Please help me prepare for my elective section

[hockeymum]

Hi, thanks to all the advice on here over the past few months I have a much better image of what to do to look after myself post section than last time. I have tea tree oil for the wound and arnica tablets. Got a few more questions though.

How can I keep my spirits up in hospital for 4 days, I'm worried I'll get the blues badly again.

I can't stand tea, but have heard that peppermint tea is good for the bottom gas post delivery. Is there an alternative, do mints work on their own or some other type of peppermint that is not tea?.

Any advice on getting wound healed with a huge overhang I know about airing it more regularly but obviously that's not too compatible with sitting on the sofa feeding a newborn for so many hours a day.

Anything anyone can say to cheer me up? I'm feeling really low about the section coming up

Thanks for your help girls!

I had 2 c sections
one emergency section- knocked out
6 months ago- had spinal, felt great after spinal.
Drink lots of water, that helped with me. I can't comment on peppermint tea because I tried it and did'nt like taste, so don't know of ots benefits.
Good luck!

I had a section, emergency, but a section none the less.

I munched my way through so much arnica I had little or no post op pain.

I was driving 3 weeks post op, with the doctors and the inurance company's blesssing.

I had a private room, but would highly reccomend you bring your walkman, MP3 or Ipod or whatever you use.

Fennel tea is quite good for wind.

Can't think of anything else ATM.

I have had 2 sections. The best advice I have for protecting the wound is to stick a sanitary pad lengthways across your knickers - the sticky strip keeps it in place. With my second section I was on a ward and it was nice to watch all the comings and goings and chat across the beds to the other new mums whereas with my first I was in a room by myself and that made me feel a bit more isolated. Good luck

Chamomile tea is known to relax and soothe. Fennel tea is very good for relieving trapped gas, and peppermint tea aids digestion and is anti-flatulent.

You probably already know this-
but don't forget big knickers

Oh yes the big knickers, sent DH to Marks and Spencers and he bought knickers like these,\link{http://www.venus-maternity.co.uk/furniture/tips_5167_1574_006.jpg\I kid you not, Bridget Jones would never have pulled in these}

They look so comfy

Sent DH out for big knickers.

I had a planned section and have to say i would definately have one again. I had peppermint cordial for wind (nice with iced water) The arnica helped. I also enjoyed being on tha war of four people as i didn't feel so isolated. Othe recommendations take you maternity track suit bottoms in to wear as pJ's they sit higher so won't aggravate the wound. I had dd on 21st December and the ward ws so hot you would have thought it was summer so vest tops and trackies were the way to go.

Ask DP to bring you in sandwiches or something to eat every day. I found this gave me something to look forward to although the food wasn't that bad where i was.

Also we stocked the freezer with party type food (sausage rolls, mini pizzas, mini pasties etc) to have for lunch when i got home. Cooking and eating were the last thing on my mind so having snacky foods was great. I also cooked stews, casseroles etc but found it easier to snack for lunch.

Re huge overhang, I think the best thing (in the absence of funds for immediate cosmetic surgery) is long baths with tea tree or lavender oil and a little salt, and making sure that you clean and dry really well.

I'm hoping not to have a section this time, but will be waxing near due date to avoid a dry shave and that awful prickly stubble feel. (ok, dp will be waxing, because I cant see a bloody thing down there)

As for wind, homeopathic cimicifuga helped me last time, but I've also got peppermint liquid extract from holland and barrett cos I'm not keen on the tea, you only need a few drops. Good luck with everything, epecially bottom gas xx

dyzziddi - where did you find peppermint cordial? Can't find it for love nor money!!

