Right. What do I need in my hosp. bag for a planned c-section?? Help me pack!!!

[WhipMeIndiana]

this is baby no. 2, but my first c-section.
What will I need??????????????????

thanking y'all in advance X

Assume that you'll be in for 3-5 days, so enough baby clothes / nightwear / nappies / sanpro etc to see you through.

Pack a secondary bag of post-birth stuff for your partner to bring in after the birth, and just take a few newborn essentials in your labour bag.

arnica (start taking a couple of days before)
big pants (that will cover the wound)
Book/mag/ipod in case you're waiting a while to go to theatre

ditto the arnica.
peppermint tea bags (helps the gas pains)
prunes and dried apricots
lots of lip balm (I used Laninoh cream it's fab for that)

sorry for being clueless...what is arnica? as a tablet or a cream???

did anyone else> get their dh/p to shave their bits??? or is it better for the nurses to do?

bum I think Ive bought the wrong kind of pants..why do they need to cover the wound??

Arnica in tablet form - get from health food shop, the strongest they've got.

Pants - I think if they don't cover the wound they might have a tendency to sit in the wound IYSWIM and it won't heal properly. So big tummy huggers are recommended.

Oh yes, definitely big pants and not scratchy disposables - buy at least a 5 pack of massive cotton ones (cheap) that you can chuck away . I think it takes a bit longer for the bump to go down if you've not laboured.

Some flip flops for the shower and some bronzer, lippy and a big blusher brush - will make you feel tons better!

an extra pillow, so you can bf LO in rugby ball' fashion at your side.

tummy huggers for sure.

remember to keep a little bag within your reach, dh put my case round the side of the cupboard so it was out of the way, only I couldnt get out of bed to reach anything in it!!!
hope it goes well

Arnica is a homeopathic remedy to speed healing and help the body recover from shock. I had my doubts but it really truly does help, a lot!!!!!!!! Do not get the cream, which would be applied to things like bumps and bruises. Cream should NOT go onto an open wound.

i had planned c-sec earlier this year. the nurse will shave the top of your pubic hair for you if you wish but i did my own, i got a mirror so i could see under my tummy and slapped on loads of hair removal cream the night before.

big tummy hugging knickers that cover your wound and your belly, if they roll down they sit on your wound and it really hurts irritates it.

your tummy aches with trapped wind, definitely take peppermint tea bags they really do help, as does anything warm you can place against your belly like one of those packs you heat in the microwave.

obviously you go into theatre naked underneath your gown, when you come out after they will give you morphine ask for it the minute you start to become aware of any discomfort as it takes 15 mins to kick in.

you cant get out of bed till the following morning and you dont even notice the catheter in there, take full advantage of this and make sure someone brings you nice cold drinks (as noone else sodding will) as the warm ward makes you thirsty and you dont have to worry about getting up (and you wouldnt have been able to have one for ages!)!

Lots of Muslin squares for the amount of milk dribbled out, lots of sanitary wear for your knickers when you hobble into them.
A dark dressing gown, dark towels, dark knickers dark nightie (easier to put on then bending over) and wet wipes and nappy sacks to put them in when used.

and i second the big pillow, i used my v shaped one it definitely made resting less hurty as my tummy didnt need to flop down so far! ditto the flip flops and our hospital has one of those tv/phone things at each bed (do they all now?) so change to buy one of the cards for it.

bikini wax 48 hours before

I didn't take anything else out of the ordinary.

You'll get diclofenac (Volterol) up yer bum at the end of the CS. When you get back to the ward ask the midwife when you are due the next one, and consider taking a codeine as well.

As soon as you can feel the tips of your toes, buzz a midwife and try to get out of bed and onto a chair. At this point get them to supervise you changing knickers/pads etc. Keep moving - don't lie around in bed all night!

argh, DS2 wailing - good luck!

Also, a straw comes in quite handy so you don't keep having to pick your drink up.

As well as peppermint tea, I had some peppermint cordial (you can buy it in the supermarket with all the other squashes, made by Schweppes I think), which you just dilute with water. Bit more refreshing and cools you down in a stuffy maternity ward.

omg this stuff is all brilliant!!!

you need to know all this, seriously.

Highlander - you are hard-core!! you seriously kept moving round all night??? why is this beneficial?

arent you supposed to rest? does it slow down healing to lie still??

you also need earplugs and patience for when the miserable cow across from you starts moaning if your dc1 makes too much noise when they come to see you despite the fact her wretched infant screams ALL night long.

still seething, moi?

take an ipod and its charger.
the trashiest magazines you can by to revel reading them in peace while lo recovers from his birth!

im so excited for you, i already want another and mines not 5 months yet.

i heart babies!

they do get you out of bed once theyve taken the catheter out or actually tell you to and leave you to it in my case, wasnt that bad though! just do it very slowly an its fine really! i was home 2 days later and hoovering the third, back to the old routine!

this is all getting me excited too!!!! I am much more positive now I have taken the c-section decision, had a horrendous birth with dd 3rd deg tear, retained placenta, and needed 2 post partum operations...c-section can only be better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

erm...you took your own catheter out???

take in your own pillow so you have to spend nights lying on the crinkling plastic hospital one. boppy cushion or similar is great for bfing.

I second to moving around as soon as you get sensation back. Reasons to get up asap:

An increase in blood flow helps your scar to heal.

It lowers your risk of DVT, and you can get your surgical stockings off quicker.

You can get your catheter taken out which lowers the risk of infection. Drink as much water as you can when you're back on the ward, as they will take the catheter out when your wee gets to a light colour and you're able to get to the toilet yourself.

You start to feel human quicker.

All these points don't mean that you need to be doing the 4 minute mile six hours post-op, just a shuffle up the corridor and back all helps.

Good luck xx

Make sure you tidy up your ladygarden in good time.
I left mine til two days before my planned section only to go into labour and had to have the nurse dry shave me with the pink bic razor.... uuuurgh

I had an emergency c-section last November, no one told me to stay in bed and I was and moving at night, got told off and told to stay in bed!