If you undergo this procedure, you will most likely be in the hospital for 1 to 3 days. You should be able to return to work in 1 to 2 weeks. Surgery can be performed immediately following childbirth (postpartum tubal ligation). Or, the surgery can be done during another operation (e.g., a c-section). In this case, you would need only one day in the hospital. After tubal ligations, women may experience some pain and cramping in their abdomens or pelvis. This is normal and usually goes away within a few months. If the pain does not go away, then see your doctor.