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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

what do you need to take into hospital with you for a c section?

25 replies

beansmum · 01/02/2011 21:35

I had made my sister a little parcel of things for labour, and an after labour parcel. The labour one had some of her favourite muesli bars,not available in the UK (where she is), a face spray thingy, lip balm, other snacks and bits and pieces. She has just found out that she might have to have a caesarean because the placenta is very low down. I'm putting together another parcel. Would she be allowed food? What else would she need?

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babylann · 01/02/2011 22:04

If she is having a planned caesarean, I think she'll just go straight into hospital, meet the surgeon etc, and then go to theatre, so food wouldn't be a problem?

I'm not sure, I had an EMCS but I think that's how it works.

Maybe just focus on what she will need after the birth. She'll probably be in hospital for a few days so things to keep her morale up when she's desperate to go home. Magazines, a sleeping mask, perhaps something nice to pamper herself with when she gets chance like some moisturiser. A few cheeky snacks so she doesn't have to survive purely on hospital food while she's there.

whomovedmychocolate · 01/02/2011 22:08

I have had both, you just need the same bag, but with more snacks. Squash is always good because hospital water tastes awful. And books because you sit there waiting for ages to get a theatre slot because of all the medical emergencies Wink

whomovedmychocolate · 01/02/2011 22:08

Oh really big pants too - you don't want anything on the scar.

Chynah · 01/02/2011 22:08

If she has an ELCS she will be nil by mouth from the night before so food would be all the more important once she gets back to recovery room and is starving :) Arnica tablets to help healing and dried fruits to help 'get things going' again afterwards. Chocolate (for no reason other than it's always great). Some nice mags as she will prob stay in for a day or so afterwards.

Beamur · 01/02/2011 22:10

I wish I'd taken some slippers. My feet were too swollen to put my shoes on when I left hospital.
Books/magazines, nice handcream, face wipes - it can be a bit hot and dry in hospitals too, so some lip balm might be nice.
V thoughtful of you.

springlamb · 01/02/2011 22:10

Well obviously she won't be allowed food immediately after, but once she can eat she will enjoy some of her favourite biscuity snacks etc.
Some really nice scented moist wipes to freshen up whilst she is stuck in bed. If she's in the UK, they do like to get you up and about asap but you can be a little tied to the immediate area if you have a catheter and of course she won't be able to bathe fully for a few days.

springlamb · 01/02/2011 22:12

Ooh yes, I second the big knickers!
I could have eaten my mum when she came to visit via Marks & Spencer after my emergency section.

whomovedmychocolate · 01/02/2011 22:13

Specifically MAXI SEAMLESS KNICKERS from M&S - ask them. Buy them two sizes bigger than the size you think you need as well - ie if you sister is a size 10 normally buy a size 14. Five pairs.

faverolles · 01/02/2011 22:15

If she's planning on bfing, a bfing pillow comes in very handy after a cs, as you can snuggle the baby in without having to use any tummy muscles.
Actually, that would probably be handy for bottle feeding too.

hellymelly · 01/02/2011 22:16

I second really big pants.I went to Marks and Sparks and bought the big "full brief" jobbies in a...cough.. generous size.Also magazines,nice little things to eat and drink,and a cotton nightie that unbuttons and doesn't look too Retirement Home.Sanitary towels.I had night time ones and they were fine but all the midwives tut-tutted that they weren't huge enough and why didn't I have maternity ones (!)things like wipes to clean your face are handy too,and a little anti-bac hand spray.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/02/2011 22:18

Big knickers, and also nighties rather than pjs because of the catheter.

Yes to slippers - water retention after a c-section can be pretty bad. My legs were swollen to mid-thigh for a couple of days until the night-sweats set in and got rid of it all.

springlamb - I had a shower and hairwash about 24 hours after my section, lovely healthcare worker stood the other side of the curtain and passed me all my bits and bobs. Apart from the worry that my insides were about to fall out, it was lovely! :)

maryz · 01/02/2011 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Beamur · 01/02/2011 22:27

I got bullied into the shower within hours of my section! The MW kept coming in and asking me if I'd showered yet and in the end a lovely nurse more or less frogmarched me in (she was lovely I'm not being sarky) and hosed me down.
Felt sooo much better afterwards!
So maybe some nice shower gel too.

