Bath after CS.

[GlitteryBalls]

I had CS on Tuesday. I have been showering daily but I really fancy a soak in the bath today and I forgot to ask MW when she came round yesterday if this is OK? She says scar is healing normally. Anyone know?

I had a bath 5 days after my section with no issues, but I had fully internal stitches so there was nothing to worry about in that sense. I don't see why not as long as you're healing, but if you're very worried, ring the delivery suite and ask, they don't mind!

It's fine, but I'd probably avoid using soap etc until you're a bit more healed. If you've got a bit of tea tree oil, a couple of drops of that in the bath can be nice.

Be careful to dry your wound well afterwards.

Annoying hospital staff (can't remember if they were midwives or not) told me to get out of bed on my own around 2 hours after op (after 2 days labour, 24 hours drip/drugs and a long bad c-section), told me to get in a hot bath that they would apparently help me run. I tore my stitches getting up myself, I nearly fainted on the way there, drugged and still in pain, and so finally refused to get in the bath. They were very rude to me but I said no way I was getting in the bath!

Glad to see this as I wanted to to know too when I can have a bath after CS in case I have another. I didn't dare to have a bath for a month last time.

Anonmum - they got you up after 2 hours! Bloody hell!
Is that normal?
I waited a week or so after to have a bath - I worried that I wouldn't be able to get out!

I was sent to the bath on my second day post op in hospital.

I demanded I be allowed to have a bath the following morning, so 24hrs after. I used plenty of 100% tea tree oil in the bath

Whad a birthing pool set up, ready for home birth, DD was breech at last minute, so CS...think I went into the birthing pool for a wallow about 72 hrs after...was lovely, realy helped al the aches and pains from being stuck immobile for so long. Took DD in too for a while, she loved it, and definitely had a bath just before the MW came to take the dressing (one of those really sticky watewrproof ones) off. I used the bath to help soak it off so it wasn't as painful to remove.
Maybe just check with the midwives, as might depend on the dressing you had. if they say ok, then use Tea tree oil, and lavender oil, in a bit of milk, dissolved into the bath, is great for the scar and healing, as antiseptic. Wheatger is then good massaged in gently to help healing of the scar tissue.

I too was sent to have a shower, but 24 hrs after CS - cannot believe they made you get up after 2 anon mum! I pulled my stitches trying to wash my hair, that and the heat combined made me pass out, was horrible. TBH the only reason I had a shower was cause they said if I couldn't manage it I wouldn't be allowed home the next day.

I don't think it's normal... don't think anything they did was 'normal', as no one on this post seems to have had a bath straight after c-section either, which they tried extremely hard to make me get into.

I did try arguing with them that during my last minor op a couple of years back, the consultant said to wait 6 hours before getting up (with assistance!) Even then the very kind nurse gave me 8 hours before getting me up. But they said something like "You just had a baby, CS is not the normal op you get". I thought the birth/CS was a million times worse than the op I had before. Overall I was so drowsy and in pain that I didn't really know what was going on to argue properly. I remember I kept falling down because my legs still weren't working properly after the epidural or spinal block.. whichever one they used so the 2 hospital staff sort of hauled me into the bathroom in the end.

I really shouldn't try to recall all these so close to my second birth! :)

You should get up as soon as possible after a cs and move around. But you shouldn't really get up if you're not feeling ready.

I was on the ward within 2hrs of dd's birth (2 day labour, lots and lots of intervention and then an em cs) and caring for her, up and about, moving around. I had a shower a few hours after she was born. Moving around asap to your own ability aids healing.

But to force you to do something is awful.

I was discharged 12hrs post em cs and went home and had a bath. Was told it was fine, just to avoid any soap/bubble bath etc.

2 HOURS! That's barbaric! I had my first shower at 22hrs this time and it was bliss. I was given a chair to sit on and told to take my time. I had my first independant shower 12 hours after that first assisted one.

