Elective caesarean: what to expect from arrival to recovery

Pregnancy · Wellbeing · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

A planned caesarean section is one of the most common major surgical procedures, and knowing exactly what will happen at each stage can help you feel calm and prepared. This guide walks through the full journey: from the moment you arrive at hospital to the days you spend recovering at home, with honest detail about what you are likely to feel, see, and experience along the way.

Arriving at hospital: fasting, consent, and pre-op checks

You will usually be asked to arrive early in the morning on the day of your procedure, often several hours before your scheduled slot. Your hospital team will have given you a fasting window beforehand: typically nothing to eat for six hours before the procedure and nothing to drink (including water) for two hours before. Following these instructions carefully matters because a full stomach increases the risk of complications under anaesthetic.

When you arrive, a midwife or nurse will take you through a series of pre-operative checks. These include confirming your identity and the details of the planned operation, checking your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, reviewing any medications you take, and confirming any allergies. A cannula (a small plastic tube) will be placed in the back of your hand or forearm so the team can give fluids and any medications quickly during the procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form if you have not already done so at a pre-operative appointment. This is the moment to ask any remaining questions: there are no silly questions at this stage, and the team would far rather answer them now than have you feel uncertain in theatre. You will also be asked to change into a hospital gown and remove any jewellery, nail varnish, or body piercings.

Your birth partner can usually stay with you throughout all of this, which many people find reassuring. They will typically be asked to wait briefly while you receive the anaesthetic and then join you in theatre.

In theatre: the anaesthetic and what you will feel

The operating theatre is brighter and more clinical than a labour room, with a surgical team of around eight to twelve people: an obstetrician, an assistant surgeon, an anaesthetist, an anaesthetic assistant, scrub nurses, a circulating nurse, and a paediatrician or neonatal nurse who is there to check over your baby immediately after birth.

Most planned caesareans use a spinal anaesthetic, which is a single injection of local anaesthetic and pain-relief medication into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. You will be asked to sit on the edge of the bed and round your back like a "C" shape, or lie curled on your side. The anaesthetist will clean your lower back and then give a small local anaesthetic injection to numb the skin before the spinal needle is inserted. Most people feel some pressure and mild discomfort but not sharp pain. The whole process usually takes just a few minutes.

Within a few minutes of the spinal injection you will feel warmth spreading from your toes upwards, followed by a heaviness in your legs, and then numbness below the chest. The team will test the level of the block by touching your skin with something cold and asking whether you can feel it. Once they are satisfied the block is working well, they will know you are ready.

A urinary catheter is then placed to keep your bladder empty during the procedure. Because the spinal anaesthetic is working, you will not feel this. A drape is raised across your chest so that the surgical field is kept sterile and your view of the incision is screened. Many hospitals now offer a "clear drape" or a "gentle caesarean" option where the drape can be lowered at the moment of delivery so you can watch your baby emerge if you wish. It is worth asking about this option in advance if it matters to you.

You will be awake and alert throughout. You can talk, ask questions, and hold your birth partner's hand. The anaesthetist sits beside your head at all times and is the person to tell if you feel unwell, anxious, or notice any unusual sensations.

The delivery: from first incision to first cry

The surgeon makes a horizontal incision just above the pubic hairline, in the fold of skin sometimes called the "bikini line." Several layers of tissue are gently separated before the uterus itself is opened. From the first incision to the moment your baby is delivered is typically around ten minutes, though the exact timing depends on factors such as any previous abdominal surgery and the position of the baby.

During this phase you will feel pressure and a tugging or pushing sensation, sometimes quite firmly, as the surgeon guides the baby out. This is normal and expected. It is rarely described as painful, though people use words like "strange," "intense," or "surreal." When the baby's head is delivered you may feel a release of pressure quite suddenly. You will then hear your baby cry, often within seconds, which is one of the moments people remember most vividly.

