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☺️

@Mrbay I think your in the due March 2025 thread aren't you? I'm due 2nd March but section on 26th🤗good luck with yours too xx

@Motherofdragons24 sorry my bad it is dihydrocodeine I have here ☺️

@pitterypattery00 I know it seems insane now but earlier on in the pregnancy when I was much more in higher spirits and didn't think of the practicality's so much I booked a bump to baby package for a maternity shoot, newborn shoot and a 1st birthday shoot and paid hundreds for it..newborn one should be done before baby's 12 days old for best results according to photographer🫣 if it's all going that bad I will just cancel and loose the money but here's to wishful thinking that it'll be okay🙃

I really hope you do get to go to the shoot and enjoy it. But if instead you are stuck on the sofa in your pyjamas feeling like a zombie having been up the entire night with a non sleeping/feeding baby you haven't failed in any way. (And do reach out for support - it was a tongue tie in our case). Good luck, hope it all goes well🤞

If you need more pain killers demand them!

Honestly it’s absolutely ridiculous they expect women to recover from major surgery with paracetamol and ibruprofen!

Last time I had liquid morphine and I will demand again.

● 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 Walking out of the hospital wasn't an issue for me but because I was alone and had baby and bags which I wasn't allowed to carry, a porter was called and they helped carry the car seat to the entrance.

●what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged? Aside from making sure baby's obs remained healthy (10 day NICU stay) and I was using the toilet okay, we were free to leave.

●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 wasnt allowed off the maternity ward to stay with baby first 4 days but on our first night together they didn't help at all, just did regular obs.

●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) EMCS so unable to help with this but when I had complications with positioning in the last week of pregnancy and ELCS was discussed I was advised I'd be given a date and time but actual time of the surgery wasn't definitive.

●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 was on my feet about 6 hours post surgery voluntarily as I wanted to go be with my my baby. The first 12 hours were a struggle but I didn't really have a choice but to be constantly on my feet post surgery. I feel being active a lot helped make it easier for me to recover, it was the lying down/sitting up and turning over in bed that was worse.

●what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol? post op i had oramorph, dihydrocodine and paracetamol however they were a struggle to get after that. Sent home with 7 tablets of dihydrocodine and 6 weeks of blood thinning injections. Nothing else.

●was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee? no but first bowel movement was the hardest.

●how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?
how long after the section was you discharged? baby was born at 11am, i had my first shower at 9pm because I felt disgusting.

●what did you find the hardest of the whole experience? hardest part for me was being forced to choose between pain relief and food (hospital provided) or spending time with my baby by staff on the maternity ward. At times i was made to go 8+ hours without anything even when i was in my bed asking for it😳

I had an emergency section 8 weeks ago so some of these may not apply!

• I had gel polish on, it wasn’t an issue but for elective surgery it’s ideal to remove gel first. Lash extensions, I’m not sure but might be better to remove them in case a GA is needed for any reason.

• It wasn’t fun, DP brought the car as close to the doors as possible! You can ask for a wheelchair if you need one.

• You need to be able to wee after your catheter is removed. I stayed in for two nights post section as I was in too much pain, I explained that my bedroom at home was up two flights of stairs and I didn’t think I’d be able to manage them, so they kept me in an extra night.

• First night was okay, I couldn’t get up to reach DS and had a catheter to contend with as well, but the midwives were great at passing him to me to feed and change him overnight. There was a small incident where I knocked my call bell out of reach and got stuck in the middle of my bed with DS and had to wait for someone to come in because I didn’t want to wake everyone else up 🥲

• Not relevant as mine was an emergency, but be prepared that you might be ‘bumped’ down the list (sometimes the following days) if there are emergency sections that need to be prioritised.

• I had to get up and out of bed as soon as I had feeling back in my legs so the midwife could change my sheets and help me have a wash. Standing up was the strangest sensation! Tips for standing up - do NOT hunch over, stand up as straight as you can, pushing into your legs and avoiding trying to use your core.

• I had paracetamol, ibuprofen, dihydrocodeine and oramorph and was sent home with dihydrocodeine.

• Sitting on the toilet was fucking awful, I won’t lie. They give you a pan to fill so they can measure your wee, and I got stuck on the lowest toilet I’ve ever sat on and had to summon DP to physically lift me off it. I passed it on as feedback on discharge as I’m sure I’m not the first woman to have got stuck there! It was like a primary school toilet, I felt like I was sitting on the floor 😂 the first poo was also horrible as I was so constipated from all the pain relief - my advice would be to ask them to prescribe you a laxative!

