Which is more painful, vaginal delivery or caesarean section? Is there a difference in postpartum wound care?

After the birth of the baby, there are many things to pay attention to. Mothers must not ignore "postpartum wound care". After all, taking good care of yourself during the confinement period will give you more energy to face every moment with your child in the future! How to replenish after childbirth? Can you lift heavy objects? Natural birth and cesarean section wound care are very different. Let the nurse lead moms to see the "postpartum wound care strategy" below, so that your body can recover well!

First of all, it should be noted that both natural birth and cesarean section will be very painful, but the difference is that natural birth will be very painful, but the pain will be shorter. As long as the baby is born, the pain will be much better, and you will be able to get out of bed the next day. The pain during the cesarean section is less because the lower body is anesthetized, but the pain increases after the operation and lasts for a long time, and it also takes a long recovery period. During this recovery period, you will continue to feel pain. In general, the pain of natural birth is more intense but shorter and recovers faster, while the pain of cesarean section is slightly less, but the pain will last for a long time, so it is recommended to try natural birth first. If you really can't stand it, then communicate with the doctor whether a cesarean section is needed.

Caesarean section:

There will be no severe pain during the delivery process

The recovery period after surgery is longer: during a caesarean section, the lower body will be anesthetized, and the mother will not feel particularly severe pain during the delivery process. After the operation, the anesthetic effect gradually disappears, and there will be stronger pain in the wound and waist.

Pain of catheter insertion: A catheter needs to be inserted during a caesarean section. Some mothers will feel bloating and pain during this process. It cannot be removed immediately after the operation and must be retained for 24 hours. During this period, try to lie flat and not turn over. Otherwise, if the catheter is accidentally dropped, you will have to endure the pain of catheterization again.

Painful wound healing: The wounds on the belly and uterus caused by cesarean section take some time to heal. Deeper wounds may even cause dull pain months later. Scars will proliferate during the healing process, causing a painful and itchy feeling. You can't scratch them with your hands, which is very frustrating.

Postpartum uterine contraction pain: Many mothers mistakenly believe that uterine contraction pain only occurs after a normal birth. As soon as a child is born, the female body will spontaneously contract the uterus to help the uterus stop bleeding and expel waste.

Normal delivery:

The production process is very painful

The postpartum recovery period is relatively shorter: During the delivery process, the pain that expectant mothers have to face is almost unimaginable, and they have to endure several hours of uterine contractions before delivery, but the recovery after delivery is faster. Compared with caesarean section, it can be said that it is bitter first and sweet later.

Private pain: In the pain scale, the pain during normal delivery can reach level 10. If the baby is relatively large or other factors such as the fetal position affect it, there is even a risk of tearing. In order to avoid this risk, many doctors will perform episiotomy on the mother. The episiotomy wound also takes a certain amount of time to recover after delivery, but this wound is much smaller than the wound caused by caesarean section.

Painful urination: Although a normal birth does not require a urinary catheter, urination is still painful, and some mothers even hold their urine to endure the pain. Some mothers also face the pain of urinary difficulty and pain after giving birth.

Uterine contraction pain: From the closure of the uterus to the full opening of the cervix, the period is very long and painful. The pain occurs about every 5 minutes, and each pain lasts for 30 seconds. Then, as the cervix slowly expands, the time interval between contractions will become shorter and shorter, and the intensity will become stronger and stronger until the cervix is ​​fully opened. Painkillers are almost ineffective in treating uterine contraction pain!

1. Natural childbirth causes smaller wounds and stronger recovery

The wound of a natural birth (about 5 cm) is much smaller than the wound of a caesarean section (about 10 cm). Generally, if the mother has a smooth birth, the wound will not be too big. Medical staff usually help the mother to do an assessment every day. If the wound is abnormally red and swollen, and the mother feels burning pain, it means that it is different from the normal natural birth perineal wound! Generally, normal wounds will not cause redness and swelling to the mother unless the tear is too severe. The cause of the tear may be that the baby is too big, and the mother's improper force will also cause a larger tear.

Normal natural birth wounds can usually be restored within three days of hospitalization, and the mother can return to her daily life and go home from the hospital. The wounds can be fully healed after 42 days.

2. Birth canal laceration: What else can you do besides taking painkillers?

If the mother really feels pain and discomfort, the doctor will usually give her painkillers; but if the mother feels okay and does not need to take medicine, it is recommended that the mother apply "ice or cold compress" to the wound to relieve the pain at first, and after 2 to 3 days, "hot compress" or "warm water flushing" can be used to relieve the tightness of the wound.

During daily activities, mothers are advised to keep their "two knees together" as much as possible, for example, keep their feet together when getting in and out of bed, to reduce pulling on the perineum wound and alleviate discomfort.

