What did you eat after your c section?

[SapphosRock]

I am wondering what snacks (if any) to pack for the hospital?

Did you have an appetite afterwards?

Any tips gratefully received. I'm likely to need to stay in at least 2 nights.

Peppermint tea is good. You can also buy peppermint oil capsules in chemists. I saw some research that indicated that chewing gum in recovery got people's bowels working again faster. I took gum with me but was so off my face on drugs delighted with my baby that forgot to chew it.

Wanted nothing and then 'ah I'd love a McDonald's' and off my husband went to go and get it/ got it delievered. I'm not sure as was high on oral morphine and devoured it all.

I had c sections 20 years ago and I’m really shocked you are allowed to eat so quickly after now, and leave after one night?

Just a word of warning - DH trotted off to get a McD (got himself) a couple of hours after my CS. DS took the opportunity to simultaneously kick the IV line in my hand out and do his first poo. I was sat there with blood/fluid/baby poo covering me and not really knowing what to do and not able to move. Luckily a midwife popped her head round the curtain after a few minutes. Babies have such wonderful timing don't they?

My hospital does something called 'enhanced recovery' that aims to get you up and about quickly and home the next day.

I have some complications though meaning my section might not be straightforward.

The best tea and toast in the world (it was probably shit but context is everything)
With DS1 it was after several days of labour followed by an emergency section, in that time I'd only been allowed fluids in case I needed surgery so I was starving, exhausted and barely conscious - I ate in recovery

With DS2 it was fairly civilised and ate on the ward as it was planned but as I'd had gestational diabetes that was hard to control it was fab to be allowed white toast again and to eat without worry as my sugars went back to normal almost immediately

A rock hard jacket potato with no butter and beans. I think i ate 3 mouthfuls, but to be honest i dont remember feeling that upset by it and the hunger didn't kick in until the next morning

Pack ur usual favourites snacks in your hospital bag OP, when ur awake in the night feeding your wee baby you will want a midnight snack. Some folk had bad heartburn after birth/section so a few mint tea bags would be handy just in case.

C section is a good experience, you will be well looked after OP

Very small healthy portions. Soup was good. And dark chocolate.

Post section painkillers and bowel movements are not a fun mix.

Sushi, toast and coffee. I had severe HG the whole through so being able to eat was amazinf

My hospital provided the best real food. So I tried to just pick as nutritional food from the menu. I was gifted chocolate (fererro rochers) and I really appreciated these when bf at night!

A mountain of jelly babies which I'd packed assuming I'd need fuel in labour. I never got to the labour bit, but they were a very, very welcome boost after being nill by mouth.

Was advised to keep to liquid diet (soup, tea, yogurt) until the bowels start to move ie 2-3 days. Sometimes the anesthesia affects the gut....gas pains are no fun and bloating puts pressure on the scar. So easy does it and see how you feel.

Baby was delivered at 3.30am. By the time I was cleaned up and out of recovery and had various checks(had a big blood loss) it was breakfast on the ward so my partner got me tea and toast but I couldn't eat it, it just made me feel sick. A few hours later I had some lunch of whatever they served but my appetite was off for days so I really only nibbled - this was probably down to the blood loss and anaemia though.

Had baby at 13:15 via EMCS. Had been in labour for 34 hours just nibbling on my snack bag I had prepared for me, DH and DSis.

When up on the ward I had a cup.of tea and whatever the midwife could find. Which was some sort of pie and sweetcorn. My DH left my snack bag and it was great as it meant I didn't have to venture down to get my own which was hard when you are by yourself with no one to help.. how do you wheel your baby and carry a tray?!

Snack bag :
Crisps
Cereal bar
Small OJ
Bottled water
Small bottles of diet coke
Biscuits. Literally my saviour. Especially whilst BF.
Cheese biscuits
Snack size chocolate bars.
Fruit pots.

Good luck OP.

Juice cartons / coconut water / fruit smoothies
Yogurt pots
Tea bags (peppermint, nettle, fennel, camomile) w honey
Bone broth or clear soups
Plain crackers
Nakd bars or similar ones that fruit based and ‘mushy’

Take it easy as you won’t know if tummy is working correctly until you’re in pain or vomiting

Pringles in the middle of the night x

Mine was in the evening, DS was born about 9 pm and i wasn't offered any food after I came round and was moved to a side ward.

But i remember fondly a lovely Aussie agency nurse who kept bringing me jugs of iced water as i was unbelievably thirsty and the room was hotter than Benidorm in August.
It's such a vivid memory - the iced water tasted like nectar, she was so friendly, we really bonded during what seemed like a long night. I looked for her the next night but never saw her again. 😢
A nurse on duty then told me crossly that iced water was only for people who had come out of surgery that day. I don't suppose you get given it at all these days.