Dry tickly cough after c section is the most common symptom following a c-section. It can be quite irritating and frustrating, but there are ways to recover from it more quickly! In this blog post, we will discuss what causes a dry tickly cough after a c-section and how you can get relief from it.
Why Does It Hurt To Cough After A C-Section?
Although you may not have realized it previously, coughing can be unpleasant. The harsh truth is that this discomfort becomes obvious quickly. The question is, why is this so distressing? When you cough, sneeze or even laugh, your abdominal muscles are utilized. Coughing, sneezing, and laughing might cause significant discomfort or pain due to the stress and strain they create.
You cannot do much to stop sneezing and coughing; they’re involuntary body responses. Even though they are painful, attempting to stifle or contain a sneeze is safe if you take the appropriate action. One thing to note is that you should never try to stifle or hold in a sneeze, even if it feels appealing.
You might rupture blood vessels in your throat, damage your inner ear, or apply too much pressure to your incision site when you do so.
Why Is It Worrisome When A Cough Persists After Surgery?
Although ordinarily coughing isn’t a large issue, if you’re post-surgery, it can be cause for alarm. Suppose you develop a cough or congestion after a cesarean section. In that case, your doctor might advise you to use an incentive spirometer (a device that helps suck in air) to keep your lungs clear and reduce the risk of developing pneumonia.
If you don’t use an incentive spirometer, your doctor might recommend frequent coughing to stave off any chance of developing pneumonia or other lung complications.
Be sure to use gentle pressure rather than too much- firmness is key. The bracing action will help reduce the stress placed on your incision site. Another motive for supporting is avoiding your incision from opening and stretching, called dehiscence, which can be a severe complication. Therefore, keep a pillow close by!
How To Tell If Your Dry Tickly Cough After C Section Is Serious Or Not?
So, you have a cough, but you aren’t sure if it’s severe or not.
First, if you had a cough before your surgery, chances are that you don’t need to worry about it too much. Sometimes, even the dry air of hospitals can cause an annoying cough after surgery has been completed.
If you experience a cough post-surgery, notify your doctor if you also experience any of these symptoms.
- You begin to worry.
- If you notice that your phlegm is yellow or green, it may indicate an infection.
- Shivering or perspiring can cause you to become chilly.
- Sharp or stabbing pain.
Many of these symptoms are associated with pneumonia, which develops after surgery.
Effective Tips To Deal With A Dry Cough After C section
You see, coughing after a C-section can be extremely painful, especially in the vicinity of the incision. However, it would help if you never tried to stop or prevent yourself from coughing. Instead, allow it to run its course. If you try to avoid coughing, you’ll put a lot of strain on your incision site, which will negatively affect your body. The following are the finest ideas to implement;
Postpartum Belly Binder
After childbirth, these accessories resemble waist trainers but are meant to aid in reducing abdominal fat. A postpartum stomach binder is a piece of fabric or material designed to wrap around your stomach; it works similarly to a waist trainer. It spans from below your chest to the lower abdomen and covers all the territory from that place.
It can assist in maintaining your stomach in place after a C-section, and it will interest you to learn that it aids in keeping the pressure on the incision. As a result, it helps keep the strain on the incision while reducing discomfort. A belly binder after delivery helps with recovery by making movements easier. What else?
With adjustable sizing, you can apply pressure to your incision without searching for a specific size.
Pillow As Support
This is a very simple approach. You may use a pillow to alleviate the discomfort you experience with a dry tickly cough after c section. But how will you do it? The solution is quite straightforward – apply pressure whenever you need to cough.
It doesn’t have to be a huge pillow like those you take naps on. You may get something smaller, more portable, and mobile. As soon as you feel the tickle in your throat, press the pillow against your abdominal incision.
Now that you have your stitches, it’s important not to put too much strain on the area. Instead, use gentle, firm pressure as this is effective in healing. Furthermore, by providing support, you also relieve stress from the incision site.
Another good reason to provide support is to prevent your incision from pushing apart or ripping open (known as dehiscence). And lastly, To make things more interesting (and slightly improve morale), you may decide to get a fluffy pillow in your best color.
Humidifier Therapy
The Humidifier is a machine that regularly adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness. The typical cause of coughs is the air conditioner in the surroundings.
Dry air can cause our throats to feel irritated, leading to coughs. However, humidifiers are very effective in preventing or treating dryness on our lips, nose, skin, and throat.
Depending on your specific demands and budget, different humidifiers are available. Central humidifiers are ideal if you want a device that will work for all the rooms in your home at once. They are connected directly to your air conditioner and only require one unit.
Drink A Lot Of Water
It’s critical to stay hydrated at all times. Water, as well as other fluids, is beneficial in reducing dry tickly cough after c section. Coughing is caused by a lack of moisture in the air. As a result, there’s no better method to avoid this condition than to drink water.
Regularly drinking water will keep your throat moist. Instead of consuming cold water, try drinking room temperature water instead. This kind of water is more soothing and relaxing.
Honey and Tea
Finally, while honey and tea might have been your grandmother’s suggestions, they were backed by scientific reasoning. We know that honey can help reduce cough frequency in children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why do some women experience a dry cough after they give birth via C-section?
Ans: The anesthesia from the surgery disrupts the lungs’ process of getting rid of secretions, which gradually build up and cause coughing. Eventually, it becomes tough to breathe or cough at all.
Q2: Is it common to have a dry, tickly cough after a c-section?
Ans: It’s almost hard to tell whether or not a cough will develop after a c-section. However, it’s worth getting ready for this problem as soon as possible.
Q3: How to sneeze after the c section?
Ans: You should use a pillow to support your stomach when you need to sneeze. This will help avoid any strain on your stitches.
Q4: Can coughing open the stitches after c section?
Ans: Coughing can put a lot of pressure on your stitches and cause them to come apart. It is important to be gentle when coughing and not to strain yourself.
Q5: How to know if coughing is getting better?
Ans: If your cough improves, you will notice that the phlegm is thinner and less sticky. Additionally, you will be able to cough up more easily without as much pain. Also, you can take Nyquil medicine too after consultation with the doctor to get relief early.
Conclusion
A dry tickly cough after c section is a common problem many women face. However, there are several things you can do to ease your symptoms and get relief. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, use a humidifier, and prop up your head when you sleep. You may also want to try honey or tea as a natural remedy. If your cough persists or gets worse, be sure to see your doctor.
