Any last minute tips for days before c section?

[farmertom]

Hi, I am having my first section on Friday (natural birth last time with many complications).
I'm pretty nervous and have been fed all the usual horror stories. Even a few days ago got a family member telling me how dangerous they are for me and baby (thanks very much, it's not my choice!).

Anyway, any tips for the days before? I'm a bit worried about the NIL by mouth before a shot awful heartburn.
Should I drink loads of water up until I have to stop?
Literally any tips on anything appreciated

Buy huge granny knickers - you want cotton high waisted pants in about 3 sizes more than your normal. That way they won’t rub on your scar.

Thank you, I've got some packed in my hospital bag although I think they are only one size up 😭

Tmi but do you have to shave? Or do they shave? The midwife hasn't said anything about it but I've read they do...?

Worried if I shave it'll be all shaving rash

I didn't shave and they didn't shave me....

My tips, peppermint tea bags, the wind pain was the worst bit for me.

Arnica tablets.

And this is a strange one. I put a capful of hibiscrub which is surgical wash in every bath once I could have a bath and I never got an infection. You get it in boots etc.

They will shave you. I would say try not to be nervous. Mine was a lovely experience - really relaxed, and I recovered really quickly and easily. They give you plenty of pain meds in the days after it so you shouldn't really be in discomfort at all.

During the surgery, baby is out in no time (just a few minutes) and then you're so busy admiring the little bundle that you don't notice being stitched up after and the time goes really fast.

Also agree with PP re gigantic granny knickers

I had my third section on Monday. I got all the relevant info from the hospital infuriates my pre-op assessment. Have you had that? I ate as norm but had a late dinner at 9.30 and then some cereal before bed. Heartburn not a problem due to the meds they gave me (I had to take these at 10pm and 6am). Drank some water at 6am and juice as advised then nothing until after the section.

I’ve found the whole process fine really. The worst bit is trying to rest and recover in the hot, noisy post natal ward but everyone has to go there unless you get lucky with a private room.

My two tips are:

1. At the hospital if you are generally feeling ok push to find out what the next steps are. There are loads of hoops to get through before you can go home and it helps to be proactive in getting past each step. I also really wanted my catheter and cannula out in the day so pushed to make that happen asap. Felt much more human once they’d gone. May b we’d different for you.

1. Get mobile ASAP but do not overdo it. Little walks to the bathroom are good and light pottering/ a shower when you’re home but really limit all bending, getting up and down etc for a few days. Your partner (or support person) should be doing all nappies, cooking, tidying moving stuff as much as possible for a couple of weeks. That way you can really heal and avoid infections and/or burst stitches.

Good luck!

My c section was a really positive, calm experience. I hadn't wanted a section but ended up pleased I'd had one!

My specially purchased big knickers were just one size bigger so you should be fine there.

I liked to wear my maternity pad (preferred Boots own brand to any others) quite far forward to cushion the wound a bit.

I also didn't get infected and I think this is partially down to the fact that I never touched the wound at all until it was healed, just washed warm water over it with the shower head.

Eat a few dried apricots every day in the run up and after the section to help keep things moving. Keep well hydrated. Take a couple of bottles of water yourself in case the HCAs are too busy to refill your water jug when you're on the ward.

On c section day, be prepared for a long wait. I didn't go to theatre until midday despite being a priority case and being told I'd be taken in first thing! I ended up getting quite emotional about this as it all just got a bit too much!

If you want skin to skin, be clear with the theatre team about this at the point you go in. But again, manage your expectations... I apparently have quite a short top half (!) and they could fit DD on me for skin to skin without getting in the way of the surgeon stitching me up so had to settle for having DD placed next to my face on the bed instead (which was lovely as I had a really good view of her!).

I've had two c sections and both were great so try not to worry. Don't eat any windy/ high fibre food as trapped wind can be painful apparently- I used this as an excuse to have fish and chips for my last meal before the fast both times and was flatulence-free

I drank lots of smoothies after the surgery which helped me stay "regular".

Yes to big knickers and lots of water.

I had a wax so not sure about shaving question.

Flip flops for the hospital.

Peppermint tea is good.

Massive treble sized pants...and please dont rush to do things even if you feel you can ...i did and ended up infected and poorly xxxxx so please dont xx

Peppermint tea for the gas after and make sure you have a supply of pain killers. Also anything that will soften your first “movement”

A tip for afterwards, I bought a post partum belt from Amazon and started wearing it a few days after the csection. It gave me extra support to walk around and really helped while I had less core strength. It reduced the sharp pains you'll feel as you move about.

Also less importantly but still helpful, it helped my tummy become flat again quite quickly after birth!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Postpartum-Support-Recovery-Shapewear-Trainer/dp/B01LL04PV2/ref=mpssa112_sspa?keywords=c+section+recovery+belt&qid=1580913905&sprefix=c+sect&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A2Q0GYCQ3DT1MG&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyVk1DSThYSllDUjBCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzYyOTI2M1ZFSVpRNk5SVTY5NSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDI3MzY1MTdPMEE2RkFMQ0lLUSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Also like some of the previous posters have said, I found the csection a relaxing and positive experience, please don't worry! It's inevitable you'll have some pain afterwards but I think that's the same whichever way they come out!!