I had my first bath at just short of three days after this time. I was advised no bubble bath, but do enjoy a good long soak. Especially after I had my staples out. I had to have help in and out of the bath for the first couple of weeks afterwards.

2 hours isn't barbaric. What's barbaric is forcing you. If you're able to, can feel your legs and are steady, getting up soon after a cs is a very good idea.

Oh it is definitely a good idea to get up when you feel up to it/can feel legs etc. But making someone climb into the bath is silly.

I finally got onto the ward 7 hours after emcs with DD1. Was shattered, of course, DH had gone home because he was exhausted, and I asked them for a shower. So the lady carried my bag of wee and took me to a bathroom. She then left me lone to climb into a bath with a shower over. I was gushing blood and clutching my bag of wee and have no idea how I managed to hoick my leg into the bath and then to climb back out. Afterwards I tried to clean up the mess on the floor but gave up and went and told the MW on the desk about it. They did complete cat's bum face at me. Sometimes I think the people on the ward are a bit fick. I mean, could they not have taken me to one of the many showers that you simply walk into?!

Ok I am going to risk a bath this morning! I have been quite mobile, dp and I went to Sainsbury's yesterday with DD (so 4 days post op), but it soon became apparent that walking around the aisles for any length of time was going to be a bit much, plus with him pushing the pram there was noone to carry basket/push shopping trolley, so I went to customer services and got mobility scooter! Was really handy cos there was also a basket on the front! Thing is I probably did myself more damage than just walking myself as I nearly burst my stitches as we were both pissing ourselves laughing!

Isn't it annoying how much laughing hurts? And crying. The other day when my milk came through I ended up having a bit of a cry but ended up wailing louder than dd as the more I cried the more it hurt so the more I cried etc etc...

I remember sitting in bed the night my milk came in with rock hard breasts, sobbing and laughing at the same time. I'd put chilled cabbage leaves in my bra to ease the pain and they'd begun to cook gently with how hot and sore my breasts were and I was looking at the edges of them curling up and starting to smell amd in my sleep deprived state I was picturing myself as a one woman kitchen providing slightly warm milk and wilted cabbage a la school dinners. DH couldn't work out why I was cackling 'I'm waiting for the semolina to come out next'. Only it wasn't really funny and the laughing was making me hurt and so I was sobbing which hurt more so I was laughing at how stupid the situation was and on and on and on...

Happy memories.

PS In my defence I hadn't slept for 4 days. I also thought dd was talking to me in full sentences.

I am there now. 4 nights in a row without sleep! And dosed up on opiates. I'm keeping a journal because I can't even really remember DD's birth any more - 4 days ago with no sleep in between feels like 10 years ago...

Oh the sleep deprivation is just the pits.

When I did sleep finally I started having flashbacks to the birth and odd nightmares. For entirely separate reasons I requested my labour and delivery notes and there are whole chunks I just don't remember still. It's weird reading about a labour I can't remember in part. I know I was wearing my own pyjamas once I was on the ward for example but I don't know how that happened, when that happened etc. In fact I don't remember the recovery room or being put on the ward at all. It's all a bit hazy. Don't worry if somoe of it doesn't come back or if you have vivid flashbacks. I think the sleep deprivation really affected me.

Congratulations though. What I can remember of it was lovely. Get some help getting in and out of the bath if you're tired.

Boy or girl?

If you feel you are able, you should be ok to have a bath.

Have someone with you when you get in and out (just incase you feel you need a bit of help).

If you can move onto your side, onto your belly, then onto your knees, and then up. Doing that can be easier for some.

Some tea tree or lavender oil is great to promote healing.

Pat your scar dry, don't rub it, and then let it air dry to make defo sure it's dry - this gives you a chance to lie down in peace as well!!

You'll be fine, just take things at a pace that is good for you

Bath is a good idea, but I got stuck in mine after my CS when everyone was downstairs watching DD1 sleep and no-one heard me calling
Take a phone!