Planned CS - tips for recovery and packing hospital bag

[Bisquick]

For those who’ve had a planned CS, is there anything beyond a typical hospital packing list that you suggest I take along in my bag? Obviously expecting to be in longer so planning to pack a couple of overnight bags that DH can keep swapping in depending on length of stay.

Also any tips or suggestions for the recovery? Anything you wish you’d done / did that made a world of difference etc?

Thank you in advance!

[Rockandrollwithit]

Some big knickers and comfy leggings that aren't going to press against your scar.

Books or something to do whilst you wait - my hospital had us all come in at 7am, when I went in at 1pm I wasn't the last so some were in for a long wait.

Good luck! My planned CS was a really positive experience.

[SheepyFun]

Had a planned c-section here - was only in for one night.

One piece of advice given by a family friend who's a nurse was to take painkillers on a schedule when you get home (I alternated paracetamol and ibuprofen), don't wait until it hurts! You will feel better for it.

The first week was sore, but it got much better after that - my recovery was good, no infections etc.

[ElephantAndBird]

Snacks! I was really hungry after my c section, and they also helped to keep me going during the second night feeding frenzy!

Massive pants.

Maternity leggings to go home in.

A couple of nighties - you will have a catheter so nighties are more practical.

My c section was a wonderful experience, and the recovery was actually very easy. I came off painkillers on day three, and I’m generally a wuss about pain! Good luck!

[Bisquick]

Thank you ladies!
Nervous and excited in equal measure I think.. still have quite a few weeks to go but thought I’d start packing my hospital bag(s) now!

[eeanne]

Fiber rich foods like dried apricots. I had horrible constipation after my section!

[ShanghaiDiva]

Get up and walk about as soon as you feel able.
I have had 2 sections and a smooth recovery with both. Good luck!

[TippetyTapWriter]

Peppermint tea for trapped wind pain! (The oramorph painkiller can cause this.) Though they actually had this on the tea trolley where I was. And definitely take all the painkillers. As pp said don't wait for it to hurt. Have some ibuprofen and paracetamol ready at home because they don't prescribe them on discharge or didn't at my hospital.

Good luck!

[user1472377586]

(1) Get waxed 2 weeks before (not totally but just along the top where the scar will be). I had this done with my first planned c-section and it aids recovery. With my second, I was too busy ... and hair grew through the scar as it was healing and I ended up on antibiotics!

(2) Fibre rich foods -YES.

(3) Get up and walk about.

It will be great - don't stress, it will all go well and the recovery is very, very easy.

[vlooby]

I found when I was at home, I was most comfy on a dining chair ax it was easy to sit on and get up from. If you've got low sofas might be worth thinking about.
And as PP said, plenty of painkillers, on a schedule, as soon as you're allowed. Buy a stash now, as you'll get through them!

[Heartburn247]

Hello,
I'm 2 weeks post planned c section (second planned one, first 3 years ago).
Top tips: peppermint capsules/tea/cordial for trapped wind (can present as shoulder tip pain), take painkillers paracetamol and ibuprofen on a schedule at home (midwife can write you a plan with times over a 24hr period), stand up straight when you get up (it will feel difficult at first but don't slouch over, you will get back pains and it doesn't aid recovery), get moving and walking every single day, just a little walk around the block or to the end of the street-it really helps, ask for Oramorph in hospital, it is AMAZING. Ask and don't feel bad for all help in hospital, changing baby, picking up/putting down, feeding (support for breast or getting formula etc).
Don't be afraid of the pain, it's honestly not as bad as people like to make out. A few sore days and then a huge leap in recovery (both times I was amazed).
Best of luck, I love c sections!
You will be fine and have a wonderful baby to show for it!

[oldlaundbooth]

Low sofa, low bed at home if possible.
Cushions on tummy when you get up.
Drink loads and loads of water as soon as you can, get you off of the catheter.
Make up batches of iron /fibre rich meals before you go in to aid recovery.
Get long bbq tongs to pick stuff up off the floor - total pest to bend over and pick stuff up, hurts your incision.

[oldlaundbooth]

FWIW I've had two sections and the pain wasn't bad at all...

[TracyBeakerSoYeah]

Take the Lactulose the hospital send you home with.
I didn't & that first no2 was worse than the pain of labour. (Had an EMC.)

Apologies for lowering the tone

[Bisquick]

So much useful stuff on here! Thank you ladies!!
I’ll have DH home for 3 weeks (paternity + Christmas) and mum staying for a few weeks after to help, so hoping to focus just on the baby and recovering.
Noting down all these tips now!

[SolidHair]

Calculate how many pairs of pants you’ll need (plus spares) and then multiply that number by 10!

[Timefor2]

Agree with taking your painkillers before you need them. I wrote down which id taken and at one time as I found times blurred when I was up all night feeding the baby and so at the start I was sometimes going way too long between doses and then suffering as a result.

I've had an EMCS and ELCS, recovery from both was fine and I was driving at 4 weeks. Best of luck!

[Cornishmumofone]

Read up about referred pain. I had trapped wind that made my shoulder hurt. If it happens to you, get someone to pat you on the back to wind you.

[Zampa]

Invest in C-panties. They're similar to Spanx (but not tight!) and have a silicon panel which rests over the incision that's supposed to aid healing.

[ButtMuncher]

I had a last minute c section (not quite emergency, not quite planned) and all the advice up thread are fantastic.

One more bit of advice on recovery though - try not to do too much in the first two weeks - as in, going out etc, even to the shops. I had to nip into the bank to put some money in, and even ten minutes of standing and waiting made me feel faint. Avoid any kind of queueing or walking for probably 10/15 min max in the first two weeks. I had a really really easy recovery but that exertion thing really caught me off guard as I figured getting up numerous times in the night meant I would be okay to go for a walk etc.

[windowSong]

Two biggies for me that nobody had told me about:

Bring your own parecetemol and ibruprofen. These are all the pain relief you’ll need, but you must stay on top of this and take them strictly every four hours. Nurses/midwives were useless at giving me the meds. So bring your own.

A c-section belt. They are AMAZING! Made standing up/rolling over in bed so much easier for a few weeks after section. Prob don’t wear it in the hospital though, as they’ll need to have a look at your cut.

[Howsthings1234]

One from me which was a tip my sister gave me and I was very relieved she did. Have a pillow with you for the drive home from hospital and hold it on your tummy area. The bumps in the road are petty painful but the pillow was a welcome relief to stop as much bouncing. Good luck! Xxx

[Kion]

For the recovery period at home, also useful towards the end of pregnancy!
Get one of these, it’s great for putting slippers on and picking things up. Is surprisingly accurate in picking very small things up of the floor!

[INeedNewShoes]

I ate 5 dried apricots every day from a couple of days before the c section as friends had warned me that going to loo can be difficult after a section. It worked perfectly!

I'd say don't mess around with the wound. My community midwife said she'd never seen a better wound at 10 days post section as mine! All I did was run warm water over it in the shower and make sure I wore high waisted knickers and leggings to avoid any rubbing.

[laurzj82]

I cannot stress enough peppermint tea! Massive, massive pants. And a hand held fan. Hospitals are so hot!

[laurzj82]

Sorry posted too soon. All the best. It's not half as painful as you would expect (trapped wind aside).