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 :)

Second the water bottle with a long straw. There’s one called hydrant, I highly recommend it, you can clip it to the side of the hospital bed.

Stand up straight, it’s REALLY important for your recovery.

Maternity leggings all the way. Use a pad to press against your wound when you go to the loo. Good luck and all the best!

Also take bag to take to the shower with you - saves having to find somewhere you think is clean to put your stuff. I used to hang the bag on the door. Then shower and change taking things out the bag and putting other stuff in a different bag.

My hospital was fairly clean but still - it’s lots of women who have had babies and there’s always some stuff that might make you feel
Icky.

Hair bands, lip balm, deodorising wipes and a leak proof water bottle!!! They were my most used items for my two csections! Those and taking any and all pain relief offered for the first day! Get moving as soon as you feel able and drink, drink drink! Best of luck and congrats!!

Rennie deflatine tablets that you can just chew. I had the worst pain in my shoulder that was trapped wind. It was agony!
So on the same note, peppermint tea. The hospital literally managed to find me one tea bag so if you take your own you will be well prepared.
Good luck!

Depending on the protocol you may have a catheter in all night the first night (I have the last two times) so a night dress which you can cover yourself a bit with as you move around. Otherwise moving without exposing yourself to your neighbours visitors can be tricky.

Snacks- no rewarding tea and toast which is often touted by midwives when you have had a section.

Flip flops- bit manky showering in a room were everyone is bleeding.

An extra long phone charger so you can charge your phone (c section or not- otherwise you can't use it and charge at the same time).

And when visitors ask if they can bring anything- I was soooo grateful when my MIL brought m and s pre prepared fruit. Juicy refreshing and easy to eat. Such a treat.

Big Pants, slippers, headphones, phone charger, kindle or Ipad, you shouldn't be taking medication (lactulose or fybogel) after surgery unless prescribed. Anyway face wipes, large pads, breast pads, think comfort! Good luck

Thanks so much everyone. I've been told it'll be around 12 hours before the catheter is out and I'm up and about, as I'm having a ga so the suggestion of a night dress is great, I've only packed maternity shorts and vest type pjs at the moment.

Making a list of last minute things to buy from your suggestions. Thank you :)

Pregnancy yoga pants. Best thing ever, so comfy and won’t irritate your wound (and more forgiving than leggings if your legs swell up a bit - mine did after an EMCS but not an ELCS so you might be ok).

My biggest tip is a slightly odd one. If you think you might like to breastfeed, I would strongly recommend expressing colostrum now to take with you. For my second baby I expressed and took it in frozen in 1ml syringes - I had about 25 - (your midwife would be able to give you some, or the hospital if you’re in for the pre op swabs or anything). Label it all with your name (I used some of the labels from my mat notes), date expressed and date of your section. put in a ziplock bag. Get your husband to run all except one syringe up to the post natal ward as soon as you arrive (you’ll have some waiting around pre section so there’s plenty of time) so they can pop it in the freezer. Get him to keep one syringe with him (in a sealed ziplock bag) so it can gradually defrost and be ready in case you need it for baby recovery. This will all massively take the pressure off if baby doesn’t latch right away, and will also mean that his or her blood sugars won’t go haywire if it is a while before your milk comes in (it can be slower after a section). My DS was slow to latch and as my blood sugar went crazy in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy they were worrried about his. Having all the expressed colostrum meant I could give him a syringe every 2 hours and keep him on an even keel while we worked on the latch in a less stressed way.

Pack baby outfit sets in separate bags (I used large ziplock food bags) so you - or DH, or a midwife- can quickly and easily have a full set to hand. I had 5 bags, each containing a nappy, a vest, a babygro and a hat. Saves scrabbling about.

Take your make up bag and a really good bath sheet. I felt way more human the next mornin once I’d showered and put make up on. Took just a few minutes but meant I felt presentable when visitors started to arrive.

Urgh sorry for the many, many typos, hopefully you get the gist.

One other thing - if at all possible pay for an en suite private room. It is worth every single penny. I did both times and tbh I would happily have paid that money just for the en suite - the relative peace and quiet of the room was a bonus!

Definitely your own pillow - also useful for car ride home to put underneath your seat belt.

I also found the c-section recovery knickers good, they are pricey (can get online or mothercare) but helped me feel more secure on more active days whilst recovering.

Compression socks - the hospital gave me some to wear before the surgery, and advised to wear them full time (except showering ) for 6 weeks! So it would have been nice to have a spare pair whilst staying in hospital so I could send them home for a wash!

Anything to help cool you down - maternity wards are roasting hot, and it's not uncommon to feel nauseous post surgery - I had a mad hot flush and sickness. So hand fan, cold flannel, magazine that can be wafted at you.

And as a PP said, the expensive ready to feed mini bottles of formula are a must have incase breastfeeding doesn't go to plan.

Good luck!

I didn't fully lie my bed back after my late afternoon c section. Meant I didn't have to try and get from horizontal to vertical to do the first poo nappy and BF. I took Vimto to make water more appealing, I love it hot 😁 and as there were no caf free options it was all I could have. Take fruit.

Senna tablets, one twice a day, was a complete lifesaver!
Big pants
Nightie (mine was cheap from ASDA)

I used Tena pants for first 2 days til I could walk about easily to get to the loo to freshen up. ( for bleeding, not weeing - I obv had the catheter for that!)
A sports bottle you can drink from when reclined.
Phone charger cable