Tips for csection!

[nutelladipper]

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

anotherbun1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/c-section-recovery-tips-from-c-section.html?m=1

Once I had my catheter out I had six hours to wee. Which is difficult as everything feels weird.
I had about 4 cuppa of tea and in the break my partner went to Starbucks and brought me the biggest, foamiest, creamy coffee he could find. It was a pint of sugar and caffeine, helped me wee and thank God it did. The lady next to me was non English speaking and I don't think she understood that she had to wee by a deadline as her partner wasn't there when they told her and he was her translator. They put her catheter back in which was horrible to listen to, I can't imagine how painful it would have been.

Get plans in place for when you get home from the hospital: bending to load washing machines/pull laundry out/put laundry out will be a killer for a few weeks. Ditto the vacuuming, carrying car seats with babies in, lifting prams etc. If you can get DP, relatives, friends to do some of this, it really will make life easier. We were living in a first floor flat with no lift when I had DS by an EMCS - made life interesting! Basically - think about how you move around your home and think about where you might need stuff. We ended up keeping the pram in my car (which I wasn't driving obvs) as it meant one less thing to try and drag downstairs when my mobility was reduced, it was parked right outside our flat and I could be a little less dependent on other people if I was home alone in those very early weeks. It can help to make sure you've got everything you need in one place so that you don't have to try and get yourself up and downstairs in a hurry. Some days I had everything down on the lounge floor with me, which meant I could do nappy changes, play with DS, read Mumsnet on my phone etc without having to get up and down every two minutes.

If you are planning to breastfeed, worth looking at tips about this with a section. This page might be helpful: kellymom.com/ages/newborn/newborn-concerns/c-section/ I had other issues with BF that caused problems for me with it, but it didn't help being unable to get him out of his cot in the hospital and having less mobility full stop.

Oh and YYY! to putting a cushion over your scar if you are going to laugh or sneeze. I thought I was actually going to split my sides when my DM sent me an email that was unintentionally hilarious when DS was about a week old.

Drink as much as possible. I had a great thing called the water hydrant which is a drinking bottle for hospitals. It's bloody hard trying to drink lots when they bring you a heavy jug (you won't want to lift it) with tiny little plastic cups. This bottle clips to the bed and you can drink no handed lying down. Best thing - had one for all thress c sections and used it while breastfeeding for months after. Also, just keep on trying with breastfeeding but it can take a little longer to get going. If you want to go for it, try not too worry and let it come in without pumping. Also try to get a private room if you can. I had my first recovery on a ward, second went private (amazing) and third i paid for a private room. For me it really meant i could concentrate on me and baby and it means you usually have a loo right next to you which made going to to toilet the first time much more relaxing. With a private loo you can leave the door open and see your baby still. Sounds a small thing but walking your baby in the roller bassinet down a long corridor and then leaving it usually outside while you try to wee or poo while wondering if another mum has made the long walk and is about to collapse outside... Anyhow. Private rooms are worth it and sometimes only cost £30 or might even be free if you ask nicely. Take your own pillow. The hospital ones are horrid. Make sure you use the up and down controls on the bed every time you need to get out of bed to lower and lift you. Don't rush to get out of bed! Take at least 24 hours. Take all painkillers offered even if you feel ok. If you feel sick or unwell tell someone. You may need to swich painkillers (morphine based can make you feel sick and vomit but they will have alternatives!) make sure husband / partner / visitor is there for lunch times to make sure you get fed. If you need something ring the buzzer! Don't feel shy - it's there to buzz because you can't move! Ask visitors not to bring flowers - not allowed usually - but chocolate / high energy food instead! A finally - a good pair of control pants that hold you in when you sneeze or cough. Good luck! I got better at it and my final one was the easiest.

Yes yes yes to big pants, marvellous.

Lactulose and Fybogel for constipation, the hospital should discharge you with these. Codeine definitely makes you constipated.

They'll ask you to shave your pubic hair, make sure you shave low enough, I didn't and had the special experience of the midwife shaving me just before I went down to theatre . I was pretty glad my bump made it impossible for me to see what she was doing.

Don't go home before you feel ready, I stayed a third night and was really glad I did (I have two older DCs).

I didn't have to shave and they didn't shave me so that may be different in each hospital.

Great thank you.

I was told not to shave unless several days before due to infection I think she said.

Had two. Incisional hernia with second!

Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to vacuum, sweep or mop for at least four weeks! It can tear internal stitches because of the muscles involved!

Ask to be second on the theatre list. You don't want to be first or last (you may get bumped to the next day)

Oh and piriton for the itching after ten days! Seriously, you can thank me later when you stop twitching!

I've had two - one emergency and one planned.

With the second, I was not given any codeine or iron tablets, just paracetamol and ibuprofen - not even any stronger than you get in the shops! Told it was NHS cost cutting. I was really scared they wouldn't be enough, but it was actually fine - I kept taking them religiously at the recommended times, and the benefits of no constipation and feeling much less 'drugged up' were good.

BIG recommendation if you get trapped wind - I had it terribly, it was the worst thing about my second c section and peppermint did absolutely nothing - try Rennie Deflatine. Took me from agony to painfree very quickly (via millions of farts!!!)

ALSO do read the leaflets they give you about post c-section exercise and actually do them (when you're ready). I had diastasis recti (split abdominal muscles) whilst pregnant with my second, and didn't realise that c sections really make this worse, as they cut straight through all your core muscles. So I have now been in physio trying to fix it, 9 months after the cs. Would have been much better if I'd done the exercises post c section in the first place.

