If you've had a c section..could you answer these for me?

[anonny55]

I'm due my elective section in 10 days (first baby)
If you've had one please could you answer..

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?
• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle
• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?
• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?
• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)
• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?
• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?
• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?
• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?
• how long after the section was you discharged?
• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?

Any tips to aid my recovery would be greatly appreciated too☺️

friend said to drink peppermint water for trapped wind but i don't have any.

Thank you!
Codeine and lactulose on hand!
Sister hired for 4 weeks so she can help with hair washing etc

My mum had an emcs 25 years ago and said it was the most horrific pain ever so I'm prepared it's not going to be nice in anyway 🫣

@Babyboomtastic thanks will double check that before taking!

Baby will be bottle fed a mix of formula and expressed breast milk:)

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?
• I don’t think so, I have had surgery several times with acrylic nails
• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle
• I was wheeled to the entrance and walked to the car, the car can be brought nearer to the hospital door
• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?
• Nothing in particular
• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?
• I was very tired but there were midwives on hand to help wash my baby
• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)
• Mine was an emergency at 11 pm
• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?
• 4 hours - it was very painful but doable
• what painkillers did you have post op?
• Nothing, but it was over 25 years ago
• Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?
• Paracetamol
• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?
• No, it was OK
• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?
• I had a bath the day after, the midwife left me alone to wash but helped me in and out
• how long after the section was you discharged?
• 4 nights
• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?
• Contradictory advice about breastfeeding and picking my crying baby up, all fine on arrival home

@Beamur feet are already dramatically swollen , having to live in flip flops and slippers atm😅 going to buy myself some nice new slippers this week to bring with me☺️

• of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?

Yes to nails, they need clear nails to monitor your oxygen.

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle

I don’t remember this being particularly difficult. We just took it slow. But I did carry some bits eg my bf pillow. Don’t worry about it.

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?

they definitely wanted to measure my wee. I was in for a couple of nights both times anyway so they were happy to let me go when I asked.

• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?

Both of mine were emcs. That will make a difference. Dc1 was born in the morning. They slept most of the night. I called the midwives to give her to me when needed and they helped. dc2 I was more ill (had lost a lot of blood). They took him away for a bit in the night for me then brought him back for feeds as I was pretty out of it (plus he was born in the evening so I’d had less recovery time).

• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)

n/a

• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?

the next morning both times. Much easier with dc1 who was born in the morning so I had nearly 24hrs in bed post op compared to dc2 where I only had about 10 hours. Just take it slow & steady and make sure you’ve had painkillers beforehand! It’s the getting up / down that’s hardest, you lose all core strength for a bit.

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?

i had oramorph. They gave diclofenac with dc1 including to take home, I needed it until day 3. Dc2 just paracetamol & ibuprofen but it was ok, just keep on top of it. (But don’t be afraid to ask for stronger stuff in hospital if you need it.

• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?

Not particularly.

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?

The next morning. Was lovely.

• how long after the section was you discharged?

dc1 after 2 nights. Dc2 after 3 but I was quite ill.

• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?

it was absolutely lovely to get home and be in my own bed. I asked for & got a private room in hospital both times which was amazing and made it much more manageable.

@WanderingDreamingSpires since I can't get up supposedly for a while I'm worried I'll take the lactulose before the section and sh*t myself before I'm able to get up and get myself to the toilet😂😂

• I believe nails have to be natural so they can see your colour.
• Very difficult walk, basically shuffled to car. I was in significant pain.
• Had to stay in due to problems breastfeeding and baby lost weight.
• First night was hideous. I hadn't anticipated not being able to rest after the op! I was struggling and they granted us a private room after that (staff) and partner allowed to stay then thank goodness.
• I was morning.
• Got up next day as they forced me in the shower, awful.
• Paracetamol ridiculous. Think I had one lot of morphine but they wouldn't continue with anything other than Paracetamol and ibuprofen.
• Toilet was ok
• Next morning, hideous. Shuffled to the shower and they made me remove my dressing. I wretched into a paper sick bowl. Inhumane in my eyes.
• I think I had 3 nights, worst time of my life tbh.
• The actual section was fine and very civilised, I had it due to breech. The birth was great, picked the music etc, brilliant staff. The recovery probably still scars me and I believe made it difficult for me to bond with baby. I was in incredible pain and obviously somehow had to cope as a new mum. Pushed wholeheartedly for VBAC with my 2nd and luckily it worked out. I would not recommend a c section to anyone.

