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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Tips for csection!

77 replies

nutelladipper · 09/08/2015 08:11

Hi all, I'm having my first c section (in fact first surgery!) in 10 days.
I wondered if you could share your before, during & after tips?
Thanks

OP posts:
tethersend · 10/08/2015 15:02

Glycerin suppositories for constipation. Golden bullets Grin

Tie an old bedsheet/length of rope to the foot of the bed and use it to pull yourself up to a seated position.

nutelladipper · 10/08/2015 15:02

Ooh no not sure seeding is for me! Especially with group strep B!

OP posts:
nutelladipper · 10/08/2015 15:04

I've seen about tying a sheet but we've a Divan so no where to tie it too!

OP posts:
redannie118 · 10/08/2015 15:10

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

Doje · 10/08/2015 15:12

Make sure you've got a pillow for the journey back from the hospital. Stick it between your scar and the seat belt.

Shower as soon as you can at hospital after your op. It's not easy and you'll be a bit unsteady, but that clean feeling is well worth it!

LAB123 · 10/08/2015 18:16

I had an ELCS a year ago and it was great. One of my happiest memories was at the end of day 2 when the visitors went home and left me in hospital with my lovely DD. We sat on the bed with the telly on, her breast feeding and me tucking into a family pack of minstrels (they don't melt in the hospital inferno). I just thought that life couldn't get much better than that. I think that's when it all hit me and the adrenaline finally stopped. Enjoy the whole thing x

nutelladipper · 10/08/2015 21:04

Gosh minstrels must be the best advice so far! Grin

OP posts:
TeamEponine · 10/08/2015 21:10

I had a c belt and found it massively helpful in recovery. Made me far more mobile. I got mine on amazon.

WorzelsCornyBrows · 10/08/2015 21:16

Gosh the constipation was horrific, nobody warned me!

Make sure to air the wound regularly. After a week I started to bathe it in cooled boiled salt water and let it dry out. Use clean cotton wool for each section of the wound. Shower every day and let the soapy water just run over the wound, make sure it's fully dry before dressing (don't use a towel on it though - just let it air dry).

My DH set up a pulley by tying together dressing gown cords together and tying them to the end of the bed so I could pull myself from lying to sitting. Awesome tip given to us by a friend.

Yy to keeping on top of painkillers, take as many as you're safely allowed and keep doing it, there's no point waiting until it hurts.

Go upstairs sideways.

Sleep with a towel under your knees, I found sleeping on my back after months of sleeping on my side so hard to get used to, but sleeping on my side would have hurt like fuck.

Loose clothing.

Last but not least, hold your wound every time you laugh, go carefully with coughing and for the love of god don't sneeze for a week or two!

Good luck, you'll be amazed at how quickly you start to feel better! I've done birth both ways and healed after section far quicker than the other way.

BikeRunSki · 10/08/2015 21:16

Ask for a physiotherapist to come to see you before you leave hospital and show you some moves for getting out of bed/up/down off sofa etc. I didn't get this first time, did second time, and it made such a difference.

nutelladipper · 11/08/2015 07:17

Yes good tip re Physio as I suffer with a bad back so it'll be good to not damage that in the early days!

OP posts:
teachermummy2b · 11/08/2015 08:33

i took colpermin into hospital after reading a similar thread. Think I took 2 doses after the op and 1 more the following morning and didn't have any wind/constipation issues.

Good luck!

nutelladipper · 11/08/2015 11:14

Ooh I'll google colpermin

OP posts:
Gooseysgirl · 11/08/2015 11:23

My marriage almost ended in divorce on the journey home after my CS as my DH is not the best driver... try and chose a route that avoids speed bumps, roads with potholes/uneven surfaces!!!

nutelladipper · 11/08/2015 13:49

Haha yes good point! Ive speed bumps galore round here.

OP posts:
Bobby1234 · 11/08/2015 14:34

Gosh I have had 2 c sections and some of the advice is scaring me. I must have been lucky, only advice I can think of is get up as soon as possible and do not do too much. With my second I was carrying my extremely heavy 2 year old after 2 weeks and got an infection. My second c section was planned and I was in hospital from 8-4 with no updates. Be prepared for a long day!!

villainousbroodmare · 11/08/2015 14:44

My experience 3 weeks ago was 100% positive (and it was an EMCS). Mild discomfort for one day afterwards. I'll certainly do it this way again. (I'm in South Africa where ELCS is the norm if you can afford it.)
Don't be afraid - it's very civilised - look forward to it!

mrsc118 · 11/08/2015 14:54

The sooner you start moving about the easier it is. Use as much pain relief to get moving. Full briefs (cheap ones so you can bin) try not to wear anything that sits on your wound

reallywittyname · 11/08/2015 14:55

Take a hand-held fan in your hospital bag. the ward I was on was stifling, it was a heatwave, I had the post-birth sweats.... it would have been bliss to have one!

Also take ear plugs and an eye mask. In case your baby is nicely asleep but the twat in the next bed is on her phone, to her whole family, on speakerphone, at 11.30pm.

Imnotaslimjim · 11/08/2015 15:02

I have read the thread but didn't see if anyone suggested nighties rather than PJ's for post-op. Much easier for the catheter which will be in for at least 4 hours. Mine stayed in for 3 days because of complications, and I only took 2 nighties. Got into a bit of a tangle on the 3rd day

If you're nervous about any part of it, tell them. I mentioned that the thought of the spinal was making me want to vomit, so the anaesthetist came and spoke to me beforehand to explain what he would be doing. He was great, really kept me calm

Imnotaslimjim · 11/08/2015 15:02

I have read the thread but didn't see if anyone suggested nighties rather than PJ's for post-op. Much easier for the catheter which will be in for at least 4 hours. Mine stayed in for 3 days because of complications, and I only took 2 nighties. Got into a bit of a tangle on the 3rd day

If you're nervous about any part of it, tell them. I mentioned that the thought of the spinal was making me want to vomit, so the anaesthetist came and spoke to me beforehand to explain what he would be doing. He was great, really kept me calm

MsMarple · 11/08/2015 15:14

A big bag or two of dried apricots to snack on as soon as I could was my saviour the second time around, from the agonising pain-killer-induced constipation that came after my first emergency section.

TBH everything else has faded into insignificance!

Pinklizard77 · 11/08/2015 15:31

Had an emcs 5 weeks ago. All the advice on here is great. Mine is a cautionary tale!!! Since birth of DD I've suffered with piles (the joys), after the CS the hospital gave me iron tabs which (I now know) are notorious for causing constipation. I was not given lactulose. 10 days after the surgery following horrendous constipation I had a trip to A and E in an ambulance (along with breastfed DS) after suffering a prolapsed rectum....

nutelladipper · 11/08/2015 15:35

The overwhelming theme is constipation and trapped wind!

I think I'll invest in another cheap nightie or two.

Thanks all. This is all really useful.

Xx

OP posts:
reallywittyname · 11/08/2015 15:50

Trapped wind can manifest itself as pain in your shoulder, it's agony but the peppermint water (not tea or oil) they give you really helps, so keep asking for more till you've got it all out.