A good wash

[Haahoooo]

Was talking to my MIL about my upcoming ELCS, telling her I was going into hospital at 8 for an 11am section.

MIL: Oh yes, because they'll want to give you a good wash!

Me: ???

MIL: Yes, you have to be sterile going into theatre.

Now I've had an EMCS before and remember no such thing.

So should I expect 'a good wash' when I go in ?? I was planning to shower at home beforehand!

No, of course not! Good luck with it all.

I certainly didn't get one. How odd

I had a c section a month ago and didn't get given a wash. However, scheduled c sections get given some antibacterial wash to wash with from 2 days prior to the op given to them at the pre-booking appointment. I missed out on this though as twins decided to arrive earlier then my scheduled slot.

I was advised to thoroughly bathe/shower with, preferably, an antibacterial shower gel on the morning of the ELCS.

I also remember them washing my tummy with iodine (that orange-coloured liquid) in theatre prior to dd being born.

But, no scrub-down for me in a shower from hospital staff or anything like it!

No, I had a shower before I left home and that was it.
I did get a bed bath after, which before would have filled me full of horror but I wasn't really that bothered at all.

I didn't think so. Some disinfectant on my tummy certainly, and I'll make sure I'm clean going in!

MIL does make me laugh...

I e never heard of this...but they dont do that....hence why they used iodine that nbrowny yellowy stuff to sterilise the area. Plus all there tools have to be sterilised. If that was the case i can just imagine something stupid to sterilise your insides aswel hahaha x

Traditionally, patients undergoing surgery used to have a shower then shave of appropriate bits on the ward. This doesn't seem to happen anymore for elective surgeries as most people are capable of showering and they dont usually come in the night before. All patients will have some sort of skin prep before draping (betadine or chlorhexidine) and hair removal done using clippers not a razor in theatre.