C-section: Post-op lung care
Dr. Jennifer Lincoln
Obstetrician-gynecologist
Anesthesia and inactivity can both cause slower, shallower breathing after surgery. There are several ways to curb potential issues.
Post-surgery, set an hourly timer during the day to remind yourself to practice deep breathing.
- Completely fill your lungs with air by using your chest and abdominal muscles to help your diaphragm expand your chest cavity.
- Inhale through your nose as deeply as you can, expanding your stomach. Hold your breath for 5 to 7 seconds.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth, taking twice as long as your inhale.
- Repeat 10 times.
Coughing can help keep your lungs clear. Try this exercise three times in a row every hour:
- Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. Try to fully expand your chest and back.
- Exhale through your mouth while your chest sinks down and in.
- Repeat the above steps for a second breath.
- Take a third breath, but instead of exhaling, hold your breath for a moment.
- Cough hard, forcing the air out of your lungs.
An incentive spirometer helps with post-surgery breathing exercises. You will likely get one at the hospital. To use it:
- Sit up as straight as you can.
- Hold the incentive spirometer in an upright position.
- Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece.
- Slowly and deeply inhale to raise the piston in the air cylinder to the top.
- Hold your breath for at least 5 seconds, then let the piston fall to the bottom.
- Rest for a few seconds, and repeat these steps at least 10 times.
One of the best things you can do for your lungs is to move! Walking to go to the bathroom or taking a shower is a great way to start. Once you are walking normally again, you should be able to stop the breathing and coughing exercises.
Additional resources
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