How it Works

Every pregnancy carries some chance that a C-Section will occur. The majority of C-Sections that take place in Kansas City are typically not planned in advance, but rather found necessary during the labor and birthing process. Your WCJC provider will discuss all the risks and benefits of a C-Section throughout your pregnancy to ensure that if, during labor, a C-Section is required, that you will already understand how it may change the birthing process, aftercare, and downtime required.

Whether your pregnancy was planned or unplanned, it is wise to familiarize yourself with your insurance carrier’s pregnancy plan in order to fully understand your coverage and what costs, fees, appointments, or tests you might be responsible for. All private and government health plans cover some portion of pregnancy and childbirth, even if your pregnancy begins before coverage takes effect.

It does typically take longer to recover from a C-Section compared to the recovery of a vaginal birth. It will also involve a longer hospital stay, about 2 to 4 days depending on your condition and recovery progress. This measure is to ensure a safe and healthy recovery for both the patient and the baby. Even after you return home, you may find that it takes longer to get back to your daily activities. In general, it takes about 6 weeks to fully recover from a C-Section in Kansas City.

Not necessarily. Some women choose to attempt a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean, or VBAC. Most published studies demonstrate a 60 to 80% success rate. We will discuss this option with you during your pregnancy and inform you of the risks and benefits involved in a VBAC and help you make a decision on what is right for you.

Our doctor will make the incision for a Cesarean Section either vertically or horizontally across the abdomen, which allows us to separate the abdominal muscles and reach the outside of the uterine wall. We will then make a secondary incision to reach the baby, cut the umbilical cord, and remove the placenta.

• You will have some abdominal pain for a few days.
• We may prescribe you a narcotic pain medication and an anti-inflammatory medication. Please use these as directed.
• It is important to take a stool softener, such as Colace, while taking narcotic pain medication. Please purchase a stool softener before your surgery.

Note: If the pain is not relieved by pain medication, becomes worse or you have difficulty breathing, call our office.

• Inspect your incision daily.
• Your incision was closed with dissolvable staples or suture. There are no stitches that will need to be removed, they will disappear over 6 weeks.
• A small amount of blood or clear drainage from the incisions is normal and not a cause for concern.
• Bruising around your incision site is common and not a cause for concern.
• Your incisions may be itchy for a few days. This is part of the normal healing process.
• As your incision heals, it will change in color and may become numb for several weeks.
• If you have steri-strips (small adhesive strips) in place, they will peel and fall off. If they do not fall off in 10 days, carefully peel them off. You may have a bandage with a battery pack called a Pico dressing, used to help in healing. If the battery pack starts beeping, or stops working, please call the office. Otherwise, you may remove this 7 days after surgery.

Note: If you notice any redness of the skin surrounding the incision, heavy drainage or bleeding from your incision, call our office.

You may resume the diet you had prior to surgery. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

• For the first several days after surgery, the bowel is usually less active. You may not have a regular bowel movement right away depending on your pre-op bowel prep or pain medication use.
• Narcotic pain medication (hydrocodone or oxycodone) will increase constipation.
• Regular bowel movements may be less frequent.
• If constipation should occur:
  • Drink more fluids
  • Continue to take a stool softener, such as Colace, until constipation resolves.
  • Take a mild laxative such as Milk of Magnesia or Miralax

• Mild abdominal swelling can occur following surgery due to slowing of the bowels.
• Swelling of the hands and lower extremities is common due to fluids given during surgery.
• If you have swelling of the calves that is persistent or associated with redness, call our office.

• It is normal to feel tired for a few days after surgery. Listen to your body and do not overdo it.
• We encourage walking immediately after surgery, as tolerated. You should NOT be bedridden after surgery as continued movement will prevent prolonged recovery times due to “deconditioning”.
• If you could climb stairs un-aided prior to surgery you may resume climbing stairs on discharge home.
• No strenuous activities such as heavy lifting (greater than 10 pounds or the weight of the baby), pushing or pulling for 6 weeks.
• You should avoid abdominal exercise for 6 weeks.
• Do not drive while taking prescription pain medication or if your level of discomfort could inhibit your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
• Recovery times vary from patient to patient. Your doctor will make recommendations based on your specific case.
• You may shower the day after surgery. Pat incisions dry. Do not rub your incisions with a washcloth or towel. Keep your incisions as dry as possible.
• You may take a bath after six weeks. You must also wait six weeks to go into a swimming pool, hot tub or the ocean.

You should schedule a follow-up post-operative appointment at 2 weeks and at 6 weeks.

Call your WCJC Officer if you are experiencing…

• A fever higher than 100.4º F
• Increasing pain not controlled by pain medication
• Inability to eat or drink without vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Inability to empty your bladder
• Redness and tenderness at the incision site, or a large amount of drainage
• Heavy, bright red vaginal bleeding, or foul smelling discharge. You can expect to have a small amount of reddish-brown colored discharge for up to six weeks. Do not be alarmed by this.

If you feel you need to be seen urgently, please go to the Emergency Department where your surgery was performed so that our physicians may care for you.

Any questions regarding your surgery or post-operative recovery should be directed to the staff at the Women’s Clinic of Johnson County rather than your Primary Care Physician.