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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Surgical stockings after C section - how long must/did you wear them for?

32 replies

incy · 18/05/2007 19:59

Was told today will have to wear surgical stockings for 5 days after section - is this right? Did anyone wear them longer/shorter? Thanks x

OP posts:
chocolateshoes · 18/05/2007 20:00

I wasn't told to wear them at all but had injections daily whilst in hospital which, I think is supposed to prevent clotting. So no help, I'm afraid!

Botbot · 18/05/2007 20:02

I had mine on for less than two days. DD was born at 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday, and I was allowed to take them off on Monday morning and have a shower. The most blissful shower of my life. Who told you that?

Hulababy · 18/05/2007 20:02

I wore them all the time I was in hospital - came out after two days. Can't remember after that. Not all day anyway, but I did wear them at night time for a few days after.

ScaryHairy · 18/05/2007 20:05

I think it is about right.
I wore them for 2 days, then binned them because they were all bloody, but then they gave me another pair and I ended up wearing them for about 5 days in all. I was readmitted at one point (day 4-5) and the Drs were asking whether I was still wearing them.
It does no harm to wear them.

baffledbb · 18/05/2007 20:05

Same as choclateshoes. injections but no surgical stockings.

fishie · 18/05/2007 20:08

i took them off after 2 days, when i got up and dressed. nobody ever said anything to me about how long i should/shouldn't wear them (and i didn't ask because i hated them), but i reasoned that if i was walking about it was ok.

RedFraggle · 18/05/2007 20:16

I wore them in hospital but went home after 2 nights and didn't have any at home. Took them off on the first day to have a shower and the midwife had to help me get them back on again - they were unbelievably tight!
Didn't have injections either but I was up and about the same day as the op and I think the main clot risk is if you are immobile (could be totally wrong about this though!)

Roskva · 18/05/2007 20:21

I wore them for 3 days - then my feet swelled up and I couldn't get them back on!

Original poster
incy · 18/05/2007 20:22

Thanks everyone - the midwife told me today they advise 5 days I just wondered if anyone lasted that long !

Thanks again.

OP posts:
chocolateshoes · 18/05/2007 20:23

By the way Incy have you had your baby or not - can't tell from your OP. If so, congratulations!

DaisysGotABigBump · 18/05/2007 20:24

i had heperein injections and no stockings...didn't realise there was an alternative to injections. I'm booked for an elective in 2.5 weeks, so it's given me something to think about!

Original poster
incy · 18/05/2007 20:25

Sorry - wasn't clear -in for section on Monday so in for pre op stuff today in day unit. Hadn't heard of surgical stockings so was a bit surprised !

OP posts:
chocolateshoes · 18/05/2007 20:27

Good luck then for Monday, Incy! You'll have your baby very soon!!

Roskva · 18/05/2007 20:35

I hope all goes well, incy - good luck

ScaryHairy · 18/05/2007 20:39

Daisy, they weren't an alternative. It was stockings and jabs where I was (so bloody great bruises and unattractive leg wear both).

canmummy · 18/05/2007 20:41

The unit where I had my last section told me to wear them for 6 weeks!!! (think I lasted about 3 days)

Original poster
incy · 19/05/2007 07:06

Thanks again everyone. Glad to know it is not just me singled out for the scary stockings!

OP posts:
eidsvold · 19/05/2007 07:45

well not only this time did I have to wear the stockings - they also gave me blood thinning injections. This was my third section have never had to wear the stockings etc until this time. Wore them for 2 1/2 days - as long as I was in hospital.

at least the arnica helped with the bruising from the jabs.

Twiga · 19/05/2007 08:06

No stockings here, just heperin injections for the five days I was in post-birth. Know I had big space boot things on during the section, which always raises a slightly funny pic in my head !

snookie28 · 19/05/2007 15:02

I was told that I had to wear them for 6 weeks. I lasted the 5 days I was in hospital then ditched them. Didn't receive an injection though. Might ask for that next time as the stockings are horrendous. I had the full leg ones and they got so itchy and smelly esp on a boiling hot maternity ward

WelshMum23 · 19/05/2007 15:10

i had a c-section i took them off when i went for a shower 2 days later and didnt put clean ones back on the next day the nurse tutted at me and said i was suppose to keep some on for my whole stay so helped me into another pair i was in 6 days cos it was an emerg c-section and i had blood pressure problems

Wheelybug · 19/05/2007 15:11

I wore them for the 5 days (actually may have been longer) - one tip though, see if you can buy some because, mine got filthy (as you can imagine) and when I asked for another pair they looked at me aghast and told me to wash them in the sink.

snookie28 · 19/05/2007 20:17

Did they really only give you 1 pair? I got a 2nd pair and was told to alternate handwashing them every day once home. Like you reallly have the energy to do this with a newborn!!

Meglet · 19/05/2007 20:39

Just wore them for the 3 days I was in hospital and that was it. They may have told me to wear them for longer, if so I wasn't paying attention.

fearscape · 20/05/2007 08:51

Had a shower the day after my csection and asked for new ones as the tops were soaked in blood (nice), then wore new pair for a couple of days until a flustered midwife on a busy drug round told me I didn't have to wear them anymore (after some shameless badgering on my part - it was August and the wards were sweltering). I was very mobile though as ds was five floors down in NICU. The poor girl in the bed opposite me refused to wear the stockings after a day or so and they made her have the injections instead - don't know how I escaped them - think the stockings were definitely preferable!