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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

PLEASE can you help my friend who is having a C-SECTION on Monday....

64 replies

DANCESwithaFewExtraPounds · 10/05/2007 08:03

Any advice please! Her baby is lying transverse and they couldn't turn it so she's having a section on Monday. She hasn't had one before, I've had two so I've told her everything I can remember but I'm sure there's lots more pearls of wisdom out there! Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 10/05/2007 08:30

Oh yes, I second the private room idea, I had one both times and it was blardy marvellous.

lemonaid · 10/05/2007 08:31

Some of the painkillers can be constipating, and the delivery itself can be constipating, and most hospitals don't seem to serve desperately high fibre meals, so taking fruit (fresh or dried) in with you is a good plan.

Don't drink anything fizzy.

lemonaid · 10/05/2007 08:36

And you can pick up your DC afterwards -- at least, I had to (he was waking up A LOT and I wasn't just leaving him there) and I'm still here.

LilRedWG · 10/05/2007 08:45

Second asking for the patient administered morphine - like Squonk I had it and it was great!!!! I used it - can you tell? I did request it to be removed after 24 hours as I was stoned. Other medication to ask for: Voltarol (diclofenac), paracetamol every four hours, co-codamol, and Lactulose is the co-codamol constipates you.

wheelybug · 10/05/2007 08:50

ooh and its a bit of a myth that car insurers want you to be 6 weeks post c-sec before driving. Mine said that as long as my gp said it was ok I could - and I was driving by 4 weeks.

sauce · 10/05/2007 08:52

mmmm-morphine! that is one fine drug. It gives you a high (couldn't understand why I felt so happy and chirpy the day after the op) and then, boom! once they take you off it, it's a downer. So don't be surprised if you feel bluer than blue. There's normal baby-blues and then the coming off morphine blues and the combination is devastating. Also, morphine makes you severely constipated which is no picnic after a c-section in the first place so... if you can do without the morphine, you'll be better off in the long run.

fryalot · 10/05/2007 08:53

I was driving the second day I was home (but I didn't have much choice about it tbh)

sauce · 10/05/2007 08:57

Yeah, I drove down to the chemist to get some cord-stump stuff for ds the day after I got home. The 6-week thing is nonsense.

sauce · 10/05/2007 08:57

But the 6 week ban is NOT nonsense for swimming or bathing. Showers only.

Gingermonkey · 10/05/2007 10:26

And going to the gym is a bad idea too or jogging to the shops or going out clubbing.......

bewilderbeast · 10/05/2007 10:45

what bloody pain relief button, was i in the wrong hospital or something.

she should take rennie deflatine to the hospital with her, the wind was the most painful thing

Gingermonkey · 10/05/2007 10:47

bewilderbeast, come to scarborough with me next time, I'm booking in now (not even PG, but I want this fancy button thing!). I second the wind, and blimey, how much did you all fart???? I was at it constantly, every time I moved. Blamed the babies tho

amidaiwish · 10/05/2007 10:53

these caesarian belts are really good, esp when breastfeeding after a c-section
here

gigglinggoblin · 10/05/2007 10:57

i had a morphine button 11 weeks ago, people kept coming in and saying how happy i looked dont think i had blues when coming off it (was just a bit disgruntled, i wanted to keep it!)

best tip - do not reach back and use the head of the bed to pull yourself upright. the muscle i pulled in my shoulder doing this was painful for longer than the section scar. also ask for pain relief when its getting around to time for it but before you are in pain, bad pain can be pretty quick coming on, better to stay numb imo. they had quite a few options, like a little menu, mw kept asking which i would prefer. you can have oral morphine when they take away the button, dont be fobbed off with paracetemol if you need more!

i had an emergency section which most people on here say is worse than planned but i was very pleased with

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 13:52

Sauce, I was encouraged to have a bath on day 3 post partum and it was fine. As long as I dried the area carefully.

alicet · 10/05/2007 15:45

I had an emergency section last feb with my son and thought I had a pretty good recovery but my mate who had a planned section was totally back to normal in 3 weeks!

Tips...

Ask for a diclofenac suppository to be put in when they've finished operating - its bloody marvellous stuff even though it doesn't sound very pleasant!

Make sure you're taking painkillers regularly BEFORE the epidural wears off - even if you feel fine taking them regualry works much better than waiting until your in agony. A decent anaesthetist will have prescribed this for you anyway but where I was the midwifes ignored it and asked if I wanted anything or not so I had to make sure I kept pestering for it. If you take tablets regularly (paracetamol and diclofenac) and codeine if you need it on top you will hopefully be able to avoid the morphine which will mean you are less drowsy and avoid getting constipated. Nothing wrong with it if you really need it though!

When you need to move press onto your scar till it feels uncomfortable first. Sounds mad but this supports your scar and will give less discomfort when moving about.

If planning to breast feed get a widgey breast feeding cushion. Actually even if not breast feeding I would recommend this to hold your baby! supports your baby at just the right height and avoids pressure on your scar. The best thing I took into hospital!!! John Lewis sells them as do loads of internet retailers - just stick widgey into google...

Will be back later if I think of anything else!

Good luck to your mate!

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 10/05/2007 16:42

Thanks everyone, my friend has emailed me to say she's seen the thread and that she found it full of lots of great advice. She was really pleased.Aaaaahhhh

lulumama · 10/05/2007 16:43

see you managed without me !

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 18:07

Ooh lulumama don't go....we still love you and need your advice....there is plenty of room for your two pennethworth too

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 10/05/2007 18:12

...I've already told her about arnica too, sorry!

lulumama · 10/05/2007 18:13

oh honey ! will take more than that to get rid of me ! what i meant to say was, what fab advice, i couldn;t add another thing!! LOL!!

lulumama · 10/05/2007 18:14

does she want a c.s birth plan?

herts has done one already

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 10/05/2007 18:25

I'm sure she would. Could you e-mail it to me and I'll forward it to her? Thanks!

lulumama · 10/05/2007 18:37

ok ! got some stuff to sort, will do it later...

jhyesmum · 10/05/2007 18:37

I had an emergency section. No button here either, but i had painful morphone jabs in my arse for a day!!

I agree with the pant thing. Big ones are best.

I made sure I had plenty of comfy clothes for afterwards. I felt the more comfortable I was the better i felt.

My section wasn't the most pleasant so I can't really suggest anything good that will help . I'm sure a planned section is 100 times better than an emergency section. I had been labouring for 20 hours, so mines a bit of a blur!

Wish her the best of luck though. I'd go through it all again!

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