Aftercare - Csection.

[Lunamoon23]

Hello!

I'm having an elective c section in December, this is my first baby, and I'm terrified.

So instead of focusing on my fears, I'm trying to push past the events of the surgery and focus on the after... of course, the outcome, my little boy.

But, I've started putting myself together a little get home basket of stuff, to care for myself when we get home. (Not being selfish, I've brought everything baby could possibly want or need, he's well taken care of, just know I'm going to be feeling a little crappy so wanted to take care of myself too)

So far, I've got, face masks, under eye masks, a decent shampoo and conditioner, a luxurious body wash and new body pouff, for that first at home shower post birth.
I've brought some of infinity nighttime sanitary towels for extra comfort for the bleeding, a peri spray bottle to keep myself clean and fresh down below inbetween showers due to bleeding, some extra high cotton underwear, and the Frida disposable briefs, my favourite deodorant and body mist, organic cotton wool for cleaning my wound, a couple nice soft fluffy bath sheet towels. Aswell as some new pjs for when I get home, hair scrunchies and clip. Some nice smelling christmassy candles for the bedroom, I've also got an excessive amount of paracetamol and ibuprofen stored away in my bedside draw, maybe too many! 😂 but didn't want to run the risk of running out and sending DH to the shops.. So stocked up!

Anything anyone can think of they'd recommend made them feel more human?
Or for wound care?

I know the basics of making sure things are high up so I don't have to bend a lot etc. we've brought some In shower shelves etc so I don't have to and changing mat is high and next to me crib will be on DH side to begin with so he can pass him to me for night feeds (hopefully breastfeeding) .. also got some breast pads for leaky boobs both reusable and disposable.

Thank you!

I would add to this - food that you can eat with one hand!

I'm not overthinking it. Just nice to be prepared and make myself feel better in the throws of having just had major surgery and having a newborn to care for..

it's a lighthearted post really, just asking for womens advise who've been here, done this. Had some great advice! xxxx

A weird tip- for the first poo put your feet up on the bathroom bin or something that size. It helps somehow with the process!
dont forget breast pads at night- I forgot a couple
of times and woke up to a wet greasy chest.
try not to worry too much about the procedure- when i had mine the staff were so friendly and much more personable than a ‘normal’ surgery. Even had the radio on!

I've actually spoke to quite a few women through Mumsnet with wonderfully positive stories. Which is amazing. Infact - mostly positive as opposed to negative. It seems elective as opposed to emergency seems to have very different stories, understandably.

The terrified side of things comes from having never had surgery of any kind and the knowing I'll be awake during it happening, just super daunting stuff. But, trying to overlook it!

I'm guessing you've yourself had a positive experience? I'd love to hear! Xxxx

Haha someone just suggested a little foot stool below! Great idea! I'll defo look into that! X

Nipple cream and silver nipple shields, as someone said, these are currently my most important items 3 weeks post section.
Every recovery is different…I got loads of peppermint tea, prunes and laxatives because everyone told me about constipation and trapped wind, but I didn’t get either. Also no sweating for me.

Any recommend nipple cream??
Just looked into the nipple shields. However the melda plastic looking ones reviews far outway the silver shield ones. Any reason you'd recommend them particular ones?? Xxx

This.

High waisted comfy joggers or leggings. I had some disgusting sort of harem pants x 2 that I lived in.

Slip-on or zip-up boots so you can get them on quickly and easily.

Hearty snacks for when feeding/nap-trapped ( like fruit cake, flapjack)

A large water bottle or cup that you don't have to squeeze to get the water out - my poor thumbs took a battering. Feeding is thirsty work.

Phone charger with long lead next to bed and by feeding chair or sofa.

Good nursing pillow. Cosy dressing gown.

I can't imagine being fussed about a new scrunchie and I hated getting a bunch of face masks. Some days I barely managed to comb my hair or brush my teeth.

I agree with what others have suggested but would also add a long-handled grabber thing (like you'd use for litter picking)

I found it great when things were out of reach and nobody was around/awake to pass them. It's now been repurposed to get all the crap the kids drop on the car floor 🤣

This.

High waisted comfy joggers or leggings. I had some disgusting sort of harem pants x 2 that I lived in.

Slip-on or zip-up boots so you can get them on quickly and easily.

