My c section is tomorrow

[eandz13]

Does anyone have any tips?
Anything that might alarm me before/after/during the procedure that I might not have read about and prepared for?
Did anyone successfully swerve (bad) constipation following the surgery... and how? I've read that that's the worst part of the whole thing. I was originally scared for the surgery, but now I'm just scared about the constipation!
I have some peppermint tea to take with me as I've heard about the dreaded wind too, anything else highly recommended to aid comfort afterwards?
And I love reading birth stories if you'd like to share yours about your c section to put my mind at ease!

I've had one emergency and one planned c section.

There will be a lot of people on the room. My surgeon was chatting about Eastenders while o had mine! It's a very strong feeling of pressure - that almost took my breath away. I was sick a lot after both of mine which was the worst part. It really hurt my scar being sick. Coming off the pain relief stopped me being sick.

I was amazed how quickly I recovered. By day five I was going out for walks and felt overall pretty good.

I still don't feel like I've regained my core strength and this was almost 10 years ago! But maybe I never had it.

Overall for me it was a positive experience.

Oh, yes the constipation wasn't great but the gave me laxatives in hospital. My sister in law was just as constipated following a natural birth.

Good luck - it will all be worth it.

My 3rd section is in two weeks - I’m bricking it!

1st section the constipation was horrific. It was 18 years ago and they wouldn’t let you go home until you’d been to the loo. I was in for 5 days - horrendous in itself as they didn’t bother to give me food or drink for three of them. When I did go, I thought I’d burst my stiches.

2nd section I’d been taking laxido anyway all the way through a I just took my own into hospital and carried on drinking it everyday and all was fine! (The midwives did try to take it off me, but they swiftly got told to sod off).

I’ll be taking my laxido again this time as I’ve had horrendous constipation again this pregnancy.

Last time I took Windeeze too and that really helped.

Keep us updated on how tomorrow is! I’m so nervous about mine I’m not sleeping.

I managed to avoid the wind but I had peppermint capsules I got from boots.

I was dreading the first poo as after a vaginal birth with DD it was horrific but it was a non issue after the c section. Try to eat well and take advantage of the catheter being in and drink all you can to ensure you are as hydrated as possible.

Mine was a breeze, would happily do it again for next DC.

There are lots of people in the room but I was made to feel totally at ease and every step was fully explained to me.

It's the weirdest feeling, it reminded me of someone rummaging about a handbag looking for keys! I felt a bit sick at one point but that was due to blood pressure dropping so I told anaesthetist and with a twist of a dial to alter meds, I felt fine again.

I had no trapped wind, no constipation and was walking about as soon as spinal had worn off. Able to tend to baby and look after myself too with no issues at all.

Try and get moving ASAP, that's the best advice I can give.

I was prescribed a high dose of lactulose for other reasons but if I have another c section I would buy my own to have for a week. Eat lots of high fibre foods and drink loads of water. I recovered well. Get up and about but DO NOT do house work / cooking etc. Read the leaflet they give you and follow it. Physio should come and see you to help you with how to get out of bed etc (the recommended way). If they don't, ask if someone is available. Have a regular schedule of Paracetamol and ibrofen.

I had two - one emergency, one planned. Have the spinal block before they put the catheter in. Take whatever pain relief they offer afterwards - it'll probably start with morphine but they'll won't want you to get addicted so it'll tail off. A sign of your recovery is drinking and eating - ask for ice cubes if you can't manage water.

Thank you for all of your replies!

@LittleBrownBaby I'm dreading being sick with the scar, but I'm also kind of expecting the 'strain pain' anyway as I currently have a phlegmy cough following a cold (tested negative for covid). Does applying pressure with a cushion actually help or am I doomed? It's mainly just a morning 'clear out' cough, I don't cough for the rest of the day, so I'm hoping if I just sleep elevated the mucus won't settle on my chest so much. Wishful thinking maybe!
My friend has also told me that 8 years on from her emcs she still doesn't feel she's regained her core muscles, and still has a split second panic when she moves her torso too fast incase it rips her very long healed scar open. She has said it lingers psychologically so I'll have to prepare for that 

@BeeyatchPlease that's the most calming thing I've read. I hope mine goes as smoothly. I'm kind of intrigued about the washing up bowl/rummaging feeling I've heard about because I can't imagine it!

Is it true I'll still have some sensation/movement after the spinal? I was explaining my fear of being a complete numb dead weight to the pre op nurse yesterday, and she said a good spinal will mean I should have some wriggle way of my toes etc, just no pain. I don't know if she was just saying it to make me feel better!
Also, how soon does the numbness wear off?

@Wankpuffin I will keep updating! I'm at the hospital for 6:30am, it's not a particularly busy area/hospital providing there aren't loads of emcs that day, I should be in theatre relatively early morning. Will keep you posted and hopefully be able to ease your nerves with a good story!

