A few questions regarding a c-section for a first timer

[Firstpregnancy2014]

I am having an elective c-section at 39 weeks. Havent got the date yet as I am only 33 weeks

A few things im wondering about if anyone can help me?

• When did you have visiters after your elcs ? I cant imagine being up to visiters but DP is shocked by this and sounds like he is going to want to show off this baby

• Are there any specific to a csection items i should pack in my hospital bag?

• Ive been told i will have a cathetor in and basically be left to bleed onto a mat on the bed.. is this true? Do you change your own mat? How long was your cathetor in for?

• Baby is expected to be big. What size clothes do i take? Im thinking of only taking 0-3 but will these be miles too big? How many sleepsuits did you take for baby?

*How long were you in hospital for?

*How long from entering the operating room were you back on a ward/wherever they take you?

• This seems stupid but... can you have shellac? I always have shellac on my fingers and toes but remember when my neice had an operation they made her remove nail polish!

• How much of a struggle was it without your DP at hospital? Did you manage to get the baby out the crib etc?

*Also ive been told ill get the date at 36 weeks.. will i get to pick? and will i get a specific time? and will i have to do anything to prepare for it?

Sorry for all the questions!

Hey I had an emerg csection 3 weeks ago so slightly different, but we had visitors the afternoon after my DS2 was born they came to the hosp, and then we pretty much had a full house on and off for the next 2 weeks of guests, but it's entirely up to you, if your not feeling upto guests so soon just make sure you tell people don't feel your upsetting them cause they will understand. I stayed in hosp for 1 a half days, to be honest I could of done with staying in slightly longer but they were obviously desperate for beds cause so many people were being discharged soon after too. You will have the catheter in for around 12 hours once that's taken out the numbness should of gone so they encourage you to get up and about walking. But whilst your numb they will pass the baby to you when they need you. If you feel like your mat needs changing they will do that for you. Just pack lots of big pads too :) but I didn't bleed as much as my natural birth with Ds1.
My baby was big too! So I packed a few newborn stuff just incase, but around 5/6 baby grows she 0-3 too. I was wheeled around to a different room after theatre for them to do all the paper work and for a chance to grab a drink/snack, then about 2 hours after delivery I was taken to the ward. It might be quicker for you though if yours is planned.
Good luck!

I've had 2 c sections, one emergency, one elective

• I had visitors 2 days later. Especially after the emergency one I needed a bit of time to recover.

• there are things to pack in your bag but can't remember any now. Lots of threads on here on what to pack in bag if you do a search :)

• catheter in for 24 hours. Mat on bed was changed by health care assistant. Once you're up and mobile you can use pads.

• I was told baby would be big but she was only 7 12 so 0-3 clothes were a bit big. I'd take some newborn size and some 0-3. I took about 5 sleep suits plus socks, vests etc.

• in hospital 5 days after emergency one and 3 days after elective.

• can't remember operating room times with emergency one. Elective - went into theatre at 11. Baby born 11.21. Out in recovery room by about 11.50. I think. Back to own room 12.30ish.

• not sure what shellac is? You have to remove nail polish.

• wasn't too bad getting baby out of crib etc. dh with me most of first day both times. And back each day with first dc, had to be at home with dd second time round.

• didn't get to pick date, was just when spot was free at 39 wks.

Good luck, my elective was great (emergency one was fine too)

I think they would prefer you not to have shellac. They look at your fingernail colour.

0-3 months should be fine even for a big baby as that size covers you up to about 10lb I think.

You may get a choice of day but it will depend on consultant. I don't think you will get to pick time as you are elective - if they have emergency CSs that come in on the same day you will normally wait til they are done so time will depend on what else is happening on the ward that day.

I had visitors a couple of hours later. But I wasn't fussed that I still had a catheter bag at the end of the bed etc and just sat up in bed whilst everyone made a gigantic fuss of me and baby and told me how clever I was. Visits were very short though. I don't think anyone stayed longer than 15-20 mins.

You do bleed onto a pad but you will have both a mat and a big pad between legs. The midwives change them until you are mobile and then you can wear knickers and change pads yourself. Catheter will be taken out just before you are up and about - doesn't hurt.

