Recovery After Cesarean Tips

Pregnancy A-Z Series

Some tips for cesarean recovery healing once you get home. You will stay in the hospital for 2-4 days, typically, after a cesarean birth unless there are complications where you may stay longer in that case. Once you are home things may feel more difficult as you navigate healing and regular life with a newborn (and possibly older siblings as well).

• Rest whenever possible. A cesarean birth is major abdominal surgery and your body needs time to heal. This may mean asking your family and friends for help with meals, cleaning, laundry, sibling care – or having a postpartum doula available to aid in these tasks so you can focus on your newborn and rest.
• Set up your home/resting area for ease – especially in the first two weeks. Stairs can be very difficult to navigate after a cesarean so if your bedroom is upstairs consider moving to the main floor or have everything you might need brought up to you. Keep food, drinks, diapers – everything you need close by. Do not lift anything heavier than the baby and if someone is available to do diaper changes and burping, let them. While you should rest as much as possible it is important to have some gentle walks/movement throughout the day to prevent blood clots. This can also help with gas pain and constipation.
• Follow your pain management plan. Your doctor will have given you a pain management plan that may include prescribed and/or over the counter medications for pain management as well as possibly stool softeners. It is important to follow this plan. You can also use a heating pad for pain relief and a pillow held against your incision when moving/sneezing/coughing. Ask for a cesarean postpartum recovery belt/band. Talk to your doctor if your pain seems out of the ordinary.
• Get good nutrition and fluids. Your body is trying to heal and if you are nursing baby you will need extra calories and fluids. Extra fluids will also prevent or help constipation.
• Remember you will still experience postpartum changes with a cesarean birth. You will still experience vaginal bleeding, hormonal changes, after pain, night sweats, etc. Take care of yourself and again ask for help as much as you need and treat each postpartum symptom as they come.
• Be patient. Cesarean recovery can take up to 8 weeks or longer. While some seem to rebound quickly if you take longer remember you are unique, everyone is different, and you will heal in your own time.
• Stay in touch with your doctor and go to your postpartum visits. While it is normal to be sore and tired after a cesarean, call your doctor if you have heavy vaginal bleeding/a fever/difficulty breathing/chest pain/redness, swelling, pus at incision site/redness or swelling in leg/bad smelling discharge from vagina/severe depression — this is not an exhaustive list so be sure you obtain, keep, and follow your specific doctor and hospital discharge instructions of when to call. And if in doubt – call.

Many people find it helpful after they have healed through the initial 6-8 weeks to go to pelvic floor therapy for further assessment and healing with trained professionals. Many also find it helpful to attend to their emotional needs surrounding a cesarean as they may have feelings of disappointment, sadness, even trauma if they were not expecting to have a surgical birth. Your feelings are as important as your body when it comes to healing. It is possible to be thankful for an often lifesaving surgery and still want or need to emotionally process the event.

Kimberly Sebeck, CLD, CCCE, HCHD, 2022, All Rights Reserved
Knoxville Doula

Lanugo/Newborn Body Hair

Pregnancy A-Z Series

Some parents are curious through the pregnancy if their baby will be born with hair. They are usually thinking of scalp/head hair and not body hair, but babies can be born with fine hair on their bodies, known as lanugo.

What is it?
Around five months of gestation the fetal hair follicles produce this first hair, believed to help keep baby warm. Around the seventh or eighth month most babies have shed the majority of this hair as they get closer to term. The latin word for lanugo means wool, fluff, or down, depending on which translation you use.

What happens to the lanugo hair?
It is thought that the hair falls off/sheds in the womb, the baby ingests it and it becomes part of the first bowel movement, known as meconium.

Is it normal?
Yes, very normal. If your baby is born with fuzzy hair on its body there is no cause for concern. The hair will fall out very quickly and should be gone by the time the baby has reached 4 months of age. Because lanugo tends to shed in the womb closer to full term, the earlier a baby is born the more lanugo they may have. Full term babies can still have lanugo however!

This post is written for educational purposes, not medical advice. Always consult with your medical provider if you have concerns.
All Rights Reserved 2020, Kimberly Sebeck, Knoxville Doula

Postpartum Perineum Recovery Tips

If you had a vaginal delivery, with or without stitches, you may experience some soreness and discomfort. Here are some tips that can help soothe your perineum and bottom. And remember that you just had a baby so good old fashioned resting is important, too!

