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 actually agree with this: in my own experience, it's far more useful having the freezer stocked full of meals and the pantry full of nutrient dense snacks! I'm afraid you'll have 0 space (mental or physical) for pampering 😅🙏
Anyway, you're doing great by focusing on the "after" 💛
Congratulations OP: I wish you a quick recovery and lots of cuddles with your little one 🥰💐🍀

Mine had a nursing strike at one point… a few days later I realised it had coincided with me changing to a new shower gel!!

Best things I found post section:

Longline vests & long cardis / zip up hoodies (I wore nothing but PJ bottoms or high waisted leggings for weeks & when you’ve massive pads on nice long cardis cover your bum when you’ve got visitors!) Nighties are much easier for first few days I found as PJ bottoms rode up and rubbed my scar. Also you sweat A LOT the first few nights - nice cool cotton bedding is a good idea with a few spare sets washed ready to swap over.

Stock up on or batch cook things you can eat one handed - with a spoon if needed (stews, curries etc). I wasn’t prepared at first for the evening cluster feeding when trying to have dinner. Sleep when you can but also eat when you can, even if it ends up being at quite random times for the first couple of weeks. Get plenty of nice snacky things in.

Keep a pillow and spare duvet if you have one downstairs for first couple of weeks. Literally sleep when and where you can. I would feed baby, hand him to DH and just lie down and close my eyes 😂

Last tip have a notebook/ pen to hand with your meds or set alarms on your phone - it was really hard keeping track of all the different ones at first when tired and trying to snatch some sleep, but you really don’t want to miss your pain relief or any antibiotics. I got in a right muddle with them!

@Lunamoon23 - Unfortunately it’s not just pushing that can cause issues. It can be carrying the baby or even the surgery. We’re all different. Luckily a c-section does minimize the risk of birthing injuries though. (Personally, I’m good - but now I’ve hit the menopausal era I’ve discovered how many of my closest friends have been suffering in silence for so very long. More of them have issues like incontinence, etc than don’t. What a bad design!) Anyhow, to reiterate, of course I hope you don’t have any, but if you have any issues, please get help sooner rather than waiting and hoping they will go away, because they inevitably slowly get worse instead.

Thank you so much ladies for all your invaluable advice, it's very much appreciated.

Here's hoping all goes okay and I can keep my nerves and anxiety under wraps on the day! 🤞🏼 9 weeks to go xxx

Tea tree oil for as many warm baths as you can have after you get home - really helpful for your wound.
Also, ask for lactulose asap - my first post c-section poo was way more painful than anything else!

Do any of your ladies have any advice for post c section swelling? I keep reading about pretty server swelling in the legs and feet post c section. Besides compression socks, any other tips? Xxxxx

I’m 4 days post c section so thought it might be useful to share my view.

Things for hospital I used for me

• Small electronic hand fan
• iPad and AirPods
• strappy tops with breast feeding fixings
• big pair of high waisted pj shorts
• water bottle with an integrated straw option so no need to undo a lid
• M&S pots of snacks (flapjacks etc)
• shower gel
• towel
• moisturiser
• vaseline for lips
• face wipes
• pillow from home
• earplugs
• eye mask
• Frida mom c section knickers
• colostrum syringes (I couldn’t fill before birth)

Things I packed I didn’t use

• any clothes apart from the outfit I wore to and from the hospital

Things I wish we had in hospital

• inflatable or camping mattress for my husband
• More nappies than we thought we’d need of size 0
• More formula than we expected
• nipple guards

Life at home

• I live in breast feeding strappies which I find easier than bras because I haven’t got to wear anything on top
• If my husband leaves us for a bit he puts everything near me that I need (phone / charger lead / AirPods/ water bottle /snack pot)
• nipple shields
• nipple pads. Peeling my nipple off my pj top after the first night was not fun
• Sanitary pads
• still going with my frida mom knickers
• ugly button down nighties

Honestly my recovery has felt really good. I alternate between bed and sofa but I’ve showered and dressed every day, been for a walk and eaten. We stocked the freezer pre birth but I’m quite able to make food.

A hot water cup—remember not to drink cold water all the time🙋

Second, third and fourth Lansinoh. I have breastfed 6 children (one set of twins) this stuff is life changing.
Good luck!

I also swear by SRC recovery shorts but I didn't have C-sections, are they advised there?

Big water bottle
Long phone charging cable
Nightdress with buttons you can breastfeed in
Massive knickers
Thick sanitary pads
Loads of pillows so you're sleeping sitting up (remove as you heal)
Somewhere comfy for night feeds, as sitting in bed killed my back

Partner needs to be prepared to do all the housework until you're up and about, and all the heavy lifting for a good few weeks. I found emptying the dishwasher frustratingly hard, the lifting plus twisting was impossible.

You won't want smelly toiletries, you'll want to smell like warm skin and milk so your baby feels safe and also so they don't smell like perfume (I hated mine smelling like anything except baby).

And I hate to break it to you, but you won't have time for or care about a face mask. Long showers are unlikely because either baby will cry, or you'll think baby is crying and leap out to check. Lovely aspiration though!

I did have it but it went down within a few days. You'll want stretchy shoes or flip flops too leave hospital as your feet swell. I remember feeling my feet jiggle as I walked, very weird!

Nice food treats! Sleep deprivation is full on and a bit of sugar for a midnight/3am feast is a great short term way to power through the the first few weeks.

A very long shoe horn - I got one from IKEA that was almost 1m long. It made slipping shoes on super easy, during pregnancy as well as post-partum.

Agree on the foot stool - it puts you in the right "squatting position" generally, not just after pregnancy. And keep it for toddler in a couple of years.

Hello OP not RTFT imagine you've got some super advice. On the smelly:perfume stuff even with your face it's best not to use, it can be overwhelming for your baby and they need to feel the comfort of your smell.

I'm sure someone will have mentioned breast pads, I found a long sleeve nightie really helpful but also a short sleeve one for the sweating!

When you breast feed you experience cramping and a lot of blood loss, not that you'll have the chance to have always have a fresh pad in but that's useful. Also maybe a couple of towels for the chair you might nurse on as I would bleed through!!

Take all the painkillers you have in hospital, be prepared for the trapped wind! You might feel the referred pain in your shoulder.

Oh yes candles I would probably leave those mainly as not good for baby to inhale the fumes.

Sorry if it's all been said already!

I only wanted to use gentle sensitive body wash for weeks after both my Cs. Also you probably wont want heavy scents eg your body mist etc as it will make the baby smell of perfume and baby won’t smell like baby (one of the best things). I really would aim for natural and neutral, you might even want a shower with just water because of your wound.

I would focus more on nice snacks than pampering (and I used to work in the beauty industry for over a decade so I do love beauty!!)