Things you wish you'd known about c sections

[MakeAWhish]

Hi all, ok, I am having my first c section (third baby) in 5 weeks time.
Any words of advice from those of you who've had one? What do you wish you'd known/done? Essential items to have to help with recovery? Best piece of advice you were given?
Thanks wise ladies xx

It was absolutely fine. I had a enhanced recovery. Baby born ten, in shower by lunchtime.

I was terrified and there was no need, it was all a blur.

Peppermint tea for trapped wind is a must.

I took arnica tablets and put aloe Vera on wound once sealed.

I did blow dry it after a shower. Some say not to because of dust but it worked well to keep mine clean and dry.

Big pants are essential.

Hope all goes well for you.

Amazing advice, and thank you for putting my mind at rest. Screenshotting your reply!! Really appreciate you taking the time to help, thank you.

A maternity pad on the overhanging belly keeps your scar dry because it absorbs the sweat

I wish I’d known that permanent loss of sensation is very common. I have a numb patch on my tummy the size of my hand. Others I’ve spoken to have numbness down the thigh or even in their privates. And I wish I’d known how long it takes to heal - no sit-ups for a year and even over a year later my tummy still sometimes feels tender.

Get a breastfeeding pillow (a half round one) even if you're not planning on bf. my little one managed to kick me right on the scar every time!!!
Yes yes yes to big pants - up to your nipples if possible

Tie a dressing gown belt or similar to the headboard of the bed, so you can pull yourself up with your arms, and don't put any strain on your abs for those first few weeks

Have a little step (like a toddler step) for your feet to rest on when you have a post-birth poo

If you can, get a crib or similar that sits level with your bed. Our moses basket was lower then our bed and getting in and out of bed for night feeds was uncomfortable at first.

Walk around as early as you can after the opp. Helps with stiff legs.

Jeans and elastic waist joggers / trousers / Pjs can rub against your scar - I found nighties and loose fit dresses more comfortable at first. And defo big pants!

You can't carry anything heavier then your baby for 6 weeks afterwards, so lots of online shop orders :)

Good luck - overall, my recovery was fine x

Clicked post to soon....
Lavender essential oil helped my scar to heal (and relaxes you and baby as an added bonus)
You may feel fine. You won't be though!! DO NOT overdo it. I burst my stitches & got very very told off by my midwife.
For the dreaded "first poo". Make sure you keep your fibre & liquids up now. Press / hold a pad over your scar when you go. It helps lessen the "im going to pop open" feeling.
Don't worry too much if breast feeding takes a while. Some hormone thing makes your breast feeding hormone flip out after a c section. It WILL kick back in. But don't panic, get support from midwife/feeding consultant.
Good luck & enjoy your baby x

I second big pants and the maternity pad over the scar. Don't be worried, mine was a lovely experience!

I found actual peppermint cordial with boiled water worked better for wind than peppermint tea.

Be prepared for what it actually feels like while they're getting baby out. Although its numb it still feels like a swirly feeling. Best way i could do describe it was like a washing machine the anaesthetic gave me anti sickness meds and all was wonderful again!

And congrats on baby number 3!

Ask for laxatives to be written up for you ASAP. I had them written up to have regularly after the c-section and had no constipation at all

I've had 2 one emergency and one "elective". Have things at waist high so no bending down, set it up the night before with help. Shoulder bag to help you limit the amount of time moving around at first, but don't become too immobile.

Be warned the convert they use in some cases can cause an allergic reaction, it was worse than the recovery itself! If it happens ask/demand for cream and use antihistamines when at its worse.

Don't over do it, it will set back recovery.

Check insurance on driving, some say so many weeks, some want doc to say it's ok, some day when you can do an emergency stop without pain.

Take the painkillers! Wean off them and if you need them take them again.

Hold your tummy when you laugh or sneeze!

I found myself sleeping on sofa / upright position as I struggled to get up out of bed without lots of help, but as I was feeding baby it means one of us got some sleep!

Enjoy the baby cuddles when they arrive!

I also lived in night dresses and flowy dresses for the first few weeks with extra large pants, much much comfier than anything else

My recovery was fine and I was feeling pretty good after two weeks. But I massively underestimated how much it would hurt in those first few days. I know it’s different for every woman but bloody hell, I was in agony until about day five, then I turned a corner and started to feel much better. Although my scar still aches every now and again even two years later.

Moving around will help the healing process but you must absolutely not overdo it. Don’t lift a finger to do anything other than feed and cuddle your baby for at least two weeks.

