

Also call your doctor if you feel sad and your mood never seems to lift, especially if you have thoughts of hurting your baby or yourself. Finally, if you have a friend or sibling who went through a C-section, try not to compare yourself to them. Every person’s experience with this surgery is different.

Should I still be in pain 10 days after C-section?

Controlling pain and bleeding – Most women experience some discomfort for the first few days after a caesarean, and for some women the pain can last several weeks. You should make sure you have regular painkillers to take at home for as long as you need them, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen,

Why do my legs ache postpartum?

Warning signs of health problems after birth When do you need medical care after giving birth? Your body goes through lots of changes after giving birth, and it needs time to heal. It’s normal to feel some, like being sore and really tired. But some women have complications after having a baby that can cause serious, life-threatening health problems.

• If you’re worried about how you feel or you have pain or discomforts that don’t feel right, call your health care provider.
• If you think your life is in danger, call emergency services (911) or go to a hospital emergency room.
• All women need postpartum care after giving birth.
• Postpartum care is medical care for women who just had a baby.

Go to all of even if you’re feeling fine. These are medical checkups you get to make sure you’re recovering well from, They help your health care provider spot and treat health conditions you may have. Postpartum care is important because new moms are at risk of serious and sometimes, in the days and weeks after giving birth.

• Too many new moms die from problems that could have been prevented.
• What are warning signs to look for after giving birth? In general, warning signs of serious health conditions include chest pain, trouble breathing, heavy bleeding and extreme pain.
• If you have any of these signs or symptoms, call your provider right away.

If you think your life is in danger, call emergency services (911) or go to the emergency room. Signs of a condition are things someone else can see or know about you, like you have a rash or you’re coughing. Symptoms are things you feel yourself that others can’t see, like having a sore throat or feeling dizzy.

Fever higher than 100.4 F. You get a fever when your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused an infection. Discharge, pain or redness that doesn’t go away or gets worse around a c-section incision (cut), episiotomy or perineal tear. A c-section (also called cesarean birth) is a surgery in which your baby is born through a cut that your doctor makes in your belly and uterus (womb). An episiotomy is a cut made at the opening of the vagina to help let the baby out during birth. A perineal tear is a tear in the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and the rectum. Your perineum may tear naturally during vaginal birth. Pain or burning when you urinate (pee), pain in your lower back or side or needing to pee often. You may have a urinary tract infection (also called UTI), like a bladder infection called cystitis or a kidney infection called pyelonephritis. Red streaks on your breasts or lumps in your breast that are new and hurt. You may have a breast infection called mastitis. This can happen when you have a plugged duct, you miss or delay or your breasts become engorged (swollen and full of milk). Severe pain in your lower belly. You may have endometritis. This is inflammation (redness or swelling) in the lining of the uterus. Vaginal discharge that smells bad. You may have endometritis or an infection called (also called BV). BV happens when there’s too much of a certain bacteria in the vagina.

Sometimes the body has an extreme response to infection called sepsis. Sepsis can be life-threatening. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have any of these signs or symptoms of sepsis after giving birth:

Chills or feeling very cold Clammy or sweaty skin Fast breathing Fast heart rate Feeling confused Fever Having extreme pain or discomfort

Signs and symptoms of other health conditions

Bleeding that’s heavier than your normal period or bleeding that gets worse over time. You may have (also called PPH). PPH is when a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. It’s a serious, but rare condition that can happen up to 12 weeks after having a baby. Pain, swelling, redness, warmth or tenderness in your legs, especially in your calves. You may have (also called DVT). This happens when a blood clot forms deep in the body, usually in the lower leg or thigh. Changes in vision, dizziness, severe headache, pain in the upper right belly or in the shoulder, trouble breathing, sudden weight gain or swelling in the legs, hands or face. You may have, This is a serious condition that happens when a woman has high blood pressure and signs that some of her organs, like her kidneys and liver, may not be working normally after giving birth. Chest pain, coughing or gasping for air. You may have a pulmonary embolism (also called PE). An embolism is a blood clot that moves from where it formed to another place in the body. When the clot moves to a lung, it’s PE. PE is an emergency. Feeling sad or hopeless for more than 10 days after giving birth. You may have (also called PPD), a kind of depression some women get after having a baby. PPD is strong feelings of sadness, anxiety (worry) and tiredness that last for a long time after giving birth. These feelings can make it hard for you to take care of yourself and your baby. PPD is a medical condition that needs treatment to get better. Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up. You may have PPH or cardiovascular disease (also called heart disease). Heart disease includes conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. They often affect the heart muscle or involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Last reviewed: July, 2018 See also:,, : Warning signs of health problems after birth