• I showered the following day, and DP got in the shower with me because I needed help to wash my hair and my bum 😂

• It’s usually the following day, but I stayed an extra night to get my pain under control.

• The hardest part was not being able to get up and get my own baby overnight and having to wait for help!

Good luck! ❤️

we had a newborn shoot in our home. Would highly recommend doing it this way if the photographer would be accommodating? I was just about ready to scrape on some makeup and be in some of the photos but you don’t have to be .

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

I don’t wear either so IDK

• how was the walk out of hospital when you left?

I left within 24hours of delivery, I walked all the way home (1km) pushing the pram and then gently got into bed. I felt comfortable.

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

I think I had to prove I could have a poo.

• 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 stayed on my own. I cuddled my baby all night both times. Because I was establishing breast feeding, because I was enchanted by the baby, because I couldn’t lift them out of the cot on my own. After the first delivery the nurse kept saying I had to stay awake, or put the baby down, so I stayed awake. But with the second delivery. I realised that there was actually a column on the observation chart that said if the mother is Cosleeping nurses should do more frequent observations. So I told them that I would cosleep and they should do more frequent observations. I loved holding my baby. And was happier being able to snooze.

• 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).

my morning elective was actually at one 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?

having good general fitness before hand probably helps. i don’t remember the first walk.

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

I had stronger painkillers. But didn’t take them for more than a couple do days.

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

Your first wees will be by catheter, it’s doing a poo that can be uncomforbale.
your vagina etc hasn’t been bothered with so it’s not painful to wee.
but pushing to poo can be sore on incision.

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

I had a shower as soon as they told me to. shuffling to bathroom was ok. being wet in a small cool shower room wasn’t very relaxing

• how long after the section was you discharged?

less than 24hours after delivery .

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

Listening to selfish self occupied mothers having video calls at 2am etc etc. and having conversations about local gossip or friends etc.

I went home and got into bed for several days. I stayed at home and in bed for the first couple of weeks.
establishing breastfeeding and resting.
I had a refillable water bottle beside bed that my husband kept full at all times.
i wore elastic waist, button down top crisp cotton pyjamas, all day and night for the first 2/3 weeks I had 4/5 pairs. They were comfortable and gave both good coverage and accessibility for breast feeding.
my husband provided all meals, and I ate on a tray in bed.
I did walk around, but mostly rested and cared for the baby.
I was advised that I shouldn’t carry anything heavier than a glass of water for the first 2 weeks, and I was pretty disciplined about that.!
I made sure I was not constipated and was well hydrated.

I healed very well.
after 3 weeks I started walking with baby in buggy, for at least an hour every day.
I walked to a cafe for cake and coffee.
I think this was a key element in my physical and mental wellbeing.
i was wearing my pre pregnancy jeans within 2 months.

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

Yes - nails were requested of me
Lashes - I didn't know but it will be shed to get them removed afterwards so I'd just get it down before they go all mad as it will be hard to get around ans leave your LO

• 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
*
They required us to be up and about after - mobilisation to help recovery.
It's fine but I couldn't have carried a car seat.*

• what was required for you to be able to do before you could be discharged?
*
Baby feeding well and I had to have a poo first *

• 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?
*
My partner was on the ward
I would have struggled with lifting baby out on to me but actually coslept even in hospital.
Some midwives are like angels bestowing blessings comfort and solace- some are vile nutters with an axe to grind. They're all human - but it's always a shift lottery wherever you go.*

• 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)
*
Not afternoon but there were 3 in front of me of the elective list took 2-3 hours*

• 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?
*
Same day round the was *

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?
*
Oromorph in hospital. Codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen after*
• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?
*
Yes - disabled bars were helpful *

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?
*
Same day - it was fine.*

• how long after the section was you discharged?
*
1 night stay both times *

• what did you find the hardest of the whole experience?
*
The post op pain and restricted movement *

Any tips to aid my recovery would be greatly appreciated too☺️
*
Buy big over the bump maternity pants

Incontience pads are cheaper than maternity ones

It's major surgery - it takes time to recover.
Be really kind to yourself and find the balance between mobilisation to aid recovery and resting as much as possible

The state I was in leaving hospital vs a week later is incredible.
It's mind boggling how quickly things improve. You can't believe till its happened and even then was mind boggling the next time. It suddenly gets miles easier.*

Op, you'd be better ringing the MW team with these questions regarding the hospital you'll have your baby in. All hospital trusts differ, so women's experiences on this thread may not be your own. Good luck!

