If you are having a caesarean....

[danceswithmonkeys]

I've just made up a 'hints and tips' list for my friend who is having a caesarean soon (I've had two) if you want me to e-mail it to you let me know!

HAve to have to add, take plenty of flannels as the itching when your skin becomes alive again is horrendous, take vaseline for nose and lips. Cool flannels were the only thing that stopped me going mad.

I have had four sections.

Peppermint tea is essential to help with that oh so painful trapped wind you get after a c-section.

Yes peppermint tea, godsend.....for the pain that is usually referred to your shoulder!

If you can afford it go and see a homeopath and get some arnica and I think it was bellis perenis (sp?) I did this for my third c-section and was walking around normally the next day. For my previous two I was bent double for days!

If you are not planning to get a private room and are not a very deep sleeper, bring ear plugs / ipod.

Bring your mobile phone AND CHARGER in case you can call for free. Those stupid screens they have cost a bloody fortune and in my opinon are bloody extortion... especially if you have overseas relative who may want to call.

Don't know if this has been said already - but don't let anyone who has a cough or cold give you a hug. It is agony to sneeze just after a c section! Oh, and if you do, it helps if you can press a pillow into your midrif.

Arnica, Bellis Perceuis and Hypercium is what the homeopath gave me - not sure if it worked or not bit it did no harm, my wound has healed beautifully and I was up and about the next day. One week later, feeling pretty good - even forgot to take pain meds today!

• You may get trapped wind as a result of internal organs being moved during C-section. Can be difficult to get this wind out (see constipation). A little peppermint oil in some warm water REALLY helps.

• Wearing some light support knickers over your big pants supports your tum more & helps you feel more secure(just M&S light support knix NOT Trinny & Tranny suck-in things)

Lots of good advice here - I've had 3 sections. (one was an emergency so I have a scar from my navel downwards, and 2 normal scars)

The hospital will get you out of bed after the first 12 hours, do not object, take it at your pace and do remember to stand really straight up, more than you would normally do, this prevents the scar from healing 'puckered' and allows it to stretch.

Big pants are a good idea to keep any padding there against the scar (especially good if you already have a toddler as their head is the height of your scar) ouch!

Take a cushion for the journey home in the car, I put mine under the seat-belt against my tum to soften any bounces.

I was quite sick after my surgery (I'm allergic to Morphine) top tip is if you sneeze/vomit/cough to bend forward and put your hands against the scar to give it support.

The docs will also tell you not to drive for 6 weeks - DO NOT DRIVE unless its an emergency - pushing down on the pedals in the car put unnecessary pressure on your abdominals and can give you problems in the future.

I found that sleeping flat was the best thing for me, other ladies in the ward had the beds propped up and found that the muscles had 'shortened' and they found standing really painful.

Keep moving as much as you can - rest when you need to but dont take to the sofa - for me it kept the fluid in my feet away and the scar was ok after about 11 days. so much so that we went from Wales for North Devon for the day! (shock)

I also found still wearing my maternity clothes for a few weeks after was good as the waistband was higher and allowed for stitches to heal.

Good luck. (smile)

If you would like to hold your baby skin-to-skin right after delivery, be sure to tell your midwife beforehand. Apparently they put the hospital gown on you a different way! This created a problem for me because I was still being sewn up but wanted to hold my baby, and my gown was covering my chest. While everyone was discussing how to adjust my gown, my DS had respiratory distress and had to be taken upstairs to NICU, so I didn't get to hold him for about 24 hours, which was heartbreaking.

(He was absolutely finejust had to be observed. Apparently some respiratory distress is fairly common in C-section babiesat least more so than in vaginal births. If this happens to you, try not to panic, sometimes it just takes them a little time to figure it all out!)

Another note: while DS was in NICU, I tried to be vigilant about expressing colostrum for him. He was 4 weeks early so I felt this was especially important. However, the night midwife (who was with me two nights in a row) was very old-fashioned, and tried to discourage me from doing so, saying that since I was a C-section patient I needed to rest and not bother with expressing. I had to insist that she be supportive and help me get the colostrum delivered to DS in NICU on another floor. Just be prepared to be your own advocate in situations like this! (All the other nurses and midwives were completely supportive.)

I had never expected to have a C-section, so hadn't mentally prepared for it. But if you're headed for one, know that you can absolutely manage it, especially by keeping in mind the wonderful tips in this thread.

Congratulations in advance.

I had to have a section because my baby was breach and would add the following from my experience:

1. I shook from the spinal (which apparently sometimes happens) and was sick a few times (which is really strange as you don't projectile it as much as normal).

2. as it was my second, my womb contracted down quite fast and it hurt my scar area so had to have extra pain killers which made it go away.

3. Ask for a bed that fits a cot on the side if the hospital has one, it is easier to get the baby in and out when you are on your own.

4. stay on top of your medication, especially for the first 24 hours- I found it got better after that- but you still need it for a few weeks afterwards.

5. Try to walk about as much as pos without over doing it- it really helps you recover faster.

The first 24 hours is the worst, then it is the first week (at the end of which I went to the pub- driven there by hubby- as just needed to get out), then after a month I felt tons better (almost normal- could walk for a couple of miles) and after 2 months I was walking miles carrying my daughter as I joined a baby walking group and i think this has really helped me too- but I did listen to my body about this as I know others who just weren't up to this until about month 3 or 4.

Thanks to every one for all this advice! I think I'll be having a planed C section... I have very bad back problems so have an appointment with specialist soon, this will come in very handy it they do do a C section as my poor brian has turned to mush all ready!

