Your C-section hospital bag essentials, go go go

[HowBerryPeachy]

Essentials for before/after, anything & everything. Fire away please.

Wet wipes for you
Slippers
Water in a spray can
Mouthwash?
Anything to make cleaning yourself easier.
Sweets (lots)
LOTS OF DISPOSABLE KNICKERS

Snacks. Filling ones like cereal bars, bananas and crackers in case you miss a meal with the timing of your operation, and sugary things for the energy hit when you are feeding in the middle of the night. Little bottle of squeezy squash to make the warm jug of water taste better. Books/magazines/podcasts to occupy you while you wait for your slot. Small changing bag you can keep on your bed with the essentials so you don't have to keep buzzing for the midwife whenever you need to change a nappy etc.

Prunes.
m&s high waisted knickers to sit above scar line
Biscuits

Get loads of paracetamol and Ibruprofen in at home too for when you're back.

Loads of high fibre snacks- that way you can oramorph without worrying about horrendous constipation afterwards.

Dried apricots were my best friend in hospital 😊😊

Get someone to bring you in fresh raspberries too the next day- loads of fibre in those and it's nice to have something fresh to snack on.

No matter what you think is too big for knickers it isn't - get a large size granny pants. I mean huge!
Also, loose fitting pj bottoms - I thought fit some reason I could wear my pregnancy leggings post c-section and they were agony.

Really good tips above.

Peppermint oil capsules for the trapped wind afterwards! I had pains in my shoulder.

A very long phone charger in case the plug is far from your bed.

A pillow to hold against your stomach if you are being driven home - especially to brace against if there are speedbumps.

Lactulose. Just in case.

Lactulose! I nearly passed out with the pain of trying to go four days post birth after not taking my friends advice of having some before you go down for the section

2m phone charging cable

Water bottle with a built in straw which seals shut so you can keep it in bed with you when you can't sit up/ reach for a bottle.

Big knickers
Mint tea bags

MASSIVE (I mean massive) high waisted M&S knickers in 3 or 4 sizes bigger than your normal

Maternity pads (also good for putting sideways, over your scar)

Paracetemol and Ibuprofen as the medication rounds can be unreliable and slow

Your own pillow from home

A front opening nightie for feeding, and not having pj bottoms etc rubbing on your stitches

Also a good laxative. The post op constipation is the worst thing I’ve ever experienced

Oh yes - definitely your own pillow. The hospital ones all have plastic covers underneath and are seriously sweaty.

Pillows

A little box or basket you can sit beside you on your bed to put essentials (snacks, phone) in so you can keep them in reach without them sliding underneath you. A Tupperware would do!

For everyone saying laxatives and peppermint tea - did the midwives on the ward not offer these?
I feel really lucky as they gave me these little shots of peppermint twice a day plus a laxative.

Big knickers, maternity pads, soft trousers/joggers/pj bottoms, breast pads, wet wipes, hairbrush.

Ear plugs and eye mask

Peppermint cordial for the trapped wind- perhaps also a small flask to have some boiling water in.
Flip flops for the ( revolting) shower rooms.
Another more robust pair of flip flops because you may have oedema after the birth and perhaps can’t get your feet in the shoes you arrived in. Ditto socks without cuffs. You can buy this sort of sock in garden centres a- average demographic 75+ year old men with heart problems. Also useful for late pregnancy.
The most enormous, comfy, loose pair of tracksuit bottoms ghat don’t hurt your scar.
Plenty of wet wipes and a nice hand gel.
Your preferred large knickers and pads.

Good luck!

Yes to the paracetamol and ibrobrufen. You probably won't be routinely offered it in post-natal and if it's busy, you could be waiting ages.

A dressing gown rope to tie to the end of the bed so that you can hoist yourself up with it as you won't be able to sit up.

Nightie, as you'll have a catheter.

Bring your own pillow for the drive home and for your bed. I got awful back pain after my epidural.

More pads than you think you need. You will still bleed after a section!

Little bag with a string that you can take with you into the shower to put your wash bits in and tie up to reach. Anything I dropped, I couldn't physically pick up again!

I agree with everything here - although my hosp did give me lactulose the morning after and prescribed it on discharge.

I took a hot water bottle too and used it on the epidural site and my lower back (I had an emergency c-sec so had already had the epidural before the c-sec was planned so not too sure if this will be the same for you!)

Also sliders or flip flops to use in the shower (I had to hve one before discharge) and I used oversized tops/nighties because of the catheter and stitches :)

Take your own paracetamol/ibuprofen. Hospital forgot to give me my pain relief on the second day and was in agony xx

In addition to all above, Lip balm & a small moisturiser for your general comfort- it can be hot in hospitals.

Disposable knickers x2 boxes of them i used frida, the best things ever when in hospital and at home
Cereal bars all i ate
Hand held fan
Flip flops for showers n walking around ward
Bottles of water-tap is awful
Long wire phone charger
Hairbrush bobbles dry shampoo
Pjs shirt n vest top kind new look maternity range was good for me they were comfy n roomy