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Childbirth

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

C section Q's

28 replies

northernmamax · 05/08/2021 17:28

C section booked a week today!

Sooo excited can't wait.

Thinking I'm going to have to add a few extra things to our hospital bag as we will deffos be staying in overnight if not longer.

How many pairs of PJ's did you take for yourself? And how many vests/baby grows did you go through?

Any advice is welcome TIA x

OP posts:
billiebeeme · 05/08/2021 18:11

Aw it's sooo exciting I hope it all goes well.

Hope for a 1 night stay prepare for a 2 night stay which is more common. I'd take 3/4 vests and sleepsuits per day. Socks and hats and something cute to wear home.

Pack an extra bag for baby and maybe yourself with more clothes and keep it at home for ur dh to bring if you end up staying longer. I did this as was recommended on here. Was brilliant as I ended up staying 5 nights 6 days although that was emcs. Meant dh just grabbed the extra bag and brought it in. Extra pack of nappies etc kept in the car too.

For you:
Hair bobbles
Lip balm
Phone charger
2 pairs pjs
Thin dressing gown
Slippers
Maternity pads
Toiletries
Something comfy to wear home
Comfy outfit for during the day
Maternity bras
Big massive pants in a few sizes bigger than usual
Nipple cream (if breastfeeding)

northernmamax · 05/08/2021 18:35

@billiebeeme

Aw it's sooo exciting I hope it all goes well.

Hope for a 1 night stay prepare for a 2 night stay which is more common. I'd take 3/4 vests and sleepsuits per day. Socks and hats and something cute to wear home.

Pack an extra bag for baby and maybe yourself with more clothes and keep it at home for ur dh to bring if you end up staying longer. I did this as was recommended on here. Was brilliant as I ended up staying 5 nights 6 days although that was emcs. Meant dh just grabbed the extra bag and brought it in. Extra pack of nappies etc kept in the car too.

For you:
Hair bobbles
Lip balm
Phone charger
2 pairs pjs
Thin dressing gown
Slippers
Maternity pads
Toiletries
Something comfy to wear home
Comfy outfit for during the day
Maternity bras
Big massive pants in a few sizes bigger than usual
Nipple cream (if breastfeeding)

So if I'm usually a size 10/12 knickers would you suggest getting size 16s? X
OP posts:
Garman · 05/08/2021 18:41

I'm usually a 12 and got size 14-16, actual 16's were too big for me and fell down constantly.

Where I am absolute minimum stay is 2 nights, more common is 3 nights unless you fight it (which I did, as I was in 7 nights after my first csection). So I packed one nightdress/pj's per night, quite a few baby clothes bits but dh could bring them into me so wasn't a set number I remember. Make sure you bring slip on slippers, sandals or flip flops, bending down to put things on your feet is a pain.

orangejuicer · 05/08/2021 18:43

Maybe go for nighties as well as pjs. Hospitals are hot and you'll want to be as comfortable as possible.

Good luck! Look after yourself and rest.

RavenclawsRoar · 05/08/2021 18:44

It may depend how busy they are - certainly at my hospital, pretty much everyone was booted out the next day after a c section (including me) so you won't necessarily be in that long.
If you plan to breastfeed, make sure your tops are breastfeeding friendly and pack your own paracetamol and ibuprofen- obviously they give you painkillers but hanging around waiting to be discharged meant my pain relief wore off and I'd clearly been taken off their rounds so the drive home was painful AF!

needsomesleeppls · 05/08/2021 18:50

Adding in a few stupid questions, also have a c section booked.

When do you actually put on knickers/ pads given you have a catheter in ?

I've seen a few people take a shower to freshen up when they're up and about, shower after DDs vaginal birth was like a scene from a horror film, is a post c section one the same?

orangejuicer · 05/08/2021 18:59

@needsomesleeppls

Adding in a few stupid questions, also have a c section booked.

When do you actually put on knickers/ pads given you have a catheter in ?

I've seen a few people take a shower to freshen up when they're up and about, shower after DDs vaginal birth was like a scene from a horror film, is a post c section one the same?

I'm afraid this is a stupid answer but I can't actually remember having pants on. I obviously did but was in a bit of a haze. I had some blood loss in recovery but nothing too concerning. It was definitely manageable.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, you'll be looked after.

yellowspot · 05/08/2021 19:07

@needsomesleeppls

Adding in a few stupid questions, also have a c section booked.

When do you actually put on knickers/ pads given you have a catheter in ?

I've seen a few people take a shower to freshen up when they're up and about, shower after DDs vaginal birth was like a scene from a horror film, is a post c section one the same?

After surgery they tend to just pop a pad there for bleeding purposes but you're right, you don't put pants on as the catheter is in the way. Once the catheter is out (when you're up and walking hopefully after a few hours) then you'll need giant knickers that'll sit as high up and away from your incision at possible and pads.

I still bled after my c section which I think is the norm? Though I imagine it's probably abit less than after a vaginal birth? So I made sure to pack dark pants/ trousers just incase. The shower after wasn't painful in that you'll be sore on your incision, but it will be uncomfortable feeling like your torso has been hit by a bus (my experiences at least)

orangejuicer · 05/08/2021 19:12

On a slightly most positive note my first post section bath, about a week after, was heavenly!

northernmamax · 05/08/2021 19:21

Do you feel them taking the catheter out? I think I'm the most scared about the whole bloody catheter situation than anything else

OP posts:
yellowspot · 05/08/2021 19:29

@northernmamax

Do you feel them taking the catheter out? I think I'm the most scared about the whole bloody catheter situation than anything else
I was terrified of the catheter situation too. They put it in after your spinal so no issues there. I personally didn't feel any pain or discomfort when it was being removed either
orangejuicer · 05/08/2021 19:31

@northernmamax

Do you feel them taking the catheter out? I think I'm the most scared about the whole bloody catheter situation than anything else
I didn't feel it going in or out. They are so well practiced with these things. It wasnt an issue for me but everyone's experience is different.
ChittyChittyBoomBoom · 05/08/2021 19:33

I’d think about swapping to nighties. Hospitals are boiling and I found it difficult bending to pull the bottoms up at first.

