HELP what to pack for a c section

[whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho]

What is everything that I need to take with me to the hospital. What do I need for myself and for baby

If your discharged in 24 hours surely you won't need a lot but I'm confused as the lists online are so long

You don't know when you will be discharged. I had a planned section and was in for 5 days.

It depends how easily someone can go home and bring you items if you need it.

Baby: vests, baby grows, hat, nappies, cream, blanket, Cardigan, are you BFing or bottle?

Mum: comfortable clothes, flip flops, breast pads, sanitary pads, peppermint oil (you can get bad wind and this helps), toiletries, big comfortable knickers, phone charger

@doadeer I'm going to be bottle feeding and there's something I saw online called c panty it apparently protects the incision and speeds up recovery would theese be good to buy and bring to the hospital

I haven't heard of them, I just got huge black m&s ones. They were so massive 🤣

I'd also take some nice snacks. You want to make it was easy as possible to go to the toilet so I'd drink some smoothies 👍

Ohh right hahaha and thanks so with bottle feeding will I need to take like my own bottles and formula aswell or do they provide things? Sorry for all the questions I've never done this before lol

You just want the biggest knickers you can possibly lay your hands on! Make sure they’ll sit well above your wound. Otherwise you don’t need loads and loads as long as someone can easily nip out for you. Check with your maternity ward about bottles but a good option is to have some premixed formula with you.

Yes I think you just take the bottles of premixed formula but I'm not 100% sure.

@BadgertheBodger do the ready to feed bottles that you buy from the supermarket need to be kept in the fridge Or could I keep them in my hospital bag

I second having more knickers than you think you need - I actually lived in disposables for the first three weeks post section. Bring more pads than you think you need. I had two on the go at all times straight after so a pack of 12 only really lasted me less than a day.

A good tip I read (though I never packed one as I was going for natural birth than ended in an emcs) was to bring a long piece of rope that you can tie to the end of the bed to help you to pull yourself.

A drawstring bag to hang over the shower handles for your soap/shampoo. I showered on day 3 and had a balancing act. Anything that fell on the floor was not being retrieved!

You'll need to bring your own milk - if you go to a supermarket or Boots you can get packs of ready made bottles with sterile teats. Stock up on a few boxes as you can only use them within an hour of opening one.

@whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho also, they don't need to be refrigerated, they are kept at room temperature. I kept mine on my bedside table.

@Chanel05 okay thank you also is my boyfriend aloud to stay with me the whole time can he sleep at the hospital too or does he have to go home

I've had 2 cs and in hospital for 4 and 5 days with them. My top tips would be to bring snacks/drinks that will act as a laxative, and to pack a number of hospital bags each with 24hrs worth of stuff (nappies, snacks, clothes for you and baby etc) in them. Each day get DH/OH to bring in a new bag and take home any dirty clothes/things you've finished with. Space is at a premium and you don't need to be sorting through suitcases full of stuff to find a clean vest at 4am whilst recovering from a cs. It also means there is less to take home on going home day, when you are too sore to carry anything and all you want to do is get home (not wait for DH to make a million trips to the car park).

Also, I found mens' trunks were the best 'big pants'. I bought some in DH's size and donated them to him once I could wear my own again (some may find this weird, but DH was actually quite pleased to get some new pants he hadn't had to go to the shops for himself 😂).

@whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho if you are having an elective section then he will likely be asked to leave an hour after birth. My husband had to leave 5 hours after my emergency.

@Chanel05 so I'll have to stay in hospital all by myself????

[quote whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho]@Chanel05 so I'll have to stay in hospital all by myself????[/quote]
Check with your trust. They all have different rules.

In pre-covid times, my husband was allot to stay with me for a full three days

@AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings okay I will ask my midwife on Friday

I think sadly your partner won't be able to stay. Make sure you have packed so everything can be accessed easily.

A water bottle is handy, I was so so thirsty after mine.

[quote whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho]@AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings okay I will ask my midwife on Friday [/quote]
My friend's husband was allowed to stay for 5 hours (planned c section) back in Aug, but he had to go home at night. Which worked out well as they had other children who needed looking after and taking to school etc.

Reading your OP - I wouldn't assume you'll be home in 24 hours. I'd take stuff for x3 days, just in case.

Best thing I packed were sleep masks, ear plugs, some brand new delicious smelling toiletries and brand new wash bag and stuff (one with a loop that you can hang up) for that first shower, those slippers that look like socks with grips at the bottom, dressing gown and loads and loads of snacks/juice boxes etc.

Extension lead might be a good idea too, so that you can plug all your bits in to charge. Not sure if it's allowed though…

I bought brand-new night clothes etc. for myself because I just wanted to feel clean and comfy after.

I had an emc, not a planned, so was really glad to have thought ahead.

I have a planned c section booked in for Jan and that's essentially what I'll bring again.

You might want to bring a breastfeeding pillow - even if you're bottle feeding - to help prop you or the baby up in bed.

undies that go up to your armpits - or atleast up to belly button - very comfy! nice soft trackies with soft but firm waist band i found most comfy. high waistish harem pants were fab.
then just general hygiene/baby clothes/snacks/phone charger etc etc
wheelie suitcase is good - no lifting apart from bebe!

i loved my planned c section birth (had 3 kids - one v, one emergency c and one planned c section) everyone in theatre op was so happy, and music and just excited it was brilliant - i also preferred recovery of a c birth - goodluck OP

ps. this is very, very, very unlikely, as all the private rooms are being used in our trust at least to isolate post-op mothers, but your hospital might have the option to rent a private room afterwards. Ours did (pre-covid) for £300 a night. And partners were allowed to stay.

I've asked about doing so this time around (wish I had the first time) and they've told me that it's very unlikely, but to put it in my birth plan - that I'd be keen to pay for a private room if I could.

So, could be an option?

@whoeverthrewthatpaperyamomsaho it is most likely that you will be alone for most of your hospital stay, so I'd prepare yourself for this. It will be absolutely fine. I was in hospital for 5 days due to my surgery complications and my husband was able to visit for two hours per day. It wasn't ideal of course but I didn't really have a choice.

Regarding extension lead, I brought one in and was scolded 😂.

Also, pack ear plugs and an eye mask, post-natal wards are another level of hell for noise.

You should get onto your hospital trusts website ASAP and find out what the actual rules are etc for your hospital! Every trust has different rules so you’ll need to find out what’s actually happening in the hospital you’re going to! For example, the hospital that I’m going to, dads are allowed in, but once they’re in, they’re not allowed to leave and come back. So we have to take everything, all bags, all food etc for both of us for as many days as we may be there. We’ve been told to pack for 4-5 days as a worst case scenario. I’m planning for my husband to stay the first night (so days 1 and 2) and will do the rest on my own (however long that ends up being) as he will go back to the other children. We will obviously just have to amend plans as we go along depending on whether there are any issues or complications etc. Good luck, hope it all goes well!