Hi there,
I had to have an emergency section 13 weeks ago and was v.sad about it as was so active whilst pregnant,was still walking dog for 2hrs a day right up until week before bambino born.
I had a fab midwife and section was weird but fine,had done a v.helpful antenatal class on emergency sections.
husband found it emotional (out of character!)walking into room when i was on bed all hooked up.took a digital camera in and midwife took fantastic photos.Husband checked sex and held her until stitched up then i had skin to skin and she had some boob within an hour of being born.
definately take the pain relief, i was given morphine which made me sick each time i pressed the pump so used it for 11 hrs as it totally knocks you out. Then relied on diclofenac and paracetamol, both minimal amts come out in breastmilk.Midwife will tell you that diclofenac will upset babies guts but its use as an anti inflammatory for your wound is essential for getting up and around and being a cheerful mummy asap.
i got 2 packs of huge pants from Tesco, much comfier than paper pants and so cheap fine to chuck away after but actually needed them for a few weeks after section.
Dried fruit is great but i found raisins and baby figs(and grapes) gave my daughter major colicky tummy.drink loads to help prevent urinary tract infection from catheterisation. get a private room asap then can sit on loo for ages without baby having to go to nursery and can sing etc to gorg new baby in the middle of the night with no probs.
for your wound is essential to let air get to it ie wear nighties/loose pjs and infection risk will be reduced.feels very weird as numb for ages where stitches are.
I dont know what anyone else thinks but i foundmidwives v.keen to take my baby away in the night so i cd get some sleep, they took her away once and i felt so bereft that i rang emergency bell after 30 mins and asked for her back.in the hospital when you need to get your baby out the cot use the controls to get your bed as high as possible to make it easy to reach over and lift her out.
at home i used her cot upstairs and moses basket downstairs, you need an upstairs and downstairs set of stuff for first 2 weeks as painful to manage stairs. i got v.excited about coming home and raced around doing stairs etc because good pain relief then had a lot of bleeding after so take it easy.also was v.anaemic after section so ate loads of microwave in bag spinach from tesco and haemoglobin levels zoomed back up v.quick.
hardest thing i found was getting up in night to feed her, you need to get on your side bring knees up to chest and lever yourself up, took almost 10 mins and lots of wincing for the first couple of weeks so husband had to jump up and try to hold off crying!advantage is that she settles very well on daddy still.
also last point, sorry so long, i found my baby bjorn carrier essential as cannot carry babe in car seat for 3 mths as too heavy.also pramette too heavy to carry around.i used baby carrier for shopping, walking,everything.
good luck