A New Beginning

To Decrease Incisional Pain: Take pain medicines recommended or prescribed by your health care provider.

GETTING OUT OF BED FOR THE FIRST TIME

• Wear loose clothing that does not rub against your incision • Do not lift anything heavier than your baby • Don’t overdo it — take it easy

Your nurse will assist you the first time out of bed to make sure you can safely stand and walk. Never get out of bed by yourself until your nurse tells you it is safe to do so. Although changing positions can be uncomfortable after a cesarean delivery, it is important to move around as much as possible.

Incisional pain is expected after a cesarean delivery. Sometimes pain can be a sign of something more serious. It is important to discuss your pain with your nurse.

To decrease pain when going from a lying to a sitting position:

• Place hospital bed in the lowest position • Log roll onto your side • Use your top arm or the hospital bed side rail to push yourself up • Slowly sit up and swing your legs over the side of the bed • Sit on the side of the bed for a few minutes to make sure you are not dizzy To decrease incisional pain: • Splint your incision by snugly placing a pillow over your incision when getting up • Consider using a binder to splint your incision • Take pain medicines recommended or prescribed by your health care provider

Tell your nurse if your pain: • Is persistent • Is unusual

• Is worse than it was previously • Keeps you from doing things you were able to do earlier • Is in the right upper area of your abdomen or just below your breastbone • Is a headache with any vision changes or confusion • Is a severe headache that does not respond to pain medication or rest • Is in the back of either of your legs

28

A New Beginning