I had an upset stomach after dc1 due to the painkillers I think. Was a million times better than the opposite though after dc2!

I had emergency caesareans but can possibly answer a few of these as well. There will be a range of experiences and listening to your body is my best tip. Get up asap as well. You will heal so much faster.

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle

It was easy. No problems at all.

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged? I had to be able to produce a certain amount of urine and breastfeeding needed to be going well.
• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help? Same at my hospital. I didn't need any help and looked after my babies just fine. I had them in bed with me most of the time.
• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier? Pretty quickly. Second was born at 3.30pm for example and I was showering by 6pm and had dinner at the table rather than in bed. I got up the moment I could as it really helps.
• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol? Didn't need painkillers.
• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee? No.
• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it? Within 3hrs and it was fine.
• how long after the section was you discharged? 13hrs after my first and 36hrs after my second (he was a wee bit early and needed an extra night in).
• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience? Shoulder pain after my second which was caused by trapped wind.

Some great advise here. I would also contact your insurance company: Some won’t insure you to drive for 4-6 weeks as you have had major abdominal surgery and there is a higher risk or your wound opening against the steering wheel in an accident.

Turning, twisting and anything core related was agony for weeks. Turning over in bed was horrendous.

You will have to inject yourself with anti DVT medication. I would get someone to do this for you as it feels like fire being injected as it’s a gel.

Wear something that won’t sit on your bump as your wound will be sore and anything rubbing will hurt.

You can walk but you are mega slow.

You will probably be wearing those thigh sock things which kinda suck so think about this with your clothes.

Showering Is fine but it took forever.

You may be in the hospital for longer than a day depending on your wound, healing etc so bring extra clothes for both you and baby and be prepared for a longer stay.

Way harder than a vaginal
birth so be prepared for this as recovery is the birth but also recovering from major abdominal surgery.

Good luck.

Sounds like we are due around the same time.

2nd section for me this time.

Previous section, out of surgery around 11am, catheter out around 3pmish, first wee 4pm but forgot to use a potty thing (got told off!)

Walking around slowly around tea time and able to life baby for feeding by around 9pm ish when husband left.

Discharged next day around 10am and went shopping on the way home.

Managed to walk to the pub within the week.

Use a pillow over your scar for coughing, laughing and going to the loo. The gentle pressure makes it more comfortable.

Peppermint tea and windease helped to ease gas pain.

I found by day 3, I could cope with regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, which in turn made the first poo more comfortable.

Try to do light walking where possible as this helps your recovery and don't lift anything heavier than baby for a good few weeks.

Good luck!

