What to pack in hospital bag for elcs

[Rachiie]

Needing elcs for low lying placenta.
Was wondering if anyone had any tips on what to pack in my hospital bag? I've googled it a few times, but can only seem to find lists for expected natural labour, not anything specific / different/ not needed for section.
Oh hospital policy is usually in for 2 days post section if that makes any difference.

Any help would be much appreciated

[SarahSiddons]

Huge (huge) granny pants. I mean like 2 sizes bigger than you usually wear. So that the waistband will be up high over the incision. Otherwise I think it’s the same as for a vaginal birth. And even then (I’ve never had a vaginal birth) I expect huge granny pants would be a good move.

Good luck! I’ve had very positive caesarean experiences. I hope you do too.

[SarahSiddons]

I suppose on the same basis - very comfy tracksuit bottoms with a wide flat waistband, nothing tight. That’s what I wore when I got dressed.

[Flutist]

Your own towel. I wouldn't have wanted to have a shower and dry my incision on a hospital towel that has been god knows where. And big pants as Sarah said, and loose bottoms or leggings.

[Rachiie]

I mean like 2 sizes bigger than you usually wear.
I went to asda earlier and picked up some (black) full briefs in a 14, I've been wearing a 10-12 so do you think those should be ok? I've also got a primark pack in a 14-16 just in case.

Personalish question for people who have had both vaginal and sections, do you bleed as much basivally after a section? How many pads would you recommend taking?
Clothes wise I've only put out nighties, and a dress to come home in (weather dependent obviously) in a larger size and it has no waistband.

[GladysKnight]

yes plenty of lochia (is that the word) after emergency caesar.

Take glycerin suppositories! (which I'd recommend after VB too!)

You might want to shave your pubes yourself in advance so you don't get a dry razoring by the theatre nurse - but that was an emergency, & 20 yrs ago....so procedures might have improved

[GladysKnight]

Are the nighties breast-feedable-with?

[Ekphrasis]

I've got my prep sheet for an elcs (hoping to vbac first) and it does ask you to shave top part of pubes first.

You may want a couple of your own pillows for extra padding or support if bf; I found a bolster from IKEA invaluable for that. Holding a pillow over your wound for some things can really help too.

[princesspeppax]

Large pants that sat above my scar were a godsend, as was a feeding pillow to lie my ds on for a feed/cuddle so he wasn't directly putting pressure the scar to

[Ekphrasis]

Colpermin capsules - they gave me some in hospital for terrible wind but I needed more (was in for 4 nights) and they stopped giving them out. So take those. And yes to glycerin suppositories, the physio at the time also said pears were really the best thing to eat to help those post section pops!

[SauvB123]

Spare sets of support socks / tights for going home ( or all hospitals giv you multiple pairs so you can wash them, and you’re supposed to wear them for a week post op).

Lots of snacks. Nakd bars are quite good as they’re tasty and relatively healthy (mainly dates and cashews).

I actually bought more pjs and maternity leggings post section as I couldn’t bear anything remotely tight around scar.

Comfy dressing gown to go over nighty also nice. (You will have catheter for at least a couple of hours after you leave op theatre)!

Hope it goes well, and enjoy thyour new baby cuddles!

[Rachiie]

Are the nighties breast-feedable-with?
Front buttoning so i think they should be ok

Re shaving, I shaved the other day so relatively short atm, will do top again day before just in case! Don't fancy being dry shaved haha.
I will also buy laxatives and colpermin tomorrow.

[SauvB123]

And take lots of pads - I found bleeding after section similar to that for vb!

[frasier]

Straws or some sort of drinking bottle so you’re not struggling to get up every time you have a drink.

Second the Nakd bars, the date ones are a mild laxative. Every little helps!

[SalutHallo]

I found the following helpful : Water bottle with a straw top, massive pants, chocolate, tracksuit bottoms, lightweight dressing gown, slip on shoes (but not flip flops as you’ll have stockings on), soft nursing bra, small mirror for beside bed to sort myself out a little just before visitors!

[GladysKnight]

Glad to hear re nighties :) It was me who was the rookie!

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Shoes to shower in so it might be worth having flip flops too (our maternity hospital encourages peeing in the shower after forceps/tears/catheters etc - so basically everyone on the postnatal ward).

I would take more clothes personally. Ds needed NICU (was an emcs) and I hated wandering the hospital in my nightie so dh had to go and buy me some clothes. This time around I'm taking a couple of wrap dresses (handy for breastfeeding/sit over wound okay). Plus according to my consultant, they want me up and ideally dressed within 6 hours of getting out of surgery unless I want to be staying the weekend.

Books/magazines etc to read whilst you are waiting to be called for surgery especially if you aren't first on the list.