Recovery from a C-Section

Does recovery time after a C-section differ from a vaginal birth?

Yes, the recovery time for C-section births is generally longer than that of vaginal births. For example, time in the hospital for vaginal births is generally between one to two days. On the other hand, C-section hospital stays range from two to four days.

Since a cesarean section is a major surgery, the body will need adequate time to heal following the procedure. Typically, six to eight weeks is required to fully heal from a cesarean section. Vaginal births typically require two to six weeks for full recovery.

During recovery from a C-section, mothers may need to find ways to hold the baby for breastfeeding that don't cause more pressure on the surgical incision, and they may need to be sure to get adequate rest as their bodies recover from not only birth, but from a surgical procedure.