Thanks for the advice

I continued to wear my big maternity knickers for about a month post section, and swanned around at hospital and home in short, baggy cotton nighties so there was nothing else rubbing on the wound. And I do remember doing some feeds naked and lying down on my bed which was just the most comfy position (Obv. I had a private room ) Peppermint "tea" is actually just an infusion of peppermint leaves, so not really tea-like at all - I'm another who hates tea, but loved the peppermint version. You can though try peppermint oil, diluted in water, instead. Or make peppermint tea in advance but drink it when cold with ice. Mints on their own don't work as most don't actually contain any natural peppermint, just artificial flavours.

Can you take any really engrossing yet easy to read books? I remember both of mine sleeping loads during the days and I lost myself in crappy thrillerish novels. Or try books on tape so you can listen whilst feeding. Or get into Sudoku. I also used the enforced bed rest in hospital as pampering time - took face masks, body lotion etc, and nail varnish to take advanage of the fact I could actually see my toes! Also massage oil for the baby.

My second (elective) section was a far more positive experience than my first emergency one

I got mine in sainsburys but to be fair our morrisons and asda do it. Its about £1.30 for a cordial sized bottle.

I had my 2nd elec section in October and was away from dd1 and dh for 4 weeks altogether (mostly ante-natal) which was pretty dire but hey, i survived, and i'm sure you will too!

Yes to lots of books and mags to lose yourself in and pass the time.

post-section, yes to san towel across wound when feeding, sitting up, but try to expose it when you lie down on your back, this will open out the folds of skin as well and get the air to it

accept all pain relief - and check (if you can) what they offer after the morphine wears off. for dd1 they gave me co-codemol and brufen which was good but with dd2 they only gave me brufen and paracetemol, so i would stock up on the co-codemol of you can and bring them in to hospital in case the drugs rounds get delayed - taking the pain relief as often as i was allowed really helped once i was on the stronger stuff. on this subject, try to remember to write down what you have and when for when you leave hospital. The MVs do it for you in hospital obviously but it can be hard keeping track of what you've taken and when so i had a little notebook next to the bed - it helped remind me to take the arnica as well.

will post more later if i can think of anything else. good luck - I'm sure you'll be fine X

MVs? I meant MWs (midwives) DER!

We took Scrabble into the hospital with us, and played loads of games whilst ds was sleeping. Wondered what all the fuss about babies being hard work was! Soon found out! :o Take your own pillows, and a bf pillow if you're planning on bf (might even be helpful if ff?)

I had an elective section 6 months ago and it was no problem. Did not really have huge overhang as once baby was out, you could see how big my arse had really got. ( I had sadly deluded myself throughout - all in front etc. Ha.) Have not heard about needing gas rememdies - think was worse last few weeks of being pgI couldn't read much as had stupid pregnancy brain still, so me and baby shuffled very slowly up and down ward/corridor spying on people. I watched lots of TV, cuddled dd, insisted dh spent lots of time keeping me company. You can air tummy and feed at same time - feed lying down/leaning back/baby a la rugby ball etc. You will be fine!!

I was recommended vit c with zinc to help healing - together with arnica. Something definitely worked.

Second the getting food brought in from home - my mum stayed at our house and dh would ferry bacon sarnies to me.

Get lots of visitors lined up esp if your dh might not be able to spend as much time with you if you have other children at home.

hockeymum -

I had a section, I didn't suffer from "bottom wind"! I took arnica for the wound, but mostly started forgetting taking it.
As for "healing with a overhang", I hardly bled, so I'd wear knickers etc in the day, but at night I'd put a towel down on the bed and lie on it with no knickers on. I felt really warm after dd arrived, so I'd sleep out of the covers, so my wound got a lot of air to it at night time.

In the hospital, I brought the TV cards, kept the TV on most of the day etc. It was handy to have something on in the background esp after late night feeding! MP3 player is also a good suggestion. Sort out your songs though if you do take one, put upbeat songs that make you smile, not slushier songs that you usually like.

