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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

C section - essential tips

60 replies

Gigondas · 28/12/2011 18:31

Am likely to have elective c section in 2 weeks if baby doesnt move. What do I need to know about prep or recovery? Or point me in right direction of a thread as know it will have been done before .

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Squeegle · 28/12/2011 21:12

Make sure you take plenty to read! For me it was an absolute pleasure, compared to birth number 1 ( with ventouse and forceps!). The weirdest thing that happened to me after my cs was that I had two completely White poos! Sorry if tmi, still don't know why that was, but apart from that the whole experience was fine and I enjoyed having a few days in bed taking it easy!

GeetTallBird · 28/12/2011 21:21

The one thing that was magically memorable for me was "rule the world" by take that came on the radio when DS came out!

Yes to not looking in the mirrored lights. I never knew my insides were yellow sorry tmi!!!!!

One think to watch out for, you might get pain in your shoulders after the birth, whilst you're lying down. I did and was convinced it was a something serious....turns out its wind, and all the theatre staff need to do is tip you up a bit and pain is gone!

Also watch out for coughing as it hurts like hell-you need a cushion to squeeze/push gently against your scar.

Take your make up in :)

Good luck

MaMattoo · 29/12/2011 00:36

Agree with pain relief medicines..ask for them, let someone know if you are in pain.
Also lactulose is your friend!
Take things slow..holding your tummy to cough/sneeze etc helps. Don't lift anything heavier than a pillow for a few weeks! I lifted bubba in car seat and managed to trouble my stitches.
Standing up for the first time is a bugger so prepare to hold hands! Everyday is a better day after day 3! C secs are civilised polite meetings of helpful people. So relax. The max pain you will feel is the small tingling of anaesthetic for epidural.
However, Post baby care should be demanded if you are not happy with what you are being given.
Take care and be positive! Good luck!

Original poster

Gigondas · 29/12/2011 10:10

Thanks again for all this- will print out and follow. Will also report back on what is said by consultant on the standing up straight afterwards .

OP posts:

BuggeredIfIAm · 29/12/2011 10:23

Walk up stairs sideways makes a big difference!
Take a pillow to put across tummy under the seatbelt for journey home - and get DP to research and take the route that has no/least potholes, turns and speed bumps

Hold stomach if you need to laugh/cough

PosieParker · 29/12/2011 10:26

I've had four, two elective.

My biggest tip is pack flannels and vaseline, the itching when the initial meds wear of is incredible....the only thing that helps is cold cold flannels.

Make a CD you will be allowed to take this in, take card games and books as an no emergency you may wait ALL day before having your baby.

PosieParker · 29/12/2011 10:26

Oh gosh that wind in the shoulder is awful too.

LemonDifficult · 29/12/2011 10:27

Bikini wax the top of your bikini line, apparently it can help the scar heal as well as meaning you won't be shaved.

I was allowed to have glucose tablets when I was waiting as although it's nil-by-mouth for the hours beforehand, there were quite a few emergencies and I was kept waiting. The consultant said glucose has been shown to be beneficial in some studies so he let me. Might be worth taking some.

cidrenomore · 29/12/2011 10:38

Was encouraged to move about, anyhow, not nec. standing up straight. When I did caused others on ward to look at me for noises I made,but glad I did it does get easier.
YY to painkillers, if you feel don't need them right now, might in an hour or so and that trolley has fixed times!
Also, check your meds on way out. My hosp forgot to give me pain relief, which when midwife visited next day had her sending DH (with DD1) straight back to hosp pharmacy to get proper stuff. (She said she knew was problem because I could not stand up straight...)

ceri1985 · 29/12/2011 13:35

I had emcs with my first baby 3 weeks ago. This is my experience:
I felt nothing at all during the op, not even rummaging.
NOTHING will prepare you for the pain of moving when the spinal wears off.
Take as many painkillers as you're allowed
Take all the help you're offered (my dh put my maternity pad on for me!)
Don't be afraid to call midwives and ask for help.
Don't do too much too soon.
Cushion for under seatbelt on way home
Big, oversized knickers
Drink plenty
Wear soft clothes like pjs and trackies, not jeans.
Stand up straight and move slowly for very short periods (that's what I was advised by physio)

Thats all personal experience though. Good luck.x

PosieParker · 29/12/2011 13:40

oh yes, don't bother with paper pants...buy cheap massive ones, you will be swollen for weeks.

No matter how euphoric you feel go very slow....I pulled my internal stitches moving myself on my glider!!

rosebery · 29/12/2011 16:24

I had an emcs first time round - I agree with all the advice given here. So obvious, but make sure you have everything within easy grabbing distance of the bed in the first day or so, for both you and baby. I completely underestimated how stiff and sore I'd be.

