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Maternal health experts have advised new mothers who delivered their babies through caesarean section to prioritise rest, sleep well, and avoid stressful activities to enable them to recover faster.
The physicians advised women to stop treating caesarean section recovery as a test of strength, warning that rushing household chores, lifting heavy buckets, or ignoring prescribed medications can delay healing and trigger dangerous complications.
The seasoned gynaecologists, in interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, further noted that while the healing process may differ among women due to individual response to trauma as well as the reason for the CS, adherence to the post-surgery rules was important.
The maternal health experts’ warnings come on the heels of recent social media posts where a new mother claimed she “went to bush markets three weeks after C-section,” telling women “not to use motherhood as an excuse.”
Some other new mothers bragged about fetching water, while some stated that their spouses required them to pound yams or lift heavy objects.
But gynaecologists have urged new mothers to avoid overexertion and to prioritise rest and proper sleep to aid fast healing and recovery.
Commenting on the matter, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Prof Abubakar Panti, stressed that while C-section recovery differs from woman to woman, rest, nutrition, gentle movement, pain control, and proper wound care remain the foundation of safe and quick healing.
“There are a lot of factors when it comes to recovery from a caesarean section. One is the patient’s factor, two is the physician’s factor, and three is the CS factor itself.
“What happens to Mrs A may be different from what will happen to Mrs B because of her own immune system, her own body and her own response to trauma,” the don said.
The fertility expert added, “The first thing to do is for the woman to prioritise rest and healing. The body has just gone through a major surgery. She needs enough rest, enough sleep, and she has to avoid overexertion.”
The gynaecologist urged new mothers to avoid lifting anything heavier than the newborn for the first four to six weeks.
“She doesn’t need to stress herself. She doesn’t need to lift anything heavier than that baby. No lifting of heavy water, no bucket of water. Somebody should be there to assist her,” he warned.
He appealed to families, especially mothers-in-law, to stop expecting newly operated women to resume chores quickly.
“That is not the time to start fetching water or doing heavy household work. She needs support from family members who will cook her meals, take care of older children, and even help care for the newborn,” the professor said.
Panti described nutrition as one of the strongest drivers of recovery.
“She needs to eat well for recovery. She needs to stay hydrated. Water helps with milk production and prevents constipation,” he noted.
He encouraged high-protein foods such as lean meat, eggs, legumes, and milk to promote wound healing, along with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to ease bowel movement.
“When a woman is constipated and she is straining, it can affect the early caesarean section wound. She also needs iron-rich foods, vitamins, and zinc,” Panti said.
The maternal health expert added that movement should begin early but in a gradual and controlled manner to improve blood flow and prevent life-threatening clots.
“She needs to start walking very early. It starts with light walking, which improves circulation and prevents blood clots. Not vigorous walking. Smooth walking, and then she can increase the pace as she recovers,” he said.
He warned that abdominal exercises must be avoided until six to eight weeks after surgery, urging such women to refrain from ignoring or misusing their prescribed painkillers.
The gynaecologist emphasised the importance of proper wound care.
“Keep the incision site clean and dry. Wear loose clothing. That is not the time to start wearing a bikini or tight jeans. Cotton underwear prevents irritation,” Panti advised.
He urged women to watch for redness, swelling, foul smell, pus, fever or severe pain.
“These signs must be reported immediately so that antibiotics can be changed or a wound swab taken,” he said.
Continuing, the gynaecologist said, “It is normal to feel overwhelmed, tired and emotional. Some may experience guilt that they were delivered by surgery. Talking to loved ones helps prevent postpartum depression.”
The fertility expert urged women to attend their two-week and six-week postnatal appointments, where pain, bleeding, mood, and breastfeeding issues are reviewed.
“By six to eight weeks, most women resume life activities, including driving and having sex with approval from the doctor,” Panti added.
Speaking on don’ts, the don said, “Avoid lifting heavy objects. Avoid driving too soon. Avoid bending, climbing stairs frequently or doing household chores early,” he warned.
“They should not have sexual intercourse too soon. Healing must be confirmed. They should not scratch or prick the wound. They should not ignore warning signs.”
Also, the Second Vice President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Prof Christopher Aimakhu, said the outcome for a patient following a caesarean section depends on several factors, “which include the reason for the CS, whether it was planned or an emergency, what kind of anaesthesia was used, the level of skill of the surgeon, where it was done and whether the patient has had a CS before, amongst others.”
He explained that all these variables determine recovery and overall outcome.
Aimakhu noted that the patient also has a role to play in her recovery, stressing that “most times, the patient also plays a role in her recovery as she will be told instructions on what to do post-CS and counselled appropriately.”
The seasoned gynaecologist added that “complete recovery can take weeks or months,” stating that the best way to prevent infections after a CS is to ensure delivery takes place in a facility with strong infection-prevention systems.
“The best way to avoid infection from a CS is to have it in a good hospital that has good infection control in their theatre and with the instruments, and operate good sterile procedures. Use of proper antibiotics and sterile instruments, a very skilled surgeon, and proper post-op wound care,” he explained.
Aimakhu further said the dos and don’ts after a caesarean section are influenced by the specific circumstances of the surgery.
“The dos and the don’ts depend on certain factors such as what was the reason or indication for the CS, how the procedure went, and the outcome, including the complications after,” he added.
