Preparation advice for c-section

[ilovemulberry]

I am 38 weeks on Tuesday. I had a scan at 36+4 and baby was breech, pretty sure he still is. I will be having a c-section if they can't turn him on Monday. I have my husband and home for three weeks after, however is there anything you would recommend doing to make my life a bit easier once I'm home?

Thanks

Hmmm was a while ago but all I can think of really is get some comfortable clothes to wear. Something that will not rub against you where your scar is likely to be. I remember living in nightshirts and dresses for the first couple of weeks and totally avoided trousers as no matter how baggy they were they rubbed against the scar.

Oh and forgot to say I hope it all goes well. One more tip get as much sleep as possible. I ignored this advice and haven't slept past 7.30am since baby was born.

Big soft pants, leggings or joggers, definitely no jeans.
When you come home from the hospital, put 2-3 maternity pads on top of and around your wound as the seat belt will sit on top of it and be terrifying without padding.
Avoid car journeys after that, so DH does shopping, or do it online.
Avoid pushing the pram, it pulls on your scar.
No lifting or bending. DH to do all nappy changes.
Definitely no housework
Rest as much as you can. You might feel well enough to push the pram on a long walk, but you may feel bloody awful afterwards.
Learn how to get out of bed, ask the midwives to show you in hospital.
Do not rush to be discharged from hospital. Two nights+ - if they ask you if you want to go home the next day, feel free to say no.
Take your painkillers make sure you are discharged with some strong ones like diclofenac (fine for bfing btw). The time to consider stop taking them or to wind down the dose is when you forget to take them.
Make sure you don't lock the door when having a shower for the first few days, you may feel dizzy and need rescuing.

Mine was the 29th, so this is all quite recent for me! Get stocks of paracetamol and ibuprofen in, fill the freezer with stuff you can just heat up (and will like to eat - I lost my appetite completely). Fruit and lactulose to get your bowels back to normal afterwards, and to make that first poo a bit easier! Lots of cushions/pillows so you're propped up and don't have to use your stomach to sit up. Shower gel with a hook on - they'll make you have a shower at the hospital and if it's got a hook on you won't have to put it on the floor and bend down to get it. Anything that might help with trapped wind - peppermint oil, tea etc - I had/have awful shoulder pain.

Hmm, not sure what else. I was in hospital for 6 days so have been trying to think of the things I got DH to bring in for me...

Straws. so you can drink lying down in those first few hours. Keep everything within reach. And make sure they don't take your buzzer away from you like the nasty assistant did in the middle of the night so I couldn't call anyone.
Had two sections for two breech babies so good luck!

Big pants and yoga trousers are your friends.

Fill the freezer, have a "place" for putting things that need to go up/down stairs (that DP knows about).

Stay the extra night in hospital to take advantage of the hospital bed with controls.

Take your pain killers regularly.

Recognize that your scar will be stingy / twingy but that's ok & keep moving.

Enjoy. I had an elcs on monday, and am feeling great. Not too sore, some movements are a bit pinchy.

Yes, yes to big pants, being taught how to get out of bed in a way that minimises strain on the wound and creating upstairs and downstairs 'stations' of baby Kit and other essentials for you to minimise the need to go up and down any more than necessary in the early days.

Biggest thing to work our from my experience is how you're handling feeding at night? If you're breastfeeding invest in whatever makes this as comfortable as possible: v shaped cushion, cot opening directly onto the bed, comfy bedroom chair etc...

A bit of prep I do for friends is to bake them a fruit cake with as many iron-rich dried fruits, nuts (and molasses etc) I can cram in - works on many levels: helps with anemia, something to give visitors, and generally comforting and energy-giving to pick at.

I had an emergency csection 16 days ago and healed really well so be prepared to feel really well quickly. I only spent one night in hospital and felt fine by day 3 and reduced the amount of painkillers I was taking by this time as well. If you feel well remember to take it easy i have to keep reminding myself I have had major surgery!

I did have shoulder pain due to trapped wind and we had family drop round with food if they wanted to visit us early. Our freezer was also stocked up.

A widgey or donut shaped pillow also helped with feeding baby as you can position baby so your hands are free and you can eat while feeding.

You may also experience swelling in your legs and feet after surgery and be given fragmen to inject into your thighs.

Thanks so much all. Will take everything on board xx

Takeaway menus
Huge pants. M&S cotton full briefs size 22 worked for me
Paracetamol Brufen and fybogel
LIMIT VISITORS when you get home for 2 weeks
Register with tesco/ASDA/sainsburys/Ocado for home delivery, whichever you prefer
Wide waistband yoga pants- big sized to pull up over waist well above scar.