section in four weeks, shitting myself (not literally)

[bleurghblah]

Help! I know this has been done to death but I don't know anyone in real life who has had a planned section.

How much does the spinal actually hurt? Will I not be able to move at all for the first day? How much does it hurt when the painkillers wear off?

what should I take with me that I might have forgotten.

basically looking for some reassurance :-(

Think everyone has covered it all here, I had a planned section 14 weeks ago and I'm another who can say I had a calm, happy, practically pain-free birth and recovery was very straightforward too! This felt like such a blessing after a stressful pregnancy.

My baby was 4 weeks early and 4lbs so we were both kept in for a week and I think that enforced rest really helped. I was lucky in that my hospital maternity dept has recently been totally overhauled so is pretty pleasant as far as hospitals go and I had my own room the whole time.

Again, medics were lovely and really put me at ease. Te best advice I recieved (off my SiL who has had three c sections) was to try to enjoy the experience. Focus on the positive reason you are there and remember you are in safe hands.

The only bit of the whole thing that caused me any actual pain was the removal of a drain that my consultant had put in prior to the section. I don't know anyone else who has had one of these in though?? When they removed that the following day it really hurt, and I had been given liquid morphine and g&a! I am not sure why it was in or whether it is normal to hurt so much. If I have a second baby I would like another planned section but without that bit. Even so, once it was out it was over with but if anyone knows anything about the use of blood drains during sections I'd like to know more!

Good luck OP and enjoy your new baby x

I'm 7 days post section and I walked about a mile each way yesterday to go for lunch with DH and DD. It felt totally fine. Honestly the worst bit is I have really swollen feet which is normal after a section.

THIS HEAT. I am so uncomfortable I can't imagine being more uncomfortable when it's out. even if I am in pain surely it will be better?

Seriously - yes! For me the discomfort at the end of pregnancy was worse than the much more manageable discomfort post-section, which improved daily.

Feeling thank you! That's what I keep thinking, even info am in loads of pain at least it's going to get better every day rather than worse.

I went shopping with a friend exactly one week after my c section. It was only for a couple of hours but good to get out!

Mmg how long could you walk for?

I had pre OP appointment and they didn't talk to me about what to expect at all :-(

Haven't finished the thread but just wanted to add as no one has mentioned it so far, that you might get terrible trapped wind the following day. Apparently its caused by not moving around enough but i don't know if that's true.

Anyway, ask for some peppermint water which will make you fart and the pain go away. Dont worry about the farting either, you will all be doing it on the ward!

Peppermint water?

I had peppermint tea - that helped.

Yes peppermint water, i don't know if its something you can buy but they gave it to me 2 or three times on the post natal ward and it gave me loud relief from trapped wind which is apparently common after a c section.