Scheduled c section questions

[longleggedlady]

Hi all,
I have a (prob very silly) question about being on the ward after my c section. I was just thinking about knickers and catheters and bleeding (on my!) Do you put on underwear and a pad when you are returned to the ward after recovery if not does this mean that you just bleed onto the bed?? Apologies if I sound very thick but this question has just popped into my head and after a hit of googling I can find no definitive answer! Thanks

They give you a good clear out during the CS so you don't bleed too much immediately afterwards but while your catheter is still in, you will be positioned on an inco pad (incontinence pad). Just a little, padded white square which will soak up any blood. The nurse/midwife will also check your inco pad during your first few obs. I had my catheter out within 4hrs each time and at that point I put on knickers/a pad. But the bleeding didn't really start in earnest for 24hrs due the the clear out during the cs.

It's about 18 inches square btw if you're trying to imagine it and they just slip it underneath you post op.

Feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

And good luck. I've had two cs and they were lovely, positive events. No pain and not frightening at all.

yes you just lie there bleeding on to a pad. once you get sensation back it feels a bit gross. I always can't wait to have the catheter out. its the worst bit for me tbh.

I had a pad wedged between my legs as well an an inco pad.

And I was gobsmacked how much I bled afterwards- and the size of the lumps that came out whenever I went to the loo.

Pants didn't happen until day 2 as I recall.....

Thanks ladies. My question is answered! Now what else do I want to ask.... Pain medication is a mixed bag too isn't it? I am assuming it's IV relief following the surgery and then onto something else the next day? I read on dr google about paracetamol only?? That filled me with a little dread if I am honest! Any more experience/ advice gratefully received. X

I had some sort of suppository afterwards for pain, then a mixture of codeine, paracetamol and diclofenac. The midwife did say they could give me something else if I wasn't coping but it was okay. Bloody sore, but okay

I found it a lot less painful after my c section than my natural birth and as far as I can remember it was just paracetamol.

All very reassuring lovely ladies. Thanks so much for the advice. I think I am imagining the worst! X

I had a morphine suppository both times and the inco pads after the op. The nurses will probably do a wipe down / bed bath after a few hours and change the inco pad, maybe help you change into a fresh gown.

TBH after always needing to wee in the last month of pregnancy it was a relief to not have to get up and wee for almost a day. Both times I had the catheter in for 24hrs.

They will probably discharge you with voltarol / diclofenac (?) and advice you to use paracetamol as well. When they do this get them to write the drug schedule on the boxes (ie; 7am, 11am, 4pm etc). I got in a terrible mess not taking medication at the right point . Basically try and stick to the same times as the hospital drug trolley round for the first few days you're home.

Thanks! X

advise

It has varied with different c-sections but you will be sat on an inco-pad until someone comes along to clean you up and put your knickers and pad on you.

Catheter is usually for about 24 hours until total feeling comes back. It's absolute bliss after months of pissing every 20 minutes to lie in your nice warm bed (epidural/spinal makes the numb area feel lovely and warm) and never feel the need to go to the loo. When feeling starts to return you can feel the catheter there and start to wish it was out and badger the nurses over when it can come out.

Pain relief - the trolley only comes round a couple of times a day and then it is locked up and that's that. I'd advise having your pain relief whether you want it or not - that's called "staying on top of the pain." It's awful when you say "Oh no, I'm OK thanks" and refuse it then an hour later you're in agony but the trolley's not coming back for 4 hours so tough titty.

With my 2nd c-section the spinal wore off really fast - I could feel the wound when they were wheeling me to the ward (talk about feeling cheated!). I told them and they gave me a morphine injection.

Right so take the pain killers when they come round, get catheter removed ASAP after you can feel it. Gotcha. X

I was given paracetamol and diclofenac for both cs. The 2nd time was really painful so the me gave me tramadol when I asked for more pain relief. They can also give oramorph if you really need it.

After your catheter comes out you have to wee in a bowl and show it to the nurses. I think you have to do 4 wees in 12 hours, if you don't wee they will pit be cathetee back in. So make sure you drink lots

Also, lying around recovering and the anesthetic can make you constipated so take some dried fruit in to snack on.

At our hospital, they give you any meds for you to self administer, along with a chart to mark down what you've taken and when. It means you are in control of your own pain relief and not waiting for a trolley. You get given a suppository while in theatre (you'll know nothing about it) which is an anti-inflammatory and usually diamorphine into your cannula while you're in theatre too. Once out of theatre, you move pretty much straight to administering your own stuff. I had my IV removed before leaving recovery.

