Sleeping on your stomach is one of the favorite activities of women. During pregnancy, they wean from this position, since it is impossible to squeeze the fetus. For 9 months of bearing a child, women get tired of sleeping on their side and back, so they dream of sleeping on their stomach after childbirth.
After the birth of a baby in a natural way, there are no problems with this. Can I sleep on my stomach after a caesarean section? The article will consider whether a woman can take such a position in a dream.
Caesarean section
Childbirth is a natural process, but quite painful and difficult for any woman. However, if indicated, she may be scheduled for a caesarean section. These include: complete or partial placenta previa, preeclampsia with complications, transverse or oblique position of the fetus, tumors and scars on the uterus, multiple pregnancy (3 andmore).
Caesarean section - an operation that is most often performed using a transverse cavity incision along the bikini line with a cosmetic suture.
Feelings after surgery
What a woman who had a caesarean section a few hours ago feels, only she herself and everyone who has gone through it knows. The uterus from specially administered drugs begins to contract intensively. The stitches on my stomach hurt. On the first day after the operation, the woman is given painkillers injections to reduce the severity of pain. For some time, it hurts the woman in labor to laugh and do anything that causes even the slightest tension in the abdominal cavity.
In the early days, when asked whether it is possible to sleep on the stomach after a caesarean section, doctors answer that it is not worth it. It's not even that such a pose can harm. A woman is afraid to lie down on her stomach, because it is associated with the occurrence of severe pain and for now she will avoid it.
Already on the 5th day the woman's condition will improve, the stitches will begin to pull less. She will begin to clearly understand how to sit, walk or lie down with the least discomfort for her body.
Therefore, once at home after discharge, a woman can fulfill her old dream - sleeping on her stomach (and after a cesarean section, it will not cause inconvenience if everything is done in a timely manner).
Common mistakes
Caesarean section is a full-fledged operation that is performed on a woman if for some reason she cannot give birthon one's own. Therefore, the restoration should take place according to the rules.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and the woman should avoid active movements for 2 days. This is necessary so as not to harm your body.
During the first week, the doctor prescribes painkillers to the woman. They are canceled only after discharge, when the seams are slightly tightened. After a caesarean section, the female body needs a long recovery.
Mistakes of this period include:
- wearing a bandage that is put on after childbirth;
- exercise;
- night sleep on stomach;
- use of a hoop to reduce the waist.
Many women find that they need to wear a bandage after the operation, as it will reduce the load on the body and support the abdominal muscles. This will avoid pain.
However, the bandage is only allowed to be worn after the stitches have been removed. If you do this earlier, you can cause serious bleeding. This is due to the fact that the internal organs return to their place, and this puts a certain pressure on the uterus. If this happens constantly, then due to abdominal bleeding, a woman can be seriously affected. You can wear a bandage after a doctor's examination.
Therefore, sleeping on your stomach after a caesarean section is allowed one month after the operation. If the recovery is fast, then you can do it after 2 weeks.
What will happen to the seam
Women ask when they can sleep on their stomach after a caesarean section because they worry about the stitches. Doctors say that it will not disperse if there are no sudden movements.
Get out of bed and roll over carefully. Proper care of the seam is also necessary. In the hospital, this is done by the medical staff, and after discharge, the woman must independently follow all the recommendations of the doctor. This will allow the body to recover faster.
Completely the seam heals within 1, 5-2 hours, although it is imperceptible. This is due to the fact that it is located on the uterus, and therefore it drags on longer.
Worrying about this woman is not worth it and she is allowed to sleep on her stomach when pain stops bothering her.
Pros of sleeping on your stomach
Can I sleep on my stomach after a c-section? The recovery period is different for every woman. On average 1-2 months. To quickly restore the functionality of internal organs, experts recommend sleeping on your stomach at night. The advantages of this pose include:
- reducing the risk of internal adhesions;
- normalization of the digestive tract;
- correct scar formation;
- recovery of abdominal muscles;
- establishment of metabolic processes;
- disappearing lochia;
- rapid tissue repair;
- relaxing back muscles.
