Planned section pregnancy advice!

[GNM22]

Hiya

Currently just over 12 weeks pregnant with no 2 and have just been given C section date today after my 12 week scan.

Not been an easy decision but after first birth resulted in multiple birth injuries amongst other awfulness for no 1 then seems safest option.

Just wondering whether any of you previous c section mums have any tips which you feel helped prepare you for your section physically and psychologically as in any exercises/resources that you did before that aided your physical recovery afterwards.

Also, anything you did afterwards which helped your healing process physically too?

Was there also anything you took to hospital which made you more comfortable?

Thanks in advance, any help appreciated xx

I had an EMCS so sorry I can't advise re antenatal prep. However, as I went into it completely unprepared for the lack of mobility afterwards, I can tell you a few things I wish I did have!

Long phone charger that can reach you in bed.

A little nightlight as I couldn't reach the light switch on the wall. I have a little egg shaped rechargeable one from Amazon that I use every night now during feeds, it would have been perfect in hospital!

Not sure if you could freeze them in hospital, but I got some ice packs from Amazon (thank god for prime, they arrived home before we did!) - the gel filled ones they used to give you at school for bumps. I have a pack of 3 so could rotate them and always had one frozen. Wrap in a tea towel and hold on the wound as you go to stand, sit etc and it really helps. They really helped for a good week.

Also the disposable maternity knickers. They're really loose fit so won't sit on the wound and you can just slap your big maternity pad in them. Then just bigger knickers in general for after. I'm 4mo PP now and still can't wear any knickers where the elastic sits low down it feels very sensitive/tender if I do, I just have normal full briefs from the supermarkets now and they're fine.

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and birth!

@mydudero thanks so much for that - will add that all to my list for hospital and for afterwards!
I'm pretty anxious about the actual section tbh as I know for me it's probably the harder option but definitely safer for baby, the thought of it just is quite overwhelming at the moment. We could end up in an EMCS place anyway as I went into labour at 37+6 last time and this CS is booked for 39.. so not sure I'll make it haha but they said they'll CS me anyway even if I do go earlier anyway!

All 3 of mine were sections. 1st under anaesthetic, 2nd emergency and 3rd elective. My advice is to not watch any c sections cos eek. I watched one before my 3rd and was a mess, even though I had been awake during my previous one and they had talked me through it.
Make sure whoever is going in with you is supportive and listen to the doctors and nurses. Rest afterwards and try not to lift anything heavier than the baby. Don't drive for 6 weeks and don't have sex. Remember this is major surgery, not just having a baby.

About 2 weeks after my 1st, I had a home visit and was asked why I was doing the ironing. My ex was told categorically to do his own ironing. With my 2nd, there were complications and I was up and down to the hospital with a toddler in tow and walked far too much. My 3rd, my ex invited husband family over for Xmas dinner 6 dags after birth and I had to cook for 10 people.

It took longer than it should have to heal from each surgery because my ex was unsupportive and didn't give a damn . Rest, rest, rest and don't rush to get back to normal. You can still give your older child lots of hugs and cuddles, but try to remember not to lift them . Good luck

For hospital- snacks I was starving after the adrenaline died down and meds died off.

Extra compression socks they give you one pair and I just felt icky. You naturally want to change your socks don't you.

Lose clothing and legging that go over belly button to go home in.

Once home- some where high up to change baby, a changing table or a changing station set up on a table or chest if draws or both one upstairs one downstairs.

Puppy pads - use to change the baby on top of on your bed at night
Next to me crib.
Nightlight that can dim and be charged so no wires.

I felt fine in hospital but of course the bed moved up and down and everything was accessible.

Rest- I thought I was ok and did too much have myself an infection in the wound - it's really not worth it just listen and rest.

Good luck I had ECS, friends had planned they looked amazing after me more like a zombie.

I've had two planned c-sections. I loved both of them. Healing wise was fine for me. Some people take peppermint oil for the trapped air aspect, but I didn't need it. My baby is 10 months now and I still mostly wear my massive high waisted pants and they're so comfy! I didn't get disposables personally. My top tip is to just always be on top of the pain meds - never leave it too long. My hospital did the whole sign this and you can self administer everything thing, which was great. Loved the oramorph! Everyone overdoes it when they have an older dc, but try not to! I helped carry a new boiler into my house for some stupid reason!

Im amazed they have already given you an appointment, I didn't get one till about 30 weeks and then my son decided to come nine days before scheduled! So be prepared early.
I soaked through all my maternity pads before I had my baby as my waters broke the night before, so have extra on hand.
I couldn't concentrate to read, so headphones to listen to podcasts.
Hospital food can be awful so while not really something to do in advance my DH stopping in to M&S for a sandwich and dine fresh fruit and vegetables before visiting was essential.
Also if they have a photographer coming round to take passport photos do it - one less thing to do once out (both my kids went abroad at a couple months old).

