What to pack for a c section?

[Augustbaby18]

I'm having a c section next week, so packing the last of my hospital bag, and just wondered if anyone had any last minute tips of things to take with me? Or tips to recover quickly?

I've already got big knickers in my bag, and a feeding pillow incase I'm able to breastfeed to try and make it easier. But any other suggestions are welcome! Thanks :)

An eye mask and ear plugs so you can sleep in the ward the next night.

Shower gel that has a hanging hook, so you don’t have to bend over in the shower! Maybe flip flops for the shower too.

Peppermints or peppermint tea- helps with the gas!

Peppermint oil capsules (wind)
Arnica tablets (healing)
Extra painkillers (hospital should manage this, but be prepared)
Loose clothing, maternity leggings etc. I couldn't bear for anything to rest anywhere near my wound for a long time after.
Try to (gently!) get up and move about as much as you can (midwives will encourage this too)
Drink lots and lots and lots of water. If you're planning on breastfeeding, you will experience a thirst like no other!
Good luck

Snacks like cereal bars or small bags of nuts. Hospital food can be very unpredictable.

Big pants. You won't want anything rubbing on your wound, trust me. And easy bottoms ie leggings to wear - nothing with buttons or that involves effort putting on.

I tied a long scarf to the end of the bed! Used it as a pulley to sit up was so much easier than not using it.

And I second the arnica

If you've got anything like a camelbak or drinking bottle with a long straw/hook handle, it can be really useful for avoiding the 'drink just out of reach' thing when pinned down by a feeding newborn

Fybogel. No one needs to strain after that

Ask for plenty of lactulose or similar - trust me!
Tea tree oil for baths as often as you can manage when you're back home.
Huge pants & v comfy waistbands/ mat leggings or dresses.

YY to lactulose! I spent half an hour carefully 'birthing' my first post-section poo, which was only manageable because of all the lactulose my sister gave me!

Nurofen plus codeine. The paracetamol the hospital provided just didn't cut it for me (I am a wimp though) and something to relieve the trapped wind. I had absolutely no idea that gas pains could be so uncomfortable!

Something cool and comfortable to wear, preferably made of cotton as the rubber sheets make you sweat and much as you'd like to be stripped off, there is often an open curtain policy on wards so that you can easily be seen by staff.

Oh, and an eye mask so that if you are so exhausted that you can't string two words together nobody will attempt polite chit chat as they will assume you are asleep

Pack some high fibre snacks to make visits to the loo easier .. a few dried apricots etc . I had 2 sections and that's my best tip .. along with the big pants !

C section belts are great but maybe for once you're home

Thanks for all the ideas!
I'm going to be in for a few days so the suggestion of ear plugs and an eye mask is a great one, so that I can hopefully get some rest, thanks.

Where can I buy lactulose from? I'm assuming a pharmacy rather than a supermarket? Will go and get some tomorrow.

Big sanitary pads and lip balm.

I packed myself some "treat" snacks and was unreasonably upset when I couldn't eat them - I suppose it was something I felt I had control over.

Cheepio flip flops. Useful for hospital showers and if your feet swell (common after a section). Can be binned when you leave hospital and never want to see them again.

Pink George I wish I had known about your scarf on end of bed. That would have made life so much easier.
The one thing I would take if I did it all again is the packs of ready made formula all made up in sterilised teeted bottles. They are expensive but you only have to take the top off and you’re away. I was not able to breast feed much and it was a nightmare having to wait for hca’s to come and massage breasts, ram my nipples into baby’s mouth/sterilise nipple guards and bottles/ bring formula etc when they are usually very very busy. If you have to make a decision to give the baby a top up formula feed in the middle of the night when he’s screaming and there’s no staff around and you’ve had a c section and can’t move and you’ve not slept for 72 hours then having a ready to go bottle is the worth the £20 per pack price I think.

If you're in for a while, pack your own pillow.
I second packing straws, easier to drink when you're not very mobile.
Extra long phone charger.
Lots of food!
Lucozade sports drink afterwards were nice too.

Good luck!!

Have toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, face wipes ect either left where you can easily reach them or right on top of your bag when your other half has to go home. I had c section with my first and 3rd degre tear with my second, both late afternoon and wasn't mobile until the next morning.

Satin nightie- helps you slide in and out of bed. Used this for two laps and a c section and it makes it easier when you have no stomach muscles.

Nipple shields

I third arnica cream. Helped with the bruising.
I packed Jordan's fruit and nut bars for a snack.
Lucozade
Sanitary pads x 3 packs
MASSIVE knickers in black. High waisted.
Very loose stretchy sleep ware so won't rest on your wound.

Amazon sell 3m long phone chargers. So handy.
Second the lactose. Genuinely thought I was dying whilst having my first poo. It took ten days!!! You get so clogged up. Might have been all the iron and pain meds I was on.
Make sure you have loads of ibuprofen and paracetamol for when you get home.

Hi

Good luck with the c-section

Defo agree with flip flops - I wore them in the shower

Antibacterial wipes/and or toilet wipes for the toilet seat, your food tray, etc

A water bottle - so you can refill and go

Open fronted nightie/too/hoodie if you want easy access for skin to skin

Femfresh or equivalent

Tweezers / nail clippers in case you need to stay longer
Nail clippers also work well when you have to take tags off new things like baby clothes.

Extra bags for dirty laundry

And your shoes! I don’t know what happened to my shoes and my husband forget despite reminders. I went home in flip flops. In the snow.