Caesarian Section: When to Seek Medical Care

After a caesarean section, the doctor will monitor you closely for about 24 hours to ensure that you don't develop any complications or problems. You will be in the hospital for about three to four days after a cesarean delivery. During the stay your doctor will teach you to take care of the baby and yourself. Before you are discharged from the hospital you'll receive post-surgery instructions, including warning signs of complications and when to seek medical advice.

Call your doctor or go to emergency department of a hospital if you :

•  lose consciousness
•  have difficulty while breathing
•  have sudden chest pain, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, or blood in sputum
•  have severe pain in the abdomen

When you should seek immediate medical care:

After delivery you will have vaginal bleeding and it is usually heavier than the normal period. You should call your doctor if the vaginal bleeding appears to be getting heavier or remains bright red 4 days after delivery or you notice these signs :

• You have vaginal foul smelling discharge, or pus like vaginal drainage
• You have abdominal pain or tenderness, or the abdomen feels hard
• You have persistent or severe vomiting and cannot keep fluids down.
• The stitches have become loose or your incision is gaping

There are signs of infection such as: fever of 100.4°f or higher when you should seek immediate medical care: These include

• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness at the site of incision
• red streaks on skin extending from the incision
• pus discharge from the incision
• You have big or tender lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, or groin

There are signs of formation of blood clot, such as:

•  pain or tenderness in the calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin region
  redness or swelling in your leg or groin.You have difficulty or trouble passing urine or stool (especially if there is pain, tenderness or swelling in the lower part of abdomen).

• You feel sad, tearful, hopeless, excessively tired/fatigued/lethargic, loss of interest in enjoying any activity (loss of interest in your hobbies and social activities), for more than a few days, or you havere current thoughts of death or suicide. These symptoms are suggestive of postpartum depression.
  
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