1. Peri bottle. Your midwife or hospital should provide you with one of these bottles and have shown you how to use it. Simply fill it with warm water and squirt it over your perineum as you urinate. Be careful to not get water into your vagina, however. While some blogs or forums may suggest using essential oils added to the water it may be best to forego that. You don’t know if you will have a reaction to an oil or if it will sting, especially if you had stitches.  Use as much water and squirts as you need to avoid using toilet paper as it can be irritating.
2. Ice, ice, not for baby, but your swollen tissues. Any inflamed or swollen tissues and muscles usually respond well to ice. A nice thing you can do ahead of time is freeze a few overnight maxi pads you’ve soaked in water and you have instant “padsicles”. Additionally some women choose to use a newborn diaper — soak it in water and freeze ahead. It’s a great size. It’s important to remember to not leave ice against your skin directly or for too long, however. 15-20 min out of an hour is a good rule of thumb. Some hospitals provide special pads that have a special ice inside of them. Other women bring home some of the mesh panties that are provided and use them at home and still others buy a pack of adult diapers as they tend to stay in place and prevent leaks.
3. Sitz baths. Again, this should be provided by your midwife or hospital. It’s a small basin that fits over the toilet seat. Fill with warm water so your vulva and perineum are submerged. This may be a good time to try some herbs, especially once you are home. There are herbal kits you can buy, recipes you can find online,  or you can simply try some oatmeal, which is good if you have any itching occur from tears or stitches healing. Forgot to bring your sitz basin home? No worries, you can make a sitz bath in your tub. Fill your tub just enough to submerge your hips and buttocks. Sitz baths can be done a few times a day for 15 to 20 min.
4. Air dry! After using your peri bottle or sitz, try to not inflame or irritate the area by using toilet paper or a towel. Some fresh air is good for your perineum and can help prevent yeast infections. You can even use a hair dryer on the cool, low setting -yes, seriously. Stand or lay over for a few minutes over a towel protected area if you are still having a heavy flow of blood.
5. Use a pain spray. Hospitals sometimes give Dermoplast (also available at drugstores) and there are ones you can buy from places like Earth Mama Organics.
6. Witch Hazel. When you are ready to get dressed again, use witch hazel. It has tannins in it that reduce swelling and fight bacteria. You can buy a container of witch hazel hemorrhoid pads and stash them in the refrigerator so they are extra cooling. Each time you change your sanitary pad line it with 2 to 3 witch hazel pads. The witch hazel will be right up against your tender tissues and you will have instant relief. Alternatively you can make some “padsicles” with witch hazel. Use 2 tbsp of alcohol free witch hazel, pour on an overnight pad and freeze.
   

   
7. Use your breastfeeding pillow to sit on. What? Yes, keeping pressure off of your perineum can relieve some of the soreness. If you find you are using your pillow too frequently for its intended use — to breastfeed — there are donut shaped pillows you can purchase. Or you can firmly and tightly roll up a large towel into a U or donut shape. This can be particularly helpful if your tailbone hurts. I even had a clever client use a pool noodle!
   

   
8. Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and is generally approved for postpartum. Tylenol is another option. Of course, always check with your healthcare provider.
9. Mama Cloth. Postpartum bleeding can last for weeks. Some women find that using disposable pads for that length of time can leave them chafed. Consider using cloth pads after the heavy flow is over, perhaps. Cloth pads are much softer.
10. Poop Talk. After pushing a baby out the thought of your first bowel movement can be frightening. You will probably be offered stool softeners and it’s a great idea to take them. Also, be sure you are having fiber and plenty of water. I usually tell my clients to get their fruits and veggies in! If you haven’t heard of the squatty potty, now is a great time to think about getting one, or a similar version. Don’t rush your first BM, but when it is time to go, have some privacy and take your time. Apply some counter pressure to your perineum if it seems helpful, using clean hands. Try to relax and not strain, especially if you developed or aggravated hemorrhoids. Use the above mentioned tips (peri, air drying, witch hazel, etc.).  Cantaloupe has been called nature’s laxative. Mangoes are good for hemorrhoids. Water is essential for moving fiber through. While rest is important, being completely sedentary is not.

Postpartum recovery need not be feared. Your body is capable of not only growing a baby but healing and recovering. These tips should help you feel more comfortable during the process.

