C-section recovery calculator
A caesarean is abdominal surgery as well as a birth, and its timeline runs behind a vaginal one for anything that loads the tummy. Enter the date of your surgery to see which milestones are usually behind you, which are around now, and which still wait.
General information for education, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Nothing you enter is stored. If something feels wrong, call your midwife, doctor or local emergency number.
How this works
The milestone days are the ranges NHS and ACOG guidance give for caesarean recovery; the movement milestones come from the same exercise library the MatraBloom app builds sessions from, where each movement has its own earliest week after a caesarean. Your surgeon's advice overrides all of it.
Common questions
When can I drive after a C-section?
There is no fixed date in most countries. The usual test is being able to do an emergency stop without pain, twist to check blind spots, and no longer taking strong painkillers. For many people that is two to six weeks. Some insurers have their own rule, so ask before you drive.
When can I lift things after a C-section?
Nothing heavier than your baby for about six weeks is the common advice. After that, build up gradually and stop if you feel pulling at the scar.
When can I exercise after a C-section?
Walking from day one. Pelvic floor work from about four weeks, gentle strength from about six, direct core work and running from about twelve — later than after a vaginal birth, because the abdominal wall was cut. Clearance at your postnatal check is the starting point, not a switch.
Turn this into a daily plan
MatraBloom builds a short session for the week you are in, asks how you are each day, and reminds you gently. Free on Android.
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