C Section Essentials

[Goose22]

Hi wise mumsnetters!

I'm booked in for a c section for medical reasons and was wondering what everyones essentials for recovery are? I am VERY lucky in that I have my parents moving in for the first 6 weeks to help out with toddler, I plan on bf again so don't want to consider formula or bottles.
In terms of more practical things, what do people suggest? I've heard silicone scar patches and compression wear are good, does anyone have any insight?

Hi @Goose22 i had an emergency c section. I lived in my maternity leggings which sat just right on my tummy. Me and baby slept downstairs, had the bathroom and kitchen access, didn't have to keep going up and down the stairs which helped. Other than that i literally just kept going and baby just made me forget i even had a c section lol! It's just go go go 🏃‍♀️
Congratulations on your pregnancy! All the best in your c section xx

Take all your painkillers on time and take your lactulose. Scar massage once your incision has healed is really helpful. I could move around fine, go up and down stairs and pick baby up from next to me cot at night without any issue so don't worry too much about that kind of thing. Start moving as soon as you're allowed out of bed after the surgery and walk properly upright rather than hunched over. Lots of regular very short walks, around your room etc.

Pack your hospital bag with your partner. It's really annoying when stuck you're in bed afterwards and he can't find your fresh shirt, or toothpaste or what have you.

Have a water bottle next to you for breastfeeding.

Try to avoid getting sick (easier said than done). I had a chest infection when my baby was two weeks old and non-stop coughing with a c-section healing was agony.

I know everyone says to keep on top of the meds, but mine made me absolutely loopy and tired and constipated. For my second c-section I took as few meds as possible and felt I recovered faster. See how you feel.

thanks so much for your replies, much appreciated! All great tips. A little apprehensive but hoping for a smooth section and recovery 😄

Oh, large pants that are big enough to sit well above your scar. I am having a planned section with my second in just over a week, and packed some mesh hospital type pants (can get them on Amazon) for immediate post op time, and stocked up on supermarket full briefs seamless 2-3 sizes bigger than usual.
Had a section with my first, and really couldn't tolerate anything sitting anywhere close to the incision for a while.

For immediately after the surgery I would highly advise packing peppermint teabags for the deferred shoulder pain (it's just wind, don't panic), apricots to snack on when you can to keep your poop regular and soft because the first one can be uncomfortable if you're bunged up. Several or more baby blankets for the few days you're in ICU as your baby will likely poop meconium up the bed (don't ask).
Some hygiene supplies for you that don't require much effort (hand sanitiser, anti bacterial wipes) so you don't try to rush around having a sink wash when you're still sore.
Drinks and snacks!
If your baby is a settled and quiet chap you might find the hospital a bit boring so take something to entertain yourself.

The most important thing is already mentioned upthread: Keep On Top Of Pain Medication!

• Big high waisted knickers at least one size above your usual pre pregnancy size.

• Keep wearing maternity pjs (or buy some) or a loose nightie. Nothing that will be tight around your tummy.

• peppermint tea or capsules for trapped wind.

• some basic snacks that are easy on the stomach. I found hospital food impossible to stomach in the two days I was in there and relied on some basic non fatty snacks. Digestive biscuits and crackers were my friend.

• If you have space a couple of big bottles of water can be a godsend as you always have to ask for a jug of water which can be annoying.

Oops sorry for the large spaces!!! Not sure how that happened!

Keep on top of your pain medication- even if you feel fine don't miss any. If you need to sneeze after grab a pillow, put in on your tummy and squeeze into it; I didn't first time round and I felt like I'd been ripped open! Big knickers and plenty of maternity pads, don't lie in the bed for too long, once your catheter is out and you feel up to it get moving. Drink plenty, they won't let you out until you've passed so much urine. Good luck!

I used a soft reusable sanitary pad over my scar the first few weeks and it soothed it and felt quite protective

Massive knickers, soft waist-banded pyjama trousers..

Pillow held over the incision when you move in bed or sneeze helps a lot

Keep on top of pain meds- there's a reason nearly every PP has said this!

And anything you can do to help yourself poo easily, anything, do it! Because that first poo is painful to put it mildly.

On a non practical note, I've had 2 elcs and I managed to go and buy the whole set of newspapers on the day to give to the kids when they're older- i think it's quite nice to have them all from the day you were born.

My main piece of advice, learned the hard way, is to use a post-op support belt. a girdle type thing. Nothing to do with waist training, Kardashian style, but to support the muscles and other internals as they try to get back into their usual places.

Planned c sections are (in my experience) much easier to recover from than emergencies. I was able to slowly walk around the block after 3 days and was up and down the stairs/picking up baby etc. from day one. Remember to take your pain meds throughout the day and lactulose is absolutely key!! Otherwise, enjoy your baby and be gentle with yourself.
The hardest part for me was remembering I shouldn't bend down for things from the floor

Take painkillers in with you as sometimes they'll be really late giving you any.

