Many women wonder when they can resume their regular activities, such as lying on their stomachs, after a cesarean section. This kind of surgery requires time to heal, so it’s crucial to exercise caution in the first few weeks to prevent complications.
Lying on your stomach too soon may lead to pain or possibly impede the healing process of the wound. There is no universally applicable response to this query because everyone heals at a different rate.
You can use general guidelines and indicators, though, to figure out when it’s okay to resume lying on your stomach. Any changes you make to your post-surgery routine should always be discussed with your doctor.
Time After Cesarean | Can You Lie on Your Stomach? |
Immediately after surgery | No, it is not safe and can be painful. |
1-2 weeks post-surgery | No, the incision needs more time to heal. |
6-8 weeks post-surgery | Yes, usually safe if your doctor approves and you"re comfortable. |
After 8 weeks | Yes, if fully healed and cleared by your doctor. |
- Feelings after surgery
- Opinion of doctors
- Who should not lie in this position?
- Other positions – how appropriate?
- Video on the topic
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Feelings after surgery
Only she and those who have experienced it know how a woman who had a cesarean section a few hours ago feels. The contraction medications that are given in accordance with the schedule cause the uterus to contract intensely. The abdominal stitches ache, pull, and "burn." The woman is given painkillers during the first few days to lessen the intensity of her sensations, which helps her get through the most trying period. Even so, the laboring woman finds it difficult to laugh, cough, or do anything else that could potentially strain her anterior abdominal wall for a considerable amount of time.
Generally, there is no problem with lying on your stomach in this scenario. Furthermore, it is not harmful in any manner. All a woman wants to do is avoid doing this. In this situation, fear is driven by the instinct for self-preservation, which states that any impact on the painful area should be avoided at all costs if pain is present.
The woman starts to adjust to the stitches and becomes accustomed to them on the fifth day. She also starts to understand how to sit or lie down with the least amount of discomfort and how to get up and walk without experiencing pain or discomfort. Not only does pain subside, but fear also does.
As a result, the newly discharged mother may recall her previous fantasy of sleeping on her stomach when she returns home. Unfortunately, there is nothing about the position on the stomach in the memo-recommendation that is provided to all women in labor following a cesarean section. Instead, it answers a lot of questions about what is and is not possible.
Opinion of doctors
The repeated "no"s so impress laboring women that they automatically believe that sleeping on the stomach will deteriorate the external suture or the internal scar on the uterine anterior wall. They’re in for a pleasant surprise, though, as medical professionals say that lying on your stomach is actually quite helpful after giving birth. And delivery via surgery is not an anomaly.
As soon as it feels cozy and comfortable and your anxiety about lying on your stomach subsides, you can start lying on your stomach.
The only wish is that, even though the physical activity regimen should be adequate, it should be gentle during the first two days following surgical delivery. There are no limitations after the first two days. If a woman prefers this position, she can sleep on her stomach.
For those who prefer this style of sleep, we can inform you that it is not only comfortable but also helpful following surgery:
- this position reduces the likelihood of developing internal adhesions and fistulas in the area of the postoperative suture;
- the abdominal muscle tissue, usually quite saggy after pregnancy, recovers somewhat faster, its tone returns, the belly "goes away" faster;
- the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves (this is important, given the tendency of women to constipation and bloating after a cesarean section);
- the internal scar is formed more consistent and uniform (this statement has not been proven, but such an opinion, including in the professional medical community, does exist);
- the reverse development of the uterus (contraction) occurs at a faster pace, which has a positive effect on women"s health, on the future restoration of a regular menstrual cycle;
- the back muscles, which "worked" in an intensive mode throughout the pregnancy, especially in its later stages, relax and rest;
- relaxation of the back muscles allows you to return to normal posture, gait, improves the condition of the vertebrae;
- postpartum discharge (lochia) passes faster, the uterine cavity is cleared faster.
However, you should still consult your doctor about the possibility of doing this before you joyfully turn over onto your stomach.
This is something you can do in the maternity hospital right during rounds. This is a perfectly reasonable and normal question, so there’s no need to feel ashamed or afraid of seeming foolish. After all, there are specific contraindications for this position.
Who should not lie in this position?
Long periods of time spent lying on one’s stomach are not recommended for women whose uterus is not positioned normally, especially when sleeping. Therefore, it is difficult for lochia to discharge when the reproductive organ is bent while lying on the stomach, and their stagnation can result in a serious inflammatory process.
If a woman has a cardiovascular condition, she shouldn’t sleep on her stomach following surgery or a natural delivery. This position will contribute to the development of arrhythmia and cause significant breathing difficulties during sleep.
Because the vertebrae in this area of the body are under a lot of stress when sleeping on their stomachs, women who have issues with their lumbar spine should also avoid sleeping in this position.
A conditional contraindication that, upon closer inspection, can only be loosely characterized as such is the presence of lactation. Rather, it is merely a physical inconvenience because having large, swollen breasts makes it uncomfortable to lie on your stomach. Additionally, if the mammary glands are compressed while you sleep in this position, breast milk may "leak."
Other positions – how appropriate?
It’s not against the rules to sleep on your side; in fact, a woman feels less uncomfortable in this position.
It is convenient to feed a baby at night on demand for those who practice co-sleeping; changing positions doesn’t even need to be done. However, there is one major drawback to the side position as well: because the abdominal muscles sag a little in this position, the stomach stays relaxed and takes longer to regain its shape.
Back resting is not forbidden. The woman in labor may accept this position if it is very comfortable for her, but she will need to wear a postpartum bandage.
The back position is obviously unsuitable for a night’s sleep, as it is not advised to sleep in such an orthopedic device. An unsightly seam may form on the anterior abdominal wall and the stitches will "creep" if a woman lies on her back a lot. It will also take longer for the stitches to heal.
However, following surgical childbirth, some positions are not ideal for a number of reasons.
Therefore, a woman is not allowed to sit for extended periods of time. It is never appropriate to nod off while seated, such as in a rocking chair. Sitting increases blood flow to the uterus and increases the load on the operated organ, both of which can prolong the healing process of internal scars and result in bleeding.
After a cesarean section, you should handle lying on your stomach carefully. It’s crucial to hold off until your body has had enough time—roughly six weeks—to heal. To be sure you’re prepared, it’s best to speak with your doctor because everyone recovers differently.
As soon as your physician gives the all-clear, begin gradually and pay attention to your body. Consider it an indication to wait a little while longer if you feel any pain or discomfort. Pushing yourself too soon after surgery could prevent your body from healing as it needs time to heal.
A speedy recovery depends on your ability to exercise patience and heed the advice of your healthcare provider. When the time is appropriate, you can resume your regular activities, including lying on your stomach, with the appropriate attention and caution.
Lying on your stomach following a cesarean section is generally safe as long as your incision has healed and you feel comfortable, which is usually six to eight weeks after the procedure. To prevent overtaxing the healing region, it’s crucial to pay attention to your body’s signals and heed your doctor’s advice—after all, each woman’s recuperation is unique.