This is not intended as medical advice. Always check with your healthcare provider regarding herbs and medicine.

All Rights Reserved, Kimberly Sebeck, 2018 Knoxville Doula

Important information for every woman, whether you have given birth by cesarean or vaginally, whether you have had no children of many. Hysterectomy is the most common non-obstetrical procedure for women in our country. Approximately 600,000 are performed each year in the U.S. 1 in 9 women will have one. It’s time for us to focus on our pelvic floor health.

August ICAN of Knoxville Meeting — Pelvic Floor Health

Please join us to hear our guest speaker, Autumn Synowiez, OT, speak to us about our pelvic floor health. Whether you are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant, or have birthed your babies in the past — we can all benefit from good pelvic floor health. Those with diastasis recti, perineal repairs, and cesareans will especially benefit from this information.

Meetings are FREE, however we gratefully accept donations for our local 501c Non Profit Chapter. (suggested donation $1-$3)

Partners and children are welcome for most of our meetings. We respectfully ask that if your child is needing a quiet moment that you step out if needed.

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  Wednesday, August 10 at 6 PM – 8 PM Next Week · 73–90° Partly Cloudy

• pin	Show Map Chick-fil-A at Homberg Drive 4944 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

Pelvic Floor Therapy Guest Blog

Please enjoy this guest blog from a Pelvic Floor Therapist in the Knoxville, TN, area.

This does not have to be your current or future experience.

 

Hello! My name is Autumn Synowiez and I am a pelvic floor therapist.

A pelvic floor therapist (PFT) can help treat many different types of problems that women have such as:

• urinary incontinence (it is not normal to wet ourselves)
• stress incontinence (when we cough, laugh, exercise) or urge incontinence (always feeling a strong urge to go).
•  pelvic organ prolapse (yes we can reduce prolapse without surgery by two stages!).
• perineal/episiotomy scars, cesarean scars.
•  diastasis recti
• pelvic pain, pressure, dyspaurenia (painful sex)
• preparing your pelvic floor for birth to reduce these symptoms after birth and help coordinate your pelvic floor for optimal pushing.
• postpartum check ups to make sure you truly are ready for exercise and have sex again (if not we will set you up with all the exercises needed to get you on the right path, surprisingly most women are not ready for either).

  Countries like France and Sweden have women going after their 6 week postpartum check up with their OB as the norm to make sure women are healing properly after child birth. These countries have much better outcomes for women long term (fewer women suffering from incontinence, pelvic pain, organ prolapse, etc).

  Do you have to have had a baby to need pelvic floor therapy? No! Most of us are unaware of our pelvic floor and how it works with our everyday movement. A lot of women who run, heavy weight train, cross fitters, etc.,  are not coordinating their pelvic floor properly when exercising and actually causing injury and weakness in that area.

  Having chronic pelvis or back pain? No one can fix it? Could be in your pelvic floor! We have success stories of people seeing multiple doctorss and physical therapists with no relief and sometimes after just one visit with PFT they have relief.

  C section only? Yep! Pregnancy alone can weaken your pelvic floor muscles and with your abdominal muscles being cut into, that can lead to an even more weaker pelvic floor and core. They go hand in hand.

  PFT is amazing cutting edge stuff that most women know nothing about. Women in our country have been neglected in this area or are ashamed/embarrassed to talk or look down there! It’s time to change that! You are not alone I can promise you that! There’s a whole set of muscles that are very important that we need to be exercising regardless of our age or whether we have had kids or not. These muscles are our center and help hold our organs in! Can’t wait to discuss more about this soon and offer awesome workshops with Kimberly! Please feel free to ask any questions! I’m sure I left a lot of info out!

  Yours truly-
  Autumn Synowiez OTR/L
  Women’s Health Pelvic Floor Therapist
  asynowiez@gmail.com

 

All Rights Reserved, Knoxville Doula, Kimberly Sebeck, 2016

Knoxville Doula Is Growing

Knoxville Doula is growing! I will be joining a fantastic massage therapist and a fertility and pregnancy acupuncturist at our beautiful office in West Knoxville. I will still be at my current location through the end of this month. We look forward to serving the community as a whole for your fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum needs! You can check out their info atTransformations Massage and Wellness Center and Tennessee Center for Reproductive Acupuncture. ‪#‎knoxvilledoula‬ ‪#‎doula‬ ‪#‎knoxvilletn‬‪#‎professionalsworkingtogetherforyou‬ ‪#‎fertility‬ ‪#‎pregnancy‬ ‪#‎reproductive‬‪#‎massage‬ ‪#‎acupuncture‬ ‪#‎childbirthclasses‬

A Glimpse Into Postpartum Work

I have been doing quite a bit of postpartum doula-ing lately. More clients request my birth services but I really enjoy being hired to do postpartum work, too. Sometimes people are not as familiar with what a postpartum doula does, or doesn’t do.