Does postpartum cause leg pain?

Background/Purpose – Musculoskeletal pain is often reported by women in their prenatal and postnatal periods, with the most common complaint being low back or pelvic pain.1 Several investigators have stated a low back pain incidence of 70–77% during the prenatal period, 1 – 3 and 40–45% in the postpartum period.1, 4, 5 Other musculoskeletal sites of pain include the upper and lower extremities with conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, and various painful hip conditions.3, 6 Non-specific lower leg pain is another common symptom reported by many women during their pregnancy; Vullo et al.7 cited an incidence of leg and foot pain of 50% in the prenatal period.

Non-specific calf pain is the presence of pain in the calf without a specific medical diagnosis. Specific calf pain would include conditions such as varicose veins, which do affect 40% of pregnant women.8 Despite the prevalence of non-specific lower leg pain in women during their prenatal period, there are no known prevalence numbers of non-specific lower leg pain in the postnatal period.

The most debilitating and common musculoskeletal problem in the postnatal period is back and sacroiliac joint pain.5 To our knowledge, there are no studies that have investigated the aetiology of postnatal non-specific lower leg pain. As investigators we can speculate as to the contributing factors for the lack of research in the prevalence and aetiology of postnatal non-specific lower leg pain.

Therefore, it could be speculated that postnatal non-specific lower leg pain is not common since no prevalence numbers are available. Another consideration and perhaps the most likely reason is that much of the lower extremity pain is self-limiting with symptom resolution typically seen 4 months after delivery.7 Additionally, the hypothesized three primary causes for prenatal calf pain are hormonal, edema, or biomechanical causes, 7, 8 all of which should normalize after delivery.

However, anecdotally there are some women who continue to have leg pain in the postnatal period. For those women who do not gain resolution of their symptoms to our knowledge, there are no specific treatments described in the literature. There is an array of interventions available for physical therapists to utilize when treating non-specific chronic pain associated with musculoskeletal dysfunction.

These interventions include soft tissue mobilization/massage, 9 therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound 10 or transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, 11 and therapeutic exercise.12, 13 The evidence supporting one intervention as being superior over another is unclear. The intervention to be described in this case study is a manual therapy treatment approach that combines instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (ISTM) with therapeutic exercise to address soft tissue dysfunction.

According to manufacturers, ISTM-utilized instruments that are uniquely shaped enable a precise application of force and specific detection with localization of soft tissue lesions during treatment; the different instruments also allow a user to apply different strokes and depths of treatment.14 ISTM is based upon the concepts of cross-fibre massage (CFM).

CFM is a manual technique specifically applying forces directed transverse to the direction of the underlying collagen substructure in order to induce physiological and/or structural tissue changes.15 CFM is different from typical manual techniques since there is little motion between the therapist’s contact and the patient’s skin; instead motion occurs between the subcutaneous tissues over the deeper connective tissue.

The practice of CFM with rigid instruments is a type of ISTM. Preliminary results in animal models and clinical studies indicate that ISTM may be beneficial in promoting soft tissue remodelling and healing.16 – 21 There are no clinical reports to date on the use of ISTM with postnatal calf pain.

What causes leg pain after delivery?

Warning signs of postpartum health problems Your body goes through many changes after having a baby, so it needs time to recover. In the weeks after childbirth, you can expect to feel certain discomforts, like belly cramps or fatigue, that are a normal part of the healing process.