I’ve had 2.
Second time I knew to have fybogel in the days running up to it, and peppermint oil capsules. Eat lots of fruit & veg and healthy stuff the few days before, and have plenty of easy meals like this prepped or bought for when you get home.

They were both great, it’s really pretty quick and everyone extremely reassuring. So lovely to have your baby out quick, then you forget what they’re doing after that!

Try to get up and moving as soon as you’re allowed, with my last one, she was delivered at lunchtime, by 8pm I had catheter out, showered, walked around a bit & I made sure I walked backwards and forwards to the bathroom a few times throughout the night to keep moving. The movement helps and you need to be drinking lots of water and emptying your bladder regularly. I was home 24 hours later 😊

When back on the ward, you won’t be able to reach down to your bag easily, so I had massive toiletries bag full of all the bits I might need to hand, snacks, glasses, phone etc. Also put nappies, vests, etc in the little shelf under the cot (get someone to help you get all this stuff sorted before your partner/ midwife leaves you for a bit).

Take flip flops as you don’t need to bend down to put them on. My hospital bathrooms didn’t have shelves in the shower so I took hanging shower gel (sounds like a daft small thing, but was a big help).

Don’t drive home over speed bumps 😂 Easiest to wear a dress/ skirt. You also might need to wear support stockings for a while (advises a few days in my case) and wrangling leggings over them after surgery doesn’t work!)

Move little and often when you get home. I managed on just ibuprofen and paracetamol, was very lucky to have no complications and after about 5 days I was doing short walks with baby in sling 👍🏻 Just don’t hoover, move too fast, or lift anything heavy for a while.

Best Wishes for your delivery & meeting your baby.

OP, I'm sure it'll be a-ok. Going in for an elective where you've not laboured at all (and gone through all the exhaustion of that) seems to mean a much easier c-section and recovery. That's what I've deduced from speaking to friends anyway.

Yes, the rummaging sensation is so hard to imagine but I'm sure you'll come up with your own analogy. It's not uncomfortable, just bizarre.

Maybe others are different but I couldn't feel a thing, nor could I move a muscle. It wasn't scary though and everyone in the theatre put me completely at ease.

I had DS at 3:30pm (then spent quite a while in recovery as DS needed additional monitoring checks) but I was back up in the ward by 10pm and walking about. I could move my legs well before then but they didn't want me walking until sure the spinal has completely worn off.

I've had three in four and a bit years. Two EMCS and the last was a lovely ELCS.

I've never had constipation but I think I had lachilose and I didn't have codeine as a painkiller for third.

I have found them all to be pretty positive experiences. I agree with earlier poster - it's usually a big room with upward of ten people in and out. I t has also always surprised me how close the screen is to your face.

My tips :

• ask for an anti emetic (sickness) from the anaethatistic.

• ask for delayed cord clamping from surgeon and then skin to skin ( as long as baby is ok they should agree to both). I find the skin to skin brilliant as it's hugely distracting from the tugging and twisting in closing you up.

• have a play list and ear phones.

• have snacks to hand as you'll be nil by mouth and it can take a while for the meal survive to get to recovery. You'll likely be in recovery for 5 plus hours depending on how you're doing and business.

• I have always been amazed at how quickly you recover, for the first section I was in one night and it was definitely an advantage staying in two nights from a recovery perspective. That said I don't know how it's working with Covid - I couldn't for example lift my baby from the cot in the hospital post c section - so visitors had to do it .

Good luck OP.

I had an ELCS 10 days ago (FTM) and had a really positive experience overall although I did find it all a bit overwhelming for the first 24-48 hours!

The hospital I was in have private rooms so I was able to unpack a bit before I went down to theatre so everything I might need was high up and easy to get to (including button front nightie and disposable knickers ready to change into in the bathroom and snacks within arms reach).

I took peppermint tea capsules and windeze tablets for the first 4 or 5 days or so and didn't suffer from trapped wind at all. I started taking arnica tablets before the surgery and still take them now (apparently they help with healing). My hospital gave me a course of dihydracodeine when I was discharged but not paracetamol or ibuprofen so make sure you have plenty at home ready.

Be prepared for your lower half to be basically paralysed for a good few hours afterwards. Someone will need to pick your baby up, change their nappy, comfort them etc. It's strange getting a bed bath and just being totally useless and vulnerable for a while, I can't say I liked it.

Getting the catheter out and standing up for the first time was nowhere near as bad as i thought it would be.

Breastfeeding can be a struggle as your milk probably hasn't come in yet. I was hand expressing colostrum into a syringe at 3am! I am still finding my way with BF now so it's not easy but persevere with it (if it's something you want to do). Just don't have unrealistic expectations....you're exhausted and it's hard work.

Recovery has been much easier and less painful than expected (so far) just don't be tempted to do too much too soon.

That's it off the top of my head but feel free to ask any questions

How are you doing OP?