I had an allergic reaction to the diamorphine first time round so refused it the second time. I didn't take any other drugs after the cs as I genuinely didn't need them. No pain at all. As I said, my catheter was out within 4 hours both time and I was up and about with full sensation. In fact, I could move normally before I left recovery. I was discharged 12hrs after the first and 36hrs after the 2nd.

Another thing to ask about is blood thinners. Most hospitals are introducing or have introduced a self-administered course of blood thinners as standard. It's to prevent blood clots. I had 7 days worth to take home.

you can also ask for breakthrough pain relief, most places will have another agent prescribed over your regular meds as peoples pain is very individual. Dont be fobbed off to wait for the trolley if you are sore: you are not there to suffer

Pay attention to what the physio tells you and sorts out for you postop eg how to get up, how to brace when you cough, as this can help a lot and gets you moving better

Here they give you a jug to measure your wee but you don't have to show them! They just ask you to confirm you've managed 3 wees over a certain number of mls. Just to check your bladder's woken up and the catheter hasn't caused any problems.

You'll want to drink lots anyway as the post cs sweats can leave you quite dehydrated. The sluggish bowel thing is normal too because of the surgery. Don't worry about the trapped wind. Ask for peppermint water which they'll have at the midwives' station. After a day or so the air will move itself and you'll feel like a bloody whoopee cushion but the relief is immense.

Brilliant advice. Thanks all x

I had to show them my wee. They gave me a cardboard bedpan! I had my catheter out about 12 hours a afterwards both times. I also didn't go straight to the ward but was in a high dependency bay for about 12 hours after. Everyone has incontinence mats on their bed. I think they wedged a pad between my legs until I was up and about and able to wear knickers.

Drink loads. You will probably pee out huge volumes of wee. I know I did! Way more than I was drinking. I was sent home with Clexane injections to self administer at home. It's a blood thinning drug and pretty common for hospitals to do this now. You'll also had TEDS stockings to wear.

I had a pad wedged in between my legs and one of those plastic backed incontinence mats. Bled a lot!! The midwives will come and change it. The next day they offered me ora-morph but I declined. I then was taking paracetamol and ibuprofen for a week or so afterwards along with iron tablets (lost 600ml of blood) and daily anti clotting injections which they expected me or DP to administer!!! I remember telling DP in no uncertain terms to "fuck off away from me with that needle" and getting quite distressed! Midwife came daily and did it for me after that!!!
Recovery was quicker than I expected. I had an EMCS but would have an elective next time without a doubt. Hope it all goes well for you OP, if it's any consolation you do forget it all really quickly afterwards and it's all worth it

Thanks for all the speedy responses. Just want to get it over with now!! Next week is taking forever to come x

I had paracetamol and ibuprofen when in hospital but was discharged with no medicine (midwife had a bit of a rant that she thought it was miserly and a bit wrong) so make sure you have some at home just in case. I also had some oramorph while in hospital.
I add discharged the day after and the pain was five really - I didn't really need anything stronger
My CS was at 10am and they didn't take the catheter out until 6am the next day which was really annoying. I did ask to have it out earlier but I can't remember why they said no. I think it was something none medical like shift changed.

I only had the oramorph because I had a cough which made my wound quite painful - don't remember getting it with my first CS.

You get an opiate (almost always diamorphine in the uk) in the spinal anaesthetic which lasts for 12-24h. A diclofenac suppository at the end of surgery is also pretty standard unless you can't have it for some reason (allergy, bleeding, pre-eclampsia). Regular paracetamol and either diclofenac or ibuprofen with codeine/tramadol and oromorph as required for post op. You should be sent home with paracetamol and ibuprofen/diclofenac as a basic. Some also send you home with codeine/tramadol. It partly depends on how much you've needed in hospital and local policy. They're cautioned in breast feeding so some are reluctant to prescribe as routine, and many women don't need them after the first couple of days in hospital (where babe can be observed if there's an issue) anyway.
Do ask for pain relief. The regular stuff should be given regularly but the as required needs asking for, as required. Don't wait until you're in pain - ask at discomfort - with the rubbish staffing levels on many post natal wards, the poor midwives are run ragged and it might take a little time to get to you.

Thanks everyone. Brilliant advice and support on here. X