Top Picks: The Best Cesarean Recovery Resources
No time or energy to figure out where to start? This is the list of the best help available. There is a little of everything here - links to books you can buy, info covering emotional and physical healing, and tips on finding a postpartum doula to come to your home to help take care of you and your baby as you recover. Also, see the FAQ (frequently asked questions) and Topics pages for more in-depth resources.
Caesarean Birth: A Positive Approach to Preparation and Recovery: Published in 2018, this book covers every aspect of caesareans, particularly for those in the UK. Focuses on supporting those preparing for giving birth and helping them make informed decisions about c-sections.
My Caesarean: Twenty-One Mothers on the C-Section Experience and After: Published in 2019, this book includes 21 essays that share first-hand personal experiences with c-sections. Aimed both at those who may be facing a c-section and those who are recovering from one.
Lose Your Mummy Tummy: Written by R.N., personal trainer, fitness instructor and childbirth educator Julie Tupler it details how to get rid of you mummy tummy (her term). A fresh approach that actually explains why it is hard to get your tummy flatter after having a baby. Detailed photos showing how to do exercises. Includes a special section which addresses issues for those recovering from c-sections. I liked the tone of the book as well as the step by step approach. Instead of a laundry list of exercises to do, the book explains how to gradually work your way through the 'Tupler Technique'. Explains clearly why doing a million crunches *won't* get your tummy flat after you have had a baby.
Cesarean Recovery (written by a personal trainer) This book was written by a personal trainer and focuses on an exercise program to bring the post c-section mom from the hospital through to regaining her pre-pregnancy body. It also has brief sections on breastfeeding, emotional issues, and a basic overview of the surgery itself. Great (slightly dated) photos of women doing the exercises along with clear guidelines of when to progress to each level of exercise. Published in 2004.
Breastfeeding Basics: Breastfeeding After a Cesarean: A thorough article with lots of tips and details about how to maximize your chances for success in breastfeeding after a cesarean. Includes illustrations to help you understand positioning tips.
Emotional Recovery From A Cesarean: Amazing resource that covers all sorts of emotional issues caused by c-sections, and helps in finding the road to recovery. Especially helpful if you feel that no one is hearing you when you talk about how hard your recovery has been emotionally. Also a great resource for those trying to understand someone who is having a hard emotional recovery after a c-section.
Postpartum Depression: Assorted Books: Browse this list of books addressing the topic of postpartum depression. There are lots of options here - everything from first-person accounts to guides on how to survive and conquer this incredible challenge.
What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know about Cesarean Birth: Childbirth Connection (part of the National Partnership for Women & Families) publication which covers all the basics about c-sections. Does not include information about healing, but is a good place to start when learning about c-sections and issues which can contribute to them. Updated in 2016.
Dona.org: Postpartum Doula Position Paper: Find out more about how a postpartum doula can help you as you start your role as a new mother. While this paper does not explicitly mention c-section recovery, it is clear that a mother recovering from a c-section can only benefit from more of this sort of support.
International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) Online: a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). The site has extensive resources including statistics, white papers and a reading list. Also hosts a very active mailing list. Especially focuses on preventing c-sections and helping mom's navigate their way to a successful VBAC.
Mayo Clinic: About C-section: Amazing and thorough examination of c-section birth and recovery. Starts with information about the operating room and carries you through recovery at home and breastfeeding. Authoritative content from a very trusted source.
Exercise After Cesarean Delivery: What Is and Isn’t Safe: This web page about exercise after a c-section has been reviewed by a doctor. It includes information about how long to wait before you start, gentle exercises for the first six weeks, strength and cardio exercises, and exercises to avoid.
Recovery and Exercise After a C-Section: This web page is from a Canadian physiotherapy practice with locations in and near Toronto. The page covers some basics of do’s and don’ts for the first six weeks of your recovery. It also includes a downloadable six-week exercise guide.
The Essential C-Section Guide: Pain Control, Healing at Home, Getting Your Body Back, and Everything Else You Need to Know About a Cesarean Birth: This book, published in June of 2004, covers everything from the basics of c-section procedures to information about side effects and all aspects of recovery afterward. Written by two journalists who both have had c-sections themselves, this book is a good first stop both for women who know they will be having a c-section as well as those who unexpectedly had one after an attempt at a natural delivery.