Do you have to buy Lactulose for c section or do they..

[sarahbeth2]

give it to you?

Just reading the thread on what to buy for c section/useful tips etc. Do i buy this or does tyhe hospital give it to you?
Also re masaging scars, is johnsons baby oil ok or something else?

Thanks ;)

They won't give you lactulose, and you may not need it (I didn't).

Re the scar I'd just use a little bit of olive or veggie oil initially. That johnsons stuff is full of god knows what.

I've had 2 c-sections and not heard of either needing lactulose nor oil to massage scars. Believe me, you won't want anything touching your scar at first!

i 2nd what TheVisitor says. You have to keep your scar dry so for the first few weeks you wont want to put anything on it.
(I actually found it was alot less painful and stayed cleaner if i places a sanitary pad over the scar for the first week but then i had a small overhang which rubbed after baby was born!)
Also the lactulose was not needed, whilst it was uncomfortable it wasnt impossible IYKWIM

Scar massage is for when you have healed, not for when you are scabby. It breaks down lumpy scar tissue and helps you get a better-looking scar. A surgeon friend highly recommends it.

I would suggest lots of fresh fruit - get dh to make you a fruit salad, to get things moving. If you struggle then ask for lactolose. I had a natural birth but tore badly so it made the idea of pooing terrifying. The fist time was fine and I think I got too confident and the second one was the killer. Ended up with dd lying on the bath mat with dh sitting on the bath holding my hand while I pooed (dh and I do not usually use the toilet infront of each other - it's the one thing that's private). I was taking lactolose but I really think it was the lack of fibre and fruit as I just ate biscuits and tead for the week after dd was born.

Scar wise - I've been advised to massage it (after about 2 weeks but when it's not hurting just feeling stretchy). I was going to use bio oil as it helps with the scaring and I used it for stretchmarks after dd.

I didnt take anything bowel wise when I had my 2 sections - and I was on a shite load of codeine and iron as well so well and truely stuffed up It all happened in its own time.

And havent massaged my scars either. I've had 2 sections (though obviously on the same scar) and it barely visible - but a lot of that is due to my healing and the excellent work of my surgeon! But Bio-Oil is meant to be fab, or vitamin E cream if once it has healed you want to massage it.

I was offered Lactulose after my cs and the midwife prescribed me a bottle to take home. It's not as good as Movicol though, so I got the GP to prescribe me some before I went in for the second cs. I was slightly damaged by the constipation from the first cs and didn't want to risk lactulose again.

Don't touch your scar until it's healed. Bio-oil or olive oil are probably better for it. TBH mine has been sliced open 3 times and it's just a fine white mark less than 5 years after the 1st cs. You'll probably help the healing process by not over doing it and eating well, taking vits etc.

Take something like windeze in with you - the trapped wind in a section is amazing and more painful than the afterpains!

also second the sanitary towel on the scar - I did this with my second, especially after a bath or shower to ensure it is dry. It also helps if it is weeping to keep it clean, and to stop it sticking to your knickers etc.

I was given lactulose with my painkillers in hospital.I didn't know what it was but kept taking it even though I had the squits,oops!
They also gave me a bottle to take home.

Peppermint tea is excellent for post surgery wind.

Blow dry your scar after every shower and it will keep it absolutely dry and help prevent infection. a superb midwife recommended this to me and it works. i have a slight overhang (yuk) so at 7 months im still in the habit of doing this. all the best.

Lactulose is horrid, and Movicol is far, far, worse. It is like drinking sea water. Lactulose is incredibly sweet and a bit like a dodgy liqueur you'd have on holiday and think it was a good idea at the time. My hospital is very liberal with giving them both out if needed. Movicol had have some quite dramatic effects too.

I packed dried figs, liquorice and dried apricots to get me going again. Worked fine.

I massaged bio-oil into my scar with a small sponge from about 3 weeks after CS.

dried apricots have the same effect and are much nicer. You dont need to put any thing on your scar just keep it clean and dry and it should be fine.

Just eat fresh fruit and veg (or dried fruit), unless you have a real problem with constipation.

My big recommendation is for peppermint oil capsules. Get them from a health food shop. GREAT for trapped wind, should you get it.

Thanks, gosh feel bit scared now ;)
Great tips, will get shopping!!!

I never had a problem with constipation after 2 elec CSs.

I did fart a lot in the immediate post-op hours, but it never felt trapped.

You can wash over your scar - just make sure it's dry afterwards.

Movement is the key to quick healing. Make sure you get out of bed the same day. If you really don't feel up to it (highly unlikely), make sure you get heparin shots until you're up and about.

Just been shopping, went to get some sanitary pads then thought, what am i getting these for? When i have a vb obviously i bled for weeks afterwards. Do you still bleed for afterwards or is it just for the scar? Also, got a nighty and then thought, do i need another one next size down too as bump will go quickky (it did last time)

Got in a pickle and left with nothing much lol ;)

yes you bleed afterwards thopugh maybe not for quite as long

Ah, thanks! Didnt really think about that!

I bled for 6 weeks after both my sections. I thought they would have sucked most of it out.....

I've started putting my left over bio-oil on my scar and it's looking much better otherwise vitamin E oil is very good for scars.

I was given lactulose and needed it [cblush] very sweet but it works! My stomach was so full of gas and my stomach was huge for days.

I also bled for 10 bloody weeks [csad] after my c section!

Yes, you'll still bleed - whichever way the baby comes out, you'll still have a dinner plate sized wound where the placenta was attached to the uterine wall.

I didn't need lactulose or anything either - though the first poo afterwards was a bit scary! It was fine though.
Also agree with the sanitary towel over the scar thing - midwife recommended this and it worked well in terms of keeping the scar dry and clean.
Never massaged any oil into the scar.
I bled for a good four weeks, it sort of carried on into a first period and then tailed off. It wasn't as heavy as I'd anticipated though - it was lighter than a normal period, for me.