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Childbirth

C section on Friday--what to pack?

16 replies

smidge1717 · 21/07/2014 10:38

Hi all!

My baby is breech so am booked in for a c section on Friday (nervous doesn't even describe how I feel!) this is my first baby and I'm just a bag of nerves and am just getting everything packed.

I'm going to take a small travel suitcase so I can put my things and baby bag in together.

I'm packing loose pajama bottoms and t shirts, toiletries, towels, iPad for reading and my phone for me...

I'm not sure how long I will be in for but I was thinking if all goes well maybe I would be going home on the Monday?

Just packing things for baby; hard for me to know how many things to take with me? I'm formula feeding as well. If anyone who has gone in for c section and formula fed and would be kind enough to give me a list with quantity of things I would be eternally grateful!!

Thanks so much x

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AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 21/07/2014 10:42

Dh bought a cow and Gate starter pack. It had several ready made bottles with pre sterilised teets. Much easier to start off with when you don't know what quantities you'll want.

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AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 21/07/2014 10:42

Oh and good luck!

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Ratfans · 21/07/2014 10:48

Big granny knickers
Water bottle (so you can drink lying down!)
Ear plugs (noisy ward)
Nightie (you won't be able to wear PJs with a catheter in)
Snacks

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Ratfans · 21/07/2014 10:50

Oh and lightweight dressing gown for privacy

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rocketjam · 21/07/2014 10:53

There's a good list here:

//www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/hospital-bag

However, after three c sections, I can also recommend that you make an extra bag to leave at home - with spare everything - pj for you, spare clothes nappies etc for baby. I had to stay longer than expected for second c section and needed more stuff, so it was easier for DH to find things for me.

Also, please please take an old terry towel, and hold it between your legs before you get out of bed for the first time. Liquid - blood, mucus - will come out in a splash when you will stand up, and the first time it happened to me I made an embarrassing puddle on the floor. TMI I know, but worth knowing. Buy a big pack of gigantic granny knickers from Tesco, ASDA wherever, instead of the dreadful post-birth paper knickers - they rub on the scar and are very uncomfortable.

Don't forget snacks, fruit juice (you might get constipated), peppermint tea (for gas - a other TMI, sorry!).

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rocketjam · 21/07/2014 10:54

Oh yes, nighty not PJS!

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smidge1717 · 21/07/2014 11:03

Great! Yes have nightie packed and big cotton knickers which hopefully won't sit on the scar!

I have made a little bag up for dh to pick up if I have to stay in longer.

In regards to baby stuff what quantity of nappies, sleep suits and vests did u take?

Thanks for all your help so far ladies!

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bayrans · 21/07/2014 11:06

Flip flops for the hospital shower!

And yes to a nightie/cotton slip - you won't feel like bending to pull-up pj bottoms.

I got some great knickers from primark, big stretchy ones, I found cotton knickers too uncomfortable on my abdo. Mothercare sell C section knickers, they're expensive but worth it, there is a breathable panel for your scar.

And (thanks to MN) peppermint tea is essential - you will likely have some wind pains (enough to take my breath away at times) due to the surgery, I had a few cups a day.

Charger, ear plugs and a few snacks and treats also a must.

Good luck! I had a stubborn little breech too, she's still stubborn Smile

I didn't FF so can't help with that.

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Ratfans · 21/07/2014 11:11

I took 5 sleepsuits and 5 vests I think. And a small packet of nappies and waterwipes.
DH could bring more in if needed but as it was I was only in 2 nights so I didn't need them all.

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/07/2014 11:15

First of all - best of luck !

Starter packs of formula - cow & gate, aptamil etc. Then you don't have to waste precious time when you could be sleeping, sterilizing stuff in the ward kitchen.

A charger for your phone and ipad.

Specs if you ever wear them. I'm someone who needs them for close work but can read a book normally without one. Couldnt focus to read a thing I was so tired in hospital

I came home in non-preg yoga pants. They were by far the most comfy thing on the scar area in the first few days. Non preg is important as you won't want to wear preg trousers with a tight elastic band.

Not to scare you - but you will basically feel like someone has kicked you in the stomach or you've attended the abs work out session from hell and it's post session. day 2. It will hurt to cough/laugh for a couple of days and you'll suddenly realise how much you use your stomach muscles on a day to day basis, even when heavily pregnant. So - stick a spare pillow in the car, an electric fan, several bottles of water (sports cap preferably), snacks.
Essentially you will want to be comfy and have stuff to hand so you can minimise moving as much as possible for the first 48 hours. Shuffling up in the bed to BF with a baby in one arm was pretty sore. Get someone to hand you the baby or make sure you are sitting up bolt upright to feed him/her even with a bottle.