I had an elective and it was a lovely experience.

Make sure you keep on top of your medication. Horse the fibre and water into yourself afterwards, my first poo was absolutely fine due to branflakes, lactulose and water. Don’t try to do too much too fast. Look up c-section scar aftercare and massage as this will help you heal without adhesions etc.

I had an elective 4 years ago for medical reasons and will be having another this time round.

I couldn't have had a better experience. Everything was so relaxed and calm, well explained, the medical staff were fantastic, my partner cut the cord and I got skin to skin.
I was discharged 24 hours later.

Recovery wise, I just had to take it easy and avoid lifting for a bit but nothing extreme. It's helpful to have someone with you for the first 2 weeks.

Hypnobirthing breathing techniques really helped me during my second and third C-sections after my first emergency one (all of mine were emergency ones but the techniques still helped so they’d definitely have been good during a planned one for me).

@PMAmostofthetime thanks for this - loads of good stuff to add to the list.

Thanks for the reminder re rest too, I'm quite worried about risk of infection - we are trying to cone up with a plan whereby we have lots of support for childcare etc to help with recovery. Very fortunate to be able to do so so trying to take full advantage of it during those first 6 weeks!

@seven201 must be sooo hard not to overdo it with older DC - my oldest will be 2 so can imagine he will want mummy lots! We still bf and cosleep too so not sure how we are going to sort that before LO is here!

@mondaytosunday re getting the date so early I don't think it's typical, usually give them out at 36wk in our trust.
Basically because of birth 1, for a multitude of reasons, they have said they will do what I want because essentially some wrong decisions were made last time and should have had an EMCS but they delivered baby through basically a sort of vaginal section situation instead which resulted in multiple birth injuries for baby and a PPH for me which were avoidable - all resulted in PTSD/PPA/PPD. So lucky to have a date, but only because it was honestly awful last time even by the Dr/midwives standards.

Like the idea of bringing food, I am allergic to dairy and egg too and hospital food is ironically so bad at catering to allergies 🤣 you can never even get a cuppa as they only have cow milk so defo need to remember an alternative!!!

@Awaywiththeferries123 thanks for those tips re first poop! I remember that after no 1 - awful 🫠
And yes love the idea of doing some massage to help scar heal properly. When did you start massage?

@sel2223 ahh that's so positive. Relaxed and calm is really want I want. It was soo hectic first time round and a lot of people panicking - it was so out of control I really want calm.

Yeah very fortunate my partner will be around for those 2 weeks so that's so lucky! I love the idea of being discharged after 24hrs too. We were in for about a week last time and I ended up discharging myself as couldn't stand being there, so hoping it means we can go home a bit quicker.

@Garman ahh love hyponobirthing. Really enjoyed doing that antenatally for No1 so will revisit. Nice to know you can apply that to c sec to and to have something you can focus on whilst c sec is happening!

For most planned sections you don't go into labour so no panic or pain, no contractions, the baby shouldn't be distressed and nor should you.
It's the complete opposite to the emergency section experiences I've heard of (and traumatic natural births too). I felt in complete control.

The only downside with not going into natural labour is that it took my milk a while to come through but if you're still BF your first then that won't be an issue for you.

Re the healing and the scar, just follow doctors advice on how to care for it and clean it, don't wear anything with a waistband that is going to rub. A lot is just common sense..... and if you have offers of help for the first few weeks then take it. My recovery was really straightforward so hopefully yours will be as well.

Yeah that's what I'm really hoping! Just calm and controlled as far as possible. My literal only aim really is to get baby here alive and as uninjured as possible so tbh I can take a bit of stress on top of that/am not worried about a perfect birth, but do need calm as far as possible.

Ah yeah I'm not worried about bf and my supply coming in - I didn't have anything until around day 8 despite pumping evey 90mins because I lost so much blood then didn't latch baby until 3 weeks old because of birth injuries so I'm not worried about getting it perfect and milk during first 24hrs or whatever - I know I can do it later which is the beauty of second time too isn't it!

Thanks, I'll do my best to follow the advice. Really want the recovery to be as smooth as possible so more than willing to accept help! ❤️

You've made me feel a lot calmer!

I had a C-section at 34 weeks. Preeclampsia was awful but the c section itself was great. Yes it hurts like hell for a couple of days but the pain wears off quickly and I recovered brilliantly. I have another elective booked for October. No risk of vaginal injuries and much less risk of incontinence etc. I had a 20 week miscarriage and had to deliver vaginally and I won't want that again. Scar healed great too