Post c section tips for a terrified mum to be

Agree with all posts with pain relief and also to take a supplement for fibre so you can go to the bathroom with ease for a few days. The doctors will probably cover all that.

The only other thing is I needed rest but suddenly newborn on hand and on meds - felt a bit groggy and overwhelmed. If you can get extra hands for the first few nights, definitely bring them in! My husband did the first nappy change and all that while I was still zonked out for a few hours. The medical staff is also on hand to help. They have seen it all before! Good luck what a lovely Xmas surprise. My DD was born not long before Xmas and now she is 3! C-section worries are long forgotten!

My advice would be to rest as much as possible, before and after. Start right now. I found my c section recovery difficult but I think I was doing too much and pushing myself too soon.

Nothing really to add that others haven't mentioned, just wanted to say you'll be absolutely fine! C-section was the last thing I wanted, but I ended up in an emcs and (now, after having experienced it) I'd do it all over again. Recovery is much easier than you'd imagine.

As others have said:

Keep on tops of your meds
Watch out for constipation
No hoovering!

Best of luck x

i can understand your fear. Definitely agree don’t reduce pain meds too quickly.

Watch for bending/anything using abdominal muscles as they were really weak/non-existent for a bit.
We went out and bought a changing table for downstairs as standing was the only comfortable way to change nappies for me.

Definitely look after yourself, I got a urine infection a few days after. I’m reasonably sure it was just not drinking enough etc.

Use the controls on the hospital bed! No one actually bothered to tell me this.

Keep up painkillers for 2 weeks. Don’t let them fob you off with paracetamol and ibruprofen. You want strong meds for atleast a week on top of ibu and para.

Dulcoease stool softeners. Take them post op and keep taking them for 2/3 weeks.

At 2 weeks PP use compression briefs. These are my favourite. Buy a size up as you will still have a bump. https://www.next.co.uk/style/su956136/u28042

If you can afford it have scar therapy. Starting at 6 weeks I had Winback tecar therapy, massage, lympotouch and used silicone sheets.

After 3 months use Savlon scar gel. I tried lots of expensive silicone gels and actually this one was the best, overnight differences, and cheap as chips. Slather it on.

If you can afford it have 1-1 Pilates physio once a week for a year starting at 6 months PP to fix up your pelvic tilt and transverse abdominus.

It’s going to be fine. It will hurt. But you will be ok I promise 👌

You will be fine OP I promise. I am petrified of surgery and despite that the actual experience was lovely, I have fond memories of it. My mum, who had two emergency CS in the 80s, gave me this advice

• try to get up and move a bit as soon as you can, don’t be scared
• stand up straight, don’t hunch over
• keep on top of pain relief
• have something tied to the bed to help you pull yourself up at home at first

The worst thing about it by far was the constipation, I didn’t think about that and therefore didn’t do anything about it until it was too late 🫣 other than that I was honestly fine. Out and about going for a coffee day 4, 5k dog walk 2 weeks after, running again at 6 weeks. Probably the quickest recovery from a surgery I’ve ever had and you can barely see the scar, I find it baffling how they got a baby out of there! Good luck x

My top tips are:

Keep on top of pain relief
Drink lots of water
Plenty of fibre (l made a double batch of jam flapjacks a few days before mine -the oats were great for rough and the jam was great for the sugar)
Getting in and out of bed is tough so do it SLOWLY
Don't do any housework -l have heard too many stories of ruptured stitches from hoovering
Take BIG knickers for afterwards. Think massive granny style that are cotton and 2-3 sizes bigger than normal

My top tip with C-section is to get a few wrap tops, ideally with a bit of stretch in them. I had some as maternity wear, but they were the best thing post-birth too, it felt like they were holding me together, really supportive.

Take it as easy as you can, say "yes" to every offer of support, take painkillers round the clock, and it's honestly fine. Both my sections had an easier recovery than my laparoscopy.

If you're scared of the surgery itself, say so to the staff. They will look after you 🫂

I had an EMCS and honestly it was the easiest part of the whole pregnancy for me. I was up and showered by 4pm (C-section at 2am), dressing was taken off by about midday though I know that varies by trust.
keep on your ibuprofen and paracetamol on schedule, even if you feel good. By the time you’re uncomfortable it’s ’too Late’ so better to keep on a routine at least for a week to se how you feel. If they give you anything strong (codeine based) ask for lactulose alongside and some peppermint oil as it messes with your guts. I ended up needing a suppository to have a poo in the end, the constipation was no joke.
Everyone is different but I did a 5km dog walk after two weeks, drove at 3 weeks and had him in a carrier on me (7lb 8oz at birth) at around 3 weeks as husband had gone back to work and I needed to walk the dog.
Keeping your wound clean and dry is important, after a shower you need to let it dry properly. I got a small infection because I wore jeans too early and it got rubbed and sweaty but otherwise it healed very well.

Oh please don’t worry too much! Everyone if different but my c section was absolutely fine! I kept on top of my pain meds and barely felt a thing. Was up on a short walk on day 3.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BOWELS. Lots of water and veg. I didn’t feel the need to go for ages so didn’t actually know I was constipated. Really struggled for a good few months with constipation due to the meds. But as long as you drink plenty of water and eat veg and keep things moving it’s literally fine. Maybe a Laxido or 2 to aid.

Rest.
No lifting.

I know everyone is different but I recovered really well and hardly felt a thing z

Aww you’ll be fine! My biggest advice as someone who’s had a c section is keep up with the pain meds! I didn’t and ended up ringing an ambulance because of…. Trapped wind pain! Mortified but my excuse was I was delirious ha ha! But it’ll all be good! Xx

Get a rope and tie to the bottom of your bed frame, you you can pull yourself into a sitting position.

Honestly, it isn't that bad at all. Keep paracetamol and ibuprofen with you at all times and take strictly to time at max doses. Have upstairs and downstairs bed set up for baby, ideally at cot height to minimise bending, ditto for nappy changes. But you'll surprise yourself how quickly you bounce back. Having said that, your DH is on hoovering and housework duties for at least a month, and you must take things slowly for the first couple of weeks even if you feel well. Your kids will understand and I'm sure will enjoy fussing over you!

You’ll be fine. I know everyone is different but I found the recovery fine - just take it as easy as you can that first week. Keep on top of your pain meds and lots of lactulose. I slept propped up on pillows first few nights and then it eased off. By day 7 I walked to the local coffee shop and 10 days later was out for lunch - best of luck and try not to worry