The umbilical cord is clamped and cut, and your birth partner can often be the one to cut the cord if they wish. The placenta is then delivered, and this is usually quick and straightforward.

First moments: skin-to-skin and meeting your baby

Your baby will be briefly assessed by the paediatrician or neonatal nurse: Apgar scores recorded at one and five minutes, weight checked, and a quick overall check of breathing and colour. If your baby is well and you are well, most hospitals will bring your baby to you for skin-to-skin contact while the surgeon closes the incision. Because your chest and arms are accessible above the drape, this is entirely possible on the operating table.

If you prefer, or if skin-to-skin on the table is not practical for any reason, your birth partner can hold the baby with skin-to-skin contact against their bare chest while the closing is completed. Some hospitals actively encourage this as a routine part of the gentle caesarean approach.

Breastfeeding can begin in the recovery room or even in theatre if both of you are comfortable and ready. The position that works best immediately after a caesarean for many people is the "rugby hold" or underarm hold, which keeps the baby away from the wound. Your midwife can help you find a comfortable position.

Closing: the next 30 to 40 minutes

While you are meeting your baby, the surgical team is carefully closing the layers of tissue that were opened. This takes considerably longer than the delivery itself, typically 30 to 40 minutes. The uterus is closed with dissolvable stitches. The layers of fascia and muscle are then brought back together. The skin is usually closed with dissolvable stitches beneath the surface, a continuous suture, or occasionally staples depending on the surgeon's preference and your individual circumstances.

Staples are removed a few days after surgery, usually by a midwife at a postnatal visit. Sutures that are not dissolvable are similarly removed at around five to seven days. Dissolvable stitches need no removal and will gradually break down over several weeks.

The anaesthetist and team continue monitoring your blood pressure, oxygen levels, and pulse throughout this phase. You may be given oxytocin through your IV drip to help your uterus contract and reduce blood loss. Some people feel shivery or nauseous during or after the procedure. These are common effects of the spinal anaesthetic and can usually be managed quickly with medication if needed.

The recovery room: monitoring and early hours

Once the procedure is complete you are moved to a recovery area where you will stay for one to two hours. A nurse or midwife monitors your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and the amount of bleeding at regular intervals. The catheter remains in place and is usually removed the following morning once you are mobile.

The spinal anaesthetic typically takes two to four hours to wear off fully. As sensation returns to your legs you will feel tingling and then normal feeling gradually reappearing. You will not be able to stand or walk during this time, so everything you need will be brought to you. This is a good time to start skin-to-skin if you have not already done so, and to attempt the first breastfeed if you plan to breastfeed.

Pain relief is started before the spinal wears off so that there is no gap in cover. Paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory are usually given regularly. Additional stronger pain relief such as oral opioids is available if needed. Most people find the pain after a planned caesarean manageable with regular oral medication, and the team will make sure you leave the recovery room comfortable.

Back on the ward: pain management and getting moving

Once the recovery team is satisfied that you are stable, comfortable, and your baby is well, you are transferred to the postnatal ward. You will share the ward with other new parents or, in some units, have a private room.

For the first few hours you will be encouraged to rest. Pain relief is given on a regular schedule: paracetamol every four to six hours and an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen if it is appropriate for you. It is important to take these regularly rather than waiting until the pain becomes severe, because staying on top of pain makes it much easier to begin moving.

Most people are encouraged to start sitting up and then standing with support from around 12 hours after the operation. By 24 hours the majority of people are mobile, able to walk slowly to the bathroom, and managing basic self-care. Getting moving as soon as it is safe matters not only for physical recovery but for reducing the risk of blood clots. You will usually be given compression stockings to wear and may be prescribed low-molecular-weight heparin injections for a period of days or weeks after surgery, depending on your individual risk factors.

Eating and drinking usually resume once the anaesthetic has worn off and you feel ready. Starting with sips of water and light food is sensible. Most people feel hungry well within the first 12 hours.

