Scheduled c section on Valentine’s Day, any advice?

[Snowdog37]

This is my first baby and thus first c section. I’m kind of anxious but also very excited!
I’d love to hear from experienced mums about the procedure age recovery process after a c section. I’ll be 36w6d and am being delivered early due to obstetric cholestasis.

What is the section like? How painful is it after? How long does recovery take?

I had a c section at that time. Honestly it is fine. It’s completeky painless. The spinal feels weird (I had numbing cream because I hate needles) but once it’s done it feels nice, like your legs are in a warm bath.

Then all you feel is slight pressure. Then your baby is born.

I can’t speak about breastfeeding, my son needed NICU (not because of the cesarean) but I know if your baby is fine, you can hold them straight away.

Recovery wise, within a day I was fine. The first day was a bit sore, but nothing horrific. For comparison, I’ve had periods more painful than that.

I’d advise you to take glycerin suppositories in though. The post baby poo made me feel like I was going to rip my scar and they’re stingy with the glycerin.

Have you started pumping yet? With c-sections it can take longer for your milk to come in. Mine took 5 days and I ended up with my twins on formula. Good luck! My best piece of advice would be put a maternity thick pad over your dressing held in place with your pants, then another one in between your pants and your trousers/leggings for extra support.
Don’t be alarmed if they have to tilt the table to get at the right angle for delivery. You won’t feel a thing pain-wise, but will feel a pulling sensation. And it’s quite noisy as the effectively hoover the fluids out! I remember a big whooshy sound. Weirdly I regret not asking to see my placentas...! Make sure you tell the anaesthetist if you feel sick as they can top up the anti-sickness stuff pretty quick. I was shaking/shivering with adrenaline. Your partner/dh will be dressed in scrubs, remember to take your camera! Good luck! A valentine’s baby! Awww

Oh yeah I had really bad sickness at one point and they sorted it out in about 4 seconds. Forgot that.

I had the same thing with sickness, and they gave me something for it.

For recovery I highly recommend buying some special c section undies. Just look up on Amazon. They're expensive they have a smooth silicone panel which sits over your scar and makes it feel really secure. Not for straight away but once you're a bit more mobile. My OH took 3 weeks off afterwards which was very useful as I needed the help around the place.

Thanks everyone. I’m in the USA and dh only gets 2 weeks off so I’m hoping by the time he goes back to work at the end of the month I’ll be over the worst of it! I’ll look for those undies. I already bought some really soft boxer short type undies as I am overweight and have an apron belly and the having my upper thighs covered will stop my belly resting on them when I sit down. I feel gross just describing that but the reality is sucky.
I just can’t wait to have my little boy and start getting to know him! This pregnancy is a miracle so I’m beyond ecstatic to make it this far!