Hearty snacks for when feeding/nap-trapped ( like fruit cake, flapjack)

A large water bottle or cup that you don't have to squeeze to get the water out - my poor thumbs took a battering. Feeding is thirsty work.

Phone charger with long lead next to bed and by feeding chair or sofa.

Good nursing pillow. Cosy dressing gown.

I can't imagine being fussed about a new scrunchie and I hated getting a bunch of face masks. Some days I barely managed to comb my hair or brush my teeth.

Some days I barely managed to comb my hair or brush my teeth.

Why?

If you haven't already, get Amazon Prime. I could never have predicted what I wanted and so being able to order crap in the middle of the night (usually just in case it helped the baby sleep) was perfect.

Velcro belly binder, the hospital gave them to help with recovery (not in the UK) and it was great, wore it for weeks.

Honestly I had a c section and would have one again in the unlikely event I have another child. Had my section early hours Saturday morning was out Sunday night and was pretty much fully mobile within 48 hours.

Haha I've got Amazon prime! Couldn't be without it - my husband often says I should have shares in Amazon with the amount of parcels that show weekly. 😂 xxxxx

Because I had a velcro baby and was triple feeding.

That's great to hear! Glad you had such a positive experience, here's hoping for the same 🤞🏼 xxx

I use Lansinoh nippe cream and it seems to help. I got the silver nipple shields after my midwife recommended them. These are not to be worn while feeding but inbetween (I was confused at first how baby would drink when she mentioned them to me 🤣) because my nipples are a bit sore and they make sure that my clothes / bra doesn’t rub…apparently the silver also prevents infection, according to my midwife.

Puppy pads! Sounds stupid but I changed DD on these on the bed at night and if she had an accident as i wasn't quick enough it meant I didn't have to change my sheets. Honestly life saver.

Lip balm

Moisturiser and hand cream I felt very dry.

Also buy lots of compression socks- the hospital my gave me one pair and you have to wear them constantly- it made me feel icky until more got delivered.

I'd also advise you to tell people no visitors for at least 48 hours once your home. I felt great and then the pain meds wore off and I really didn't want people in my house x

A neck pillow, like you'd use on an airplane. I just couldn't lie down flat initially and it was a godsend for half sitting up sleeps or naps in the chair.

One tip I got which was amazing - a lamp with a remote. Great for night feeds.

I had a nice little bag with handle to keep everything with me if I moved from room to room in the house - water bottle, painkillers, nipple cream and pads, babies red book and a notepad (write down the times you take your painkillers, no way I'd have remembered).

My first was an emergency C-section but both the experience itself and the recovery were far better and easier than my planned second one. Babies just don't follow the rules! You sound like you have everything covered but the one thing I recommend to every C-section mother now, which I didn't have and found out the hard way how important it is, is a post-op girdle. Or three. This will help your recovery and help you to avoid some common post surgery problems. Just the velcro kind you can get on Amazon. Second time around i had some serious post op problems resulting in another major operation, none of which would have happened had I worn the belly band. I think it should be mandatory.

Ooh I wish I’d had a handy bag! Great idea. I’d recommend a battery pack which you can use to charge your phone etc if you want, plug sockets are few and far between in hospital and when you’re home you won’t be able to get up and plug in phone if you’ve been stuck under a snoozing baby for hours and used up all your batteries on Amazon…

I've had 2 elective sections now and both were fantastic, recovery was so smooth. Both times I snacked on plenty of prunes for the first 48 hours, and never had any issue at all with constipation. No laxatives, footstools, or straining required!

Agree with a straw water bottle so you can drink lying down, a long phone charger, a couple of pairs of high waisted joggers or pyjama bottoms to live in initially (verbaudet do some nice maternity friendly pjs that feel like a treat to wear, and are BF friendly!) and slip on slippers.

I would highly recommend getting a lactation consultant to visit you on your first day at home... And do a breastfeeding preparation course in advance too.

Most importantly of all - have your husband well schooled on how to support you in the weeks after - you should focus your first weeks on being in bed, plenty of skin to skin, establishing breastfeeding and allowing your body to recover. The rule is - you feed the baby, he feeds you!

Do you have one you've used you could post the link to. I have looked into this previously but there are so many to choose from at varying prices it's a minefield. Also, can you wear this immediately after? Would it not be very uncomfortable on your wound?? Xxxxx

I've got like 3 nappy caddies! One for each room I'm likely to be in which I'll stick with everything needed! Great idea! Xxx