Going home: what to expect on day 2 to 4

Most people are ready to go home on day 2 or day 3 after a planned caesarean. Before discharge the team will check that your pain is well controlled with medication you can take at home, that you can move around safely, that your wound looks clean with no signs of early infection, and that your baby is feeding and settled.

You will leave with a supply of pain relief: typically paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory, and sometimes a short course of oral opioid for the first few days at home. You may also leave with a supply of heparin injections if they are recommended for your situation, and the midwife or nurse will show you how to administer these. Compression stockings may be recommended for continued use at home for two to six weeks.

Some hospitals offer earlier discharge at 24 hours for people who are recovering well and have good community support in place. If this option interests you, it is worth asking your team about it before your surgery date so that the appropriate community midwife visit can be arranged.

Before you leave you will be given information about wound care, activity restrictions, driving, and when and how to seek help if you have concerns. A community midwife will visit you at home in the days after discharge and will check your wound, your lochia (postnatal bleeding), and your baby's progress.

Recovery at home: the first weeks

A caesarean section is major abdominal surgery and recovery takes time. The first two weeks are the most intensive phase. You will feel tired and sore, and you will need practical support for tasks such as lifting, driving, and housework.

Wound care at home is straightforward. Keep the wound clean and dry. Pat it gently with a soft towel after washing rather than rubbing. Loose, soft waistbands that sit above or below the wound rather than across it are far more comfortable than tight waistbands or elasticated clothing that puts pressure on the incision site. Most wounds heal well with simple cleanliness.

Lifting restrictions are important. The general guidance is to avoid lifting anything heavier than your baby for the first six weeks. This protects the healing layers of muscle and fascia inside the abdomen, which take considerably longer to heal than the skin surface. Getting in and out of bed using a rolling movement (rolling onto your side first rather than sitting straight up) reduces strain on the abdominal muscles and is much more comfortable.

Driving is not recommended for a minimum of six weeks after a caesarean section, and only once you are confident you could perform an emergency stop without hesitation. The practical advice is to check your motor insurance policy before driving, as some policies require a doctor's clearance after major surgery.

By around six weeks many people feel significantly improved and are ready for a postnatal check with their GP or obstetrician. Full return to high-impact exercise such as running is usually advised from 12 weeks onwards and ideally only after a postnatal physiotherapy review, particularly if you experienced any issues with pelvic floor function or diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation) during pregnancy.

The postnatal period after a caesarean is an important time emotionally as well as physically. Some people find that the recovery is harder than they anticipated, or that they feel conflicted about how the birth went. These feelings are valid and common. Talking to your midwife, health visitor, or GP about how you are coping emotionally is just as important as the physical recovery checks.

Frequently asked questions

Will I feel anything during a caesarean?

You will be awake but the spinal or epidural anaesthetic means you will feel no pain below the chest. You may feel pressure, pulling, or a pushing sensation as the baby is delivered, which some people describe as strange but not painful. You will hear everything happening and can talk to your birth partner and the team throughout.

How long does a planned caesarean take?

From the first incision to delivery usually takes about 10 minutes. The team then spends a further 30 to 40 minutes closing the layers of tissue and skin. Including preparation and the recovery room stay, most people are back on the ward within two to three hours of going into theatre.

When can I go home after a planned caesarean?

Most people go home on day 2 or day 3 after a planned caesarean, once pain is well controlled with oral medication, you can move around safely, and your baby is feeding and well. Some hospitals offer earlier discharge at 24 hours with enhanced community support if everything is straightforward.

What should I watch for after going home from a caesarean?

Contact your midwife or go to hospital if you notice redness, swelling, or discharge from the wound, a high temperature, heavy or foul-smelling bleeding, pain that is getting worse rather than better, or signs of a blood clot such as a swollen painful calf or difficulty breathing. Most recoveries are uneventful, but these are the red flag symptoms to act on quickly.