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Childbirth

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

Hints & Tips for C-Section

9 replies

Livefast123 · 29/06/2020 13:45

Due an Elective C Section shortly, looking for any hints & tips for before/during/after!

Thank you!!

OP posts:
starpatch · 29/06/2020 17:03

I suppose the main thing to say is it wasn't such a big deal as I thought it would be. As much as you can have someone who can be with you in the initial 8 hour recovery period to pass you the baby etc (not sure if that is helpful as I don't think its allowed at the moment). Be prepared for both breast and bottle feeding. I thought bottle feeding would be simple as a fall back its not! So its a good idea to work out how to use a sterilizer, how to assemble a bottle using tongs etc beforehand. And take some bottles and liquid feed in.

octobersky19 · 29/06/2020 17:24

Some hopefully helpful tips:

I was booked in last csection of the day - I was starving!!! Make sure you bring some snacks, I found chocolate biscuits and some chocolate sweets to be the best, maybe a lucozade sports for afterwards. They do give you toast, I ate it in about 2 seconds flat I was so hungry.

BIG BIG BIG knickers. Poor DH went shopping and bought the most unfortunate belly knickers with butterfly's on 3 times bigger than my regular size (at my request) but you know what, perfectly comfortable and not tight - can fit giant maternity pads in. Terribly unsightly but worth it.

Night dresses for the first week or so

Everything reachable for the foreseeable

Peppermint tea and peppermint capsules were recommended by friends due to trap wind but honestly I never experienced it but handy to have just incase

I was having flannel washes for the first week, and relying on dry shampoo. They make you shower in hospital, it can be uncomfortable so if you can have someone (DH maybe) help you lay stuff out so you can easily get about in the bathroom.

Hot drinks really helped ease the discomfort

Pleaseeeee take painkillers regularly, even if you start to feel good the pain can creep back up. I found keeping to a schedule and taking note of what pain meds I had and when was ideal.

If you're breastfeeding then a body pillow helped me support the weight of baby against my scar, I'm busty and my chest was huge at this point so the pillow really helped with discomfort and my baby was 10lb so really heavy to carry against my scar, pillow was great

If you can move about as much as you can that's great, obviously don't over do it but I found moving about and small walks to really speed up recovery

Dresses for the first week or two helped, again I didn't know how sore the scar would be and DH had to do a little clothes shop for me

Good luck, you'll do great and I hope these tips are handy xx

Dullblue · 29/06/2020 17:28

Buy some big pants, and make sure you have maternity pads in. As well as lots of paracetamol/ibuprofen, as you will need to take it religiously when you get home, or my god it will hit you!

Clothes was a big one for me too.... I got some great trousers from ASOS that im practically living in. Will link them below.

Im 23 days post section now, and still feel tender, and can tell if I've done 'too much'. Make sure you get as much air time as you can - when partner is having baby snuggles! Keep it clean and dry once the dressing is off - I shower daily, just letting the water fall over the wound, and pat dry with a towel.

www.asos.com/prd/20621908?acquisitionsource=com.google.android.apps.docs

RhubarbAndMustard · 29/06/2020 17:29

Definitely the peppermint. I had awful trapped wind and it was agonising.

Help if you can get it to pass you baby. I had to call DP back earlier than planned the next day too so I had someone to give baby to when I needed the toilet/ shower etc.

Snacks and nipple cream to hand before you're left for the night.

Big, comfy, loose clothes to go home in. Nothing tight on your belly.

Good luck and enjoy having those first cuddles!

ShowOfHands · 29/06/2020 17:33

Up and about ASAP but listen to your body. I was up and showering within 3hrs each time and discharged after 12hrs.

Peppermint tea is fab for trapped wind pain but limit to 4hrly if you're breastfeeding.

Listen to the physio re how to cough/sneeze/get out of bed.

Know that you can feel the surgery but it won't hurt. It's quite surprising.

When you walk, stand up straight. You'll want to hunch over protectively but don't.

sohypnotic · 29/06/2020 17:49

Take an extra long phone cable, ear plugs, eye mask and own pillow for the stay. Pillow can then be put between wound and seatbelt on way home. A nursing cushion was helpful as a PP said for a buffer between baby and wound too.

It's common to feel hot/nauseous as the epidural/spinal wears off - a handheld fan can be useful.

I second snacks, particularly breakfast things. I was expected to walk down a long corridor to collect my own food less that 24 hours after, either pushing baby in their cot whilst juggling a tray, or leave them on their own (I was in a private room so no one to keep an eye) I couldnt walk that far to begin with so I went without until visitors arrived (which are obviously restricted at the moment).

Sitting up/getting out of bed can be very tricky as you have no stomach muscles - I used a walking stick to help (had severe SPD so already had it) but have read others have tied something to foot of bed to haul themselves up on.

I used a sling round the house, particularly going up/down stairs, so I could hold on to the rails properly.

Don't aim the shower head directly on wound, let water drip more gently over. Likewise done directly dry it with towel, air dry or use hairdryer on low setting.

Also another thing to remember is you can't drive for 6 weeks after - regardless of healing/feeling able to etc, as it invalidates most insurance policies.

Maddie2802 · 29/06/2020 19:46

@Livefast123

Due an Elective C Section shortly, looking for any hints & tips for before/during/after!

Thank you!!

Haven't read through all the answers yet! But my recommendations are lots of thick maternity pads! I had one across my incision in my underwear to cushion it. Lots of large granny pants 😝 Some sort of stool softener as the first bowel movement can be painful! But mine was fine. Peppermint tea or capsules, I had wind pain and it was not nice! 🙈 Lots of loose dressed, iPad, snacks!
Livefast123 · 29/06/2020 19:59

Thank you all! Lots of suggestions I'd never of even known about 🙈 I have some Peppermint Oil Capsules from Holland and Barrats. When and how often should I take them anyone?

Keep any suggestions coming! I'm heavily armed with plenty of snacks for hospital also

OP posts:
Morgan12 · 29/06/2020 20:13

Big pants.
Windeze.
Never ever miss your painkillers.
Windeze.
Sleep propped up on pillows.
A next to me crib came in handy.
More windeze.

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