They’ll just put a pad on you straight after surgery so you won’t need pants until the catheter comes out. I don’t even remember it being removed actually so can’t have been awful.

One thing that I wasn’t warned about was the first time you stand up after your epidural has worn off. I panicked as there was a LOT of blood but i was assured that it’s normal after being laid down.

Nat6999 · 05/08/2021 19:45

Take nighties for if you want to change out of your theatre gown while your legs are still numb, they don't put you a maternity towel & pants on, they leave you with a pad stuffed between your legs & sat on an incontinence mat, you will have a catheter until your legs come back. I would take tena incontinence pants instead of maternity pads as they allow for moving around & guard against leaks. I took 3 sets of vest & babygro per day plus bibs, a cardigan to come home in with a lightweight blanket to put over the car seat if it is chilly. I used none waterproof bibs & left them on unless they got wet, it was easier to change a bib than have to change a full outfit. Take some loose flip flops or sandals to come home in, your feet may be very swollen due to the fluid they give through your canula during & after the op.

blitzen · 05/08/2021 19:52

Flip flops!

Nat6999 · 05/08/2021 19:56

Take a sports bottle for drinks & some squash, you need to drink loads to ward off the risk of uti's after a catheter. Also some moisturiser for your body as your skin goes very dry afterwards, particularly your bum after sitting on an incontinence mat. Like everyone else have said, take your own painkillers, if you aren't going to bf take ones with codeine, Co-codamol & either Ibuprofen or buy some Feminax ultra maximum strength which have Naproxen & are a little bit stronger than Ibuprofen, that way you can keep your pain under control because drug rounds often don't tie in with when you are in pain & even if you ask the staff it can take ages for them to give them you.

SW1amp · 05/08/2021 19:57

Don’t get cotton normal pants. Get mesh ones like these:
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/carriwell-4pack-hospital-knickers-e9136.html

Yes they look awful but they will hold the pad and they won’t leave you with a sweaty butt crack

Big box of maternity pads so you can change them often

Old lady nightie with buttons at the front if you want to breastfeed

Allow 2 or 3 vests per day of being in to allow for leaky nappies or pukes

Phone charger and also battery charger in case the plugs aren’t near the bed

Snacks

Flip flops for the shower

Tooth brush, shampoo and conditioner so you can try to have a shower

Garman · 05/08/2021 20:19

Can't say I ever had a sweaty butt crack in normal undies after my sections.

You don't wear underwear until after they take the catheter out, catheter is not too bad, you get used to it, removing it is fine.

Yes you bleed after a csection too, it's not a vaginal birth that makes you bleed, it's the wound from where the placenta came away, which you'll have regardless of birth method.

WhatsTheTimeMrCat · 05/08/2021 20:36

If I were you, I’d have a one-night bag with stuff for you and the baby, and a back-up bag your DH/DP can bring in from home if you have to stay longer. Saves a lot of painful conversations about exactly which nightie is the black one, etc.Grin

Bear in mind you may not be mobile for a good 12 hours or so. I had my first CS late morning; they tried to get me to mobilise at midnight but I was exhausted and baby wouldn’t be put down so I asked to wait until first thing. My second one was mid afternoon and they said they wouldn’t get me up until the next morning. So you won’t be able to rummage through your own bag and may well need to direct a midwife to stuff.

With this in mind, what I found most useful was resealable plastic bags (Sainsbury’s do large food bags) which are ideal for separating things out in your bag/case. I had baby’s first outfit in one, for instance. I had another one with “bits” - hair bobble, deodorant, lip balm - all the little bits that would go awol in a case and which you can’t really be asking someone to keep finding for you. I just kept the bag on my hospital table and then I could just rummage myself.

Extra long phone charger and ask someone to plug it in and leave the wire accessible.

Some snacks in case you’re hungry - I had cereal bars and biscuits.

A water bottle you can open with one hand.

Toothbrush and shower stuff, and some wet wipes as an interim solution.

I’d probably only take a couple of nighties/pjs as I only got changed out of my hospital gown when I was up. Knickers and spares, and maybe three sets of vests/sleepsuits for baby.

orangejuicer · 05/08/2021 20:46

Also more drinks than you think you need.

mrssunshinexxx · 05/08/2021 21:07

@needsomesleeppls they took my catheter out and had me up and in the shower after 6 hours.

@northernmamax I was barely in 24 hours with covid they want you in and out. I would suggest flip flops to go in the shower in

needsomesleeppls · 05/08/2021 21:51

Thank you for the answers to my extra questions, hope they help you too OP

AndSoFinally · 05/08/2021 21:55

Has anyone had a section recently? Has it changed how quickly they get you out?

I last had a section 7 years ago and I stayed in 3 nights, which was pretty average, but sounds like they want to discharge you much quicker now?

needsomesleeppls · 05/08/2021 22:25

My prep letter said they're aiming for 24 hours c

needsomesleeppls · 05/08/2021 22:26

Whoops cos of covid