What should I do if my legs become numb after a cesarean section?

Cesarean section is a method of childbirth that reduces women's pain, but it also brings many sequelae and complications to women. Childbirth is a very important matter for women. Choosing a caesarean section is also a well-considered decision. At the same time, we also take into account that there are many complications after caesarean section, such as leg numbness. Many women who have given birth by caesarean section are confused about the problem of leg numbness after childbirth. So let’s take a look at what to do if the legs are numb after caesarean section?

After a cesarean section, pay attention to whether the incision is infected. Keep the area around the wound clean and do not scratch when it itches to prevent the wound from becoming infected and festering. If the wound is painful and locally hardened, and feels fluctuating when touched, it means that the incision is infected and festered, and timely diagnosis and treatment should be given.

Getting out of bed and moving around early is the main step in helping the uterus contract, promoting wound healing, and preventing intestinal adhesions. During surgery, the abdominal cavity is opened, allowing some air to enter the abdominal cavity. However, after surgery, the body often has less activity, which weakens intestinal motility and makes intestinal bloating and adhesions more likely to occur. Therefore, the mother should not lie still. She should engage in body activities after the anesthesia wears off and consciousness is restored after the operation. After 24 hours, get out of bed and walk around in pain to increase intestinal motility, pass gas early, and prevent intestinal adhesion and thrombosis. After the activity, blood circulation speeds up, which promotes uterine contraction and helps the wound heal faster.

Pay attention to hygiene. The body resistance of the mother is low after caesarean section, and it is easy to cause infection if she does not pay attention to hygiene. In addition to brushing teeth, washing face and hands as usual, mothers should change their clothes promptly when they are wet with sweat and milk, and replace sanitary products, which should be disinfected and changed frequently. Do not remove the scab formed on the incision too early. Wash your whole body with warm water before removing the stitches. You can take a bath after removing the stitches, but a shower is better.

Paying attention to dietary nutrition is an important aspect of maternal recovery. After surgery, the mother has the responsibility of feeding the baby and should pay more attention to her diet and eat according to the doctor's instructions. Start eating easily digestible foods, such as noodle soup, egg soup, porridge, etc. Before the abdominal distension and gas are passed, you should not eat foods that produce a lot of gas, such as sweets, milk, soybeans and soy products; after the gas is passed, you can eat nutritious foods like a normal postpartum woman. Do not eat fish after surgery, because fish contains an organic acid substance called EPA, which can inhibit platelet aggregation and hinder postoperative hemostasis and wound healing. Also do not eat ginseng after cesarean section, as ginseng will cause the wound to bleed for a long time, which is not conducive to wound healing.

Caesarean section is an option for women to reduce the pain of childbirth, but childbirth is a big deal, and we need to have a comprehensive understanding of it, including its sequelae, so as to ensure that women can have a sense of security before, during, and after childbirth, and make women feel more assured psychologically about giving birth. Therefore, the editor also hopes that all mothers can suffer less on Good Friday, give birth to their children safely, live a healthy life, and have a happy family.