Be careful what you drink after your section, esp the first night. I was told I was allowed water, tea and dilute pop. So I drank water and Robinson Hi Juice. Cue throwing up for hours on end, it was awful. I had my DD at 2:45, at 10:00 I was throwing up everywhere because of the juice. So I would say stick to plain water the first night, and if possible let it warm to room temperature first, the cold upset my stomach.

Don't push yourself - when you get home, get friends and family to help, do the shopping and housework, cook for you etc. while you rest with baby, air the scar, take baths and sleep as much as possible. I overdid it when I got home, took baby round to a friend's party and silly things like that, and I'm sure that contributed to slow healing of my scar, which also got infected. Taking it as easy as you can is also said to help avoid PND.

In hospital, what made me happiest was friends bringing chocolates, magazines and nice food eg posh cheese and fresh smoothies and suchlike that you don't get in hospital meals. Also having pillows, cuddly toy and a favourite teacup from home, though that might sound trivial having stuff from home really helped.

thank you all so much for the advice, I'll definitely be taking it on board, especially the lining up visitors for certain times and telling them what I would like. A lot of my friends have small babies and toddlers too and have all had nice birth centre births so they dont get why I'm so worked up about not having people to visit etc. I'll tell them to stay at home and get other people with a bit of compassion to come in with chocolate and nice fruit!

It's also really nice to know that second elective sections are more positive experiences than first emergency ones. When I had dd I was 20 days overdue and had been in full labour for 24 hours so I was in no fit state at all! I'm glad people found it better to be planned.

Hi!
Good luck for your section. My second section was elective, first was emergency. Here are my tips... 1) don't forget your slippers and dressing gown, I had to walk to theatre in hospital nightgown, unbuttoned nightshirt over the top with trainers, tres elegante!
2) LACTULOSE, oh gawd the constipation after my first secion.....eeeek. Take what they give you in hospital and then get a big bottle for home and keep taking it for a few days even when things are back to normal (iykwim) Ironically it's all the pain relief you are given that makes it so bad!
3)I got a small infection in my wound after my second one, it's not what you want to happen but if it does, if you feel at all 'off' or feverish, see someone asap and get some lovely antibiotics straight away, I felt much better very quickly!
4) ENJOY! The panic element is gone, I found the theatre staff friendly and calming and we asked for dh to be able to tell me what sex the baby was, I'll never forget dh's beaming face telling me we had the son we were hoping for, surrounded by the smiling eyes and faces of the theatre staff, such a great memory!

Good luck to you!

Maddie
x

the tea tree oil will be very helpful with wound healing overhang or not...

I found making sure it was dry and so would pat my wound dry with paper towels that I could just chuck was good for getting it dry.

another vote for arnica

trashy magazines, chocs and books were fab. I was on a ward second time round and it was okay.. first time I had my own room but spent most of my time in SCBU as dd1 was there. Otherwise just took the time to rest esp. after second one as I had a toddler with sn to go home to.

make sure your anaesthatist runs through a good litre of saline before the spinal goes in - should help prevent the sickness a lot of women describe (I've heard anaeasthatists don't do this much in the UK as they are rushed in theatre?).

You shouldn't have a huge overhang unless you are already overweight.

Get moving ths same day, and take advantage of your catheter by drinking lots - fruit juice will help get those bowels moving. Keep the catheter in overnight if poss.

Shower every morning and get dressed - mentally it helps you feel normal and less like an invalid.

I can understand why you feel miserable if you never wanted a CS. Try and adopt a positive attitude. A good recovery doesn't just happen - you can make it happen. Regular movement will help.

Take in your own Ibuprofen (400mg tablets) and Paracetamol. This is v.v.v. impt on a busy post-natal ward. FGS, do not rely on the nurses to bring your meds on time. POst-surgery you will have a lot of inflammation for 48 hours, which contributes greatly to your pain. Keep a lid on the inflammation by taking those anti-inflammatories at their maximum dose. Don't wait for the pain!

If you are recvering well, you might be discharged after 48 hours!

Good Luck, hope it all goes well.