Oh and your nails sound lovely, but personally I would have been scared I would have accidently caught baby with them in my sleep deprived state, but that's just me! You could always get them done later when baby is a little older for some "you time," which is so important as well.

I had a GA for my CS,so it's standard to tape eyes,to prevent dry eyes.. sometimes a local anaesthetic, turns in a GA for various reasons..

Hard to remember which questions you asked once I hit reply I can't see them. So I'll try my best

They need to see your nail beds to monitor your reaction to the anaesthetic, so you'll need to remove at least one gel nail I think. Best just to remove all before you go in. Lashes won't be an issue.

I stayed in one night and was discharged next day (around 30 hours after). I had a shower in the hospital approximately 20 hours after my section. I had to step in and out of a bath and refused any offers of help I slipped getting out and it yanked my stitches. Accept help to get in and out...

I was sent home with blood thinning injections and paracetamol and ibuprofen I think.

The walk to the car was fine. I just went a little slower.

I asked the midwife to lift my little boy into my bed and he sort of stayed there propped with pillows whilst he slept and fed. I was in a private room and looking back I'm not sure how safe that was. I didn't sleep though. I got barely any sleep after my section. I get a bit hyper after anaesthesia.

I got to the hospital at 6am and had my section at 2.30pm due to emergencies that came ahead of me.

After I went home my partner was there for 4 days then he went off to work in a different country for 3 days and I was totally alone. It was lockdown and family live hundreds of miles away. We had only recently moved here so I didn't really know anyone. I was fine though.

Hardest thing I think was probably because I appeared so well and just got on with it I made myself quite ill and landed back in hospital for a few nights with postpartum hypertension. That was a bit scary. I should have taken it easier. My scar healed beautifully though and can barely see I had a section.

I'd choose another section definitely. Good luck for yours.

Both of mine were emergencies and each at different trusts (plus a few years apart) so I had a different experience each time. They removed my nail polish so I assume they'd want the gels off too - I have a vague idea it's to do with monitoring/observations so they can see your nail colour but don't quote me on that! Both of them the walk out was slow but manageable- DH carried everything including the baby obviously. Both times I had to wee a certain amount before they would discharge me. Both times baby was in a bassinet next to me which was on wheels so I could move around with baby. First c-section they wanted me to move as soon as I felt able & I had some pumping compression thing put on my legs once in recovery room then regular compression knee high socks after. Second c-section no pump thing, but was given the socks the next day. First c-section sent home with painkillers (diclofenac I think), second no painkillers at all - I asked if there was a pharmacy on site where I could buy some I was told no. Was told to take paracetamol & ibuprofen once home for the second one. For my first c-section I had very little pain and didn't really need the painkillers after the first couple of days. The second one however I very much did but because I was discharged on a weekend I wasn't able to get anything stronger than paracetamol (which didn't help) because my GP surgery was closed & the hospital said that they couldn't give me anything I had to ask my GP. Was given injections to take home both times to help prevent clots. First c-section I had my first shower a few hours afterwards and the midwife helped me. Second c-section I showered a few days later once I got home because there was no-one to help me (DH was looking after our eldest & I asked to stay in longer to help establish breastfeeding - I would otherwise have been discharged 24 hours after the birth in both cases). Ultimately we were fine both times but very different experiences. The food was better in the first hospital too... Congratulations OP hope all goes smoothly best of luck so exciting x

Don’t let them send you home without more painkillers! Usual ones don’t cut it! I can not believe when I hear a hospital has done that.

I was but I couldn't keep up and then lost the thread.

Oh I'm jealous you have a date! I'm still waiting for mine!

Thank you all for the helpful comments☺️

@thejadefish thankyou! I'm so nervous but excited to finally meet him..he took 4 years to conceive..so very long awaited!!
I just want the day to hurry up so I can start recovering already🙃 I have my final Doppler scan tomorrow to double check it's still okay for section next week and it doesn't need to come forward🫣🤞🏽

@Mrbay I got my date at 36 weeks..id only decided the week prior that I definitely wanted the section and they said I left it late and I'm lucky the 'books' wasn't full🫣

I had a wheelchair to get to car the next morning (had c section 4pm day before). Have a pillow to put between tummy and seat belt.