And invest in some massive pants that go almost up to your ribs. They’re great for takeaway nights too, once your DC is a bit older ; )

Yes to big pants, peppermint pills, how to safely exercise afterwards and weird numbness! Also take the lactulose you should be offered or take some with you. Mine was an emergency so I didn’t get a chance to plan and was clueless. I wish someone had told me the best way to get on and off the bed because I really struggled and would have been useless without DH to lean on.

If you plan to bf, the rugby ball hold is useful as it keeps pressure off your tummy.

I found turning on my side in bed painful for a while afterwards (again, recovery was worse due to it being EMCS) and we have a side sleeper which is amazing now but the twist and bend of getting her in and out was tough to start with.

Take it as easy as you can afterwards. No one gives medals for pushing yourself and getting sore. Don’t leave till your pain is manageable.

You’ll probably have blood thinning injections for a few days afterwards and you shouldn’t take arnica at the same time but I’ve heard people rave about its healing properties afterwards.

Exciting you’ll meet your baby soon, good luck!

I wish I'd known how easy it was and how the recovery was nowhere near as bad as I imagined. Getting up out of bed the first time was bad but I was walking around a few hours after that and I would say fully recovered in 5 days.

Also we had the chicco next to cot that attatched to the side of the bed. Perfect height and made night feeds a doddle

-That you won't necessarily have a flat stomach after. I still looked 8 months pregnant in the days following.

-That if you've had a spinal and can't feel your legs - it's ok to ring the buzzer to ask for your child's cot to be put in reach so you can pick them up if they are crying. (I thought the buzzer was only for life and death and partners weren't allowed to stay and help - that may have changed now).

• That I'd be really grateful for my mum coming first thing as I wanted a shower but wasn't allowed to go alone or to leave the baby.

• that you are supposed to leave the compression socks on for an amount of time after the op. (Can't remember how long but I threw mine away first time I went to the loo and got into trouble).

If your shoulder hurts afterwards, it's trapped wind. Bizarre but true. Ask for peppermint capsules in water, the midwives will have them.

Get up asap. It will really help.

Ask to see the physio before you go home for advice on how to get out of bed and similar.

Don't blow dry the wound. Pat dry only. Hair dryers are full of germs.

I was also surprised at how long the lochia lasted. If assumed after a CS it would be much shorter but it came and went for weeks on end, I kept checking with the MW and it was apparently normal. Wish I hadn’t googled it, some of the stuff people post online...

If anything doesn’t feel right then ask, ask, ask.

I've had 2 c sections and my advice is buy dulcolax as it's very painful to poo after it. Place a hand over the incision while pooing,

Remember to ask if your oh can cut the cord

Your body is full of pregnancy growth hormones, hopefully you will heal quickly and fine

Use kelocote silicon gem on the scar after it's healed

but one thing no one ever really talks about is caesarian overhang. Google it and then you won't be shocked if it does happen to you. The majority of people who have a c section or more than one section need a mini or full tummy tuck because of the lose skin that's left after the cut.

So go easy on yourself because its not your fault if your stomach won't go back to how it was before. Happens to nearly everyone

I've had three c sections. My tips are:-

Check the light fittings above the table when you lie down. I looked up while DC2 was being born and could see my insides reflected in the very shiny light fitting above me. This isn't an issue in all theatres though. When I had DC3 I checked the light fitting on the way in and saw that it had a matt texture.

Keep on top of the painkillers after surgery. I tried to cut them down too quickly and ended up really sore.

A lot of water, you need your tummy to go back to normal. Stand up as soon as you can, turn from one side to another. The more you move the easier it will be. I was absolutely fine in 8 hours. A bit painful and bloated but some ladies in my ward felt much worse after giving natural birth. Good luck!

The waiting beforehand can be very long because emergencies go first. My elcs was scheduled for 1pm and I went down to theatre at 9am the next day. Totally understand that emergencies happen but I wish I knew that before as I could have brought something to occupy me.

I recovered really easily, a bit numb in hospital for a couple of days but totally fine when I got home, was cooking dinner for guests the first night I got home(absolutely my choice, my DH was telling me to sit down but I was desperate to just do something non baby related ).
No pain, no discomfort, no visible scar, it was so much better than the VB I had been dreading. And check with your insurer, I had no
problem driving. (And I was not fit & healthy before the CS, age 43, overweight & unfit ).

Oh and if your oh can't stay if not private hosp...

then before he leaves ask him to put all necessary baby items on your bed table, nappies wipes, dummy/milk if using, change of baby clothes and bring an extra long phone charger

Have it all within easy reach for the first night. I also had lucozade to help me with the exhaustion of night feeds