Women can only sleep on their stomachs with a doctor's permission. He will be able to determine how it will affectthe general condition of the body of the woman in labor.
Cons of sleeping on your stomach
Sleeping on her stomach after a caesarean section is allowed for a woman if she does not feel any discomfort. It is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Bending the uterus. This can provoke difficulties in the withdrawal of lochia, which contributes to the development of the inflammatory process.
- Heart disease. Sleep in this case causes changes in heart rate and breathing difficulties.
- Diseases of the spine. This sleeping position can negatively affect the lower back. It also worsens the overall he alth of the woman.
The disadvantage of sleeping on your stomach is increased lactation. For some women, breasts become very swollen and breast milk begins to flow out.
Expert opinions
Women in labor are often interested in when they can lie on their stomach after a caesarean section, because they are afraid to harm the condition of the external or internal suture located on the front wall of the uterus.
However, doctors allow you to sleep in this position, but after the pain passes, and the fear of harming yourself with a careless movement will go away.
Some doctors advise abandoning this position within 2 days after surgery, since the activity regimen should be gentle. Further, the restrictions are lifted. If a woman is comfortable sleeping on her stomach, then she can do it freely, some doctors are sure.
After the operation, it is not only pleasant, but also useful:
- This posture can reduce the likelihood of developinginternal adhesions and fistulas in the suture area after surgery.
- The muscle tissue of the abdomen recovers much faster, its tone returns.
- Improves the functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Uterine contraction is progressing rapidly, which has a positive effect on women's he alth.
- Relaxation of the back muscles leads to normalization of posture and gait.
- Lochia leaves faster.
Before sleeping on her stomach after a caesarean section, a woman should contact her doctor. This question should not be feared because it is reasonable and normal.
Step-by-step instruction
Can I lie on my stomach after a caesarean? The opinions of doctors are unanimous, this can and should be done. But everything should be done correctly and gradually.
Here's what doctors advise women to do:
- For the first time, it is allowed to roll over within a few hours after the operation. This can only be done if everything went well and there are no complications. You can lie on your stomach only with the permission of a doctor.
- At first, the woman will feel severe pain, so she will not be able to withstand more than 10-15 minutes in this position. But she should not endure, it can negatively affect lactation. A woman needs to roll over several times during the day, and she will soon notice that the pain gradually disappears.
- Don't sleep on your stomach all night, especially if the position is unusual. So she can create problems for herself with falling asleep. And for a nursing mother, sleep is very important.
- If you sleep on your stomacha woman does not succeed either day or night, then it is necessary to abandon these efforts. You can just periodically take this position for a short time when the opportunity arises.
- In no case is it recommended to wear a postpartum bandage at night. It can disrupt circulation and reduce the therapeutic effect of the supine position.
Recovery in the postoperative period for each woman is an individual process and dependent on many factors. Therefore, you need to focus on your own well-being and the advice of a doctor, and not on the recommendations of other women in labor.
Other poses
Sleeping on your side is allowed, there are no contraindications for this. For those who practice co-sleeping with a baby, this position will be the most suitable. For this, a woman does not have to change her position. But this position also has a minus - the abdominal muscles sag somewhat in this position. So he stays relaxed and takes longer to recover.
Also, a woman is not forbidden to sleep on her back. However, before that, she needs to put on a postpartum bandage. But it is not suitable for sleeping, so it is not recommended to use it at night. If a woman spends a lot of time on her back, then the formation of an ugly seam on the anterior abdominal wall is not excluded.
But there are poses that women are forbidden to take after a caesarean section for various reasons. They are not recommended to spend a long time in a sitting position. In this case, blood flows to the uterus, and the load on it increases.
Conclusion
Can I sleep on my stomach after a c-section? According to experts, this can and should be done. It is only recommended to do it correctly. Initially, the woman lies on her stomach for 10-15 minutes and under the supervision of medical staff. When the pain subsides a little, she can do this several times a day and remain in this position for a long time. The main thing is to listen to your own feelings and the advice of your doctor.
