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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Silly c-section questions

45 replies

Wildwaterfalls · 02/08/2012 21:30

Hi all

May have a c-section in early Sep, and just wondering:

should I pack my own pain killers? Not for the operation itself obviously (!) but I read you need regular painkillers afterwards. Do you get these in hospital?

I have also read shaving is required pre operation. Rather do this myself if I can - not have it done in hospital, but how 'drastic' does it need to be? Roughly where is the incision??

Feeling very silly

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AnitaBlake · 02/08/2012 21:38

I definitely got more than enough painkillers provided. The hospital was very controlling and understandably wanted to keep and eye on how much I was getting.

There was no time to shave me last time, I intend yo be waxed just before admission this time. Would say its better to shave yourself, or at least at home if you can. My scar is just below my hairline, if you can still feel that far in, its literally maybe a centimetre or two above my pubic bone.

AnitaBlake · 02/08/2012 21:39

Ps there are no silly questions how else will you learn? I'd never had any sort of op before my c-section, and I didn't have a clue!

HappyAsASandboy · 02/08/2012 21:54

You won't need your own painkillers, the hospital will prescribe them, give you them while you're in hospital and send you home with plenty. If you need more after that then your midwife, HV or GP will prescribe and they'll all be free until you're 1 year post partum (by which time you'll be looooong finished with any painkillers!).

Shaving is a tricky one. Some people report that they didn't and weren't shaved, the surgeon made the incision in the hair. I shaved (or rather DH shaved me and my midwife asked me in hospital I I had (an would have come for me with a Bic if I hadn't already). So my advice would be to have DH do a bit of a tidy up down there (please don't try and do it yourself blind beyond the bump!). My incision is just south of my hair line, but I had twins so my humongous bump may have influenced the position.

Good luck for when the time comes :)

Original poster

Wildwaterfalls · 02/08/2012 22:46

Thanks both for the lovely and helpful responses. How nice to have this forum!

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 03/08/2012 06:36

I didn't shave and the surgeon decided they didn't need to (emcs so a bit different). My

blackteaplease · 03/08/2012 06:39

Sorry posted too soon. My scar is above the hair. It sits at the top of my knocked line, make sure you get some granny pants to avoid irritating the scar

scaredymcnamechange · 03/08/2012 06:43

Hi, just to reiterate, there are no silly questions about CS. it is scary! Any contemplation of birth is.
I don't remember being shaved either time,but my scar is just above hairline anyway.
FWIW, before first, I went for a general bikini wax (did not know about CS). It was very hard, as bump made it v difficult for me and waxer and she had to ask me to stand at one point, whereupon I almost passed out. It was not the pampering experience it should have been! Didn't bother when expecting no2, because really my priorities had changed.

Neverme · 03/08/2012 06:48

Yes definitely have a shave! My scar is just at the top of my pubic hair. I had an emcs and had let bikini area go to pot - the midwife had to give me a shave in theatre with lots of people about which was really embarrassing!

NellyBluth · 03/08/2012 07:23

You will get loads of painkillers, but just to go against the majority I would be tempted to take some paracetamol and ibuprofen with you just in case. Obviously don't take this as well as what the hospital gives you though! But just in case of the tiny chance that something happens to make you miss the drugs round, sometimes it can take quite a while for them to see you and give you the drugs you've missed. I took my own paracetamol twice I think - I tend to just have it in my handbag anyway - because I had missed drugs rounds and only realised when I was in quite a lot of pain, and obviously then didn't take the paracetamol the nurse gave me. But its only really if your baby is in special care etc that you end up missing drugs rounds, so I'm definitely not advocating self-medicating here!

Also, I had to send someone out to buy me Rennie because of the gas, oh, the gas... my hospital only had gripe water which didn't do it for me, so some Rennie or Gavison wouldn't hurt.

skandi1 · 03/08/2012 07:36

No need to worry or pack pain killers.

You will be fairly well supplied.

You will mostly feel a bit sore and obviously you can't move around for the first few hours.

Recover can be fairly quick too but don't over do it otherwise you will have a set back. Be sensible.

Enjoy it.

Original poster

Wildwaterfalls · 03/08/2012 11:24

Thank you for all the advice. Will get DH to have a go with the razor as it is definitely an area of limited visibility for me at the moment.

