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"   Question Can you tell me what exactly will happen to my body after a Caesarean birth?  If possible I would like to know about the bleeding, how long the scar takes to heal, if it is possible to have the stomach tightened when being sewn back up, the general conditions of release from hospital and how many days one is usually in hospital.  Also, if one does not decide to breastfeed, what happens to the milk and what happens to the actual breast?  Will not breastfeeding change the shape as much as if the mother does breastfeed?    Answer  I will do my best to touch upon all the various points mentioned.  It is not clear what prompted your enquiry, but if you should be thinking of having an elective Caesarean birth or have recently been told that owing to your personal circumstances this is the only way for the baby to come out. It is wise to find out more about the procedure now rather than be wise after the event.   The fact that women are choosing increasingly to delay childbearing may mean that they tend to experience more complications.  The acceptance of a Caesarean as the safest way to deliver breech babies may also affect the statistics.  Ideally caesarean is best performed under epidural anaesthetic, with fewer risks to the mother and with the advantage of immediate mother-baby contact.  Depending upon the anaesthetic used, breastfeeding may need to be temporarily delayed. If one chooses not to breastfeed, the milk comes into the breasts, which become engorged in the usual way.  If feeding doesn&amp;#039;t proceed, after a few days the breasts return gradually to a non-pregnant state over the following week or so.  In the early stages, in order to diminish the breast discomfort that occurs, it is helpful in addition to taking simple analgesics, to reduce one&amp;#039;s fluid intake to around one litre a day.  Occasionally drugs may be prescribed to help stop milk production.  I am not aware of any evidence to suggest there is a difference in the subsequent shape of one&amp;#039;s breasts, depending on whether or not one has breastfed.  At caesarean section, the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother&amp;#039;s lower abdominal and uterine walls.  There is a risk of excessive bleeding, but this is relatively low and any blood loss is carefully monitored and replaced by transfusion if necessary.  The skin wound is closed with sutures or clips, which can usually be removed after one week.  It is sometimes possible by prior arrangement with your consultant obstetrician to have part of the abdominal skin and underlying fat removed at operation if this is deemed appropriate.  Your question however implies a tightening of the underlying muscles and I&amp;#039;m afraid that they take time to strengthen after being stretched in pregnancy and surgery is not the answer for the majority of women.  The average hospital stay is around four days, but a caesarean must not be viewed as the soft option by the &amp;#039;too posh to push&amp;#039; brigade.  It is a major abdominal surgical procedure and although &amp;#039;safe&amp;#039;, using modern techniques, it still takes four weeks to recover from \u2013 much longer than a normal vaginal delivery.  Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Am I pregnant or do I have an infection? Blood clots and pregnancy Caesarean or vaginal delivery? Chickenpox and pregnancy Constantly vomiting during pregnancy Could I be pregnant and still have a period? Could I be pregnant? Drinking when pregnant Exercising when pregnant Flying when pregnant Going to a theme park while pregnant I suffered with post partum haemorrhage I\u2019m suffering with morning sickness Information about placenta praevia Is it possible to get pregnant two days before the period? Pregnant while on the Pill Shingles and pregnancy What is a molar pregnancy?  Last updated 23.02.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/pregnancy-and-family/a11134/after-a-caesarean-birth/>