How to Hack C-Section Recovery with Midwife Vic: 7 Top Tips to Give You a Head Start
Recovering from a C-Section birth is no small thing. You’ve just had major abdominal surgery — and you're navigating the beautiful chaos of new motherhood. Whether your C-Section was planned or unexpected, it’s so important to give your body the time, care and support it needs to heal - but what does that actually mean and what should you be doing?
As a midwife and the founder of c-sectionUK, I spend a lot of time supporting mums through their recovery. I want to share some of the most helpful recovery tips I give to my clients — gentle, realistic things that can make a big difference to how you feel in those first few days and weeks.
1. Hydration really does help—especially your bowels
In the early days after a C-Section, your bowels can be sluggish (thanks to the surgery, pain relief and all the lying down). This can lead to significant and painful trapped wind, bloating, and constipation, which no new mum wants to deal with on top of everything else. As a C-Section mum, this can put pressure on your scar, and it can feel particularly painful, sometimes even referring up to your shoulder tips or neck.
To help things along:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day
Try peppermint tea or peppermint chewing gum — both have been shown to help increase your bowel motility and ease discomfort
Move, gently and often, even if it’s just from side to side whilst in bed, help the motion of your bowel by avoiding staying still for hours on end
2. Get up and move -gently- as soon as you're able
Mobilising early after surgery can make a big difference to your recovery. If you're feeling well enough, aim to get up with support around 6 hours post-birth. Just a short walk to the bathroom or down the corridor can help with:
Circulation and blood flow
Reducing the risk of blood clots
Easing wind pain and constipation
Boosting your confidence
Take your time, ask for help, and don’t push yourself—it's about small steps, not big leaps.
3. Alternate your pain relief to stay ahead of the pain
One of the best things you can do in the early days is to stagger your pain medications (if you’ve been prescribed more than one). For example, you might take paracetamol and ibuprofen at alternating intervals throughout the day.
This helps you stay covered and avoids the dreaded “crash” when everything wears off at once. You’ll feel more comfortable and more able to move, eat and rest.
Always follow the advice from your midwife, doctor or pharmacist, and keep a little log or phone reminder to help you stay on track.
4. Rest, rest, rest (but add in some gentle movement)
Yes, you’ve heard it a million times—but resting really is part of healing. Your body has gone through a huge event and it needs time to recover.
In the first few weeks, try to:
Avoid heavy lifting or long walks
Keep movements gentle—think slow stretches or a short potter around the house
Focus on bonding with your baby and getting sleep whenever you can
Let other people help with the washing up, the shopping, the visitors. You focus on you.
5. Add protein to every meal
Protein is the building block of healing—it supports tissue repair, muscle recovery, and helps your body bounce back.
You don’t need to overthink it, just try to include some protein at every meal, for example:
Eggs on toast
Greek yoghurt with fruit
Chicken soup or lentil curry
A protein shake if you’re too tired to cook
Even small additions can make a big difference to your energy and recovery.
6. Try a belly band for extra comfort and support
One thing I recommend to many mums after a C-Section is a soft, supportive belly band. It won’t ‘fix’ anything overnight, but it can really help you feel more stable and comfortable—especially when getting up, walking around, or even just sitting upright to feed.
We recently asked 6 c-sectionUK mums to test out the Momcozy Postpartum Belly Band during their recovery. Claire kindly sent us some images and her thoughts on using the wrap, which I’ve included below.
I’ve looked at a lot of the research around light compression and I really like that the Momcozy band is:
Soft and breathable - the micro holes in the fabric offer excellent ventilation
Adjustable as your body changes with the velcro fastening
Gentle enough not to put pressure on your scar, but supportive enough to give it lift and support
Great for supporting your posture when you’re hunched over a baby, with the patented technology of the ergonomic back support
Just remember—don’t wear it 24/7, and give your body regular breaks — aim for a couple of hours at a time.
“The Momcozy belly band has a nice smooth feel, it’s easy to put on, and hugs the body nicely. The back support structure is flexible, yet supportive.”
7. Introduce silicone to your scar—at the right time
Around 6 weeks postpartum, if your scar is fully healed with no signs of infection or opening, you can start using silicone scar treatments. These come as gels or silicone sheets and can help:
Improve the look and feel of your scar
Reduce redness, thickness or itching
Support smoother healing over time
Use consistently for best results, and always follow product instructions.
In summary: be gentle with yourself
The best advice I can give? Don’t rush. Every recovery is different. Just because someone else was walking miles or ‘back to normal’ in two weeks doesn’t mean you have to be.
Your job is to rest, recover, and bond with your baby—and anything that helps you feel more supported, confident and comfortable along the way (like a belly wrap, warm peppermint tea, or an extra cushion behind your back) is worth it.
You’ve got this, C-Section mums 💛
Midwife Vic
Founder of c-sectionUK