Recovering After a C-Section While Your Baby’s in the NICU

You’re healing in one room, while your baby’s growing stronger in another - and your heart is in both. C-section recovery alongside the NICU experience can be a challenging time for parents, and that goes for the mother and birth partner. There’s no “right way” to navigate this, but there is support.

We’ll walk you through what to expect during C-section recovery, to abdominal binders for C-section, and breastfeeding support during the NICU experience. We’ve also tapped into our community of mums to give you real talk about recovery after a C-section and how belly bands for postpartum helped them through.

Why C-Section Recovery Is Harder with a Baby in NICU

When your baby (or babies) are being treated in the NICU, C-section recovery is that much harder logistically, physically, and emotionally. The NICU is a separate part of the hospital where they treat premature or unwell newborns until they are fit and healthy to not be reliant on medical interventions.

For new parents, the separation can be a real challenge because you’re juggling a whole bag of emotions alongside recovering from labour. Even for the assisting birth partners, caring for their partner who is fresh out of the surgery room and splitting their time between seeing their newborn, takes a real toll physically and emotionally.

Hormones play a huge part during labour to help mothers take control of the pain they feel and encourage labour to progress. But hormones also have a big impact on a mother’s recovery too. Emotional stress, an increase in cortisol, would create physical tension and an increase in negative emotions, which can slow down a mother’s healing.

Quite often, new parents have tunnel vision and focus on their newborn as they are receiving special treatment to get better. However, it is just as important to focus on themselves, so they too can share the mental and physical load of postpartum healing, and what becoming a new parent brings.

What to Expect Physically After a C-Section

Immediately after surgery, you will be moved to a different space in the hospital to recover. You won’t be able to get up and move around at first due to the epidural they will give before operating. An epidural is a form of pain relief that numbs everything from your waist down, meaning you won’t have control of your bladder or legs. When the effects of the epidural wear off, nurses will help you to sit up and eventually stand so you can begin to regain your mobility.

Common C-section recovery symptoms

Recovery after a C-section is no walk in the park; it’s major surgery, and it should be taken seriously. Your healthcare professional will offer you postpartum support and explain symptoms to be aware of post-surgery to ensure you are healing as expected. During c-section recovery, you might experience:

• Pain around the incision

• Weakened core muscles

• Back pain

• Feeling bloated (excess gas)

• Difficulty sleeping

If you notice that you have:

• Signs of infection around your incision

• Difficulty going to the toilet (urine or stools)

• Severe pain

• Heavy vaginal bleeding

• Swelling in your legs

It is crucial that you bring this to your doctor’s attention so that they can treat you accordingly. Once your symptoms are under control, you can start to focus on regaining your mobility, improving your posture, and moving gently to aid your recovery.

Breastfeeding NICU experience

When your baby is being treated in the NICU, you won’t always be able to hold them and breastfeed. Some babies need to be kept in their incubators to receive oxygen and other medicines, which makes it difficult to hold them. The other added complication is that when mothers are recovering from a C-section, pumping or collecting colostrum is harder when they are away from their baby and healing themselves.

If breastfeeding early is important to you, make this clear to the doctors and midwives supporting you. If it’s possible, they can help you breastfeed immediately after surgery. However, there are cases where this isn’t possible, for example, if you were under a general anaesthetic rather than a local anaesthetic.

Things you can do to help you breastfeed your baby in the NICU:

• Harvest colostrum in syringes prior to or after the birth, for NICU staff to feed to your baby

• Practice breastfeeding positions to find which are more comfortable in the early days post-surgery

• Learn from reputable sources for breastfeeding support to feel more prepared on the day

Read Madison’s story: Midwife and mum of 3, Madison recalls her birth stories, NICU experience, and c-section recovery whilst breastfeeding.

How a Postpartum Belt Can Help During NICU Recovery

Wearing an abdominal binder after a c-section dramatically improves a mother’s postpartum healing because it supports her core muscles, protects the incision wound, and assists with gentle movement. Lola&Lykke Belly Bands for postpartum are like a warm hug that cushions and supports your body throughout your postpartum recovery. We love it because…

• It provides gentle compression and support for weakened core muscles

• Helps reduce pain when walking, standing, or sitting for long NICU visits

• Supports your posture when pumping or sitting in hospital chairs

• Makes getting in and out of bed easier (especially in shared wards or temporary accommodation)

• Mentally grounding, like being “held” when emotions are high

Our postpartum belt is loved by mums, especially by those who are in recovery after a C-section. Here’s a highlight of their favourite features and game-changing moments.

“I was dubious about waist support, but this wrap has made all the difference in my recovery post c-section. I'm on day 5, started wearing this day 3 and am so much more mobile, comfortable and steady with it on.” ~ Jade

“I've tried some post C-section belly band but this core restore support band is the best that I've tried on yet. I love that it is super soft and super-elastic that perfectly sits over the abdominal area.” ~ Ruchi

“It’s going to be 9 weeks post c-section tomorrow and this time around I feel much stronger quicker and feel as if my recovery has been quicker too! Having my core supported by this band has really helped. It keeps my posture straight and supports the core muscles so they can heal! It made it less painful in the early days, especially when I would sneeze or cough. It was also amazing support for the first drive home from the hospital!” ~ Felicity

Want to learn more?

Explore the Postpartum Support Band

Emotional Recovery: Permitting Yourself to Feel

Even mums who knowingly went into the surgery room for a planned C-section cannot fully prepare themselves for the emotional rollercoaster that a NICU experience can bring.

You fully expect to have your baby in your arms, and when they’re whisked away for further checks and medical attention, and you're unable to move, that’s tough. Don’t brush away how you’re feeling; give yourself full permission to feel every emotion and lean on the postpartum support around you. The “village” doesn’t just end with friends and family.

In the first few days and weeks of c-section recovery, be open about how you’re feeling and seek help if you’re finding things difficult. Speaking to the NICU staff and connecting with other parents in the same boat as you can be a real lifeline during this time.

In managing your emotional recovery, you’re also taking small steps towards physical recovery. Resting is essential; do not confuse it with laziness. When your body is rested, it can get to work behind the scenes, making you stronger so you can show up for your baby later.

Practical Tips for C-Section Healing in the NICU Chapter

Whilst navigating the NICU experience and recovering from a c-section, these useful tips will help to guide you through the first few days and weeks.

• Wear your abdominal binder or postpartum belt when walking long distances

• Use a breastfeeding pillow or side-lying positions if you’re pumping or breastfeeding

• Keep a small water bottle with you to stay hydrated, and bring nutritious snacks

• Use a pillow when coughing, sneezing, or getting out of bed to ease any discomfort

• Accept help - even tiny things make a big difference

Final Word: You’re Healing, Too

You are your baby’s biggest advocate, but you’re also your own biggest advocate, too. Your baby isn’t the only one who is healing and getting stronger, and sometimes it’s those small moments of care that light you up when your mind is elsewhere. Wear your belly band for postpartum, ask for help, and eat your food warm, because these acts of kindness to yourself are also an act of strength.

One day, you’ll look back and realise you didn’t just survive this, you healed through it 🧡