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can also relieve abdominal pressure. Be sure to support your back and the baby with well placed pillows. Your partner or support person can help with pillow placement to get you both in a comfortable position.

Take the drugs

Many new mothers are hesitant to take the painkillers that their doctors prescribe because they are worried about the drugs' impact on their newborn. It is important to discuss what you are taking with your doctor and understand the side effects of all prescriptions. Once you are comfortable with the prescriptions you have been given, you can feel free to take what you have been prescribed for pain relief. While some mothers don't need prescription painkillers when they leave the hospital, most mothers are still too sore to go without, and that's okay. Being in pain doesn't help you and it doesn't help your baby. Being comfortable and relaxed is important in these early weeks as you bond with your child. The pain should subside over the course of two to six weeks. If you run out of a prescription and are still in pain, call your doctor. Often she will refill your prescription as needed. If your pain is severe and the drugs do not help, call your doctor right away.

There are several non-prescription drugs that can also ease those first few weeks. If you are taking prescription pain relievers, a stool softener can be vitally important. Prescription painkillers can cause constipation, which is particularly uncomfortable after a cesarean delivery.

You should also continue to take your prenatal vitamins, either prescription or over the counter. In addition, many have found that adding a good quality B-complex vitamin will give them an added energy boost, something that every new mom can benefit from.

Lastly, if you were given IV antibiotics during your cesarean section, you may want to consider taking a quality probiotic with every meal. The antibiotics, while preventing infection, also kill off the good bacteria in your digestive tract, which are important for immune function. No new mother wants to get sick.

Get up and move

One of the strangest, yet almost universal complaints after cesarean delivery, is the sensation that your internal organs are about to fall out whenever you stand up. Holding a pillow over your midsection can help fight this feeling. Alternatively, some doctors will prescribe an abdominal binder. This is like an oversize ACE bandage that wraps all the way around the midsection. It has also been shown to speed recovery,

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