The Best Ways to Carry a Newborn After a Cesarean

A cesarean section presents a different set of challenges to a new mom than a typical vaginal birth. While some soreness is normal after a vaginal birth, with a C-section your pain might make it difficult to handle even the smallest task with your newborn, including carrying your baby around. A C-section doesn̵7;t mean that you have to hand off all of the snuggles and care of your newborn to someone else; you can safely carry your newborn while recovering from a C-section.

  1. At the Hospital

    • In the hours after a C-section, you might be free from pain due to the anesthesia and pain medicine you are given in the hospital. Even if you are feeling well, take caution when handling your newborn or moving her from the bassinet to your bed, or back. It might be best to have your partner or a family member help you move your newborn in the first few hours. In the hospital, the staff will encourage you to get up and out of your bed within 24 hours after delivery to use the restroom and begin the healing process, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Even though you may be able to be mobile within the halls of the hospital, carrying your newborn during this time might not be safe. The APA cautions that you may experience sharp pains and dizziness at this time. Before you leave the hospital, make sure a nurse shows you the best way to carry your newborn -- up closer to your chest to eliminate the pressure on your incision.

    Coming Home

    • Recovery from a C-section means that you will have certain limitations on the activity you can participate in during the first few weeks. You should not carry anything heavier than your newborn, which means no carrying the car seat with your newborn in it until you have properly healed. When at home, keep the items you need nearby to limit the amount of time you will need to spend mobile with your baby. If you experience pain, dizziness or shortness of breath, safely put the newborn down until you feel better.

    Carrying a Newborn

    • It is important to hold your newborn properly, whether you are carrying him or just snuggling on the couch. His head and neck should always be supported by your arm or hand and the other arm or hand should support his bottom, according to KidsHealth. You can carry your newborn with his head cradled in the crook of your arm and bottom in the same hand, or with his head supported by your shoulder and a hand on his back and bottom. Keep your newborn higher up on your chest or hold him toward your chest to keep the baby from rubbing against your incision. If you are breastfeeding your newborn, consider the football hold where the baby's feet extend past your side and his head faces your breast, with your hand supporting his head, to keep him from resting on your abdomen and irritating your incision, suggests Mayo Clinic.

    Baby-Wearing

    • Another option for carrying your newborn after a C-section is baby-wearing. Baby-wearing secures your newborn to your chest with a wrap or sling to offer you a hands-free way of carrying your newborn while creating a bond between mother and baby. There are several ways to carry your baby in a wrap or sling -- depending on the type of wrap or sling you have -- but there are some safety precautions to take when wearing a newborn. Do not fold your baby in half to get into the wrap or sling; her chin should never touch her chest and there should be a least an inch of space between chin and chest to make sure her airway is not blocked, according to thebabywearer.com. Never allow the fabric to cover the newborn's face or nose, or have her face pressed against or turned toward your chest, unless she is nursing.

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