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Original poster

to think I can go for a haircut after my C Section

93 replies

WindUpPenguin · 01/06/2023 14:37

I am booked in for a C section next week for my first baby. I have previously had abdominal surgery, and one thing that really sticks out from my recovery from that is not being able to get my wound wet, and the difficulty I had washing my hair comfortably, but also how much better I felt once I had managed to get it washed!

I'm thinking of trying to get a wash, cut and blow-dry at my local salon in the first few days after I get home, but I'm not sure I can make this work with a newborn!! My partner and my parents will be around, so I'm thinking they can have the baby in the cafe next door whilst I'm in the salon. Even if I need to abandon the cut and blow-dry I will still have clean hair at that point, which would be the main aim of the exercise. Has anyone done this? I could also ask if they'll just do a wash, but it does need a cut too, so it makes sense to try and get it all done at once if possible!

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 01/06/2023 14:47

Yeah, no lol. I had a shower in hospital both times, helps keep the wound clean.

Hugasauras · 01/06/2023 14:47

mynameiscalypso · 01/06/2023 14:46

I had an over-bath shower. It was infinitely easier getting in at after my c section than when I was 9 months pregnant.

Ha yes this too! Ours is over bath and I don't remember any problems getting in and out with either section, but I do remember the struggles when heavily pregnant!

35965a · 01/06/2023 14:48

You can shower after your c-section, I had a bath a week after mine.

Rampantukulele · 01/06/2023 14:49

I was only in hospital for 24 hours after section and I had time to shower and wash my hair before I left. Dressing was waterproof.

littlekipling · 01/06/2023 14:49

I had a c section march 2021 and showered 15 hours after in hospital. Then showered every day after that. You just can't take baths.

gamerchick · 01/06/2023 14:49

I can't imagine leaning back in a hair to get a hairwash after being cut open. Makes me wince thinking about it.

mastertomsmum · 01/06/2023 14:50

It should be fine. I had general anaesthetic c section emergency and went for dentistry shortly after. They broke my tooth

Hugasauras · 01/06/2023 14:51

Is this your first OP? I just ask because those first few days can be such a blur, you will be bleeding, you'll be sore, you'll be emotional, your boobs will be getting engorged, you will probably want to be glued to your baby. I am quite a laid back parent but no way could I have left a days old baby to get my hair done, it's like a primal kind of need to be near them those early days! I wouldn't book anything till baby is here and you know how you're feeling. The intensity of it took me by surprise.

helloimnew123 · 01/06/2023 14:52

They made me have a shower in the hospital before I could leave after my CS. I didn't have any problems showering or washing my hair.

Have a haircut before baby is born and buy some dry shampoo.

The first few weeks you might struggle with a feeding/ sleeping routine etc. so might be hard to know when to book an appointment.

mainsfed · 01/06/2023 14:56

Could you have a mobile hairdresser come to your home post-birth?

MrsCarson · 01/06/2023 14:59

If you want to try the hairdressers go for it. I think lying back at the sink may be very uncomfortable.
I had a shower the day after Ds was born (c-section) at the hospital, nice big walk in shower. Then once home I showered and hair washed daily in the shower over the bath, no problem.

eurochick · 01/06/2023 15:02

I showered about 9 hours after my section and regularly thereafter.

A back basin wash would have been awful! They will tell you not to hunch forward but that is going to the other extreme.

RebeccaCloud9 · 01/06/2023 15:03

You can, AND SHOULD, shower after a section! You'll be bloody, sweaty, covered in milk, and baby sick. Just make sure you dab your dressings as dry as possible. But your dressing will be waterproof, and you'll have spares to replace if you need to.

Leaning back will be uncomfortable at best, but quite likely impossible/painful. Plus just getting out completely on your own for that long is a bit unrealistic.

(I've had 3 sections so I'm talking from experience!)

TheLurpackYears · 01/06/2023 15:03

I was expected to have a shower in the hospital before being discharged after both ems, 48 and 24 hour discharges. Not much fun. I was offered a bath (and told off for not having a bath) but was in too much pain and not able to bend down to put the plug in or get my leg over the edge.
Salons aren't my natural habitat anyway, but sitting in public while bleeding unpredictable and sweating heavily doesn't sound fun to me. My bed, clean sheets with a cuppa and a feeding baby are much better.

SunshineAndFizz · 01/06/2023 15:03

The LAST thing you'll want to do a few days later is this. Please, don't plan to do this. Please just plan to rest.

Plus, you can shower/ get it wet like the next day.

GingerKombucha · 01/06/2023 15:05

I had a hot shower and washed my hair the moment the catheter was out, the morning after my c-section. Best shower ever. I've had a few hospital stays and have always saved my poshest hotel miniature toiletries for it and it makes a grim NHS feel like a massive treat.

FrenchandSaunders · 01/06/2023 15:05

I showered the day after my C section in hospital (twins), this was 22 years ago but I don't think much has changed. It was baths I was told to avoid.

JellyBelly50 · 01/06/2023 15:06

You can have a shower after a c section - they made me shower 6 hours after mine.

Mirenda · 01/06/2023 15:06

I had a c section 10 days ago. You can shower

OverTheCountryClub · 01/06/2023 15:07

You can shower the same day. Had my 1yo by c section- he was born by 9am, I was in the shower by about 7pm that day. As soon as your legs work you're up and about. I washed my hair there. The dressing is waterproof and they can always replace it if needed. I also used the shower at the hospital before going home the following day as it was a lovely big walk-in one. Going to the hairdresser a few days after birth sounds like hell to me, although I don't really enjoy it at the best of times.

AnnaTortoiseshell · 01/06/2023 15:08

I was hauled out of bed to shower six hours after my section. I was slow and a bit of a mess but I was fine. Take some nice smelling shower gel and that kind of thing to remind you you are a human being still! And definitely get your hair cut before baby arrives if you can.

With my first (not a section) I was in hospital for a few days and even after that I was in no fit state emotionally to go to a hair appointment. I managed to take DD to hospital appointments that she needed and felt like I’d climbed a mountain. Hopefully you’ll be fine but there are so many variables I just can’t see why you’d put this pressure on yourself.

ShirleyPhallus · 01/06/2023 15:09

RebeccaCloud9 · 01/06/2023 15:03

You can, AND SHOULD, shower after a section! You'll be bloody, sweaty, covered in milk, and baby sick. Just make sure you dab your dressings as dry as possible. But your dressing will be waterproof, and you'll have spares to replace if you need to.

Leaning back will be uncomfortable at best, but quite likely impossible/painful. Plus just getting out completely on your own for that long is a bit unrealistic.

(I've had 3 sections so I'm talking from experience!)

Christ, not necessarily!

WaltzingWaters · 01/06/2023 15:12

As others have said, you can shower after your section. I had one and washed my hair the next day at hospital. Once home we have a shower in the bath, my partner helped me in and out for a few day and it was fine.
what I wouldn’t have been able to do is lean back in the chair to get my hair washed at a salon.

Sugarfree23 · 01/06/2023 15:13

Op I get what you mean. I have a scar down my front and the day after my surgery I vomited 🤢 and had it everywhere inc my hair. The nursed had to wash it in the shower while i sat in a plastic wheelchair, as I couldn't get my hands up there to do it.

SophieinParis · 01/06/2023 15:13

You can have a shower after c section
I had one the next day
when you do want your hair cut, the baby doesn’t need to be in a cafe! You just have them in the buggy next to you and feed when needed!