Hospital bag for c section - what to include and not include?

[mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime]

Had an emergency c section with ds so wasn't organised at all with what to pack and didn't have lots of things.
I need reminding - what will I need? And what things are pointless? Having an elective with baby 2.

Take a loose dark coloured nightdress (or two), remember you will have a catheter in so pajamas are a bit useless. Make sure it has buttons to enable breastfeeding if you will be doing that. Also it is impossible to bend down to pull up the pajamas at first!

Aloe vera gelly applied on the wound helps it heal much faster- if you can, also drink the aloe vera gel (sold as a drink). It really speeds up recovery from all types of surgery

I forgot shampoo/conditioner when i first went in and was desperate to wash my hair after the op! (in fact got my sister to do it do it for me as well as take off the dressing- ewww!)

many many many maternity sanitry towels. as leakingwill be very heavy. hot water bottle for the pain, some of your own pain killers as after the op they will offer you morphine but then put you straight on to paracetomal. take a big blanket you c an put under baby as i found you dont get much help and i had to do this fold it round baby and lift her up this way, as could not get out of bed at all and very hard. lots to drink and eat on as wopnt be able to move much.and ;lots of nighties for until your catheta comes out and lots of pjs.

blimey hayley i was on super painkillers for a few days - thats awful that they just switched you to paracetamol.

really well just me then, i was screaming in pain the morning after then then decided to give me some dia morphine but i had to scream for it, and then got my dp to bring me some in, a lot of people on my ward were having there own and discharged themselves early as found better to go home and be looked after

a normal pillow and pillowcase. I bf my dd on a pillow and tbh those horrid flat plasticky pillows are just nasty

Snacks: both healthy and unhealthy

Big pants
2/3 nighties
2/3 pairs pj bottoms
Dressing gown
Plenty of water
Lots of maternity pads
A soft sponge because I had to clean my scar in the shower
A decent pillow
Some pain killers
Nice smellies and shampoo etc

Wipes (baby wipes will do) to keep yourself feeling fresh before you're able to shower / have a wash.

Mitts in case your baby is a scratcher (like mine was)

A book to read - nothing that needs concentration though.

Include - huge drawstring pj bottoms

don't include - pre preg jeans

TBGP I agree! I was just as big as I was at about 7-8 month pregnant!! Bring big clothes and mammoth bras

My DH also brought me marmite sarnies and all my favorite M&S deli food as the hospital food was foul and you really need to keep your strength up to heal as well as feed the LO. That way when he arrived for visiting he could take the baby and I could sit down and eat at my leisure and have a full (and edible) meal.

congratulations on pg.hope all goes well

i suggest
nice soft stretchy leggings,
big baggy tshirts
big cotton granny pants (sit over scar)
book
sanitary pads the maternity ones
baby wipes for you and baby
light weight dressing gown
some moisturizer (heat plays havoc with skin)
lots of water
diluting juice
old trainers to wear in shower (so dont slip and comfy too)
cushion to sit upon
ipod
mobile phone and charger
trashy mags

baby nappies
10-15 vests
10 baby sleep suits
wipes

I would also suggest a bottle of the anti bac hand gel that you can get.

Also, a friend of mine had MRSA and I washed with Hibi? scrub the day before I went in then showered in it as soon as I was able. the most useful thing DH did for me (prob ever) and by coincidence was when he left that night he left me a bag within reaching distance full of toilet roll, pads, nappy sacks so I could change myself rather than ring the bell all the time. I found magazines better than books as my concentration span was shot to pieces.