For moms who are about to have a Cesarean Section, there may be concerns before the surgery like whether a C-Section will be more painful than a natural birth, whether the C-Section wound is painful, or how many days after a C-Section one can walk. Of course, each method of birth has different pain levels but with the advances in medicine today, there are aids such as anesthesia to help reduce pain during a Cesarean section. But before and after a C-Section, will the mother feel pain? Let’s discover the answers below! 
DOES A CESAREAN SECTION HURT?1,2,3
Cesarean section is another method of giving birth, in addition to vaginal birth. A C-Section is a surgical operation on the abdomen and uterus to bring out the child. The duration of the cesarean section is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, but actual time for procedure will depend on the factors during the time of delivery. Although a Cesarean section allows the mom to not have to endure labor pains and pain during childbirth, many moms still ask, is it very painful? 
Every mom undergoing a C-Section may have different thresholds of pain. That’s why we cannot specify the level of pain they will go through.
IS IT PAINFUL BEFORE A C-SECTION?2,4
Moms who plan to have a C-Section or have been assessed that they should have a C-Section instead of a natural birth in advance, may not have to wait and face labor pains or uterine contractions during childbirth. However, those who are recommended to have an emergency C-Section may experience some labor pain, like a premature birth, or when the baby is not turning its head down, or there’s an abnormal fetal heart rate while waiting for the cervix to open.
DOES IT HURT DURING A C-SECTION?1,2,3
During a C-Section, the doctor will administer a local anesthesia or a spinal block. The sensation during a spinal block may be slightly painful when the needle is inserted, similar to a general injection. But this will numb the lower part of the body and make the mom feel no pain throughout the entire procedure. However, some moms may need to use general anesthesia during a Cesarean section, which will make the mother unconscious or feel no pain during the C-Section.
IS IT PAINFUL AFTER A C-SECTION?1,2,3
After a C-Section, moms may feel pain or soreness around the incision. Each person's experience and pain tolerance are different. Some people can handle the pain well, while others may feel more pain than expected. You will be given painkillers to relieve pain during the initial recovery period. After that, the pain will gradually improve as the incision heals.
HOW CAN WE HELP C-SECTION KIDS HAVE A GOOD START IN LIFE?
Did you know that kids born via C-Section have a different start in life compared to those who were born via natural birth? This may also affect their overall health as they grow up.
Having a C-Section means that the child may miss out on the beneficial bacteria that is present in the mom’s birth canal. This may lead to the CS-born kid having a less diverse gut microbiome that may lead to weakened immunity and gut health.1
Good thing, there is now milk that is specially designed for CS-born kids aged 3+! Introducing NEW Enfagrow A+ CS-Biome 3+: Specially formulated with the C-Biome blend with MFGM and highest levels of DHA (among staged milks), an exclusive immune blend with 2x Higher 2’-FL HMO (vs Enfagrow A+ Nurapro 3+), and prebiotics to help give them stronger protection and optimal brain, immunity, and gut development for their A+ Future, with proper nutrition and stimulation.
References:
1. Healthline. A Guide to C-Section Pain and Recovery. available at https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/is-c-section-painful. accessed on 25 November 2024
2. Cosmopolitan. 8 Women Describe What Having a C-Section Really Feels Like. available at https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a14390642/c-sections-hurt-pain/ . accessed on 25 November 2024
3. NHS. Caesarean section. available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/ . accessed on 25 November 2024
4. Orovou E, Antoniou E. Voices of Women With Emergency Cesarean Section Experience: A Qualitative Approach. Cureus. 2024;16(2):e53429. Available in https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10909072/#sec3 accessed on 07 March 2025