I had to shave the very top of my pubic region which was a bit tricky with my bump but not impossible.

I asked for skin to skin in the theatre all 3 times. Twice baby was on my chest/ next to my face. This time they put her on my breast as she was rooting and she fed while they stitched me up.

I really sympathise, I was terrified too (had a previous EMCS). Don’t listen to people spouting crap about CS - yes, it is major surgery but it’s routine surgery and as safe as any other op.

I was told not to shave as they prefer to do it themselves. They don’t shave very much, just over the area where the incision will be made.

I was worried about the nil by mouth too but it was actually fine. Mine was an afternoon section and I was told
no food after 0600 (so followed midwife advice and got up at 0530 for breakfast and omeprazole), no drinks after 1000, and arrive at 1100. I drank gallons until 1000, had a small drink at 1200 with more omeprazole - and I did rinse my mouth a couple of times without swallowing when it felt dry. It was actually fine - I think the adrenaline takes over.

I was due to go down at 1500, although we were actually summoned to theatre at 1400 - there was some hanging round, including while partner got into scrubs, and then the prep - he was born at 1520.

Afterwards, you want to minimise rubbing the scar area - as well as big knickers, I’ve spent most of the last few weeks in maternity leggings and yoga pants. I recommend taking something like that for going home from hospital, but also nighties for in hospital - you will have a catheter inserted prior to the op (after the spinal has taken effect so you’re numb) and it will be taken out either later that day or the following morning, all being well. You’ll wear a hospital gown for the op and immediately after but it’s worth having a nightie or two in case it’s in for longer than you expect.

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen in advance as you’ll be advised to take these daily at first when you’re home, and I would also get some peppermint capsules in case of trapped wind, and arnica in case of bruising - the latter really helped me.

Last thing: you’ll probably have to give yourself anti-coagulant injections for the first ten days. Make sure they show you and your DH/DP how to do them in hospital before discharge as you may prefer someone else to do them for you!

Oh, and I managed skin to skin in theatre but it’s true there isn’t much room - baby’s foot ended up in my mouth at one point! I did have to ask them to take baby as my blood pressure dropped and I felt really weird, but he latched on straight away in recovery and we had no problems establishing breastfeeding.

They will give you ranitidine the night before to stop the evil indigestion. Apparently you can have this in pregnancy but no one tells you!

Not much to add to the great advice from others but one thing I found helpful was to "hold" the edge of the wound when walking upstairs - the end where they'd finished stitching really pulled and hurt.

Good luck, I found c-section recovery a LOT easier than natural x

Take in your own pillow for propping up in bed and to put between your scar and seatbelt in the car on way home.

Whilst the anaesthetic wears off it's common to feel nauseous, I also felt extremely hot, and a hand fan was very useful.

Take an extra long phone charger.

Remember you shouldn't drive for 6 weeks after regardless of how you feel, as it will likely invalidate your insurance.

Ask for lactulose straight away & keep taking it until after your 1st post section poo!
Get some tea tree oil so you can put a few drops in a bath as often as you are able to after you get home - really helps your wound.

Thanks so much to everyone for the advice and reassurance it has really helped me feel a bit more prepared.
Currently feeling very teary (especially about leaving my toddler) and still quite nervous but certainly feel better for the tips and hearing about your experiences.
I will try and update afterwards for anyone who might read in the future and to let you know how it goes!

Definitely flip flops/sliders for hospital and home - no bending to put on shoes!

I was one of the people with awful heartburn during surgery- it was not pleasant but they were very proactive, got hold of gaviscon by the time I was stitched up and I glugged it down on the way out of theatre.

If you feel you need more drugs afterwards, prepare to be proactive in chasing these up. I couldn’t cope on just the one dose of oromorph- when this wore off I felt very grim. I told the midwife three or four times, and in the end my husband went to the nurses station and requested it. I was happily getting by on paracetamol and ibuprofen by day 2. Once you’re at home, keep on top of the painkiller regime!

Good luck!

The evening of my section, I felt amazing. I was up and having a shower as soon as m y catheter was out. I spent the night walking along the corridors soothing baby. Thought the scare stories were all a fuss about nothing. Little did I realise that although my oramorph had worn off, the good drugs from the surgery and adrenaline were giving me a false sense of recovery. The pain didn't hit me until the next day and oh boy did that pride come before a fall. I truly believe I should have been in bed a bit more that first day. So TAKE IT EASY, is what I'm trying to say. You may feel like super woman but don't push it too soon.

I had a difficult VB with my first too, and I found my ELCS a great experience in comparison. I have recovered much faster this time! It was 10 days ago but I feel pretty much back to normal already.

I was nervous as I'd never had an operation before but every one was so nice in theatre, You will be fine x

I have had one emergency which took a long time to recover from and one elective high blood pressure /baby breach/group b strep in previous pregnancy. My top tip would be arnica tablets I was only told about these in 2nd pregnancy, take before and csection. Take it easy afterwards your baby will grow so quickly enjoy the time spent with him or her as it goes so fast. Good luck.

Mint tea for the trapped wind afterwards