C Section next week

[HappyForRainbow]

Scheduled for a C section next week due to low lying placenta and previous sexual assault.

AIBU to ask for your stories of section and recovery? Or any tips you have for me to prepare.

I also don't think I want to BF - any tips on preventing milk/the large painful breasts part?!

Good luck op. I hope you have a very supportive partner who will help
you with everything. It is major surgery so I’m sure it won’t surprise you to say it will be very painful to stand, walk, shower, change your baby…. but this pain will go. Just be prepared for it.
Make sure you have everything you need in reach, but also do move as much as they tell you to. At least as you know you are having a c-section you are able to prepare yourself for it. If people want to come & help then let them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Enjoy your little baby.

Take big knickers and super comfy nighty or PJs to hospital. Nothing with a waistband that sits along your bikini line.
don’t be afraid to buzz and ask the midwives/healthcare assistants for help with baby. That’s what they’re there for and they won’t mind.
make sure you have good pain relief on board before getting up out of bed. Try and get up sooner rather than later, so long as you’re well enough. you will feel better for it!
As for bottle feeding…get a really supportive but comfy bra (like a tight ish sports bra) and keep it on all the time. Sleep in it if you can. Day 3/4 your milk may still come in; the more stimulation your breasts have the longer it can last, so hands off as much as possible. Take paracetamol and ibuprofen (if you can) for any discomfort.
Good luck! Hope all goes smoothly x

I don't agree with this "it's major surgery and oh so very painful" line that gets trotted out on here all the time.

I've had 2 planned sections, neither even as troublesome as having my wisdom tooth removed.

The pain is easily resolved by the medicine they give you and you're up and moving around in a very short time frame.

I'd echo the advice of comfy loose things to wear that don't press on your lower tummy area. Also, suggest building things up gradually. A few gentle steps on the first day and then progressing to a stroll around the park a week later etc. I avoided high impact exercise - running, boxing, weight lifting etc for about 8 weeks

A wedge pillow for sleeping upright.

I have had 2 and I guess i would say is that:

recovery can be slow and painful. Take your painkillers and take them on time.

Get big granny pants that sit above your scar.

Get someone to help if possible as getting about can be quite sore initially. I moved downstairs and had moses basket next to me for a good week - still needed help to get off the sofa sometimes.

Pack fybogel or similar in your hospital
bag as painkillers can really block you up.

I always took in peppermint tea to help with any trapped wind.

Batchcook / have ready meals in if you can - quick
and easy re food.

Drink loads of water - I got very swollen at the end
of the pregnancy.

Prepare yourself for the compression socks post surgery and the blood thinning injections.

Very best of luck to you and congratulations!

This thread that is ongoing might have some helpful stuff:

What happens in the hours after a c section? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/4555102-what-happens-in-the-hours-after-a-c-section

Good luck! I had an EMCS but found recovery very straight forward and have opted for an elective for DC2 next month.

I had an elective 7 years ago. Was a fucking spa day in comparison to my first child's birth. My advice is arnica (pillulles - start taking them the day before and continue every day for 7 days), get up as soon as possible post section to mobilise (the longer you lay down, the harder it is to get upright), get home as soon as you can and REST (in between gently mobilising). Good luck

(Oh and have a bath asap after - as long as you dont soak for ages, its fine!)

Great advice. The first week is the hardest but you feel better each and every day. It is nearly not as bad as people try to scare you into thinking. Try prep meals and get all the baby things ready for when you get home. Best of luck.

@Magicfeet11

“I don't agree with this "it's major surgery and oh so very painful" line that gets trotted out on here all the time.”

I think your message is really rude and patronising actually. It IS a major surgical procedure. And not everyone just bounces back and is up and about. Negating other people’s genuine and lived experience is horrible. Just detail your “miraculous recovery” and move on without suggesting that other people are “trotting out tales”. 🙄

We are not all the same and I interpreted OP to be seeking a wide range of views.

Oh and my top tip would be to get up and mobile as soon as you can and try not lie or sit in the same position for long periods of time. The only time I felt more than niggly pain was when I had been sitting or lying for too long and getting up was really hard work. Little and often, even just a short walk around the ward or to shower and back, made a world of difference for me.

Big knickers! And take lots of nighties. Stock up on otc painkillers and ready meals

I had a c section: it was very stress free, dignified and not too painful afterwards.

don’t regret it whatsoever

Take the pain killers when offered!

Get up and move about as soon as you can.

Don't even think about decisions about bf until baby comes out. It's really hard to predict how you will feel so just put it aside to think about later. Some people think they absolutely want to then find they don't get on with it at all, others go in thinking they won't only to have an instinctive urge post partum to give it a go.

Take all the painkillers you are offered. Get up and about as soon as you can. Have someone to look after you for the first few weeks while you are healing. The worst bit for me was having to do the blood thinning injections once I was home. They are super easy to do but I still hated every one of them.

This! I had an emergency section last year and was expecting to barely be able to
move for weeks after reading about the recovery but I think the trick is to get moving ASAP (I was just desperate to get home) and keep on top of painkillers even if you think you don’t need them. I was able to get about, shower, look after baby no problem - I did find getting up and down from bed painful for a few weeks though so if you can fashion some sort of support to pull yourself up and down this might help!

My milk came in around day 4 and I wasn’t breastfeeding, cabbage leaves were a godsend even if you look ridiculous 😂

good luck!

I found the procedure itself absolutely fine (had an elective due to my second baby’s position) but struggled with the recovery.

So as people upthread have said take whatever you have offered for pain relief and don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re still uncomfortable.

Do you have help you can enlist at home? You definitely want to get moving when you can but definitely nothing strenuous for a good while. Too much too soon can defo set you back.

