Cesarean advice...

[millennialprobs]

I'm having an elective cesarean in a couple of months and just wondered if anyone had any advice on:

1. Essentials to take to hospital
2. Essentials for after surgery
3. Essentials for recovery
4. Tips to navigate a newborn baby after surgery (my partner will be around for the first 3 weeks)

Any recovery tips to help make it easier/more comfortable?

I had an emergency c-section over a decade ago and was in such a state emotionally that I barely remember any of it or the first year afterwards either, sadly.

Many thanks 🥹

I think you'll find a planned section a completely different experience to an emergency one.
You're not in labour for a start so no pain or contractions. Everything very calm and chilled.
I had a really positive experience and was discharged 24 hours later.

1. loose clothing - button down nighties maybe better than pj's as the waist band would be digging right into the wound area

2. peppermint tea for the shoulder pain (trapped gas), painkillers (I was fine with paracetamol to be honesty)

3. and 4) hopefully you've got a supportive partner who can help with the lifting and carrying as you recover. Other than that, follow advice about keeping the wound clean as you don't want to risk an infection, sleep when baby sleeps if you can, try and stay active without overdoing it, don't skip the daily injections, drink lots of water,

Good luck

@sel2223 thank you for your lovely and informative reply, I appreciate it☺️

I've seen some people use abdominal support bands after a c-section, did you? Did it help with recovery?

Luckily I do have a very supportive partner who will be around and in hand for the first 3 weeks.

Great idea about a nightie instead of pjs too!

Thank you ☺️

Massive knickers
Loose clothing
Peppermint tea
You can tie a dressing gown rope bit round the bottom of your bed to help pull yourself up.
Few weeks before your section be really conscious of eating well high fibre lots of water you do not want to be constipated after!
Priory to section you could batch cook and deep clean : change sheets day before etc fill your fridge with lovely healthy foods

Second the advice on nighties, big knickers (M&S high waisted cotton ones specifically!) and fibre - and also make sure you get lactulose for afterwards too!
Take slip on shoes to the hospital for walking around and coming home in, and either a dress or loose, comfy high waisted pants for coming home too.
After surgery, follow the advice and don’t lift anything heavier than baby or drive for the full 6 weeks, take it easy, I think that really helped my recovery!

Not too much fibre though - a good friend of mine had a planned section and had the opposite of constipation afterwards!
Unfortunately, she couldn't feel anything so ended up sh*ting herself in the bed as she lay in recovery, she had no idea until a nurse checked on her and asked if she was aware.
Luckily she can laugh about it now but she was mortified at the time.

I did purchase a support band from Amazon but truthfully only wore it a handful of times

Great advice here (yes loose clothing, pants are a fuss so nightgowns, dresses, etc are more confortable, slip on shoes... anything that prevents you from having to bend, really).
Meal plan: freeze lovely meals, but don't just make dinners! Breakfast and lunch and snacks...
Avoid stairs? I moved to my guest room for the first weeks to avoid the stairs. Adjust your bed situation to make it easy for you.
Be gentle with yourself and be patient, don't try to rush things. It's great that your DH will be there the first weeks!
Good luck 💐

Great advice - thanks everyone! Hadn't even considered half of these, I really appreciate it☺️