How will an elective caesarean affect my immediate postnatal period?
A. The good thing about having an ‘elective’ (planned) caesarean section is the fact that you will be mentally and physically prepared for the operation, rather than shocked and tired (as may happen if the operation is done in an emergency in the middle of labour). Recovery tends to be quicker and easier, and complications fewer, following elective surgery. In addition, you and your partner will be able to plan in advance to make sure you have plenty of help with housework and baby care in the weeks that follow. However you give birth, household help in the first two to four weeks is absolutely vital to enable you to concentrate on getting breastfeeding established. Practical help is even more important after a caesarean section, when it is best not to lift anything heavier than your baby for a good six weeks. This means that you should, ideally, have daily help with housework, especially shopping, hoovering and ironing. It will also help if you can plan now how you will arrange things
