what do i need to take and do for my c-section?

[topsy1]

i know that this has been asked before, but can't find thread. booked in next fri for elective c-section and unsure what to take and how to prepare myself...can anyone help?

I actually ordered vegetarian food in hospital cos I know it is much easier on the intestines.

We didn't have tv's! And a coin operated phone that was like 50p for 30 seconds or something ridiculous

Definitely take a breastfeeding book if you are planning on it. I found the "breastfeeding specialist" was rather clueless when it came to big boobs.

I forgot - I found it helpful to take lots of vitamin C. It boosts the immune system and can help healing. It might have worked - other than a small bp related issue, I have been in rude health ever since the birth and recovered from the surgery really quickly.

Also, before you leave, talk to the hospital physio about whether you should massage your scar. I have found that it helps with its appearance and makes it smoother.

Just to reiterate the advice below:
Big knickers, definietly cotton. Matalan used to packs of cheapies.
V-shaped cushion.
Tkae all the drugs on offer (esepcailly the morphine).
Don't rush home too soon.
The wind is excruciating and hit me on my first night home.
Lots of prunes etc and snacks in general (you will be starving).

Practise with the bed in hospital. It took me a couple of days to find all my favourite positions and also to be able to position it to get DS out of his crib without calling the midwife.

Good luck and take it easy whilst recovering.

Big knickers - definitley!

About the shaving - my hospital told off one of the mums for doing her own shaving the day before since they said it could cause infection if you're not using a sterile razor...

Also, just to warn you: for my first c-section I had a bad reaction to the spinal and my BP dropped really low. I threw up on the anaesthatist and hubby thought I was about to croak but the surgeon told me later that this is just something that happens sometimes, totally routine and easy for them to manage and nothing to worry about. This knowledge made it a lot less scarey when it happened again with the second c-section.. and within 30 minutes I was as right as rain and starting to BF.

I didn't find the post-op pain too bad on either occasion. Second op was at 3am and I was up and about (albeit slowly!) by 9pm that evening.

just a quickie - I was allowed nail varnish on TOES so get a lovely pedicure!!!!

oh yes - make up!!!! you won't feel as bedraggled as vaginal ladies so you can look fab in your first photos!

i took ear plugs too

and trashy mags

and took my husband for constant slavery during day

time passed far better than I imagined xxx

Haven't read the whole thread but one of the best tips I got was to use one of those delightful maternity pads against my wound - on top of the bandages obviously. It provided extra cushioning. Oh and you need really big knickers to contain it too!

Make sure before your last visitor/DH leaves you in the ward you have everything to hand. IT canbe really difficult and painful reaching into cupboards or your purse/bag with drips in your hand!

Take nighties not pjs. I had an e/c-s and took pjs with me, but couldn't put bottoms on coz of catheter, so could only wear top in bed. not v dignified. Good luck!!!

I forgot about the wind! Its horrible! Suprising how quickly you forget about these things, dd is only 3 months! Found peppermint really helped
I agree about taking in nighties, I didnt like the elastic from the pj bottoms digging into the wound! Dont be afraid to keep asking for pain relief BEFORE the pain gets bad. I found it only really lasts a few days, but the first couple it is very sore. Easier if you keep on top of the pain with regular painkillers.

Good luck! I hope it goes really well for you

make sure you take your camera to theatre with you so you can get a picture of your partner looking dashing in his scrubs, as well as the first possible picture of your lo.

My mum was brilliant and made me loads of salads as the hospital food was pretty grim.

Def don't try to be brave with pain relief. Always stay on top of it & accept all drugs! I pushed myself to spread out the time between drugs and ended up in real agony. Not clever!

Take plenty fo reading material for the morning - I had to be there about 8am but didn't go into theatre til 4pm so you need something to occupy you.

Good luck

oh also, I got DP to help me in the shower the following morning - much nicer than a nurse & you will feel very unsteady.

And you will be starving the following morning cos you can't eat the day before & the breakfast won't be up to much. Get your DP/H to bring in croissants!

chocolateshoes - LOL at partner in scrubs. Even though I was exhausted by the time I got to the c-section part I do remember thinking how gorgeous hubs looked in the scrubs... yummy! Up until he held Son for the first time of course and Son peed down him! But I told him that was an honour ;o)

When I look back at that photo of DP I could cry...it brings back such a wave of emotions. Oh, welling up now.....blub!

