After a cesarean delivery the patient is recovering from major abdominal surgery and from childbirth at the same time. Good aftercare focuses on pain control, early walking, wound care, breastfeeding support and spotting bleeding, infection and blood clots early.
Key symptoms
- Incision pain, worse with moving and coughing
- Vaginal bleeding (lochia) that slowly lightens
- Gas pain, bloating and slow return of bowel function
- Fatigue, breast fullness and mood changes
What you find on exam
- Vital signs, pain score and oxygen saturation
- Firm uterine fundus at or below the umbilicus
- Incision: redness, drainage, swelling or separation
- Amount of lochia and clots
- Calves for swelling or tenderness
Tests
- Blood count for anemia after surgery
- Blood pressure checks, with preeclampsia labs if high
- Urine output after catheter removal
- Rh status and rubella immunity
Treatment basics
- Scheduled acetaminophen and ibuprofen, with opioids only for severe pain
- Early walking, leg compression and blood clot prevention when indicated
- Wound care teaching and no heavy lifting for several weeks
- Breastfeeding support, contraception counseling and depression screening
- Rh immune globulin if Rh negative with an Rh positive baby
Red flags
- Heavy bleeding: soaking a pad in an hour or a soft, boggy uterus
- Fever, pus from the wound, or calf swelling with chest pain
- Severe headache, vision changes or blood pressure of 160/110 or higher
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Related guides
Sources: NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan; Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College). Written by Making Synapses. Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations.