C section.

[kylierose15]

Due my second baby and having an elective c section due to a traumatic first labour.
I would of loved a water birth but the consultant said one may not be available and my anxiety is on overdrive

What's your do's and don't for recovery from a section?
Anything I need in my hospital bag?
Anything I need to know?
Thank you x

The first 💩 after a c section is brutal - stock up on dulcolax

BIG pants

Get up and about as soon as possible - recovery better and quicker

Do as much batch cooking and freezing as you can for when baby arrives. I couldn't stand for long enough to cook for about 2 weeks.

Buy massive be over bump knickers as the scar is sensitive for a few weeks after.

Just so you know...you still bleed from your vagina from a c section. So you'll still need those massive thick pads for about a week or 2 after.

Go on short but regular walks as soon as you can. I could from about 2 weeks. Just 5/10 mins a day to start with. Don't over do it, little and often is best.

Keep an eye on your wound. If you see any puss call midwife or hospital straight away to ask who to be seen by.

Don't leave hospital until you are ready.

Be assertive about pain relief in the recovery.

In those early days when the pain is awful and you can only walk painfully slow remember that every single day you will feel considerably better.

Good luck

Is it?
I remember my first poo with my daughter (vagina birth)
That was bad enough 😂

Thank you so much x

DO NOT BECOME CONSTIPATED.

Use a clean folded towel to hold against your abdomen when on the loo.

If you start to feel backed up I recommend ‘assisting’ the poo out rather than letting it build up.

seriously - don’t go more than a day.

Never been so scared 😂 x

I personally found that first poo really satisfying although I did think my scar might explode open any second. I didn't take dulcolax but I downed as much water as possible from the minute I was able to which I think helped get everything moving.

Agree with getting up and about ASAP. As soon as my catheter was out I was up and walking around. I found that sitting sedentary all day made the pain worse when I eventually got up.

@kylierose15

sorry 🤣🤣

After first son it was a few days and I was in a complete state. The midwife came to see us and I was panicking and pacing as I was desperate to go but couldn’t get it out.

She promptly inserted two glycerin suppositories, told me to wait 20 mins, get in a warm bath, and ‘dig’ with a gloved finger.

It was both amazing and awful.

But I didn’t allow that to happen with no 2 and I was fine.

Regarding pain, I found about 24-36 hours post op the worst as all the theatre meds wear off but they offer your morphine which I would strongly recommend.

I’m a baby with pain and to be honest I was pretty good pain wise about 4/5 days later. I was readmitted 5 days pp with DS2 (not shit related) and refused painkillers several times.

an ELCS is a much calmer experience once it gets underway but it can be quite overwhelming at first as there’s lots of questions and introductions etc.

Also as you had a traumatic labour I would imagine a consultant will be with you from the start.

I had exceptional care during the ops. Afterwards is a different kettle of fish though!

"Dig" Jesus 😂
Oh yes I've been told to accept everything they give me.
I really hope this delivery is better than my first I've been so anxious about it

am 18 days post c section. Don’t underestimate how major the surgery is I thought it was going to be a walk in the park and got the shock of my life.

Get up and moving soon as possible I had section at 10:30 and was up walking about ward at 6am next day (very painful but morphine helped)

get shower in hospital before you leave there walk in showers are a dream compared to a small at home one.

take your painkillers when they are due don’t wait to take them when you are in pain. also take them when your doing night feeds of the next feed you will wake up in agony.

take advantage of all the help you can. You won’t be able to do babies washing or be standing sterilising bottles so make sure someone is available to do this for you or you have enough baby clothes to last you at least the week.

And lastly I found day 3 the worst I had my baby on a Thursday and the everything come down like a tonne of bricks on the Sunday it was a mix or a hormone crash and all the hospital drugs finally leaving my body. I couldn’t see the wood from the trees and I just sobbed but looking back 2 weeks now it was all temporary and went by so quick. I am ok now still sore and tender but am able to go out the shops with the pram and stuff and don’t have to ease myself in and out of bed now. Go easy on yourself in no other operation would you be handed a newborn after it. Focus on taking it easy and just feeding and cuddling your baby everything else can wait.

Please don’t worry OP! I had an elective c-section on Thursday and I was pretty anxious beforehand, but it was a brilliant experience, if a little surreal! My first baby was 2 difficult days of labour followed by an emergency section, and the difference this time round was like day and night.

One thing is that once the catheter comes out, the midwives will ask you to pass a certain amount of urine within a time frame otherwise they will put the catheter back in which might delay you in getting discharged. I drank loads but really struggled to pee for hours on end and felt like my bladder was about to burst - the only way I managed it was by peeing standing up so you might want to try that if you’re struggling too!

All the best with it!

Thank you so much x

Thank you, I think it's the unknown and I get in my head maybe a v birth is easier (yes probably is)
But mentally I don't think I could cope if it ended like my first labour x

Wondering if the pooping is as bad with a tear? I had a fourth degree tear with previous baby so having ELCS this time. The poop situation was dreadful. Will this be same? Can I ask for laxatives?? I struggle at the best of times

I had a huge stash of prunes in my hospital bag. Use them wisely.

Do not try to use your tummy muscles to sit up in bed or anything for a long time. Push yourself onto your front using your arms, then push yourself up from there. Your tummy muscles get destroyed. They'll heal, but use a different method of moving for a bit.

I don't think I can add much, although I will say I didn't have these poo issues so it doesn't happen to everyone 🤣

Take all the drugs, keep taking all the drugs like clockwork even if you don't think you need them, at least for the first 5-7 days anyway.

And be prepared for a very emotional couple of days by day 2-5, I know that happens with every birth but for some reason it was far stronger for me after the section.

Oh and the scar won't look anything as bad as you expect, when the dressing came off it was basically a neat little red line, I don't know why I thought it would be something terrible for weeks!!

Oh! Has anyone said peppermint oil yet for the trapped wind in your shoulder of all places? Apparently after any abdominal surgery it can happen but jeez I wasn't expecting it to be so sore! The peppermint oil really really helps

Trapped wind in the shoulder?
Jeez I'm learning so much 😂

I'm scared about pooing now haha.
Yes my friend told me that for a couple of days she felt low and kept crying but after that she was okay

I had an ELCS a few weeks ago and LOVED it. Recovered from it much quicker than my first, which was long and involved an episiotomy. All post birth stuff, from going to the loo to sleeping, walking around and generally being physically comfortable were all easier post c-section than post episiotomy.

Hmm weird I've had 2 sections one emergency one planned never noticed anything different with first poo!!

My top tip would be mentally prepare for some trapped gas pain. It enters during the surgery! Going on all 4s and rocking back and forth really helped me.

Try to get mobile and stand up straight (slowly) as soon as you can. But listen to your body. If it's tired rest!

Take para and ibo when it's due don't wait for the pain to come back. It really does make a massive difference I was surprised!

I had a good experience with recovery both times. Hope you do too!

Look out for all
Signs of infection not just a temp or pus.
I didn't have either but ended up with a nasty infection that wasn't picked up until day 10. I had shivers and a fast heart rate from day 4 but put them down to breastfeeding so be vigilant xx

Oh, adding to someone else's point about the catheter. I couldn't produce any wee with my first but I was desperate to go home so they let me go with the catheter in! Was no biggy I just returned the next day to get it taken out and was able to wee as normal then.

Mine was absolutely unremarkable - horse the water and bran flakes into you and you will be absolutely fine.

Make sure you take your pain relief on time and keep a note of when you’re due and ask for it if it’s not given.

I got the Boots disposable knickers for C-sections and they were brilliant, so comfortable.

Day 2 was messy, I was sobbing and laughing at the same time. My midwife (midhusband?? 😂) was called Julio and we’d listened to the Paul Simon song on the way to the hospital to have the baby, this was suddenly the saddest thing ever 🙄

Take it easy standing up and sitting down for a couple of weeks afterwards. That was the only time I felt any pain. My section was great, I’d 100% do it again!

The Rosie gave me two bloody paracetamol after my c section and Ill. Birthday and just told me to crack on despite struggling to walk. I got home with no painkillers and everyone was ‘you are doing really well’ GP phoned me and I cried I was in so much bloody pain - right she said I’m coming to see you and gave me shit loads of painkillers and you might find sheets in the freezer might be lovely if it is hot.
dry your c section scar gently - any issues don’t wait. It needs looking after - keep clean and dry. A nice pillow to rest baby on and a goof head rest for you - recover any sleep - it’s great to be up and about but don’t over do it