Massive knickers!

And give yourself a break as much as you can. It absolutely is major surgery. Clearly some people bounce back right away. I didn’t and found recovery hard, so if you’re struggling just remember your recovery might not be the same as those around you x

A nightie is easier than pj trousers at first when you still have the catheter.

Moving the very first time is a bit scary but then not as bad as you thought it would be (I have had 3 cs). So don't worry too much about that bit.

Use your arms to pull yourself up to sitting at first so not doing a move like a sit up.

Take slip on shoes at first, flip flops or slippers you can slide your feet into. Reaching your toes is hard on the first couple of days.

All 3 times by day 5 or 6 I was starting to feel discomfort along the stitches line, and then when they take the outer stitches out on day 7 it's a huge relief. I was also scared of that bit the first time round but not after that.

Minimise boob stimulation but if it gets really bad standing in the shower with hot flannels on them allowed just a wee bit to release and take the pressure off without stimulating much.

Don't hoover in the first few weeks at least.

Oh and no fizzy drinks for at least 24 hours after surgery, the wind is awful!

be prepared, I had an emcs and whilst slightly traumatic I flew through the recovery as if nothing had happened. I had minor discomfort and a little bit of fatigue. However when I had an elective with my second and felt like I had been hit by a train. It was horrific despite attempting to do exactly as I did with my first, pain killers and get on with it, I just couldn't. I would get stuck on my side unable to roll over, I got stuck on my back like a tortoise everything was a complete struggle. Picking up my baby if she was below waist height was out of the question for around 4 weeks, pushing the pushchair was a nightmare. So whilst yes I agree C Sections can be a doddle, they can also be a complete debilitating nightmare. Just got to keep moving.

I had an emergency c section just under 48 hours ago. Getting in and out of bed is painful but already easier today than it was yesterday. I agree with the advice to mobilise as much as possible.

I’ve been walking round the ward a lot today and already feel loads more comfortable on my feet.

Keep hydrated and wee as much as you can - moving is more uncomfortable with a full bladder!

I had a section 6 months ago. First baby and I was so anxious about it. The recovery was a walk in the park especially compared to what I imagined. I was out walking the dog 5 days later. I agree with a poster above that it was no worse than having a wisdom tooth out. But I am aware it's major surgery so I was careful to try not to over do it.

I was out of hospital the day after and I had no pain, they give you pain relief in hospital and diclofenec to take home. I don't consider myself to have a massively high pain threshold either.

I'm not minimising anyone else's experiences though, I'm aware it can be a long recovery for some. But I just wanted to come on and give my two cents. There is definitely a wide range of recovery. Not sure why that is but I'm assuming and EMCS would take longer. Mine was ELCS.

My main tip is big granny knickers, black and lots of pairs (that's probably because I'm still in them 6 months later 😳)

hi lovely, I had a planned c section due to low lying placenta too in 2020, I was of course worried beforehand but it was genuinely a beautiful experience, as for the recovery just take things slow and keep topped up on pain relief! I know everyone is different when it comes to healing but I didn't have any issues! hopefully you won't too💕 sending luck and just keep thinking now you know exactly when you'll meet your baby 💕

I've had two ELCS and I found the worry of them was worse than the recovery - I read some awful horror stories!

When you need to sneeze, tuck a pillow into your stomach and bend into it, sneezing hurts!

Drink as much as you can if you want to go home the next morning as they measure your water output

Big, comfy knickers and things with a loose waistband to wear, remember you'll possibly have the compression socks on to go home (I did with first but not second)

Move around as and when you can - the longer you sit, the harder to do it

I had a shower the following morning before I was able, and the evening after both sections once my catheter was out I had a good wash and change of nightwear and I felt a million times better

Painkillers are your friend - take them at the right times and tell the nurse when they come round on the ward if you're still in pain

Moses basket, nappy caddy etc downstairs so you're not having to run up and down all the time

Standing up from the couch can hurt - roll onto your side then pull yourself up

And finally - don't get the hoover out on day 2 like I did! Still feel that pain 3 years on 🙈

Oh and congratulations and good luck! If I was to have any more, I'd opt for another ELCS; it was a calm experience and very beautiful

I had a c section 6 months ago due to low lying placenta. The procedure itself was so smooth - much easier and quicker than my 48 hour induction with dd1. I still can't believe how quickly they gey to the baby and pass them to you. Its amazing.
I found the recovery quite painful- reaching anything on the floor was a no no for about a week. I felt bad that had to keep buzzing midwives to help lift baby out of cot whilst in hospital but as no one else was there I had no other option.
These points may have been covered but:

• take the biggest knickers you can find
• be prepared to possibly have the most painful trapped wind ever (and I get IBS) I asked the midwives for peppermint tea snd they give you meds for it
• take your painkillers when they do the rounds- even if your pain not bad at that time. Me and the other lady on ward couldn't have our morphine (tablet/liquid, one that requires 2 signatures) as only 1 midwife to sign it out. For the first hour or two this was OK then I was desperate for it
• have someone to help you take off your compression socks before you get into shower room - it took me so long and I almost asked the cleaner to help me (was in shower, far from bed by that time)
• you may still bleed a lot (as with a natural birth) I thought would be less so took me by surprise
• if your sofa is low (like mine) getting on/off will be hard at first. I used a pillow to sit on to make it easier
• move often, it'll hurt and you'll be slow at start but it'll help recovery

Can't think of any more now. All the best.

Also we had our own play list in theatre, was really good for distracting. She came out to 'here comes the sun' by the Beatles. Wasn't expecting her that quickly but very fitting