Last minute c-section advice.... for tomorrow morning!!!

[Mummyspider27]

Any advice/tips appreciated!! 12 hours to go!!!!

[AlwaysColdHands]

Take flip flops or slippers you can push your feet into (so hard to bend down).
Take peppermint tea - common to get very painful trapped wind after all that rummaging around.
Have a small bag (I used two big toiletry bags) with everything you will need for 24 hours or so and put them on the table over your bed. You won’t be able to lean down to rummage through bag on floor. I had one full of snacks and a couple of cartons of juice, and the other with stuff like my glasses, phone charged, lip balm etc.
Similarly, stow a few nappies and baby clothes in the little shelf under the cot.
Get up as soon as you can and do this little and often. My 1st section was at 3pm, I stayed immobile with catheter all night and getting up next morning and beginning to move was agony.
My 2nd was at 1pm, by 8pm I had showered, catheter out, and I went backwards and forwards to bathroom several times in the night to keep moving. Was home in 24 hours.
Big knickers that come up to your belly button.
Don’t drive home over any speed bumps.

Enjoy and best wishes for your new arrival 💕

[CupcakesK]

Shower and wash hair now so that when you shower later on the ward it’s just to freshen up.

Get everything sorted at home - tidy, things for the baby in place as you won’t be able to do much and your partner will be running around after you/baby. Can you cook a couple of meals to store In the fridge ready for when you come home?

Pack snacks and drinks so you don’t have to always rely on buzzing for help on the ward (I assume no partners still allowed after the birth).

Charging pack is useful as I found the plug was too far away from me so cord wouldn’t reach phone. As no partners were allowed, we FaceTimed a lot (I was in for 2 days) so he could see me and the baby

Good luck!

[Mummyspider27]

Half the bits I have done, the rest are great suggestions! Thank you so much xx

[doodlejump1980]

My biggest tip would be to layer maternity pads against your scar between the wound dressing and your pants. Helps to cushion and catch any leaks. Good luck!

[MrsIronfoundersson]

Be aware that you might be delayed if there are emergencies, so try to be chilled and not get het up about delays. Have some podcasts or books etc on hand.

Afterwards take the painkillers on the dot, don't wait till you feel sore as they take a while to kick in. Yes to things at hand, nice snacks etc.

Good luck and enjoy your baby! Wishing you all the best.

[BeMorePacific]

Eek, I feel so excited for you reading this. Good luck for tomorrow! I had a c section and loved it. No advice, just sending you love x

[Mummyspider27]

I am very high risk so know I am first down with the top consultant and anaesthetist booked, but will still be aware of emergencies, good point.

Painkillers and maternity pad on the scar both great tips.

I had an emergency section 5 years ago so remember some bits, others not so much!! X

[Sunsage]

All the best for tomorrow how exciting!! 🥰

[historygeek12]

I have had two c sections, i would say some as other posters peppermint tea and big knickers that cover your scar so it doesnt catch on the scar. Also, perhaps a nice comfy cushion you can place over your tummy when holding baby just to make things a bit more comfortable . Good luck for tomorrow you be fine XXX

[Seahawk80]

Take a floaty / loose / long dress to wear home so it doesn't run your scar. And gigantic pants! Good luck!

[namesnamesnamesnames]

Ah good luck. If they're not forthcoming with timely painkillers, don't be afraid to ring the bell to ask for them. I had to a number of times.

[Watto1]

Take all the drugs offered! Don’t be brave. Good luck!

[Sevo7]

Make sure your birthing partner takes their phone or a camera in once they’ve got their gown on for those precious first photos. My partner didn’t and I’m gutted there’s no photos of her when she was first born or me holding her for the first time as I can’t remember any of it due to the drugs they gave me.

[blitzen]

Aw good luck for tomorrow, OP! I had an emergency c-section. Think everything for hospital is covered here already - flip flops, big knickers, a must have!

My top tip is more to do with your recovery. Make sure you have some comfy socks and slippers and keep your feet up as much as possible. I had ridiculous swollen ankles a couple of days after ( though was sitting for long stretches in an uncomfortable chair as my baby was in hospital for 8 days). My other top tips are to order some spatone liquid iron sachets. I was very low on iron despite not losing much blood but it was only discovered ten days later and I wish I had known about spatone earlier, it helped me get my strength back. My final tip is make sure you have some nice cream ready for your tum. My skin itched like mad where the dressing had been but about a fortnight after it was removed. I used e45 itch relief.

You must be so excited to meet your baby!

[mealychump]

If they offer you oramorph afterwards, take it. Even if you are not in that much pain. It's great and chilled me right out.

The worst bit is the initial numbing and only because the idea of it's scary. You go numb from your chest down which I was expecting to be terrifying but was actually lovely.

Take the painkillers regularly. Keep note of them in a notebook.

Do try and move as soon as you can, little and often. Really little.

When you get home if you have a bedside cot, for the first week or so, put it on dh's side of the bed. It takes time to get in and out of bed at first and also twisting to pick up is tricky, so let dh do that for the first few nights. I was fine by the end of the first week, slow but I knew how to manage my movements.

[orangejuicer]

Take your painkillers when you are supposed to, do not wait. This will help.

Take extra drinks and snacks. You will need them.

Do not opt for a roast dinner for your first meal afterwards, ha. I speak from experience.

Do what you can to be comfortable. Do not expect too much of yourself.

Pee as soon as you can. You get 6 hours after the catheter is out I think.

Don't have too much anti nausea during surgery, it messed me up a bit.

Make sure you take baby's hat in with you to surgery.

Enjoy your baby!!!!

[orangejuicer]

Oh and take photos now, tonight!

[PoodlesAreMySpiritAnimal]

All the best! How exciting!!!!! 💕
I have mine in three weeks.
Thanks for such a great post and what positive and informative replies you have received!

[Itsgottobethisone]

I’m having a c section tomorrow too. Some great tips. Thank you :)

[orangejuicer]

Good luck everyone!

[sel2223]

Good luck OP (and everyone else having their baby very soon). 5 weeks and it'll be my turn so following this thread with interest.

[Mummyspider27]

Thank you all. Having him early so had to have steroid injections last 2 days... biggest side effect is insomnia, joy! Oh well was good having this to read last night!! Xx

[dropthemic]

If you used a pregnancy pillow bring that with you. Sleeping on my side was impossible in the week afterwards but sleeping on my back caused me awful back pain. Only relieved when I surrounded myself with pillows. 3weeks later I'm still finding my pregnancy pillow really comfortable.
Also be kind to yourself with recovery. I'm 3 weeks post c section and I wish I was more gentle to myself in the week afterwards. My DH is brilliant but I kept trying to help instead of resting with baby.

[RubaiyatOfAnyone]

Cushion to hold against your scar if you need to cough/sneeze.
Dried figs to much to ensure no constipation issues, and peppermint tea for the wind.
Be kind to yourself for at least the first week and don’t expect anything more than basic survival
Good luck! So very exciting.

[DorothyHarris]

Hope everything goes well, and you'll be cuddling your baby very soon.

Make sure you have adequate pain relief to go home with. When I went home after my section with twins they said paracetamol would be enough...it wasn't and was the Thursday before good Friday 😬😬😬