c section booked for 3 weeks time....any advice?

[taytotayto]

well baby is breech and not likely to move so c section booked in for 3 weeks time when im 38 weeks.
ive got a toddler but had normal delivery with her so what advice can you give me before/after the c section.
thanks x

do as little as you possibly can afterwards. I know that's difficult with a toddler but seriously think about getting some help for about 5 weeks. I'm sure my slow recovery from my cs with dd (my second cs) was down to the fact that I did far too much, far too soon. My neighbour just had her second cs and recovered so much better than me because I kept on at her about taking it really really easy.

Well make sure you take all painkillers on offer, it is sore afterwards. Also you can't drive for a few wks afterwards so bear that in mind.

Give your body chance to rest afterwards, so make sure you accept any offers of help!

It might hurt to pass wind or do a poo after your section, quite normal, but can be a bit sore.

Take it really easy afterwards, by week 2 you will be thinking, oh I am pretty much back to normal now, but your are not! Really, take it slow.

Having a wash afterwards can be scary, so have your DH there to help you.

Congratulations!

Don't lift a finger for as long as possible except to feed, cuddle and go to the loo, get the midwifes to do nappies for the first day or so (even if they aren't that keen to do them). I managed 2 weeks doing bugger all and almost 6+ weeks taking it easy after my planned cs.

Agree with headfairy really. The more help you get the better the recovery should be. You don't want to take painkillers all the time if you can help it, the more you rest the better. FWIW I had a hysterectomy and was off paracetamol by day 3 as I was just resting. I over did it after my EMCS and was on pain relief for a month. Make sure you get lots of help at home and ready meals so you don't have to faff about cooking.

Big pants, don't over eat after the op (poo-ing after a cs is a little uncomfortable), lots of cbeebies for your toddler if you are stuck inside.

I was at the gym 12 weeks after all my ops (I'm not a natural slob ), but the longer you can take it easy after the op the better you will recover.

Take very big pants into hospital,as anything lower than waist high tends to roll into the scar. (pack of "full briefs" from marks,in a a size a couple of sizes up).You will be in for three nights most probably,so have trashy magazines,nice nibbly snacks,juicy drinks etc.nighties are easier than pj's in terms of the scar.slippers with a rubber sole to cope with wet bathrooms etc.I didn't have any problems with wind ,and i've had two,so you might not get that.The rummaging feeling when they are getting the baby out is weird,but its all ok.Do make sure you don't have to do too much at home though,as you need as much rest afterwards as possible to help you heal.Take arnica/calendula/bellis perennis/hypericum mix afterwards (homoeopathic pharmacy will probably call it "surgery mix")only one dose a day for the first three days.Ainsworths on New Cavendish St London W1 would post it out,it does help with the healing process.And good luck!

I must admit I didn't have any problems pooing afterwards but then I have a cast iron constitution and never have these kind of problems :o

Warm baths with a bit of lavender or tea tree oil are good. I was told to have two baths a day when I had ds to help the scar heal.

Oh and did I say take it easy? :o I was bloody well lifting ds to bed four days after my second cs which was blooming stupid. Plus I was back doing laundry and full time childcare after only two weeks (partly couldn't help it, we were snowed in and then when dh went back to work my parents were away so I was on my own pretty much)

You're lucky it's spring time, if you have a nice garden and it's a sunny day it's such a life saver, give your dd some chalks and get her to draw a nice picture on the patio while you sit in the sunshine :o

Really there's not much else to recommend. Big pants, pain killers (though the co codamol made me bloat massively, very uncomfortable) warm baths, keep your would clean and dry and it'll heal quickly. I did take arnica tablets for a week before my cs with ds, plus for a couple of weeks afterwards so maybe that helped healing, might be worth a try. You've got to take the 60mg ones, the proper ones you don't touch - they come in a funny bottle and you dispense a couple in the lid and pop them straight in your mouth without touching them.

Erm, can't think of much else...

Oh, take it easy afterwards :o

I was exactly same as you! Still shocked at little bugger being breech! He's now 9 months.

Actually physically was ok with things like stairs, washing up loading dishwasher and washing clothes etc. nothing heavier than this though!!

TOP TIP your GP is the person that can clear you to drive so after 4 weeks if you feel in good shape, then ask them to give you (verbal) permission. This is all you need to be insured again.

Fill freezer now! More so for toddler than yourself!
Buy sticker books for toddler and get new videos and dvds (charity shops?) or use laptop for cbeebies website and milkshake! Or start sky + as you always seem to be sat down with bored toddler at same time of day and I've seen this Charlie and Lola tantrums are frequent.

Get a wax! take it all off right down to the top of the crack! Else they hack it with a bad razor!

Totally big pants and leggings are only thing you can wear after

LACTULOSE - demand it now if poss!! keep taking it before and after as constipation pain is an absolute killer on your internal scarring. Do not get constipated! Under any circumstances! Especially important if your iron has been low and youve had meds for it as this exacerbates the bunged up-ness

How old is first child? I got a buggy board for 2 yr 9 month gap. Couldnt push it with her standing on it as it was all too heavy! Waste of £60 as she accepted walking by the time my strength was back!

Little things bugged me - I dont have the same range of photos of DS at birth because i couldnt move compared to DD.
But breast milk came in quickly with CS
Bleeding was much much less (think they clean some out during surgery)
I dont like bulge above scar and have lost some sensation above scar but figure I could have been incontinent with a natural so its give and take!

good luck

Blow dry your scar with a hairdryer after a shower to keep it clean and dry, helps to avoid chance of infection

I hate my over-scar bulge too,but I only got it after the second c-section.