Print this page for the fridge or hospital bag — five moves that protect a healing incision during everyday baby care.
A cesarean is major abdominal surgery — yet unlike other surgeries, moms go home to a physically demanding job with no rehab plan. These five moves protect your healing core while you care for your baby.
Roll to your side in one piece, drop your legs off the edge, and push up with your arm — instead of sitting straight up, which strains the incision.
Short, frequent walks standing upright help healing. Hunching to "guard" the incision feels safer but slows you down.
For the early weeks, baby is your lifting limit. The car seat, laundry, and toddler pickups go to someone else.
Bring baby to you at waist level — raise the crib mattress, use a waist-high changing surface, and skip low bends and twists.
Slow, deep breaths that let your belly rise gently reconnect your core and calm your nervous system — a few rounds, a few times a day.