Activity Restrictions After Delivery
Note: In this section, the shorter duration of time recommended will be applied to is women who had a vaginal delivery and the longer duration to those who underwent a Cesarean delivery.
- Do not drive for 2 weeks after you have delivered or until you can sit in a chair and look over your shoulder without eliciting pain in your abdomen or bottom that would be distracting.
- Do not lift greater than 15 lbs. for 2-4 weeks after delivery. That is, do not lift anything heavier than the baby in the carrier
- Do not engage in intercourse until your postpartum visit (and if you can’t wait please use a condom).
- Walk up and down stairs at a minimum for the first 2-4 weeks after delivery. That is, do not go up and down stairs more than 4x/day, if possible. If the stairs are into your home and are more than 2-3 flights, please go out once a day. Minimizing the use of stairs between the floors in your home can be more challenging to your daily regimen. You can better accomplish this if you have a place on each “living floor” to change your newborn’s diaper and a place for you both to rest.
- Avoid vacuuming, repetitive straining or lifting heavy groceries for 2-4 weeks.
- Do not bathe in a tub where hot water will be cover your abdomen for the first 2-4 weeks postpartum.