Midwives will help with baby, I had catheter in for first night. You need help getting baby from the bassinet onto you, but fine to try breast feeding etc once you have the baby on you. Midwives will change nappies etc. As others have said baby v sleepy first night (make the most of it).

I found having a wee etc fine (much worse after vbac with second baby than with c section).

Having done both births I found the elective c section a much better experience.

I had an “emergency” c section so can’t answer some of your questions. It was a really positive experience for me though.

Baby born 7pm Monday evening, home by 6pm Wednesday evening. I would have been comfortable going home Tuesday evening. The doc signed me off at about 9am Wednesday morning but had to wait for the pharmacist. Catheter got taken out about 11am Tuesday I think, I just swung my legs out of bed no problem. Had to show I’d done a big wee, and they had to see baby feeding before I could leave. They prescribed paracetamol and ibuprofen but I didn’t feel like I needed it. Having said that, I’d had gas & air, pethidine, an epidural, and then an epidural top up before the section so suspect I still had a lot of that in my system 😂. I didn’t have any complications afterwards, unless you count the struggle of trying to get those god awful compression stockings on after having a shower.

The walk to the car was long but not painful - was just so happy to be going home. Stopped on way home for chippy chips and I got really anxious about being on my own with the baby while DH went in to get them. It was fine.

We had the option to pay for a private room which really helped, even though DH still wasn’t allowed to stay overnight. Had to use the call button to get midwife to get baby out of cot the first night but they were pretty responsive. Take your own pillows and towels. You’ll likely need more baby clothes and nappies than you think.

Be prepared for a very strange empty feeling afterwards while everything settles. And I cannot explain just how HUNGRY I was the next morning. Make sure your DP brings you a good meal, the hospital food is absolute slop and nowhere near enough to sustain a new mother.

Good luck! Hope you have a lovely experience 💐

Hello 10 weeks post C-section here...

• ahead of surgery, do I need to remove my lash extensions and gel polish nails?
Eyelashes no shouldn't be a problem nail varnish yeah they do ask you not to have any on.

• 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

They will likely have lifts in your hospital. My walk was quite long as well. My husband brought the car round to the front of the hospital and then came back out with the car seat and I literally just shuffle to the car down the hallway. just take your time with it. There's no rush And a little tip for in the car. Take two pillows in the car one for you to sit on which will minimise going over bumps and potholes and 1 for over your stomach for the seatbelt. It will make you a lot more comfortable.
Also take loose fitting clothes to wear upon discharge and easy slip on shoes.

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

To be discharged, I have to had to show that I was managing my pain okay? So not relying on the Oramorph anymore and I had to do three 300 mil wees before discharge. That was once the catheter had been removed which they removed at 6 am in the morning on the day of my discharge so my advice would be start drinking as much as possible the following morning makes it a lot easier.
• 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?

Difficult one for me to answer because my husband was able to stay with me if I'm honest I feel I would've struggled without him but that's probably because I was relying on him because he was there however whenever I rang the buzzer the midwives always came really quickly and one more than happy to help Don't overexert yourself always ring the buzzer if you need 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)

I wasn't on the afternoon list I was on the morning list but just for reference I had to arrive at 7 am. There was two of us on the morning list and I went first and my little boy was born at 9:31 am.

• 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 didn't get up till later that evening once the feeling had returned in my legs and I felt well enough to was probably about 7 pm and I didn't walk far. I literally walked from the bed to the chair that was in the room and then sat down again and then back again They won't pressure you to be walking around loads. They do understand that you've just had surgery but it is important to try and move a little bit. No real tips just again do it at your own pace I remember I waited until I was due my next dose of Oramorph. Let that kick in for 30 minutes and then did my stand and walk.

• what painkillers did you have post op? Was you sent home with any strong painkillers or just told to have paracetamol?
I was just sent home and told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen, however that wasn't enough for me in the first couple of days and because I wasn't breastfeeding, my sister went and got me some codeine from the pharmacy. Big tip though. If you are taking anything other than paracetamol and ibuprofen, make sure you're eating plenty of fibre or maybe ask for some laxatives I ended up with impaction through constipation and it was honestly agony!!!

