I clearly remember my doctor telling me that I was going to have a c-section. After almost three hours of pushing with no progress, it was time for me to face the fact that my body needed some medical assistance. Fear washed over me as they rolled my bed into the operating room and stared the surgery. Thankfully, I had a great team of people working to keep me calm and prepare me for what was ahead. If you find yourself in a similar situation, trust me — you can figure out how to survive your first night after a c-section. And after that, the recovery won't seem so scary.
If making it through that first night is causing you to have heart palpitations, remember that you'll still be in the hospital, with a capable staff of professionals available at the push of a button. (PS: Don't be shy with pushing that button if you need help. I pushed away and it saved me from more serious complications.) Having the extra hands to help with the baby pays off, since it allows you more time to do what you need to do most: rest. According to Healthline, since it's a major surgery, healing from a c-section requires plenty of rest. Even if you're super pumped to have a new baby, don't push yourself to do too much that first night.
However, it's possible that certain side effects will stand in the way of you getting the quality rest your body needs. As Baby Center pointed out, nausea can last up to 48 hours after your c-section, making it hard to feel relaxed. If this persists, you can request anti-nausea medication from your doctor to dull the sensation.
If you don't have any complications, you'll be encouraged to move around some. Even though you'd rather lay in bed, movement can help speed your recovery, as Parents magazine explained. Most doctors like this too happen on your first night, so pushing through instead of putting it off may be to your benefit. As for support it you need help standing and taking steps, since falling could cause more complications.
Remember, you don't have to be tough for anyone if you're in pain. Having a major surgery means lots of discomfort, so to make it through that first night, ask for some pain medication to help your c-section hurts decrease, as Mayo Clinic suggested.
Getting through those first 24 hours seems like a steep hill to climb, but once you've survived that first night, you'll soon realize you are capable of more than you give yourself credit for. Having a c-section may not be ideal, but taking goof care of yourself throughout your recovery will put you on a fast path to healing.