My services are really quite flexible and dependent on what each family needs. Some moms have me come over and basically “pick my brain” about feeding the baby, newborn care, postpartum recovery, infant milestones,  etc., and that consumes the majority of my block of time. I choose to come over to a home for a minimum of 3 hours but it can certainly be longer. Other moms understand how important rest is and feel safe and relaxed enough with me watching over their new baby so they can go take a blissful long nap, with maybe a shower thrown in. Other families want to soak in every second of the newborn period with their baby and I do errands and simple household tasks. I also attend doctor visits like the first pediatrician appointment or a postpartum visit for the new mom.

I don’t do heavy cleaning. It’s far less expensive to hire a housekeeper than a postpartum doula. I do light tasks: loading the dishwasher, laundry, running errands, sterilizing breast pumps and/or bottles, putting together infant gadgets like monitors and swings, making a snack for mom or starting a meal for dinner. Speaking of dinner, I actually love to cook for my families especially if I am going to be there for a good amount of hours for the day. I give them a list of recipes that I am familiar with and good at and let them send me to the store or give them a list of ingredients to pick up. Imagine how good it sounds to have a knowledgeable person come over to answer newborn questions, perform household tasks, and then be able to enjoy my now famous chicken and dumplings or a refreshing summer salad. If the partner has already returned to work they can come home and focus on bonding and family time instead of working all day and then coming home to a list of things to do.

Frequently the question comes up of: what will we do for 3 hours? Once I am there and a mom sees how wonderful and valuable a postpartum doula is they often request more hours in a day. It might seem awkward at first to have someone in your home but that feeling quickly dissipates. I can be the person you confide in when you’re having some “baby blues” or postpartum mood disorders and I have the resources of where to get help. I can be the person who helps you ease into motherhood without any judgment. I can give suggestions about trying to get enough sleep, how to soothe sore nipples, and also dispel some of the misinformation given out by family, friends, and online sites. Having trouble figuring out your K’Tan or Moby? I will help you practice so you feel confident wearing your baby. Those sheets you have been sweating in, bleeding on, and leaking breastmilk into? I can change those out for fresh ones.

I will help you find your way to being the best parent in the manner that suits your lifestyle. One day you will be the one telling me what the baby needs and that is exactly how being a postpartum doula works. I work myself out of a job as you grow into parenthood and recover through the fourth trimester.

 

All Rights Reserved, Knoxville Doula, Kimberly Sebeck 2016

www.knoxvilledoula.com

 

 

New Moms Are Fragile — Handle With Care

Occasionally a memory surfaces from the first few days following my daughter’s birth. My friend had traveled a few hours to visit us and she was holding the baby while I got a few tasks done. One of these things was the delicious feeling of trying on clothes with waistbands and seeing what could be used as breastfeeding friendly attire.

I pulled out a red floral romper and wondered if I dared try it on. Why not? I had recently reveled in my curvy body with my full breasts and for the first time had felt womanly. My body had not only grown a baby but was able to nourish this child. On went the romper. It fit differently, yes. My stomach was soft and full from where my baby had grown and only recently exited. My breasts were much larger and my thighs and hips were softer, or perhaps had spread? No matter about that, I was exuding a happy post birth high and I practically bounced out to show off my Spring outfit to my friend. Her face did not reflect the same happiness I felt. She paused and said, “You know, you don’t look bad for just having had a baby.”

Ouch. I went back to my bedroom and put on my big t shirt and some shorts.

Please know that this is a wonderfully supportive friend of mine. She had zero intention of making me feel bad. I am also aware that we can only feel inferior from someone’s words if we give our consent. This event occurred nearly 20 years ago and much has been done in the world to embrace how our bodies change during the pregnant and postpartum period . But I still think about it.