• lashes/nails- unsure as I don’t use them
• walk - I’ve had two electives, the first walk out of hospital I found really hard but I was trying to keep up with a midwife who seemed in a bit of a hurry. The second time we left on our own and it was soooo much easier as I just took it really slowly.
• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged? - pass wind and have three wee’s.
• how was the first night - my partner couldn’t stay either. With my first I think I slept a total of 45min but I was just so wired from the whole experience I don’t think I’d have slept at home either. I didn’t really sleep with my second either but drifted in and out of sleep. I found midwives took a little while so I asked them to put the arms up on my bed and just kept baby in with me to save the lifting in and out of the cot. The midwife with my first actually reccomended this as baby just wouldn’t settle in the cot no matter what they or I tried.
• if you was on the afternoon list… afternoon list with my second and didn’t go down until 5pm!
• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier? I can’t remember exactly but it’s very soon, like a few hours after. I was ok never in any pain but very slow.
• what painkillers did you have post op? sent home with oramorph both times and had diamorphine in hosp but I found that made me really itchy.
• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee? It’s more frightening than it actually is. I had to tell my body to relax and once I actually did it was fine.
• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it? Waited a few days the first time but was more confident after my second and had a shower the first morning at home. The dressing is shower proof so as long as you wash around it it’s fine.
• how long after the section was you discharged? Next day both times.
• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience? Wind! The pain from trapped wind with my first was honestly the most painful part of it all. I took some wind relief tablets in advance the second time and oh my god it was so much better! Also painkillers can make you constipated so I took the laxative straight away the second time. First time i didn’t and that first poo is the scariest thing I’ve ever done lol

Any tips to aid my recovery would be greatly appreciated too a water bottle with a straw so you can drink lying down. make sure your partner sets you up with everything you need before they leave including dressing the baby. We Tutsis forgot to actually dress our first as we were so wrapped up in cuddling her in the blankets that I then struggled to get her dressed after he’d left. also it is really hard for the first few days but you get better quick! I wish I knew the first time that I’d feel so much better by day three and then again around day 10.

@ShowOfHands you trooper! Doesn't seem like you had to much of a hard time..praying for this experience!🤞🏽

I've been suffering with awful trapped wind causing me chest pain for weeks now and find peppermint tea works wonders so will bring some in hope of that working for shoulder pain if I get it😅

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?

yes

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle

okay - just took it slow

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?

wee post catheter out, baby fine, not needing analgesia that I couldn’t have at home eg morphine (not that I needed any)

• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?

really tough - baby didn’t sleep and i didn’t ask for help. I should have asked for help.

• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)
• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?

I had the surgery at 9am. I think it was the evening but they weren’t pushing it

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?

paracetamol, ibuprofen, dihydrocodeine. I had to insist upon the dihydrocodeine.

• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?

no the main issue most people have is pooing id recommend some movicol - start a few days before surgery id recommend getting on top of your haemoglobin with iron supplementation during pregnancy and then stopping it a week before do pay attention to anaemia in pregnancy and don’t ignore it - it will get worse with blood loss during birth and looking after a newborn is knackering wnough

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?

i had a very minimal shower the following day, then 2 days after that i held the shower head and kept it away from my dressing

• how long after the section was you discharged?

they tried to discharge me after 24 hours but I stayed 48 hours

• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?

shoulder pain due to gas the morning after surgery only lasted a few hours thankfully recommend peppermint tea and simeticone! the first two nights were rough too and I got no sleep - I wish I’d asked for help

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?

I didn’t take my gel nails off. In fact I got them freshly done two days beforehand and the anaesthetist complimented me on the colour.

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle

Slow. With my second I actually really struggled, but it had only been 24 hours. With my first, it was just a slow walk after it had been 3 days.

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?

Pee a certain amount. Feel confident breastfeeding.

• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?

Both times midwife didn’t do much overnight. But it wasn’t as much as a struggle as I thought it would be. I just managed to shuffle round, pick baby up and down without too much bother.

• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)

Morning list for second. With my first I had my c section a week earlier than planned as my waters broke so went to the hospital at 9am and had c section at 3pm as was on the non emergency but unplanned list.

• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?

Around 6 hours. Just baby steps to the bathroom and back.

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?

Paracetamol, ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine

• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?

No, but the first poo was tough.

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?

same day

• how long after the section was you discharged?

3 days with my first as I had difficulty peeing and also breastfeeding. 24 hours with my second

• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?

Honestly, there was nothing that was terrible. Coughing and sneezing wasn’t fun, and getting up and down, but both experiences were really positive.

