Friend just had an emergency section- what can i do to help?

[CrazyOVERbaby]

Hello, having has 2 mercifully easy labours, I don't know the kinds of practical things I can do to help my friend who has just had an emergency section after a pretty rough labour. Obviously, hubby will be around to help her for a few weeks, but beyond that, I wondered if there was any practical stuff I could do to help. Not the usual stuff, like cooking and cleaning (although I will certainly be happy to chip in!) but things that I can do/prepare for to help her recover from the op. She is desperate to EBF, and I would like to help her, as this is something that she feels really strongly about. Is there anything I can do to help make things easier for her?

Hi 1944. Sounds like you had a tough time and managed brilliantly. It sounds like bloody hard work recovering after a section. My friend's hubby is back to work this week. He only managed a week off as is self employed, so I'm going over to give a hand every other day just for a few hours. I was planning on doing the same things each day - whip round with the duster and hoover, general tidy up, put the wash on, load the dryer, do dishes. I'm also an old fashioned batch cooker, so I'm gonna take over extra portions of whatever we are having that night. I'm leaving her to sort all baby related things out. I think she's got the feeding sorted, so that's fab. I've got an 11 week old of my old to coo over, so I'm not too fussed about the baby (as awful as that sounds and as gorj as she is!!. And anyway, I think you're right, everyone wants to see the baby and no one's fussed about doing the ironing!

What I'm really shocked at, from listening to the comments on here and from my friends experience, is the total lack of support there is for women recovering from a section. Like I said in my OP, I had two very quick deliveries and recoveries and STILL found the first weeks very hard (especially with my first). I had kind of expected there to be something in place for women who are both trying to recover from major surgery and look after a baby (and possibly other kids too).

I know that some women recover faster than others, and that others just wouldn't want anyone 'interfering'. I know things are stretched on the NHS, but my friend has had no extra visits from the midwife or HV. I liken it to when my Nana had (relatively) minor surgery and a community nurse was round every 5 minutes and a home help was chipping in with the house work. And yet, there are women out there with NO family support and all they get is a vist every other day for a week from a midwife. It seems mad to me. Ooh I'm getting all cross.