Please call the office or physician on call if you have any of the following:
Temperature at or above 101°
Heavy vaginal bleeding such that you have to change pads more frequently than every hour or if you are passing large clots.
Pain and red streaks in one or both breasts especially if associated with fever
Pain in legs especially if associated with shortness of breath.
Pain and swelling around the incision site.
Vaginal Bleeding Post Delivery
Bleeding following cesarean delivery is normal and may last for approximately 3 to 7 weeks. If you are not breast-feeding, your first menstrual cycle will occur about 4 to 6 weeks following delivery and may occur while you are still bleeding from your delivery. We recommend that you not use tampon. Instead, we recommend using pads. If you are breast-feeding, you will probably not have regular menstrual cycles. If you continue breast-feeding for longer than eight months, your first menstrual cycle will probably occur about 6 to 8 months after your delivery. Heavy vaginal bleeding is common with the first menstrual cycle.
Wound care
If you were discharged home with staples in place, please call the office to schedule a time to have the Staples removed. If your Staples have been removed, be sure to keep the Steri-Strips in place for 7 to 10 days. You may shower following surgery but be sure not to scrub the incision until the Steri-Strips have been removed. Please call the office if you note drainage or bleeding from the incision, separation of the incision, or redness or swelling around the incision.
Activity
Avoid lifting more than the weight of your baby for at least six weeks following your surgery. Also avoid any pulling or straining for this period of time. You should not drive until your incision pain has mostly resolved and you are off narcotic pain medicines like Percocet. Usually, we recommend that you not drive for approximately 2 weeks.
Breast care
If breast-feeding, please avoid washing the breast, nipple, and areola areas with soap. This may dry the skin and cause nipple cracking and bleeding. We recommend anhydrous lanoline cream or vitamin E oil to the nipples and areola as this can reduce the risk of cracking and bleeding. It usually takes about two or three days for breast milk to come in and begin to flow. Your baby usually has enough fluids and nutrients such that bottle feeding during this time is unnecessary. Cup feeding is an option if the baby is fussy. The nurses at the hospital can assist you with cup feeding if this is necessary. Breast soreness or discomfort is normal for the first couple of weeks while the breast adjust to nursing. Problems with breast-feeding can many times be solved over the phone by contacting the lactation consultant at McLeod or discussing your problem with a labor and delivery nurse at Carolinas.
Contraception
We will generally discuss and prescribe contraceptives at your six-week postpartum check-up. If you desire to be sexually active prior to your six-week checkup, please use something for contraception such as condoms and or spermicides. Spermicides can be obtained over-the-counter and include foam and film. If you are not nursing, you actually can start oral contraceptive pills within two weeks of delivery. Depo-Provera can be given while you're still in the hospital. If you are interested in these options, please let us know.
Final considerations
The first few weeks of newborn care can be difficult. Newborn babies require a lot of care such that sleep deprivation is a common problem. Babies also are not very social for the first six weeks or so. Therefore, postpartum blues can be common during this time. If you are having a lot of difficulty with depressive symptoms or irritability, please call us so that we can assist you.
Follow-up
Please call the office for a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks. Our physicians value their evening and night times with their families as I am sure you do. If you can help us out by waiting until the office is open, we would appreciate it. However, please do not hesitate to call us if necessary. Please click the contact tab for information on how to get in contact with our office or our physicians.