@Rainingalldayonmyhead thanks for the help. Huge knickers are packed! , I've bought a few pair of huge pjs and will probably wear a pair home if I'm honest!

Codeine not safe in breastfeeding
dihydrocodeine is though (and is a better painkiller)
lactulose is a sugar - ferments in gut and gives gas - movicol much better
hospitals often don’t stock movicol as more expensive so bring some with you

One thing I would reassure you about is coping on the first night. I was so worried about being able to do it when my husband left but actually I was so high on meds I couldn't feel a thing and managed just fine!

They have spinal obviously and fentanyl during the op because I was uncomfortable in my chest. Then after I was given obviously paracetamol and ibuprofen along with dihydrocodene and oramorph whenever I needed it and sufficient time had passed. They weren't tight about it at all! They also discharged me with some dihydrocodene.
I've had an emergency c section and a planned one. The planned one was the most amazing experience of my life. This was 5 weeks ago. I would re-live it a million times over :) best of luck to you xx

You will have to inject yourself with anti DVT medication. I would get someone to do this for you as it feels like fire being injected as it’s a gel

I injected into my abdomen, low down and it was still quite numb. I barely felt it. I injected for 10 days and it only felt very slightly sore for the last couple of days though it lasted only seconds. It wasn't a problem at all.

Tips: (apologies if already mentioned)
Take slide on slippers/ flip flops
peppermint tea/ capsules for afterwards - the trapped wind can cause horrendous pain
strong pain killers can make you constipated- get sone prune juice in, just in case

Ah I forgot about that. With my second I had to inject for 6 weeks, and that was probably the worst bit actually!

@UdderlyBaffled that's all great advice! Thankyou☺️🤞🏽

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?

I think so from my other experience with surgery but can’t remember CS specifically

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left..it seems quite a long way to walk from the post natal ward to the car park in my hospital and I'm worried I'll struggle

my husband picked me up from the main door of the hospital, but I did see some mums wheeled to the car park. We cried a lot though trying to figure out the car seat at 10pm at night!

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?

walking & weeing!

• how was the first night (we aren't allowed birth partner to stay at my hospital) did you struggle to see to baby? Was the midwife's on hand to help?

ugh pretty grim. DH could stay which was great, but all the babies woke each other up, it was boiling, there were only skeleton staff on, not fun and contributed to us rushing home.

• if you was on the afternoon list, what time did you go down for your surgery? (I've been asked to arrive to the hospital at 12pm)

3pm! took 45 mins total

• how long after the section did you have to get up and take your first walk? How was it? Any tips to make it easier?

I refused to have my catheter out/ walk until the morning after

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?

oramorph and lots of others

• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?

no, just awkward with the numbness

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?

a few days I think, I kept hearing phantom baby cries and jumping out of the shower haha, but otherwise very nice!

• how long after the section was you discharged?

I pushed for discharge 10pm day after CS at 3pm day before

• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?

not to sound dramatic or scary but the recovery is long. Really frustrating and I felt like I was dragging myself round for weeks struggling with everything. I had abdominal surgery before too so knew what to expect, but it’s utterly brutal with a non sleeping newborn. that being said, birth was a fantastic experience and I don’t regret an ECS one bit!

I took Laxido (there’s something recommended about not using lactulose, can’t remember what though) for three days before and a week maybe after but stopped after I nearly shit myself one night haaaa. PP poop was an absolute breeze though. Holding a small cushion to your wound helps, DH having a chunk (4-6 weeks off) is absolutely key, a weekly cleaner at home was a godsend for changing beds. Freezer meal prep and family support also absolutely essential! Sleeping is dead awkward for a while, so is picking up baby.

Breastfeeding can take more effort so if it’s something you want to pursue, research help nearby before. I managed it though to over 1!

Sorry also to add, do you have a v shaped pillow? I took mine with me and that was really helpful! It's hard to get comfy sometimes on your back isn't it and I don't think hospitals have enough pillows to go around!