Good tip on the rennies - had not thought about gas.

OP posts:

phlebas · 03/08/2012 12:42

they tell you not to shave here, as it increases infection rate.

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 03/08/2012 12:44

My scar is really low. And I was dry shaved. This was 8.5 years ago. The shaving was horrible.

dorset04 · 03/08/2012 20:58

I was shaved both times in hospital for my emcs. This time I was told I can do it myself or get a wax. (have an elective planned) Although I am still not sure how low you have to go. Last times I think they shaved lot off.
I would also take painkillers. I missed a drug round as my notes were at pharmacy for discharge prescription.
In the information they said they can prescribe peppermint water for trapped wind.

mardarse · 03/08/2012 21:02

Ask away with the questions, there are no such thing as silly questions here.

As others have already said upthread, hospital will provide painkillers. I would say though - really make sure you keep on top of the pain and take the pain relief when offered. I didn't and tried to cut it down too soon (silly girl) and ended up feeling like I'd been run over by a truck.

I would def recommend taking some peppermint teabags tho for after the op. I had an EMCS with DD and the pain from the trapped gas afterwards was something else, felt worse than labour to me! But with ELCS after DS I drank plenty of peppermint tea on the ward and didn't suffer with trapped gas at all. That would be my top tip anyway.

Good Luck with it all!

Original poster

Wildwaterfalls · 04/08/2012 08:00

Thanks again! I have put peppermint tea on my hospital bag list!

OP posts:

Billy11 · 04/08/2012 09:18

Hospital shaved. They will provide pain relief. In case they offer paracetamol. Just shout out for stronger pain relief

Billy11 · 05/08/2012 07:27

Hospital shaved. They will provide pain relief. In case they offer paracetamol. Just shout out for stronger pain relief

HoneyBee1973 · 07/08/2012 21:49

Hi Ww.

I had a wax a few days before my planned c-section. Glad I did, scar is below the hairline and it made after care easier . No stubble for a couple of weeks!

Regarding pain relief - definitely bring your own Solpadeine. At my hospital (West Middlesex), you only get paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory after day 1, which does sod all in my opinion. I got morphine immediately after the c-section and then later that day, so I felt no pain. It was fantastic! Though by middle of the night I started to get really sore and asked for pain relief. I was shocked to be given two paracetamol. I happened to have Solpadeine with me in my wash bag.

So my advice is ditch the paracetamol and take Solpadeine instead. It's basically the same dose of paracetamol that they give you but with a bit of coedine in (never take more than 1000mg of paracetamol per dose by the way). That little bit of coedine will go a long way to help any pain you may have.

Best tip of all though is to keep moving and to walk as much as you can, as early as you can. Stops the muscle stiffness from setting in.

Hope this helps and Good luck with c-section!

Newtothisstuff · 07/08/2012 21:59

I was discharged with paracetamol only and it wasn't enough, I'd been given stronger ones for SPD so intended up taking those, I'd stock up on STRONG painkillers just incase

Original poster

Wildwaterfalls · 08/08/2012 23:15

Really helpful. Thank you so much! Will definitely pack some strong painkillers, and contemplate the wax. Haven't had many bikini waxes in my life so need to build up the courage .

OP posts:

TheDetective · 08/08/2012 23:23

I'd advise not to shave - current advice/research is that shaving increases the risk of infection. If there is a need to shave, the surgeon will make that decision on the table, and it will be done then. Better to wait and see than have shaved unnecessarily and increase the risk of infection/pain/soreness in the area. :)

Painkillers are prescribed and given as required but to the maximum frequency allowed. You risk overdose if you take your own on top of those provided.

humph123 · 12/08/2012 19:53

you are given loads of painkillers straight away and they give you a load to take home with you so i dont think you need to take any with you! i'm not sure a paracetemol is going to help to be honest :-)

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 12/08/2012 19:56

I was given Co-codamol. But it was 8 years ago.

BikeRaceRunningRaceNoSkiing · 12/08/2012 20:00

Barnsley hospital sent me home with enough paracetamol and voltarol to open a small pharmacy. Both my cs were emergencies, so they did the shaving. Scars just below hairline.

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