Take LOADS of magazines into hospital - I was due to go to theatre at 8am but they had lots of emergencies so didn't go in until 4pm. Got VERY bored (and hungry!)

Good luck! It really is a very civilised way to give birth!

I've had 2 prev CS and having one on 10 days.
You would need yoga pants, ones with the big band and go across your belly rather than under which could dig into your scar.
Also, don't be in a hurry to go home, stay in the hospital though it may be boring but at least you won't have to/or tempted to do anything.
Everything else has been mentioned.

1. Baggy lounge panty with elastic waist band.
2. Slippers.
3. Don't pee before catheter goes in or they may keep jabbing you until they get a flow.
4. Light lipstick/balm as you will look totally weird during surgery & for all the first photos. You will be upside down to camera when they place baby next to you when delivered.
5. Keep talking, your anesthetist can help if you feel ill or hungry.
6. Toes, feet, feet, toes - over and over after surgery. Lift toes back, feet into flex then back down.
7. Walk same day.
8. Just keep moving, walking is easier than laying down. Push through the pain, just upper tummy and don't focus on incision.
9. Wear highcut briefs one size bigger than when you walk in.
10. You will swell like a doughnut below and above incision for months but it's only to be expected as they cut through so much tissue and mussel.
11. I have had 2 c sections in 4 years. I still wear higher cut things now but my scar is pencil line thin. Two different surgeons.
12. Having your tubes tied makes recovery much worse but again worth it when your ready.
13. Just go at your own pace and focus on your beautiful bundle of joy.
14. Stepping stool for getting in and out of bed crutial when you go home.
15. Make sure crib is set to highest setting or you will never get baby in or out from a lower setting.
16. Start moisturizing your scar to heal from 6 weeks.
17. Let baby sleep on you in hospital is your really exhausted. You'll be less anxious and you won't move till week 2 when you are comfortable to roll over. Mother's are instantly tuned into baby so you will know what works for you and bub.
18. Breastfeeding challenges with a c recovery is tough so don't feel bad to try a bottle and formula as a top up.
19. Get your rest. Take time for you and baby to sleep together and have a sterilized bottle at the ready so you don't have to run a load when you wake with a very hungry baby.
20. Don't rush to get back to society, walking around with your guard down and a newborn can lead to anxiety.

Ooh great list. Love it.

I'm just had my 2nd and last
Section 2 weeks ago.
I'll echo some of the main things people have said, trapped wind - peppermint tea. Was hard to get hot water so I just kept asking the tea lady to make a fresh flask each time to keep topping myself up. No matter how much I wanted a normal
Brew I knew I would benefit from the peppemint more which I did.
DH helped me shower whilst in hospital an to dry scar. Big knickers a must will help you feel
More comfortable.
Take any pain killers even if you feel ok, especially just before you get out of bed for the first time they will ease the shock to the system an the feeling of pulling etc.
Everything will feel a bit freer once the stiches are out.
I have an infection at the moment an am currently on 3 rd lot antibiotics in 2 weeks although isn't the scar that's infected. So don't think your Wonder Woman an take it easy I was running round after my 5 year old an managed to pop the scar open a bit.
I'm finding my second worse than the first. With first was running round scubu for 4 weeks so didn't get to think about pain!

Start taking calendula and arnica homeopathic tablets now and for a couple of weeks after the birth. I took both and my consultant was in awe of how fast I healed.... He OK'd me to drive 11 days post section.

Drink loads to help prevent constipation and the moment you feel you may be uncomfortable ask for lactulose. I did this and honestly didn't suffer at all with it. Itay have helped that I ate nothing but fruit throughout the 39 hours of labour pre EMCS.

You are advised not to scrub the wound/scar but I found a baby bath sponge perfect for gently cleansing and feeling clean/not itchy. They often come in a pack of 2 so one for baby and one for you =)

Do you guys think peppermint & liquorice tea would suffice?

Been six years now sincd mine but I think you need to avoid going downstairs more than 2 times a day for a while after the cs

Reading through this makes me realise that every hospital and every c section is different. I thinking best to prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised when you have a much better time, as I did.

Mine ws 3 weeks yesterday and I feel fine. I am still not hovering etc but that's mostlybdown to not wanting to carry the Henry up or downstairs. I could manage the actual hoovering. I have been cooking and washing up, washing laundry since about day 5. Again, not carrying heavy basket of wet washing. Took baby forma walk in the pram when he was a week old. I am still trying to take it easy as I am aware it would be very easy to do too much given how feel.

20 days after c section I'm going to have to take eldest to school - hubby will of taken DC2 to nursery and gone to work. It's less than a mile do you think it will be ok to walk there and back?
Then collection at 3pm?
I'd need to do it every day from that point onwards.

I could manage that easily, I have been going to see my ponies every day for the last few days. DS in carrier, wandering across the field to make sure they have water and are ok. Just give yourself some extra time. And maybe have a contingency plan in case you are unable to manage both ends of the day.

Thanks Notta

Thanks Notta

Take your pain killers, under no circumstances think you don't need them any more (world of pain)

Peppermint water - I didn't know this existed and was so uncomfortable. But 2 cups of this sorted me out.

Big granny pants that reach your armpits. I still have some of mine and wear them for bed

All noted.
I've got till Thursday to get my head around it all!