ElsieR · 01/02/2011 22:31

Defo the big knickers, horrendous ones that rides up to under the breasts. Preferably cotton and dark coloured.
Baggy tracksuits are great too. Lived in mine for a few weeks after CS.

Meglet · 01/02/2011 22:36

Herb teas / cup-a-soups. IME I didn't want to eat too much after my planned cs as it meant a bloated tummy and needing to poo, the last things I needed with a healing wound. I ate too much after my EMCS and it was dead uncomfortable. I drank lots of mineral water and had some green & blacks choc to keep my sugar levels up Grin.

Arnica tablets. I'm not sure about homeopathy myself but the midwives suggested it and I did heal up really well so maybe there was something in it that helped.

RambleOn · 01/02/2011 22:36

Flip flops. Great for if your feet are too huge to fit into shoes/slippers, also good to shower in to prevent catching verrucas (I left hospital with baby and crop of verrucas!)

And yes, huuuuge pants.

WillYouDoTheDangFanjo · 01/02/2011 22:38

Peppermint tea for trapped wind after section
Apricots to prevent post-section constipation (shudder at memory!)
Earplugs & eye mask so she can sleep when baby sleeps
A handy reacher (pincer thing on a stick) to help her get her knickers on & get to all the things that will be that frustrating 3 inches further away than she can bend for a while.

Lovely idea, well done you!

mellicauli · 01/02/2011 22:42

My Mum brought me cherries. I woke up in the middle of the night and they were all I could reach. They were the most delicious thing I have ever tasted!

A torch can be useful. If you are on a ward with others, you want to check the baby but not wake everyone else up. Our lamps didn't work, so I had to change the baby's nappy by the light of my mobile phone!

mrsgordonfreeman · 01/02/2011 22:46

Big knickers, flip flops, magazines and chocolate.

Don't count on her being in there for a few days, I was turfed out after 36 hours. Apart from anything else, it reduces the risk of hospital borne infections.

Original poster
beansmum · 02/02/2011 01:07

so, big knickers then.

OP posts:
clareanna · 13/02/2011 08:57

Hi am currently in hospital having had a c section. My beautiful boy is snoozing so thought i'd pop on while it's still fresh in my mind!
Things I would have packed if I was doing it again...

Large mug- vital for all tea drinkers! The paper cups you get are tiny

E45/ aqueous cream - if you have sensitive skin... After the op I had leg puffers boots on which inflate to squeeze your calf muscles and encourage circulation, for 24 hours. They are made of scratchy nylon and that combined with the heat on the ward has left me with itchy rashes on my legs

Good luck!

Panzee · 13/02/2011 14:06

Absolutely flip flops and other backless shoes. Bending down to pull on shoes was an impossibility for me!

Celia76 · 21/02/2011 14:10

...a note book! Not just for sections, but for natural births too.

I found it very useful to write down the times of feeds, and which boob had been used!

I put together my sisters wash bag and it included:-
Vaseline Lip balm
Lasinoh nipple cream
Sanitary pads
Chewing gum
Breast pads
Miniature 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner
Deo
Moisuriser
Miniature shower gel
Note book & pen

I'm having DC3 tomorrow by booked section and I've packed the same.

...think that's it!

Hope it all goes well!

starfishmummy · 21/02/2011 14:32

I'll second (or whatever) the big knickers. Some nice snacks - but the sort that don't need to be in the fridge so bikkies and such like.
At the e hospital I was in the tea/coffee came out of a vending machine - we didn't have to pay - but it was that disgusting type of beverage so some nice squash/non alcoholic cordial was very handy.

I was in for a week after mine and towards the end it was nice to have a loose dress to slip on to go for a little walk around rather than wearing my pjs!

I was helped to have a bath the day after but then was left on my own and getting in/out the bath without help was impossible (as was following the instructions to clean it afterwards, or in fact before hand) and all the showers were over the bath ones and equally inaccesible so DH brought a supply of flannels in for me so I could just do a wash down.

sh77 · 21/02/2011 19:46

Here is what I have bought for my ELCS:

Big knickers from Primark (£2.50 for 5!)
Lactulose to help with constipation
Arnica (strength 30c) and arnica cream from Boots
Garlic tablets as a natural antibiotic
Tea tree oil
Maternity pads & Always purple ones with wings
Feeding pillow
Cheap night shirts with buttons at front from Primark (from £1 to £3 - bargain)
Vest tops
Nipple cream
Straws for drinking

hand reacher - that is so funny!

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