Because I was fragile.

Everything was new. My baby, a blessed addition to our family, was still a new experience. My body had gone through immense changes in the last few days and for months prior. Sleeping patterns (if I dare call it that) were new. Breastfeeding, accompanied by the joys of oxytocin and the navigation of sore nipples and leaking breasts was new. Baby blues that manifested as crying into a bowl of cornflakes at 4 am was new. The absolute and raw love I felt looking at my child was new.  Being a mother and all that comes with that was new.

So my advice to everyone is to build up a new mom. “You look amazing!” works well. Some other suggestions are:

I love the way you look at your baby.
You are handling this postpartum period perfectly.
How can I help you while I am here?
Can I run any errands for you?
The female body is miraculous/magical.
Motherhood looks beautiful on you.
I am interested in how you are feeling (then listen).

For new moms it’s also okay to have a sense of humor at some of your new experiences or at the wayward comments from people. I look back and laugh at the crying in the cornflakes experience and have told the story many times as humor. I have the perspective of looking back and not only realizing that I survived new motherhood experiences but I also enjoyed them and miss them.  Except for the sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can remain a long ago memory.

Revel in your fragility. Revel in the new experiences. You are caring for a new human, your baby, and that is immensely beautiful.

My daughter and I visiting family– she is about a week old. All Rights Reserved, Kimberly Sebeck, AKA Knoxville Doula, 2016

http://www.knoxvilledoula.com

Breastfeeding Brunch

More details to come but it will be a fun and informative event with samples and goody bags available first come, first serve. Hosted by myself and Candy Scarborough, IBCLC.

 

Curious About Placenta Encapsulation? Read This Interview

Art prints made before placenta encapsulation.

Interview with Leiann Saniger, doula and placenta encapsulator.

Recently I interviewed Leiann Saniger, a local placenta encapsulator and doula, about the benefits of placenta encapsulation.

Q. Leiann, there has been a lot of talk in the media about having a woman’s placenta encapsulated. Could you describe the process?

A. Yes, this is the process where placenta encapsulators take a raw placenta and preparing it raw or steamed, dehdyrating it, then grinding it and putting it into a capsule for oral consumption.

Q. So there is a choice of how to have the placenta processed?

A. Yes, Steamed is a traditional Chinese method with the idea that when a woman births her baby she is left with a cold space where the baby was. Steaming is the idea of creating heat to balance your Qi. The raw method is taking a raw placenta, dehydrating it, then grinding it up for the capsules. It is best to discuss the varying methods available from your placenta encapsulation specialist and then decide which method is right for you.

Q. Even though it is gaining in popularity there are still many people who would think this is bizarre or gross. Can you explain the benefits of having your placenta encapsulated?

A. While there are no completed studies or FDA approval yet there is ongoing research and evidence about the benefits. Most women report an improvement in or avoidance of postpartum mood disorders, replenishing iron and B vitamins after giving birth, increasing breastmilk supply, giving back some of the oxytocin levels that were high during labor, protection from infection, and more. There are studies that link low iron levels with postpartum mood disorders and the baby blues that upwards of 80% of women experience. Hormone levels drop dramatically following birth and consuming the placenta may help to level out the hormone instability.

Q. Most mammals consume their placenta, correct?

A. Yes, most mammals do and it would stand to reason there is a benefit. I believe the placenta can give back to us benefits after giving birth. We just have a more palatable way to do it by using the process of encapsulating it. Each placenta can yield many capsules for you to take over the coming months.

Q. How do the capsules taste?

A. They taste pretty much like any herbal supplement. Much more palatable than making placenta jerky or a raw smoothie, which some women do.

Q. How much does the process cost?

A. My fees are the current going rate in our area — $175 to $200 depending on the process. There may also be additional services women choose to add on, such as having a tincture prepared or making a keepsake print/art of the placenta before it is processed. Talk to some of your area placenta encapsulators to discuss all of your options.

Q.  One last question, where did you train to offer this service?

A. I trained in a hands on training with actual donated placentas through Full Circle, which is now known as IPPA. They provide training about the process and how to deal with any issues such as cross contamination and OSHA compliance. I am also approved as a trainer to teach others how to encapsulate placentas.

Thank you for sharing this information, Leiann.

All Rights Reserved, 2015, Kimberly Sebeck, Knoxville Doula