Stockings and injections after C section.

[OnSilverStars]

Hi all.

This is my second section. First was emergency. Had a bit of the baby blues or whatever after the first and found 6 weeks of surgical stockings and twice daily injections into the stomach horrendous and pretty soul destroying as I felt so grim at the time anyway!

Not everyone has to do this, but for those that did, did you do them both all 6 weeks?

I know I could have much bigger problems than this, I'm just wondering if I'm a chump wearing those socks for 6 weeks in the heat.

Thanks

I think I had a week of the injections so 4 days to do at home. Only one per day though, not 2. No risk factors but apparently that was standard for my hospital. They were fine. The stockings I took off as soon as I could, I think the morning afterwards whilst still in the hospital. It was so hot in there that I couldn’t bear it. The consultant just shrugged and told me to walk around a lot if I wasn’t going to wear them, which I was doing anyway as it helped with the recovery. 6 weeks sounds horrendous!!

Wasn’t told about the stockings so never wore them. Injections for the first 10 days I think.

I was told I could take the stockings off after my last injection which I did.
But then I was up and moving around a lot my mum who was a nurse at the time also made sure I was moving about.
Nothing happened to me that was over a year ago now.

Those damn injection are in the list of the top 3 reasons why I'm opting for a VBAC if possible this time. Like you I had the baby blues and the injections just made things worse. I genuinely don't know if I could do them again tbh. My OH did them and I cried before every time! I didn't get stockings. I assume I had them on for the surgery but genuinely don't remember when they came off but I was discharged after one day and definitely didn't leave the hospital with them on.

4 sections here. Only ever had injections while in hospital. Hospital stay was always 5-6 for other reasons. Discharged with stockings for 6 weeks.

It's frustrating as it seems every trust has different rules. Mine seems the strictest!

I didn’t get stockings, only 10 days of injections. Hated the injections .

I’ve been injecting twice daily since 28 weeks and have been told I have to continue 6 weeks post birth. Last baby 4 years ago I only had to inject for the 7 days post c section. Not sure why it’s now 6 weeks other than my bmi is 35 so possibly that 🤷‍♀️

Top tip - if you inject through the numb band right above the c section scar - usually it’s an inch or two wide so plenty of space without getting too near the wound - you won’t feel a thing. Bloody hurts anywhere else!

I only got ten days of injections and personally found them ok. It was DH's job to administer them, he was super. The stockings though....I was only given one pair and they had blood and all on them from the birth. Absolutely gross.

I asked one of the midwives about stocking use and she pretty much said to try and persevere with them as long as I could, but the really important thing was the injections.

Emcs here injections for 10 days they told me to stop using the stockings after 2 weeks though.

What are the injections for? Never heard of that? I had a C section a couple years ago but just had to wear stockings for a couple of weeks?

Oh god, not the numb bit!! I couldn’t touch mine without feeling a bit sick!
A good, big, firm pinch of belly fat, whip the needle in & out (if you close your eyes don’t stick your thumb by mistake) and a good rub.

First time I had to have stockings 6 weeks & injections 10 days, second injections only. But the stockings were in winter like pp so not too bad.
If you have risk factors I would think v carefully about not doing it. PEs do kill people quite quickly.

I had a (fucking awful) vaginal birth and was given 10 days of injections and stockings. I wasn't really told why and still don't know as I didn't have any risk factors that I know of. I had to inject in my thigh and that didn't bother me but I gave up on the stockings pretty quickly.

I didn't wear them the whole time and wore them less as time went on. I also didn't do all the injections - missed some here and there (got my partner to do the injections for me). I was relieved when they were over as it's not v nice, but often for me the anticipation was worse. In this heat the stockings must be horrid, but DVT would be worse!

You can order emla cream online or from a pharmacy. You put a pea sized blob on the skin at least 30mins before your injection, and it numbs the skin prior to an injection.

I'd only recommend using the stockings the hospital gave you, as these would have been measured specifically. You said you ordered others online, but unless you measured them, I wouldn't use them. As a tip to get them on, put a plastic carrier bag over your foot and lower leg. Pull the stocking on, then pull the bag out via the hole at the toe.