C section advice and birth plan - any suggestions?

[Emerald6]

I'm having a c section in a fortnight and wondering if anyone has any suggestions for birth plan or tips for recovery & breastfeeding.
Thanks in advance :)

I had a section 6 months ago and found it easiest to sleep with baby on me for the first few nights as it's easier to bf baby can't roll and you probably find it too painful to roll.
Also I got a bd pillow from mothercare Which was great! As for recovery I was pretty much laid up the first week but slowly managed to do more each day I think I was hoovering by week 4! Just don't over do it, rest when u need to and don't be afraid to ask for help.
I'm absolutely fine now except my scar hurts if my knickers have been resting on it so having to wear big ones for now lol x

From a practical point of view you will need -

Water bottle with a skirts cap, to drink lying down.
Shower gel with a hook (Radix do it)
Yoga pants with a big wide roll over waistband. I found maternity clothes had seams in the wrong places, and don't gp near under bump jeans - under bump = on the scar. Hush and Gossypium do nice ones. Or dresses if you don't bf.
Shoes you can put on without leaning over (I wore crocs, glad me).
There are people who argue that Arnica is hocus, but I have always taken it for bruising and have found it really helps and took it with both emcs. 30c tabs from Boots.
Ditto mint for trapped wind. I didn't take it and didn't have trapped wind.
Dried fruit, lactulose and plenty of water!
Somewhere high to change baby when you get home. A high bed will do.
A sling or baby carrier for the time you can't push a pram. The good ones put the weight on your back.
A online grocery delivery account.

Big pants too!

When I say "skirts cap", my phone obviously means "sports cap".

Bring with:
Yes - nice, big, comfy pants!
Your own super sanitary towels as the hospital ones are like nappies.
Lovely comfy nightie or big Pjs with a waistband that pulls right up over your tummy Simon Cowell-stylee.
Peppermint tea in case you get trapped wind - it works!

Do you know what your hospital are like re: c section briths? i have had two sections in hospitals with very different attitudes. My second child was born in a hospital where they do 'natural' sections...so if you want they will lower the screen as your baby is born and give you skin to skin in theatre. Worth finding out. If not, might be worth ketting them know you want skin to skin and the chance to establish breastfeeding asap once in recovery (if you do). Just to make it crystal clear.

Thanks so much for all the advice ladies, I really appreciate it.Had spent ages searching on line and didnt find any advice so all this is a big help.
Off to write my birth plan for the mw appointment tomorrow :)

Hi Emerald6,

Just to add a different perspective... I had an EMCS and expected to be in a lot of pain and to have a long recovery. I had neither! I didn't use 90% of the items listed above. I was cautious, but I was mobile as soon as the epidural wore off.

Before you go and stock up on all those items and potentially waste your money, why not just wait and see how you feel? I'm sure your partner or a family member can make a quick trip to the shops if you find any of the above items would come in useful.

I did prefer to wear lots of leggings and loose dresses as they didn't rub up against my scar. And I used some regular sofa cushions to prop up baby when I breastfed in the 'rugby' position.

With regard to a birth plan, I'd say the one thing to consider is how you'd like the baby handed to you or your partner. Mine was wrapped in a towel and handed to my husband, and there was no space for her to be placed on my chest. No matter what angle DH tried to show her to me I could only see her eyes. I wish I had discussed this with staff before it happened... but hey ho. in the grand scheme of things it didn't really matter in retrospect, it didn't change the way I felt about DD etc. But it might have been nice to hold her straight away.

Good luck to you!

Anaesthetic: Request a combined spinal/epidural. If you only have a spinal block and it wears off the only option is to have a GA. If you have a combined option then you can be topped up via the epidural - particularly important if there are any complications and the surgery takes longer than expected. I have needed top ups with all three of my sections - so glad I was conscious for the births!

Meds: Keep on top of your meds following the birth - easier to keep on top of the pain than let it get bad then try and minimise it. Side effect is that you won't hunch either which will be better for your recover (and back!)

Planning: Do as little as possible for as long as possible - recovery will be quicker overall. Stay in your dressing gown too - once you're dressed the expectation will be that you're recovered. Organise food deliveries online ahead of time and make sure you have plenty of easy meals in - don't forget you'll need lunch too, not just dinners. Easy to forget to eat when you're focused on baby. get a cleaner if possible!

Natural section - being talked through what's happening, having first sight of baby (dropping screen), skin to skin contact ASAP. All possible and make the experience so much more emotional and positive than a purely medical experience.

hope it goes really well, good luck x