Midwives will help you lift baby from crib until you can manage. Once you are up and walking then you should be able to lift baby.

There's another thread at the moment with everyone listing how long they were in hospital for. I think the average is about 1.5-2.5 days but have a read through the other thread for some more opinions.

Bring a breastfeeding pillow with you, no matter how you choose to feed as they are great for keeping baby away from your scar and stitches in the beginning and help support baby in right position for cuddles and feeding.

Hope this helps, have a read through the other threads with lots of first time CS info. Good luck and try not to worry!

I had an emergency section after 24 hours of labour so was totally unprepared! Sounds like you'll have a better idea of what to expect.

*visitors: my mum and mil came to the hospital in the afternoon. DS was born at 7:45 in the morning. I was actually quite happy to see them. My sister visited that evening and sil and bil the next day. Again I was ok with them coming. We were only allowed visitors at certain times though which helped.

*Yes to the horrible catheter/mat experience. Catheter was in for 24 hours. Mid wife changed the mat but not often enough. Ask for extras or take an old towel with you.

*Clothes: DS was 9 lbs 10 (hence emergency section) and didn't fit any of the lovely newborn size stuff. Next do a "up to one month" range which fitted well in the first few weeks.

*In hospital from Friday to Monday, mostly as DS was having problems feeding. Would've been ready to go on the Sunday otherwise. If you feel ready to go, make sure to get any blood work or observations done for both you and baby early in the day or it's a long wait!

• Um, can't really remember but think wax taken to theatre about 7 and on recovery ward at 8:30.

• no idea about shellac

*managed ok picking baby up etc. His cot was pretty close to the bed so it seemed fine.

• no idea, sorry!

Hope that helps.

* When did you have visiters after your elcs ? I cant imagine being up to visiters but DP is shocked by this and sounds like he is going to want to show off this baby

DS was born at 9.30am. By the time I'd been stitched up, been through recovery I got onto the ward about 11 - 12ish. I could have visitors at 2.30pm but we had decided to see how I felt. As it went there was so much going on with checks, being helped and having lunch plus not really being with it, this was unrealistic. However I did have visitors that evening and I was fine with this, but was glad it was only a short visit.

* Are there any specific to a csection items i should pack in my hospital bag?

I don't think I packed anything. Obviously a nightie rather than pjs and loose fitting clothes for going home, but otherwise I didn't

* Ive been told i will have a cathetor in and basically be left to bleed onto a mat on the bed.. is this true? Do you change your own mat? How long was your cathetor in for?

Yes. Someone changes it for you. How long you have the catheter depends on how you are recovering. There is no real answer; it depends on how quickly you feel up to getting out of bed really. You need to be able to get up and go to the loo within 6 hours of it being removed though. I had mine out around midnight of the day of my CS.

* Baby is expected to be big. What size clothes do i take? Im thinking of only taking 0-3 but will these be miles too big? How many sleepsuits did you take for baby?

How big is big? DS is 6 weeks old and is around 10lb mark and only just fitting 0-3 month clothes.

*How long were you in hospital for?

2 nights. This is standard. I should perhaps have stayed in another night, but was desperate to get out

*How long from entering the operating room were you back on a ward/wherever they take you?

Operation started about 9.30. By the time I had gone through recovery (was there for best part of an hour after the op) it was 11.30-12noon.

* This seems stupid but... can you have shellac? I always have shellac on my fingers and toes but remember when my neice had an operation they made her remove nail polish!

No not allowed!

* How much of a struggle was it without your DP at hospital? Did you manage to get the baby out the crib etc?

Couldn't do anything without him to be honest (including getting out of bed to go loo) I could not reach into crib to touch DS let alone pick him up. I found it a lot harder to do anything for longer than I expected if I am honest. I was very reliant on DH to do virtually everything but feed DS for the best part of a week as getting up was so hard.

*Also ive been told ill get the date at 36 weeks.. will i get to pick? and will i get a specific time? and will i have to do anything to prepare for it?