Having said that, I was also surprised how quickly I recovered and, by day 5, was proudly pushing ds round the village.

Will be having elcs with dc2 in late Feb so really useful to read this thread. Hadn't thought about reflections in the lights ... Shall bear that in mind!

YankNCock · 29/12/2011 16:45

Make sure you let air get to your scar, particularly if you have any overhang (like me ). At one point I actually used bandaging tape (several strips) to hold my tummy up and away while I was lying down, just to be sure it was getting all the air it could.

Pay attention for signs of infection. For me, it was a slight whiffyness that only I seemed to notice. You don't necessarily have to take oral antibiotics if you do get an infected scar. I was worried about taking them with establishing breastfeeding, so was allowed to use an external antibiotic cream which did clear up the infection eventually.

thejaffacakesareonme · 29/12/2011 17:19

I felt really, really itchy when the anaesthetic started to wear off. It was all over my torso and I scratched a huge amount. DH did try to tell me I'd regret it but I ignored him. A couple of hours later and I looked as though I'd been attacked by Edward Scissorhands.

Original poster

Gigondas · 29/12/2011 17:42

Thanks again- agree Rosebery re reflections in lights as am ridiculously squeamish

OP posts:

Meglet · 29/12/2011 17:58

Just to add to the get up as soon as possible / rest as much as you can posts.

After my EMCS I was told by the head midwife that I should rest and ring the bell when I needed help (this was day 3 when I was in tears and loads of pain). Several months later I had a birth debrief and the midwife had a bit of a rant about the dire post-natal care for CS mums and said they were only made to get up in order to clear the beds sooner rather than later. She was even rantier than I had been. The same was said by the gynea nurses after my hysterectomy, they laid into the post-natal care and said CS mums were treated very badly.

FWIW I got moving 24hrs after my EMCS and was on pain relief for a month, rested after my planned CS and was off paracetamol by day 10 and did bugger all after my hysterectomy (48 hours in bed) and was off paracetamol by day 4.

Big pants, not too much food while you're healing in case you get constipated, (I liked herb teas and soup post op) lots of buzzing for the midwives (even if they would rather you do it all), takeaways when you get home.

I tried to not do anything too strenuous for 3 / 4 weeks after my planned CS. I much prefered letting my body recover naturally than neck painkillers just so I could keep going.

My CS's were fine, quite interesting experiences really and the theatre staff were great .

Meglet · 29/12/2011 18:00

oh, and get the hospital to write your meds schedule on the tablet boxes when they discharge you.

I got in a dreadful pickle not knowing what to take or at what time.

Wormshuffler · 30/12/2011 07:14

Thanks for this ladies, I am having one next thursday. My DC's were both born by EMCS that was however 10 and 12 years ago and I have blocked out forgotten all the details!

Original poster

Gigondas · 30/12/2011 09:35

Don't say that worm shuffler- I am nervous enough already (and good luck). Thanks again for tips- find out Tuesday If/when c section is

OP posts:

Wormshuffler · 30/12/2011 10:10

Don't worry (she tells herself) , ELCS is supposed to be a totally different experience to an EMCS. good luck for tuesday :)

Latsia · 30/12/2011 11:53

Arnica! Start taking Arnica a week or so beforehand. Not sure how much it helped but it's worth a try. And be prepared to sit and be hungry and wait for any emergency CS that might need to be done before yours. DH has to leave the ward to eat as I was ravenous but on nil by mouth.

GnomeDePlume · 30/12/2011 11:55

Worm - I have had an EMCS and 2 ELCS. Huge difference between EMCS & ELCS. ELCS was calm, relaxed. EMCS was done in a panic after a long labour.

Recovery from ELCS was a lot easier than from the EMCS. You wouldnt get ready for an operation on your leg by running a marathon.

Wormshuffler · 31/12/2011 06:09

Thanks gnome I guess I have time to worry about it this time, whereas with the DC's being fairly urgent after 2 long labours I just had to get on with it!! I have bought the arnica it was on 3 for 2 in holland and barrett, not sure I will need 240 tablets but I have them now!

Aftereightsaremine · 31/12/2011 06:19

Best advice I received was to check my private health insurance re c sections hence both times had dds on NHS & then transferred into private part of Hosp it was lovely to have ensuite & be waited on hand & foot! I did NOT want to leave!

flamegirl77 · 03/01/2012 06:44

The wind can be horrid, if you get it ask for something - I was given peppermint oil.

If BFing ask for as much help as you need. I wish I had asked for help latching on for every feed while in hospital. It was hard to remember how to arrange the pillows etc and position the baby.

Once you get home, write down a schedule for your meds. It can get confusing when you are in pain and sleep deprived and your DH and midwife can't understand that if you are going to be awake all night you can't have paracetemol every four hours, it has to be six.

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