I had an emergency CS 8 months ago with my first baby and have just found out I'm pregnant with number 2. Intend to have an elective CS this time. The tips on here are brilliant, I will be bookmarking the page to come back to when the time comes!

I have got one thing to add from my experience:
If you're perhaps on the larger side (as I am!) and your tummy hangs over your scar it can get a bit damp in there! My midwife suggested lying on the bed and holding your tummy up to get the air to it or blowing it with the hairdryer (a very amusing sight for hubby!) and to put one of hubby's cotton hankies or some surgical gauze over your scar to absorb any moisture. It made my scar feel a lot more comfortable. Especially as the midwife had some problems getting my staples out so I ended up with a small 'hole' at one end of my scar!

Good luck to everyone

You probably want to leave youras soon as possible. In order to this, you need to do the right amount of wee (yes, they measure it!) and poo. Hospitals are very hot, you may well have been sick a lot - so make sure you keep on drinking lots and lots of water. Also take a load of dried apricots with you to take care of the other.

My mum brought me cherries and they were a godsend when I woke up starving and immobile in the middle of the night. They tasted so good! Chocolate also good to counter iron deficiency.

When you get back, it is easy to rip your stitches getting up for the baby. Bolster yourself up with a pile of pillows and go to sleep half sitting up. It is better than the agony of getting up!

There are arguments on both sides about whether you formula feed.

I had a section with no labour so my milk didn't come in until day 5 and I wasn't even producing colustrum so DS had to be fed. BUT they were really supportive and helped me cup feed him which has a lot less impact on the sucking reflex (you're just pouring the formula down their throats really) which allows more time to get BF established.

I would recommend listening to the younger midwives rather than the old ones - they have much more support for BF and will be much more flexible with you.

Oh and yes cauliflower - take your own food. They have really strict hours when you can eat and it isn't that great when you do. A good diet is crucial to recovery so get DH to bring in lots of fresh foods to snack on.

oh and when you need a poo then roll up a towel like a sausage and tuck it inbetween your scar and legs, sort of lean against it, if you see what I mean. helped a lot.

I had emergency and am planning elective this time. My tip for squeamish mums to be is to take a CD - but none of this classical stuff - get a bit of something you can sing along to - it really helped me to focus on singing rather than the my-stomach-is-a-washing-machine feeling while they were taking baby out.

You can ask the midwives and all to not only let you see the wee'un when they're born but also insist on skin to skin contact asap following all the apgar hooha. Also get them to make sure you have a bed guard on the side of your hospital bed from the get go if you prefer to sleep with the baby next to you - I found this far easier for the first few days rather than having to painfully get up to get baby out of the cot everytime I wanted a cuddle or needed to feed.

Just resurecting this thread as trying to organise my bag.

I got peppermint oil capsules from holland and barrat, rather than the tea as due August and thought it may be to hot for tea. Couldn't find cordial anywhere.

Anyone used the capsules?

Ah, thank you mumtoblaire was trying to find this earlier! Bookmarking now.

mumtoblaire. I've also bought some peppermint oil capsules as 'kit' for a planned C-section (in 4 weeks time).

I tried a quick 'road test' last week, when I had some uncomfy trapped wind (I'd read warnings about peppermint oil causing contractions, but it's all a bit vague, and I suspect they mean industrial quantities, not a measly capsule).

Anyway - one capsule worked a treat! Pain gone in less than ten minutes, although the fragrantly minty burps carried on for a good couple of hours.

I'm assuming C-section trapped wind is of a different magnitude, but I was still impressed. And you can take several if needed.

Thanks barkfox..Good to know they should work. Minty burps I can handle as long as I don't get loud pops from other end I'll be fine. They would be sweet smelling though.

My sister was shocked that I had not even got a bag never mind packed it yet. I was out in town yesterday for hours trying to get stuff together, must admit bought very little except large holdall with wheels and cabin bag. Did buy large granny pants x 12 and chocolate brown bath and hand towel. No pjs or nighties yet.

Most important thing was the peppermint oil capsules and flipflops.

Hello mumtoblaire.

I have just started packing my bag, and am due to go in next Monday (5th July), so personally I am impressed at your organisational skills!

I have bag size paranoia - I have always gone for a full on suitcase, but on another thread someone mentioned that this was frowned upon. I just can't seem to pare it down enough to fit in anything smaller, maternity pads and nappies take up so much room, then there is towel, wash stuff, snacks etc etc.

Thanks to everyone who has put tips on this thread, it so helpful, and comforting to feel a little bit prepared.

had exactly the same slime thing happen to me! dd produced a complete mountain of the stuff 2 mins after dh left the ward on the first night! but was reassured it is sompletely normal as they haven't had a chance to have their lungs squuezed clear of it in the birth canal!
also can totally relate to the massive reduction in spd pain following the birth!...it was so amazing not to have that pain i had lived with for 5 months that i don't think i noticed the post op pain much at all as even with the scar i was so much more mobile than i had been prior to delivery with the spd.
i would also highly recommend the arnica...really does help to reduce brusing! and also the lactulose! it is a wonder medicine!...i think all women should be given it on dischsrge from the post natal ward.

Argh Lactulose, knew i was forgetting something. I already have the arnica tablets. Do you just dispense it on your tongue or take it with water?

Question about waxing..Those that did get it done pre-Op, how many days before hand did you get it done?
Does it hurt more because your lady bits are swollen and sore?
And I have a real problem with ingrown hairs(sorry if TMI)post epilation/waxing, any ideas how to avoid this?

I am 33+4 today so trying to fill in countdown calendar as don't want to get to day before and suddenly remember something i should have done in week 38.