3. Wound care, first pay attention to cleaning

Since natural childbirth may cause lacerations, care in the first three days is very important! The head nurse of the obstetrics and gynecology department asks mothers to use "disinfectant solution" or "warm water" to wash after urinating or defecating. The cleaning part also reminds mothers that if urination or defecation needs to be wiped, it must be wiped "from the front to the back", which means wiping from the wound to the back, which can prevent bacteria from the anus from infecting the wound in the front perineum.

When do you no longer need to flush? In fact, this depends on the amount of lochia the mother secretes. If the amount of lochia is normal, you only need to use warm boiled water to flush, and it is not necessary to flush with disinfectant.

4. A balanced diet is the first priority! Temporarily avoid ginseng, sesame oil, and alcohol

Generally, after giving birth, everyone feels that there is a big change in the body. Many mothers and the older generation think that they need to eat more tonic food after giving birth, but they tend to ignore fruits and vegetables. The head nurse of the obstetrics and gynecology department will advise mothers to supplement fruits and vegetables to avoid constipation, because if constipated, it may affect the recovery of the perineal wound.

As soon as the baby is born, the head nurse also recommends that the mother can replenish water and high-calorie protein, because this has many effects on the mother's breastfeeding! For a high-calorie protein diet, chicken soup and fish soup can be consumed, but the head nurse specifically warns not to add ginseng, sesame oil, and wine; because ginseng, sesame oil, and wine will help activate blood circulation in the body, but will cause the mother to bleed more.

5. How long after giving birth can I have sex?

Sexual intercourse is related to the mother's overall recovery after childbirth, both physically and mentally! The checkup 42 days after childbirth is very important. The doctor will conduct a comprehensive checkup for the mother, including the pelvic cavity and uterine recovery. If the uterus contracts normally, the perineum wound is normal, and there is no abnormal secretion, sexual intercourse can begin!

1. Caesarean section wounds heal slowly, so you can use a belly band to help

The wound of a cesarean section (about 10 cm) is larger than that of a natural birth, so the recovery speed is slower. Due to the half-body anesthesia during delivery, the mother needs to lie flat in bed for about 6 to 8 hours after delivery. After leaving the operating room, in order to prevent the mother's activities from affecting the pain of the wound, a "belly belt" is usually prepared to restrain the uterus and the wound! Using a belly belt during the confinement period can prevent the mother from worrying about pulling the wound, and can also increase the comfort of the mother in daily activities!

2. Can I breastfeed or hold my baby after a caesarean section?

Mothers who have undergone cesarean section are more concerned about whether they can hold their baby or breastfeed while the wound is there. Basically, the most common situation for holding a baby is when the mother is breastfeeding. In addition to using a belly band to avoid the constraint of pulling the wound, you can also lean on a pillow or sofa for support to avoid direct pressure on the wound. In addition, it is also recommended that mothers use the olive-style holding method or lie down to breastfeed, which can avoid direct pressure on the wound.

3. Pay attention to cleaning the lower abdominal wound and pay attention to scars

This is also something that many mothers who have undergone cesarean sections care about. Doctors will also consider the aesthetics of the mother's cesarean section wound, so the wound should be as small as possible. During the postoperative recovery, the wound needs to be kept clean and dry to avoid wetness and stickiness, and to reduce unnecessary application of things on the wound. Mothers can also discuss more with the doctor and follow the doctor's instructions for care.

4. You must urinate on your own 4 to 6 hours after the catheter is removed

After cesarean section, the mother needs to stay in bed for 6 to 8 hours. Therefore, a urinary catheter will be installed during the operation. After the anesthetic wears off and the mother starts to move, the catheter can be removed. It is recommended that the mother urinates within 4 to 6 hours after the urinary catheter is removed to prevent bacteria from remaining in the bladder or urinary system, which can reduce the mother's discomfort with the wound or postpartum care.

5. How long after a caesarean section can I eat?

In terms of diet, the head nurse suggested that it is necessary to "take it step by step". Mothers who have undergone caesarean section cannot eat immediately after giving birth. Mothers can start with drinking water, liquids, and liquid diets. After 24 hours of gas discharge, the stomach and intestines begin to move, and you can start with foods that are less likely to cause flatulence. As for foods that are easy to cause flatulence, such as milk, soy milk, beans, etc., it is recommended that mothers do not eat them first, and wait until the stomach and intestines move and defecation is smooth before supplementing these foods.

in conclusion:

After reading the above guide to natural and cesarean section wound care, I believe mothers will know more about how to take care of their bodies! If you have any questions, mothers are encouraged to discuss with their own doctors to find the most suitable pace for their postpartum recovery and let their bodies recover well!