Depends on the hospital and how booked up they are. I was booked in early so was given choice of a day or two (they like to do it sometime after 39 weeks) but if its all booked up, you may not get that choice. You don't get specific time; you are only booked in for a certain day and it depends on how busy they are (whether there are any emergencies or complications with women on the list before you). You'll probably be given a time to book in and told where you are on the list when you do so, but beyond that you won't have an exact time as such. Where you are on the list will depend on your needs and how much of a priority you are considered.

Hi I had an elective c section recently

I chose not to have visitors until the catheter was removed and I felt a bit better. But that was just my preference it's completely up to you.

I was in hospital for 3 days

Clothes is difficult I just took a couple of things then DH brought more in after when we new the size we needed

I went to a recovery room for about an hour then back to my room on the ward after the c section

I was given the date.

The baby was handed to me by the nurse and put back into the crib by a nurse for the first 24hrs ish

HTH

Some good advice from everyone here. The only thing I'd add is to take some enormous granny pants (the kind that nearly come up to your belly button) to avoid rubbing on your scar.

I was really ill after my EMCS (not because of the operation itself though) so I didn't have or want any visitors (except DH) till three days later. I couldn't do anything including getting out of bed/shower/toilet without DH for a couple of days but I don't know if that's the norm cause I was so ill with PE and HELLP as well as recovering from the section. Once I did start to get a bit of mobility back it was good to be left on my own because if I dropped something on the floor (like the bed height adjuster thingamy) I had to get to just get on with it and pick it up! Unfortunately you may need a bit of bullying to get you to move but it's for your own good! The consultant's advice to me was to stand up straight as soon as possible - easier said than done! Some people find the recovery far easier than others and I keep hearing people say that an elective section is a far better experience all round. X

Emergency c section
Catheter out 6 hours later (basically when I could walk)
Bleed onto a mat that they changed until I could walk then used my pads.
Was about 3/4 hours between recovery and ward.
Discharged myself a day later as I couldn't cope with the noise, rules and times of a ward.
Visitors (and lots of them!) the day after
Was on my own so had to manage as oh was at work. Hoovering and dishwasher was tricky, but slow and steady most things were fine.

I didn't feel upto driving for quite a while (I know people who did after 2 weeks)
My advice is play visitors by ear, you might be ok you might not. Lay the law down now with your DH it is a major operation after all.

I had an ELCS at 39+4.

I had visitors within 2-3hrs of ds being delivered. I was well dosed up on painkillers so coped ok but was a bit out of it really.

Hospital bag - pads, big granny knickers so they dont rub your scar & also take a pillow to hold against your tummy during the car journey home. Was a lifesaver for me getting over all the speedbumps on the way out of the hospital grounds!

Catheter was removed following morning, had a pad & was on a mat until then, which midwives changed. Once catheter was out they got me up & out of bed pretty quickly. Bit scary at first esp trying to stand up straight but got easier fairly quickly

How big is baby likely to be? I took up to 1 month (up to 10lb) for ds (7lb at birth) these fitted him for the first 5-6 weeks. 0-3 are up to 14lb & drowned him! I'd prob take 6 vests & sleepsuits - they can soon mess them up!!

I was in hospital 5 days due to struggling to establish bf & ds being a bit jaundiced. I was well ready to go home by day 3/4 tho.

Nail varnish - no go. They keep an eye on the natural colour of your nails-its a good indicator of health during surgery.

Yes was bit arkward to get to baby without dh there. I was essentially immobile for the first couple of days so needed someone to pass ds to me for feeds, change nappies, get stuff out of bags etc. At my hospital dh could stay overnight/all day as all private rooms which was great, but midwives were always on hand to help too.

Only had 2 days notice of my date due to late discovery that ds was breech.

Didnt get a set time slot for CS, had to be there by 8am but due to several EMCS had a bit of a wait. Went to theatre 1.30 ish, ds born 2.05 & back in room 3.30/4ish.

Hth

This is really useful as I'll be having my first CS with DC2.

I was thinking about trying to get the date to be a Monday or Tuesday to minimise the risk of being in hospital at the weekend as staffing doesn't seem to be great then.