I'd also bring a breastfeeding pillow, I put this round my neck to use as a pillow for myself to sleep on as you'll probably be sleeping upright and it was a dream

The only essential I found was high waisted knickers so they don’t sit on the scar line. There’s a lot of expensive stuff out there that I don’t think are necessary for most people. I didn’t really do anything but both times I was back in my pre pregnancy clothes within a month, the scar healed perfectly and is now a tiny white line that wouldn’t even be visible if I stopped waxing 🤣

I would also say get up and move as soon as you can feel your legs again. It’s not much fun but it helps so so much. Painkiller wise I would ask for paracetamol and diclofenac (similar to ibuprofen but prescription strength). Don’t accept anything involving coedine as it can cause nausea, dizziness and constipation which is the last thing you want after surgery.

Hi OP, for the first night in hospital I took:
An absolutely huge water bottle like this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-Bottle-Motivational-BPA-Free-Outdoor/dp/B085SXXDN5/ so that the midwives only had to fill it up once :) I was so thirsty after nil by mouth all morning and then trying to BF tiny bubba, could have drunk a river!
A 3 metre long phone charger and USB plug adapter, so that no matter how far from a plug your bed is, you can charge your phone
Snacks - apricots and prunes for pooping, also chocolate and oat bars for easy one-handed energy boost. MWs only had toast to offer and while it was lovely it wouldn't have got me through the whole sleepless night!

For the surgery itself, I had a playlist which they put through the speakers in the room; I also had done my research and had a preferences list for the surgical team - immediate skin to skin, delayed cord clamping, to please check in with me before using forceps, etc. They were able to do everything I requested, which is obviously partly luck.

For prep, I had done hypnobirth for ELCS recording https://www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/shop/Prepare-for-a-Caesarean-1.html which kept me very calm when I got bumped to the afternoon because of some emergencies taking priority.

For recovery I agree with PPs about staying on top of pain meds - if you feel the pain it's too late! and also staying on top of your bowel health, making it a real priority to poop at least once a day. Cotton reusable ST over the incision is what I did after the dressing fell off, I agree it worked well, I used these ones: https://www.cheekywipes.com/cotton-cloth-sanitary-pads/cotton-sanitary-pads.html
Avoid stairs for as long as you can, my sister popped a stitch because she 'felt fine' and that complicated her recovery... For me CS was a great way to give birth and I had a very straightforward recovery, wish you the same

thank you SO much to everyone who has replied, taking all of the suggestions on board (especially pain relief!) and will make sure my bag is packed with the above.
In terms of lactulose, is that something you take post section or should I start before....?

Didn’t need lactulose but refused coedine and ordered the fruit salad with every meal!

I'll echo what other have said about the pain meds. Just take them regularly and you won't even feel any pain.

The most important thing I found was to stand up straight and get moving around normally as soon as you can, don't stoop over even though you want to.
Do all the exercises in the book they give you and massage the area as soon as you are able.
Don't lift anything heavier than the baby for 6 weeks, no car seats, prams etc. You may feel fine but you need time to properly heal.

Oh and if they don't give it to you in hospital dihydrocodeine is the best pain killer you can take while breastfeeding. I called my gp's once they were discharging me and they prepared a prescription for me to collect. There's no need to be in pain. In no other circumstances would someone have major abdominal surgery and be told to take paracetamol once discharged.

Definitely keep a pillow close by to hold against your scar if you want to cough/sneeze/laugh etc. helped me immensely

An entire Jamaica ginger cake and some mini cans of fizz...(got me through!)

But also, wet wipes, cranberry capsules/juice for keeping utis at bay. Two changes of nightie. Extra pillow.

I started it on the day I got home and had no issues "going" when it did happen 😂😳

Just to reiterate about painkillers, I was told they couldn’t discharge me with a prescription for dihydrocodeine and I wish I’d pushed for it. A few tears wouldn’t have gone amiss I think! As others have said when else would you be discharged from major abdominal surgery with paracetamol and ibuprofen?! I remember talking to a dental surgeon recently before a dental op and he was saying he couldn’t believe how little pain medication is subscribed post c-section. After my dental op I came home with pain meds, antibiotics and a few other things, plus a night in hospital where I was offered morphine and anything else I needed (and no baby to look after!!)

Just a long winded way of saying don’t feel like you need to have a stiff upper lip about pain medication and do push to be discharged with an adequate amount. You aren’t bothering anyone or being unreasonable!

Are people really being discharged with just Paracetamol? That's a disgrace! I was sent home with a little bag of treats including Lactulose, dihydrocodiene, Paracetamol and ibuprofen and took them all on a schedule. Definitely posh for it if it's not offered!

DEFINITELY get dihydracodeine to go home with, and keep on top of painkillers.

Ensure a member of hospital staff is around to help you get out of bed for the first time.

Make sure no one puts any of your stuff on the floor and that it’s always in reach on a chair or table. You won’t be able to bend down to the floor.

Bring a cushion to hold against your stomach for the car ride home.

Let other people have plenty of cuddles with your baby so you can recover physcally.

It’s painful to sit up. When I got I tied a rope thing to the end of my bed so I could pull myself up.

Take your own snacks.

Take your own basic painkillers as sometimes hospitals are shit at coming round on time.