• But some women have postpartum complications that can cause serious, life-threatening health problems.
• If you ever experience pain or discomfort that doesn’t seem “normal,” call your doctor.
• If you think your life is in danger, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
• Why postpartum care is important All women need postpartum care after having a baby.

Even if you’re feeling fine, go to all your postpartum checkups so your doctor can make sure you’re recovering well from labor and delivery. New moms are at risk of serious and sometimes, life-threatening complications after childbirth, so it’s important to get checked out.

1. Go to all your postpartum checkups.
2. Take note of any warning signs or unusual symptoms.
3. Call your doctor right away—or go to the emergency room

Know the warning signs Is it a normal part of healing or something else? When you’re busy taking care of a new baby, you might miss the warning signs. Pay attention to the signs below that indicate something could be wrong, as well as signs and symptoms that point to specific health conditions. Warning signs to look for after giving birth

• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Heavy bleeding
• Extreme pain

Signs and symptoms of infection • Fever higher than 100.4 F. When you get a fever, it means your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused an infection. • Discharge, pain or redness around an incision site that doesn’t go away or gets worse.

This includes around a cesarean birth incision, episiotomy or perineal tear. Cesarean birth (also called a C-section) is a surgery in which your baby is born through a cut your doctor makes in your belly and uterus (womb). An episiotomy is a cut made at the opening of the vagina to help let the baby out during birth.

A perineal tear is a tear in the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and the rectum. Your perineum may tear naturally during vaginal birth. • Pain/burning when you pee, increased urination or pain in your lower back or side. You may have a urinary tract infection (also called UTI), including a bladder infection (cystitis) or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis).

• Red streaks or new, painful lumps in your breasts. You may have a breast infection called mastitis. This can happen when you have a plugged duct, you miss or delay breastfeeding or your breasts become engorged (swollen and full of milk). • Severe pain in your lower belly. You may have endometritis. This is inflammation (redness or swelling) in the lining of the uterus.

• Vaginal discharge with an odor. You may have endometritis or an infection called bacterial vaginosis (also called BV). BV happens when there’s too much of a certain bacteria in the vagina. Signs and symptoms of sepsis Sometimes the body has an extreme response to infection (called sepsis).

• Chills or feeling very cold
• Clammy or sweaty skin
• Fast breathing
• Fast heart rate
• Feeling confused
• Fever
• Having extreme pain or discomfort

Signs and symptoms of other health conditions Treatment depends on how severe your preeclampsia is and how far along you are in your pregnancy. Most women with mild preeclampsia after 37 weeks of pregnancy don’t have serious health problems. If you have mild preeclampsia before 37 weeks, you need treatment to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

• Bleeding that’s heavier than a normal period or bleeding that gets worse over time. You may have postpartum hemorrhage (also called PPH). PPH is when a woman has heavy bleeding after giving birth. It’s a serious, but rare condition that can happen up to 12 weeks after having a baby. • Pain, swelling, redness, warmth or tenderness in your legs, especially your calves.

You may have deep vein thrombosis (also called DVT). This happens when a blood clot forms deep in the body, usually in the lower leg or thigh. • Vision changes, severe headache, pain in the upper right belly or shoulder, trouble breathing, sudden weight gain or swelling in the legs, hands or face.

You may have postpartum preeclampsia. This is a serious condition that can develop in women after giving birth. It is marked by high blood pressure and signs that some organs—like the kidneys and liver—may not be working normally. • Chest pain, coughing or gasping for air. You may have a pulmonary embolism (also called PE).

This is when a blood clot moves from where it originally formed to a lung. PE is an emergency that needs immediate attention. • Feeling sad or hopeless for more than 10 days after giving birth. You may have postpartum depression (also called PPD), which is a form of depression that can develop after having a baby.

PPD is marked by strong feelings of sadness, anxiety (worry), fatigue and harmful thoughts. PPD can make it hard for you to take care of yourself and your baby. PPD needs treatment to get better, so talk to your doctor right away. • Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up. You may have PPH or cardiovascular disease (also called heart disease).

Heart disease includes conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. They often affect the heart muscle or involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you think your life is in danger, call 911 or go to the emergency room.