Lots of excellent advice on here. Could I also suggest a big box of luxury chocolates - you'll deserve it!

i took flip flops but found them not good with the surgical stockings. try ones which dont go between the toes. make them waterproof so you can use dthem in the shower and not catch anythign. take a flannel so you can wash without getting scar wet. get up as soon as possible as it helps you heal. mine was great, much better than subsequent vbac from which I'm still recovering (almost two years later). take a gameboy/game/mag as we were delayed by almost 12 hours because emergencies come first.

I'm sure lots of this has been said already..

I found pyjamas so much easier. midwives come and look at your scar and i felt really exposed lifting up my night dress. also same goes for breastfeeding.

if you can have a crib that attaches to the bed then this is great for breastfeeding

all the pain relief that is offered

some comfortable clothes that you enjoy wearing

my husband had a digital camera that could do short movies. he filmed them first weighing our son which i could not see. i nearly cried when watching it back

get people to bring you in food. you really need it

be prepared as my legs swelled to the size of tree trunk

books and mags for when waiting for surgery. One big bag to leave on ward and a teeny bag with just baby grow and nappy to take on ward. Mine was for ds2 so I spent the previous afternoon laying out 5 outfits for DS1 as every one can tell when his daddy has dressed him!! The time went quite quick admitted at 8 op at 2, I just mooched around the ward looking at all the other babies and doing bits and bobs for the mums who'd had csect the day before.
Glad I wasn't in the same hosp as KristinaM ours puts all csect ladies in one ward and we could ring for anything at all, also lots of help with feeding as much more difficult to position post section. The worst parts for me were the spinal needles going in, then realising that my catheter bag full of wee was in full view of mil!!!
Have a great time and remember, you may be too posh to push but you ain't too posh to have your wee bag in public view

Oh and i agree with every one saying to get staff to take pic of DH in scrubs. Mine was horrified at having to get 'dressed up' till I told him he would look just like that doctor Mac off Green Wing (who I'd had a crush on for ages) that soon shifted him into the changing room...

you can get a C-belt at mamatoto.co.uk which is absolutely fantastic to cushion and protect your scar. It comes with a gel ice pack and a heat pad. brilliant. (enter KF1ZZ140 at the checkout for free delivery)

Oh yeah I forgot a CD for the operation is great although I spend ages making one with appropriate songs and then could hardly keep the tears back during the operation.

Our hospital did not supply boxes of tissues or cotton wool balls so my husband had to go to the shops to get some.

A watch or clock was useful as the midwives like to measure things (how much have you weeed and when, how much have you drunk and when, when did you last breast feed and how long for)

Make sure someone teaches you how to breastfeed lying down on your side. Once I learnt (took a while!) it was soooo much easier and a good way to get some relaxation once out of hospital

Lots of good advice here for you already! Newgirl - i had to have my beautiful pedicure removed REALLY badly! Can't agree more about the big knickers, the bigger the better, the paper ones really are sweaty. Try and get waxed before you go in, i found being shaved a bit embarrassing as well! Nice cool and comfy clothing is good for afterwards too. I didn't get any help the next morning to get up and showered and dressed so if someone can be there to give you a hand so much the better. And if they can bring you nice treats to eat and drink so much the better! Hope it all goes ok for you.

I don't remember getting shaved or even being itchy! I had an "emergency" c-section (no baby distress, but no coming out after 2 hours of pushing) so maybe that bit was bypassed. I don't know.

My mum says back when she had us vaginally it was a total shave!!

The constipation after the section is awful - you will feel bloated as well as sore, so take plenty of fruit and not too much of the white bread toasted that is on offer. After I had my dc3 my midwife couldn't figure why I was still constipated 5 days later until we realised the painkillers also act as an anti diahorrea medicine

just agreeing with everyone else - BIG knickers. I too had Primark extra big black ones and binned them afterwards.

Lots of bottled water - hospital water does taste truly foul.

No one told me about the wind - it's terrible, and mints worked a treat - no peppermint oil on our post natal ward!

Also if you can, one of those water spray things, just in case it's really hot, what with it being the middle of winter now {grin} and everyone has the heating on full blast, and you end up having to stay in the recovery unit for longer than planned!

and some lovely chocolate to help when you suddenly burst into tears in the middle of the night for no reason

good luck!
xxx