Physically, it will be as awkward to move for the first week as it is now while heavily pregnant. So you'll need cushions behind you etc as you lever yourself into a chair.

Disposable changing mats are great - you can then change the baby in the cot which is higher than the bed level

Request a baby cot which rocks if you can nab one. You can settle a baby with a gentle push then.

Get visitors to come (if coming from home) with fresh food so you can keep your bowels moving.
My MIL [bless her] sent in tupperware boxes of chicken salad, freshly squeezed orange juice with ice, and other goodies. I had DD in a heatwave too and it was boiling on the ward. The hospital was serving shepherds pie......

Otherwise, the normal stuff applies. Just make sure you are getting more than paracetamol and don't underplay your pain or that's all you'll be sent home with. You don't HAVE to use it at home, but if you overdo things when you get there, you'll want it.

Re your timings. It seems to take about half a day to do a discharge so it may depend on what time your section happens on the Friday. You will need to be signed off, as well as all the baby checks. Then your prescription will go off to the hospital service and you can't go until you have your meds, a sharps box and anti coag jabs demos]. You might find that you don't get discharged until very late 8-10pm on the Monday night.

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Mrsgrumble · 21/07/2014 11:16

Colpermin is great for the wind pain

Panadol

Little bit of light make up made me feel better for visitors arriving

I like tena pads rather than huge pads. I didn't bleed much at all

Three nighties and three loose bottoms


For baby six to eight gro and vests. Mittens cardi little hat

Alcohols wipes were provided for around belly button

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/07/2014 13:53

I had a top tip from a friend who also had an EMCS. As the baby isn't squeezed out through the birth canal they end up with a lot of yellowy mucus which they need to cough up over a couple of days. They can sound like a wheezy old smoker/or like they are choking. Utter panic in the dead of night when you can't move easily to check on them.
It's normal if not very pleasant. Talk to your midwife
I stuck a couple of muslins under the cot mattress to raise the head end slightly which helped. Obviously you can't use a pillow Smile
Hospitals seem to use pillow cases as cot mattress covers. You'll come over all PFB about all this gunge on your childs sheets/babygro/etc so it's handy to have some clean muslins. You can fold in half and tuck in across the top section of the mattress. Then just whip off and replace - voila, a clean bed again Grin
Small bibs are also handy but you'll get a telling off if you leave them on when they go into a cot and immediately get sick on their shoulders as they'll push them over their faces with their little hands and then panic.
Even if you plan to use cotton wool rather than wipes it's handy to have wipes at the hospital for cleaning up poo and sick that ends up elsewhere.
I recommend Waterwipes. Anything else gave both my DC raging nappy rash within hours. Guaranteed to make you feel like a sh*t new mum straight out of the gates. Boots do a nappy cream - castor oil and something. A little dab of that rubbed in is great for giving a base that can be easily cleaned of the dreaded black poo Grin

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SpanielFace · 21/07/2014 14:05

I had an emergency CS. I wish I'd packed: facial wipes, dry shampoo and hair bobbles (because you can't shower for 48hrs and my hair was a tangled greasy mess after labour then CS). Ear plugs. Large quantities of biscuits and/or cake (I was RAVENOUS after DS was delivered - a combination of not eating for 24 hours in labour, my milk coming in and my stomach no longer being squashed, I think!). Also, nightie (not PJs), the biggest cotton granny pants you can find, and flip flops or slippers for walking around the ward.

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smidge1717 · 21/07/2014 14:08

That's great!

I seem to have everything :-)

I think it's just those last minute nerves!

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/07/2014 14:44

Oh yes - the hunger Spanielface. My first post labour/emcs meal was the best thing I've ever eaten. I'd had heartburn for months.

My biggest PITA was that I had packed a 20 note, but couldn't get any change for the vending machine when I got the late night munchies.

OP - the nice thing with a scheduled CS is that you can be all relaxed, buffed and scented going in. Maybe book a wash and blow dry in so you have that lovely bouncy hair that lasts a couple of days. They took my nail varnish off (fingers and toes) for the EMCS so I was v pleased I hadn't had time to get them professionally done.

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Missmidden · 21/07/2014 18:44

I had one last week- if this heat lasts and your post labour ward is anything like mine prepare for sauna like conditions. I wish I had had a hand held fan and some flannels to drench with water and put over my face and neck. Good luck- my hospital stay was grim but once home I have been recovering just fine.

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