C Section Side Effects - The Facts You Need To Know...

Many women will suffer c section side effects of some kind or another after the operation and you should be aware of the most common of these so you can act accordingly.

The most common problems immediately after surgery are: -

Itchy Skin

Some women occasionally complain of itchy skin straight after a c section, which is a side effect of the drugs given during the anaesthetic.

Sickness

Due to the medication used this can produce feelings of sickness and nausea. These feelings should quickly disappear over a day or so.

Back Pain

Sometimes shoulder or upper back pain is experienced which is caused by an air pocket in the abdominal cavity during surgery. This usually only lasts for between 24 – 48 hours.

Headaches

Some women suffer from headaches caused by the epidural. If the needle goes in too deeply this can be quite severe and may last longer than a week if left untreated. This risk of suffering this kind of headache is quite low, affecting approximately 1 in 200 women.

Shivering

You may also start shivering, another side effect of the anaesthetic, not serious and a few extra blankets can help this.

Blood Loss

Abnormal blood loss during and after the operation could lead to needing a blood transfusion or emergency hysterectomy.

Internal Organs

Damage to the internal organs such as the bladder or intestines which can sometimes be caused during surgery, especially if it was an emergency section.

Uterine or Bladder Infections

In order to prevent any bladder problems try to urinate every 2-3 hours on the first day.

Blood Clots

Possible blood clotting in the veins of the legs or pelvis. In rare circumstances these can travel to the lungs leading to life threatening pulmonary embolisms, try to remain as active as possible. Being sedentary increases these risks.

Keep an eye on your wound and your well being, looking for feelings of new or different pain, extreme tiredness or any of the c section side effects shown above. It’s usually much easier to treat problems in their early stages than if they are left to become worse.

‘The Essential Guide To Exercising After A Caesarean’ is an easy to read guide designed for new moms recovering from c section side effects. You will discover techniques that help to reduce pain, lose weight, boost energy levels, give you more confidence and speed up your recovery times. Click here to find out more - C Section Recovery.