going home on day 2 after cs

[dimcat]

am due to have 3rd cs in a few days - does anyone have any advice on going home on day2 after?

am more than happy to do this as dislike hosp env. and didn't get much support there. Also friend picked up nasty wound infec. after her delivery which took ages to clear up, at same unit.

Will have DH at home for at least 10days and daily MW - anything you think I need to know?

also have any partners been invited/allowed to cut cord during elective cs ?

I was home in 48 hours after having dd last year (had her Monday morning, out Wednesday lunchtime). Was fine - I was just so glad to get back to my own bed. I have no 'advice' as such, just listen to your body and if all is well and you have proper help at home then go as soon as you feel ready.

and no, to your second q, but think he would rather cut off his own arm tbh.

make sure essentials like hair dryer/straighteners are permanently plugged in (but not turned on) as you wont be able to get down to plug them in yourself. Obviously make sure you're never alone. Dont feel you have to answer the door to everyone who knocks either - the midwives in hospital are there to double up as bouncers

I was home on day 3 wasnt too bad.

I flet alot better after my 2nd sectoin; hadto stay in for ds2 reasons, but if it had been up to me, I could have left atthe end of day 2, but only as i knew dh was at home to help. And TBH, it would've been hard to stop ds1 jumping on me etc, so being in for a week was good in that respect.

My birth partner asked to cut the cord , which was fine by me, so they let her do it , not right away, but she cut the 'trailing' bit off when ds2 was getting weighed and bathed etc after. She was very happy with that, even if it wasnt technically seperating him and me IYSWIM.

You will need proper help, too - ie dh will have to take the other 2 off your hands totally (no drifting off to the loo for 4 hours with the newspaper etc). I spent quite alot of time in bed the first couple of days I was home, getting feeding established and frankly just staying out of the way. It also stopped ds from jumping all over me too much , although he could get on the bed and cuddle up which was nice for both of us.

I found it difficult to cook after coming home 2 days after my 2nd section. If your DH can do the cooking then great, if not, can you cook some meals and freeze them?

You might need extra pillows in your bed, it can be quite painful to try sitting up from a laying down position. I found it much easier to sleep practically upright for the first few nights at home.

thanks mrs fp other 2 ds's are school age & DH is capable of being a single parent for a week or so - but thannks for reminding me of the jumping on mummy bit - i'd forgotten that little joy with cs wound

Hiya

the only things I would suggest are the same as the others really, take it easy remember you have had major abdominal surgery, I think people do tend to forget that because there is a new gorgeous baby on the scene, you wouldnt be expected to get up cook, clean and run the house straight after having your appendix removed or a hysterectomy so why should you be any different after a c/section??

keep your dressing gown on is a good tip a mum told me she used, it reminded people of thefact she had had surgery! sit on the bed sofa and enjoy daytime telly, and enjoying/admiring your new baby

good luck hope all goes well.

Helen

dimcat, I came home 30 hours after my cs because I got teary from the lack of support from midwives (too busy and I was barely mobile and ds was crying but I could not reach for him in the cot) and the hospital wouldn't make an exception of visiting hours to allow my dh to come help me out instead.

It was clearly too early physically as I felt every bump and turn coming home in the car (ouch!). Make sure the driver goes v. slowly.

Ensure you are discharged with as any painkillers home as the hospital will allow.

And don't do anything beyond caring for baby for the first 3-4 days. By day 5, I was almost normal again, apart from heavy lifting.

I came home on day 2 after ds4 (4th baby but first cs). Like blushoes I was frustrated and upset that I couldn't comfort, feed or change ds without help which was severly lacking in a busy hospital.
My ds and baby opposite also had some secret pact in which one would start screaming when the other stopped. I'd been in hospital for 11 days by the time I had him and just wanted to be home with ds1,2 and 3 and dh.
Lots of support at home from m,mil,dh and sisters made life much easier.

I had DD (CS) on the Thursday morning and came home on the Saturday morning - much the same as blueshaoes - felt very under - supported in the hospital ( not their fault I hasten to add just incredibly busy)and I had a massive migraine on the Friday ( bloody hormones) so on Saturday morning I phoned DH at 6am and told him to get his arse down here NOW and bring the baby seat as we were leaving - he tried to talk me out of it ( probably had a big day planned around the pub and rugby!!)but I think her realised I was serious
We were home at 9am and my community midwife was with us at 10.30 - and I can honestly say I never felt better ...... I had a lovely shower, put on my new PJ's and let the world and his wife drift through the house for day's on end ... obviously washing and changing my pj's in between we even had 9 people to lunch on the Sunday - so go home, stay in your pj's and everyone makes a lovely fuss over you !!

I left about 36 hours after my second CS (CS 6am Friday, out 3pm Saturday). It was fine. Yes, the walk to the car was unpleasant. Yes, the car ride was rough, but it was fine once I was home. We had put a bed on the ground floor, so I was near the loo and the kitchen (wasn't cooking though! are you mad?), so minimal walking once home.

Are you making sure your older kids won't be expecting you to pick them up when you're back?

thanks for all tips - own prev experiences of being unsupported with baby out of reach & DH sent home during 'rest' time seem pretty universal! all happens in next 12hrs I hope!