C-section hospital bag

[Penguincake]

Does anyone have a checklist they could share of what to take to hospital for your c-section?

[Bees1]

I took:

• night dress & pj maternity bottoms/top/dressing gown
  
• x 6 pairs of massive pants in size up from norm
  
• wash bag
  
• snacks
  
• 1 pack maternity pads
  
• leggings/top/cardi
  
• x2 nursing bras
  
• 1x sleep bra
  
• micro fibre towel
  
• flip flops
  

And had a spare bag in the car with few extras of clothes etc in case
I was only in 24hrs so I used....

• pj bottoms/top
  
• two pairs of knickers
  
• wore clothes home that id gone in in as I was straight into a gown on arrival so they were clean
  
• flip flops
  
• biscuits from my snacks
  
• show gel/deodorant/tooth brush/tooth paste
  
• maternity pads
  

Hope that helps!

[RChick]

I'm currently packing mine, but i do tend to over prepare so... In addition to the list above i have:

Peppermint tea bags and capsules... for trapped wind apparently,
Phone battery pack and headphones,
Book & magazine in case I'm in longer than i thought,
Bendy straws in case sitting up is an issue,
Dark towel.

Baby stuff - vests, baby grows, cardigan, hat, nappies, wipes, nappy bags. I have some formula too. I haven't decided how I'm feeding yet, and I'm told the ward will supply it but i like to have things to hand.

I'm pretty sure I'll look like I'm moving in.

[Doittoday]

Best tip I got, before my 2nd c-section, was to take a massive packet of semi-dried apricots (or whatever fibre-tastic food you prefer).

The first c-section I’d had was an emergency one, and the codeine they gave me afterwards had a very painful effect on my digestive system. 2nd time around I chomped through the apricots and had no problem at all!

[Penguincake]

Thanks so much for these lists they are really helpful.

[Marlena1]

All these lists look great but I would add oversized (super sexy) granny knickers. You want them to go loosely up over the scar. Also if you are planning on feeding, get a nightdress that buttons right the way down (a few buttons isn't enough)

[Penguincake]

Marlena thanks I have not packed a single top that I can breastfeed in. I swear my baby brain is out of control.
I love wearing trousers but I am thinking dresses might be better with the scar. Anyone worn trousers after a c-section?

[Bees1]

I was in leggings the first few days then back in maternity trousers but the full panel ones, the insert planel/low ones were awful not only on the scar but made my post c section stomach look awful!

[NameChanginator]

I wore leggings a lot post-section. Two sizes too big from Primark and pulled up over my belly button. I found tops much easier than dresses for breastfeeding, so needed trousers, but it was comfy enough.

[Penguincake]

I think leggings sound like a good plan.

[Hollowvictory]

Ear plugs
Sleeping mask
I wore yoga pant style trousers. Don't think I would fancy a dress.
Dont take too much there is nowhere to put anything.

[Hollowvictory]

I was in for a month so dh just brought stuff in as I needed it

[motheroftinydragons]

Pack a thin pillow in the car for your journey home and put it over your tummy under the seatbelt.

Tip was a lifesaver for me, last thing you want it a seatbelt sat on your cut.

Huge knickers, and trousers are fine as long as they're the ones that go over your bump and you'll deflate a bit after birth and they won't be too tight on the sore bit.

Snacks for after, you can't eat and drink on the day of your surgery and if you're last of the morning like I was you'll be bloody starving by the time you're finished. I'd gone 16 hours with nothing to eat or drink by the time I got something.

Keep on top of your painkillers, don't wait until it's really painful to ask for more. I didn't find it bad at all, but I took mine on the dot for a good ten days afterwards. It's much easier to get moving (gently!) if you're not in terrible pain, and the sooner you can shuffle around the sooner you'll start to feel better.

[catnip100]

Unpopular opinion but I didn't like leggings... I was conscious of the 2/3 maternity pads I was wearing and also irritated by bending over putting them on. I had a few big floaty dresses that I preferred for the first couple of days - buttons too for BF (very specific and lucky I had them in hindsight!)

[Jauralane]

I had an emergency section 3 weeks ago, after a bit of trial and error the things I found most useful were:

-Maternity leggings
-Big pants (full brief from Asda or primark in a size or two up, I bought disposable pants initially but they were really uncomfortable)
-String vest top and nursing bra (plus lots of nursing pads!)
-Peppermint cordial, Schweppes do one which DH picked up in Asda (trapped wind after c section is painful and I found this helped more than peppermint tea although I took both)
-Small face towels for drying around your wound after a shower so you're not using the same one you did for your body
-Flip flops for hospital shower
-A little bottle of gel hand sanitizer

Most of all is to be gentle with yourself, you'll find it hard to go from lying down to sitting so ask for help when you need your baby to be passed to you.

Good luck!x

[ItsAllGone19]

Definitely get some hand sanitizer. You'll be bed bound until they remove the catheter but will be responsible for changing your baby's nappies (unless your partner is allowed to stay in overnight). As washing your hands at the bed isn't possible, baby wipes and hand sanitizer makes it bearable until you can shuffle to the sink.

Also, the hospital won't discharge you until you can walk and go the toilet at least mine wouldn't. It's scary trying to walk afterwards but definitely try it...even if it takes 10 minutes just to walk around your bed. You'll be happier knowing you're on the right side of their discharge checklist. Best of luck