C section this afternoon- any last minute tips/ things to take?

[lil226]

Got my planned c section this afternoon any last minute tips or things to take? Thanks!

Ahhhhh good luck!!

Lots of snacks, sippy bottle, portable phone charger and extra long cable, long scarf to wrap around the end of the bed to pull yourself up.

Good luck!! The recovery was much easier than I anticipated. Make sure to come back and let us know how it went / info on the baby!

I took my own pillow, but not sure if they let you do that in these covid days.

Also, I had brought slippers to wear in the hospital, but when you go in, if you can wear outside shoes that you can slip on to go home. Bending over was tough and DH had to put on and tie my trainers for me!

BIGGG knickers.

Peppermint tea for the post op trapped wind

Fluffy socks. Hand cream. Book.
Hair brush /band /bobbles.

Definitely peppermint tea. Drink this and as many fluids as you can, especially in this heat. If you suffer particularly with trapped wind pain, ask a nurse for some peppermint oil in hot water.

You might not be offered it but you can ask for morphine the next day if you're struggling with pain getting out of bed etc.

Flip flops for the shower
Lots of tasty snacks you can eat with one hand

Keep asking for help, don't worry about annoying the staff - you won't be able to do much at first and they are there to help.

Good luck!

Eye mask and ear plugs for the night on the ward (you’ll still be able to hear your baby, don’t worry!)

And drink more water than you’d begin to think possible.

A fan! Hospital is sooooo hot

Don’t let them fob you off if you are in pain. A couple of paracetamol often isn’t enough.

💐

Cartons of drink or a water bottle that you can drink whilst still lying down. You'll be thirsty but going from lying down to sitting up is an effort to begin with so being able to drink without moving much helps.

Good luck this afternoon!

Maternity pads. You will still bleed like hell and many women aren't told this!

Thanks everyone, I have a fan, 20 maternity pads lots of knickers, better take a water bottle with me too!

A fan and ear plugs. It was boiling when I was in, and no windows. I just had a bra (nursing) top on.

As above, plus lipbalm or vaseline (hospital atmosphere tends to be very dry), and if you've been wearing maternity trousers/jeans take some skirts or pj bottoms - the 'under bump' bit of waistband on maternity jeans can sit right on your incision site otherwise.

I would take a water bottle filled with ice

Hair bobbles

More knickers than you think

I took my own pillows and throw as they don't give you enough pillows , feeding cushion is a godsend as well as you will be pretty sore once epidural has worn off

Ibs peppermint capsules for the trapped wind that pains worse than the actual surgery wound lol

Flip flops
Ibuprofen and paracetamol and keep taking them at the recommended time don't wait for the nurses to bring them to you, much easier to stay on top of pain than get on top of it.

take your favourite CD (or whatever technology) in case you are offered/allowed to have your own music.

peppermint tea for afterwards

A long charging cable for your phone if you have one! That was the only thing that I needed and didn't have.
Snacks, a book or magazine, water, flip flops, fan/cooling spray & big knickers. I couldn't have coped without these things, everything else I took I probably didn't really need.
Good luck!!

I used tena pants rather than maternity pads, they were more comfortable and just easier to manage. You might not bleed too much though, I had hardly any bleeding.

Peppermint capsules or oil for the bloating afterwards, good luck!

Thanks everyone, I'm now at the hospital!

Ah,
You've had good advice already. So good luck OP, I'm so excited for you, you're going to meet your baby!