• was it hard sitting on the toilet etc after to wee?
The toilets in the hospital generally have a seat so it wasn't that bad it is uncomfortable, but it's not unbearable.

• how long after section did you have your first shower and how did you find it?
I didn't shower until I got home that was through choice. I like the thought of going home having a nice shower and getting into my new pyjamas that were waiting for me. It was okay. I stood with my back to the water and just sort of let the water run over me The good thing about a C-section as you can shower the morning of and wash your hair et cetera because you're not pushing, you're not really sweating so you don't feel overly bad after birth, but one of the midwives did also give me a wipe down after the operation while I was in bed of my stomach.

• how long after the section was you discharged?
So my C-section was at 9:30 am and I was discharged the following day by 2 pm. It would've been sooner but I had to wait for an injection before I was discharged which delayed it slightly.

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

I would say the first couple of days following the C-section you're tired you're in discomfort but as long as you have a good support system around you and help at home you'll be okay. I basically lived upstairs in the bedroom for the first week post section just caring for baby around the bed . My husband did anything that was needed downstairs. So make sure you have like a caddy set up next to your bed full of anything that you might need and baby might need nappies wipes et cetera and I also had the next to me crib on my husband side of the bed for the first two weeks so that he could easily get him out during the night for feeds and nappy changes and pass them to me so I wasn't twisting my stomach And it gave me plenty of room to get myself out of bed if I needed to get out for the toilet in the middle of the night.

My best bit of advice would be take it easy you won't win any prizes for doing too much too soon, and it can hinder your recovery the easier you take it in the first six weeks the better will be for you in the long run that means no hoovering, walk little and often, no heavy lifting. And also keep on with your pain medication even if you don't feel like you need it it's better to stay on top of it then it creep up on you. I alternated so I had two paracetamol two hours later to ibuprofen and so on and I kept a note in my phone of when I take what as when sleep deprived and caring for a baby it can all blur into one.
Also accept help you've just undergone major abdominal surgery and brought a beautiful baby into the world. It's okay to lean on others for support and it won't be forever.
Also keep your wound clean. I just showered once a day and let it air dry out after don't apply anything to it. Your dressing will usually stay on for 5 to 7 days and then they'll remove it and don't wear anything that will rub against your incision and if you notice any signs of infection, make sure you call your midwife.

And lastly, enjoy your baby and enjoy the stillness and being able to just soak up all those baby cuddles ❤️🥰 good luck and feel free to ask any more questions xxxx

From an obstetric anaesthetist's PoV, it's a little bit better if you have the nails off, but really it's not a massive issue if they're on. Re the lashes, it's up to you. Occasionally even when a spinal is the anaesthetic plan we end up converting to a GA and the possible problem with lashes is that the tape we use to protect the eyes & keep them closed will trash/remove the lashes, but that said, we're pretty good at negotiating even the most carpet-like of falsies so it's not often a big problem (it's entirely cosmetic though so it's up to you).

Mine was an emergency so no preparation, main problem I'd been eating and drinking so I obviously an issue. I had a lot of pain and no painkillers. It was painful to stand up straight so I was walking bent and holding my scar which I was later told was bad as you gradually bend more and more and best thing is to be as straight as you can.

I don't even remember leaving the hospital but if I wasn't in a wheelchair I was shuffling.

Worst thing was I was exhausted from a long labour with the recovery from surgery and a 9 lb baby I could barely lift. I had very little help from staff and partners not allowed to stay overnight. I wish I knew the name of the woman in the bed opposite who gave me more practical help than the staff. If it's planned it should be very different.

Worst thing was DH said something funny, I laughed and it hurt and then the more I tried not to laugh the more I laughed. My stitches burst and he got thrown out which served him right but left me with no help for hours. If your husband fancies himself as a comedian make sure he knows not to do this.

All in all I think a planned c section is a lot better, the women round me certainly seemed to recover much better than I did and one said the best tip she had was ask them to top up the epidural so you get a few hours pain free when you go to the ward. obviously waking from a GA was not painfree.

I hope it goes well.

I second all that. Lactulose was totally useless. I think I had to have a bowel movement before I was discharged but mine was years ago so probably different now.

I think I lied.

Thanks for replying! My nails are relatively short, thin and I can get them a pale pink that's almost see through 🤗 I'm really worried about having to have a GA. Is there any reason the spinal doesn't work for some or you end up being put under mid way through?