Having a baby is an incredible experience, but giving birth can be tricky! For many women, their time to travel comes right after they give birth, as long as there are no medical complications. However, for some moms, that’s just not possible.
A caesarian section (C-section) means you need to spend more time in hospital recovering from the surgery. It also makes it harder to take off work because of all the doctor visits needed afterwards. Plus, most insurance companies don’t cover maternity leave until at least six weeks have passed since your C-section.
But why should mom’s who have a medically necessary C-section feel like they don’t deserve to enjoy themselves? And what if parents feel like they’re being discriminated against because they can’t afford to visit family or go on vacation due to cost?
Fortunately, things are changing. More and more hospitals are offering mothers “vaginal recovery” services or outpatient care so that you can return home the same day. This is usually less expensive than staying in the hospital longer!
Here, we’ve gathered information about how soon pregnant women can travel after having a vaginal delivery and a cesarean section. We’ll talk you through when it’s okay to travel, and what to do if you’re worried you won’t make it back in time.
When should I resume exercising
As your body adjusts to pregnancy, it can sometimes take a little while to feel like its normal self. This is especially true for mothers who had a cesarean section (C-section).
After giving birth via caesarian, your uterus will still be slightly larger than before you were pregnant. This means that walking, running or swimming may not feel as good as it did prior to having the baby.
It is also very common to feel tired and sleep more frequently in the first few weeks after leaving the hospital. On average, moms need up to six months to recover fully from childbirth.
But don’t worry! You are still able to enjoy active days once you have healed properly.
Most women are able to exercise without experiencing significant discomfort. However, some individuals may experience muscle soreness, swelling or bleeding with activity which could take longer to heal completely.
There is no set time frame
Postpartum recovery can take anywhere from two weeks to a year or longer, even for same day c-sections! The length of time your skin will stay tight depends on your body’s natural healing process as well as your individual needs.
Many mothers feel uncomfortable wearing clothing with straps because it shows their scars but this could actually hurt your bonding relationship with your child.
You may be asked to postpone traveling or having children until you are healed due to potential complications during pregnancy or childbirth. This can make planning trips more difficult since most medical recommendations are at least six months before you can resume normal activities.
But don’t let that stop you! If you really want to travel then do not wait your postpartum recovery. It is totally okay to enjoy yourself once you are able to handle large amounts of food and drink again.
It depends
Not every mother is given the same amount of time to recover after giving birth via cesarean section. Your doctor will determine how long it takes for you to feel comfortable traveling again depending on your individual body’s recovery process.
Some women are able to travel as soon as two weeks, while others may need several months before they can safely fly. The length of time that most people take to return to work varies greatly as well — some mothers never returned to work due to pregnancy or baby related reasons, while others plunged back in immediately.
But what matters most is that you make yourself aware of any potential complications your child might have and give yourself enough time to deal with those should they arise.
Here are some tips for post-pregnancy travel
Your doctor will let you know how soon you can feel comfortable traveling after your baby is born. However, there is no federal regulation that dictates when this guideline is given. Some hospitals give their patients an exact date while others do not.
Most obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) agree that women should be able to comfortably walk up several flights of stairs and take short walks with little to no pain. Therefore, they recommend limiting prolonged activity until at least two weeks in order to ensure full recovery.
But remember, like most medical guidelines, these depend on each person’s individual body responding well to certain treatments and surgeries. You must discuss this tip with your OB/GYN before applying it to yourself!
Another important factor to consider is whether or not you want to bring your child along for the trip. If yes, then you should make sure you have enough diapers, wipes, and milk for the newborn.
This article has discussed some great tips for moms who desire to travel post-C section.
Ask your doctor
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to traveling after having a cesarean section, but your doctor can give you some helpful tips!
Most obstetricians will ask if you’re planning on going back to work within a few weeks of delivery, as well as asking how long it will take for you to feel fully recovered.
They may also inquire about any risk factors that could make this more difficult, like pregnancy complications or health conditions like diabetes. Your doctor can tell you whether there is enough time before your next appointment to travel safely.
If you do decide to travel soon, then making sure your house stays warm and dry is very important. You should also be aware of weather changes so you are not exposed to wet surfaces or colder air, which could cause problems for your baby and/or self.
This article has discussed some potential risks related to traveling with a newborn right after childbirth, but just as importantly, it has talked about what precautions you can take to reduce these risks for yourself and your child.
Keep an eye on your baby
Even though you have healed at this stage, it is still important to pay attention to your little traveler as he or she grows. Make sure that you are sitting with appropriate chairs before you leave home so you can get up easily without hurting yourself or others.
Making sure your house has enough diapers and milk for your child will help you feel more prepared if you need to take off early.
If possible, bring along some clothes and shoes that are close in size to what children’s sizes are now (not when you gave birth!). This way you aren’t buying new things every time you go out!
We recommend keeping track of how much milk you have left by writing down how many ounces each day.
Think about the safety of the place you are traveling to
Many hospitals will let mothers return home after childbirth within 2 weeks, but only if they are able to do so safely. Because most women who have a cesarean delivery also need time to recover from the surgery, their physicians may recommend that they stay in the hospital until they are well enough to leave.
It is important for moms to be aware of how safe it is to travel before leaving the hospital. Even though your body is still recovering, you should know whether it is safe to take public transportation or go out into crowded places.
Making sure that your health insurance coverage can easily be accessed while you’re away is an essential part of staying healthy. Some employers offer wellness programs where employees can access free healthcare services at local facilities or through online resources.
Another option is to find a reputable care provider near your destination and connect with them to see if there are any gaps in coverage. If possible, try to work with providers that use the same network as yours – this helps ensure that your medical bills are covered even if you run across a gap in coverage.
Take your baby with you
While it is not recommended to travel soon after giving birth, if you must, there are certain things that can be done to make this more comfortable for you and your child. You will probably need to prepare ahead of time!
Most hospitals allow mothers who have just given birth to take their infant for up to two weeks under special circumstances. If this is something you would like to do, don’t put off preparing until later as long as you are able to manage care for your newborn at home and you have enough support around you.
Your doctor may recommend staying in close contact while traveling or having your partner stay back and look after the new baby so you can focus on self-care. This way you can still feel connected to your loved ones, but also enjoy some rest and relaxation.