C-Section Recovery Bundle
What’s included?
Kin’s C-Section Recovery Kit includes the must-haves for new mums recovering from caesarean delivery. The 5-step routine features c-section essentials to promote scar healing, support separated abdominal muscles and recover from postpartum depletion.
- The Peri Bottle
- 8x Mesh Panties
- The Nourishing Cream
- The Belly Band
- The Postnatal Vitamin
How it works
Kin’s C-Section Recovery Kit makes the transition from c-section surgery to postpartum recovery as smooth as possible.
Why we made this
Supports the unique needs of c-section mums
The needs of c-section mums differ from mums who give birth vaginally, so Kin’s C-Section Recovery Kit decreases post-surgery pain, prevents and reduces scarring, protects wounds and promotes healing.
Must-haves made for busy mums
While you take care of baby, we’ll look after you, so you can navigate the weeks and months following birth with the support you need.
We could talk about it all day
FAQs
We’ve got answers brought to you by Kin’s women’s health experts.
After a C-section at hospital, women usually recover there for 3-5 days. This can vary between hospitals and your recovery, and in some hospitals, you can choose to go home early and have your follow-up care at home.
Many women feel their bodies have healed after 6-8 weeks, but navigating breastfeeding, hormonal changes and sleep deprivation can prove challenging beyond that. Make sure to get lots of rest and nutrition from a balanced diet and reach out to your doctor if you need support.
Everyone heals differently, but here are some thing you can expect week by week as you recovery from caesarean surgery:
Wound pain: Pain and discomfort after surgery is expected for a few days when your anaesthetic wears off and the cells around the incision begin to form new tissues. You may experience mild cramping, light bleeding, itching as well as numbness during your recovery
Separation: Two muscles that run down the middle of your stomach can separate during pregnancy. This is called diastasis recti. Separation will usually go back to normal by the time your baby is 8 weeks old.4
Swelling: Swelling after C-section (aka edema) is caused by extra fluid in tissues such as the face, ankles, hands, and feet or around the incision area. Intravenous (IV) fluid can also trigger swelling after a C-section delivery.
Scarring: C-sections can cause scarring after the incision heals. The scar itself is harmless, however it is advised that you keep your wound clean to avoid infection and minimise stress from excess movement.
Stretching: Weight gain, a growing belly and hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause the middle layer of the skin to be stretched and broken along the stomach, upper thighs and breasts. Stretch marks are completely normal and occur in 8 in 10 women.5
One-size-fits-all. Not many things in life can be approached in that way, but The Mesh Panties are no normal pair of undies. They’re designed to be super soft and stretchy, with enough compression for your incision and support to hold maxi pads or Soothing Padsicles in.
In the days and weeks following a caesarean, whether planned or unplanned, vaginal bleeding will still occur even if you didn’t go into labour. The Mesh Panties are super soft and stretchy, made with the right level of compression for your incision and can comfortably hold Soothing Padsicles in.
It’s completely up to you. Some C-section mums wear belly bands religiously after giving birth while others decide not to use them. The Belly Band can be used by C-section mums to help their abdominal muscles and incision heal while reducing swelling from surgery. It can also help shrink your uterus back down to size, which alleviates postpartum pain and discomfort.
One study found that women who delivered by C-section and practised belly binding during their postpartum recovery experienced less pain, bleeding, and discomfort as compared to those who didn’t.6
Kin’s Belly Band sits above the incision area to avoid irritation and is fully adjustable so you don’t put unnecessary pressure on the wound. It’s best to speak with your doctor if you’re unsure about whether you should use a belly band.
We want to make it easy for new mums to navigate their recovery. That’s why we designed the Postpartum Recovery Kit with an all-in-one regimen at a discounted price.
However, we understand you may want to pick and choose what you need for your individual situation. To purchase items on their own, simply explore the Postpartum range.
Every mum’s recovery is different so we chose to only include the must-haves for caesarean mums in the C-section Recovery Kit. However, there are other products that are recommended for C-section mums:
Soothing Padsicles – It’s true that you will still experience vaginal bleeding (called lochia) for 2-6 weeks after the birth if you had a C-section. Bleeding can sometimes last longer than this, but it should have stopped by 12 weeks. Kin’s Soothing Padiscles are maxi pads that help absorb postpartum fluids and double as a soft ice pack to soothe swelling and soreness around the C-section incision.
Kin’s Postnatal Vitamin was designed to address postnatal depletion, which affects 50% of new mums. Postnatal depletion symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, and insomnia, which can last months or even years after giving birth. The Postnatal Vitamin includes 18 bioavailable ingredients like biotin, choline, and folate, to help new mums replenish nutrients and restore their energy as they recover from childbirth.
There are two size options for The Belly Band which you can choose from before you add to cart. The Petite band is 103x24cm and the Regular is 120x24cm. While they are adjustable, as a guide, the Petite is best suited for shirt sizes XS to S, whereas the Regular size is great for shirt sizes M to XL.
The Mesh Panties are designed to be used during the first 2-3 months after birth when you need them most, but beyond this, continued use is up to you. The Mesh Panties come in a pack of 8 pairs that are each washable at least 10 times (so you won’t run out in the first few weeks of bleeding). To reuse the Mesh Panties, warm wash at 60℃ and tumble dry low. Do not bleach, dry clean, or iron.
If you go through labour before your C-section, your perineum may still become swollen and sensitive. Passing wind or bowel movements can be difficult and straining will likely aggravate your incision and sore abdomen.
If your C-section was planned, the location of your incision makes bending over to cleanse your vagina or anus difficult. An upside-down Peri Bottle helps you clean up without bending too far to reach. Plus, you can still use it to clean your incision to avoid infecting the wound.
It’s normal to experience some pain and discomfort while you recover from delivery, and it’s a good idea to ask your doctor or midwife about what you can expect. Postpartum symptoms tend to improve each day, but if you find your symptoms are worsening, then give your doctor a call.
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References
- Australia’s mothers and babies AIHW: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/australias-mothers-babies/contents/summary
- National Core Maternity Indicators AIHW: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/national-core-maternity-indicators-1/contents/labour-and-birth-indicators/caesarean-section
- Centella asiatica in cosmetology
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834700/ - Your post-pregnancy body
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/your-post-pregnancy-body/ - Stretch marks in pregnancy
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/support-and-services/your-post-pregnancy-body/ - Randomized controlled trial of abdominal binders for postoperative pain, distress, and blood loss after cesarean delivery
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28241386/