DD was 15 days late and whilst she was only 7lb5, she was too long for newborn clothes. I'm not sure what to expect for DC2 as it will be 3-4 weeks earlier. I don't think we even own any newborn stuff.

You have most of your answers but I just want to add a couple of points. I had an emcs with dd and found that I was OK with visitors in hospital - what with being doped up and the whole adrenalin rush! - but once home I found it really hard for a week or two and didn't want anyone but DH there really. My Mum and sisters visited in hospital and didn't stay too long and it was fine, but my Dad and his wife turned up half an hour after we'd arrived home and stayed for five hours and it just killed me, it was far too much. I'm pregnant now and will be having an elective section and planning to tell family that hospital visits are fine but once we're home we will let them know when we're ready for them to visit. If that makes me selfish then so be it.

I also found the most painful part of the entire process was the drive home. The speed bumps were hell. This time I will be taking a cushion or blanket or something to put between my scar and the seat belt.

Hope all goes well for you.

I would second most of what everyone has already said, but I think my recovery was a bit easier than most so I'll share my experience and hope it doesn't come across as boasting as it's not, I was just lucky.
I had the catheter removed as soon as I was back on the ward (about 2 hours post op) I demanded that it be removed as I wasn't prepared to sit on a mat bleeding. I had to do a certain volume of wee within 6 hours of it coming out, I can't remember what the quantity was but I'd been drinking loads of water post op so it wasn't an issue. The midwives weren't happy about removing it so soon but I didn't take no for an answer.
I took tena incontinence pants to wear at first rather than knickers and pads (advice from on here) and I was so glad I did, they were very comfy and less unwieldy than knickers and pads.

I was up and walking about within two hours post op (to the horror of the midwives and DH) I do burn anaesthetic off quickly though. I honestly didn't have any pain at all, I didn't have any painkillers at any point either, not morphine in theatre, no paracetamol afterwards. I was stunned and kept thinking the pain was going to kick in, but it never did. It had always been my intention not to have any pain relief (I was addicted to morphine for a long while after a bad accident years ago, so now I don't take any painkillers until I absolutely have to) but I was expecting it to hurt like hell! I also healed unusually quickly (according to consultant) so perhaps that's why I didn't get any pain. Not complaining though .

I would suggest taking some Schweppes's peppermint cordial, is really nice with hot water after, I'm sure it helped my metabolism kick start and I've heard other people say that it really helpful if you get any referred pain.

I wasn't up for visitors until the third day as I became hyper protective about anyone apart from DH and the head midwife and consultant getting within about 10 feet of ds, consultant said that it's a rare side effect of the steroid injections for ds's lungs plus various hormones they gave me plus heart stabilisers, I had real mother bear syndrome!

I found that I didn't need any help doing things, but again that's probably because I had no pain, the midwives were very happy to help though and kept offering. That being said, I had a side room and DH stayed with me the whole time, which was lovely. Oh, that's another thing, take a pillow and nice snuggly blanket for your DH in case he's able to stay as he will probably have to sleep in a chair. DH had a reclining armchair, but it still wasn't great.

I was supposed to have an elcs but ended up as an emergency as my waters broke at 35 weeks (DS was absolutely fine thank goodness, apgars of 9 and then 10, weighed over 8lbs and didn't even need to have any treatment at all). For various reasons (waiting for steroid injections to work, trying to stabilise my heart, waiting for other more pressing emergencies to be dealt with etc) I was nil by mouth for 34 hours and in labour having strong and very regular contractions for 22 hours, then things went haywire and I became an emergency. I was ravenous by the end! Make sure you have snacks to have in case they aren't that quick bringing you food (they sometimes try to make you wait in case you're sick after the anesthetic) I just fancied carbs and fruit! Oh, and I had a very complicated and high risk pregnancy, so heart issue aren't the norm, should have said that!

Sorry that was a bit mammoth, I think that's about it for advice I can think of. It really is different for everyone in of pain/what you can do, don't push yourself and take it easy. I was elated afterwards as DS was happy and healthy, I'm still on cloud nine now and he's 5 months old