Swelling above a C-section incision at four weeks

The skin and deeper layers continue to heal after a caesarean birth. A ridge, puffiness, numbness, tightness, or an overhanging fold can remain around the scar as inflammation settles and tissues remodel. Clothing pressure, movement, and fluid in nearby tissues can make the area feel different during the day.

Swelling should not be assumed to be normal if it is worsening or accompanied by warmth, spreading redness, pus-like fluid, wound separation, or significant tenderness. A bulge that becomes more obvious when standing or coughing may need assessment for a deeper wound problem. A [Caesarean Section](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/caesarean-section/) page can help you understand the procedure and recovery context.

Keep the incision clean and dry according to the discharge instructions. Wear loose clothing, avoid lifting more than advised, and support the area with your hand when coughing or changing position. Do not squeeze a lump, apply creams or antiseptics that were not recommended, or massage directly over a tender or open wound.

Notice whether the swelling is stable, softer, or changing. Take a clear photograph for comparison only if doing so does not delay care. A postnatal physiotherapist can advise on movement and abdominal comfort after the wound has been assessed; see [Postnatal Physiotherapy](/treatments/pelvic-floor-and-rehabilitation/postnatal-physiotherapy/).

Contact your maternity unit or clinician promptly for fever, chills, worsening pain, spreading redness, foul-smelling or pus-like drainage, bleeding from the wound, or an opening in the incision. Seek urgent help for severe pain, faintness, breathlessness, chest pain, or sudden one-sided leg swelling. Severe headache, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, or a sudden rise in general swelling also warrants urgent assessment because [Pre-eclampsia](/conditions/pre-eclampsia/) can occur after birth.

Ask whether the swelling feels like expected healing, a fluid collection, or a wound complication; whether the incision needs examination; and which activity, washing, and pain-relief instructions apply to you. Tell the clinician when the change began and whether it is expanding.