Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

How to prepare for a c-section

34 replies

MissyK · 12/12/2008 11:22

I am only 20 weeks pg but I will be having an elective c-section in April for various reasons. (DS almost died in previous traumatic labour, severe pnd & ptsd)

What I want to know is what can I do to prepare for it in the weeks (months?) leading up to the event? Mentally, physically.

TIA
Missy

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 11:37

dont listen to horror stories about CS
stick to your guns,this is your decision
i had crash section and made full speedy recovery

practically
driving will be difficult for 6-8weekd.if you drive make other provision
minimise lifting
consider what buggy you purchase will you have to lift it,go up down stairs etc

pack
maternity pads for bleeding
soft clothes that dont rub scar
i bought big cotton granny pants over the waist jobs

the mw will look at scar
i had disolvable stuitches (nothing to remove)
mobilise asap - good for you
attend ante natal and let physio know they can give specific advice regards CS management

rosealbie · 12/12/2008 11:43

After the cs it will be uncomfortable but move around as much as possible and get out of bed as quickly as you can.

When in hospital, sleep on a few pillows, a bit propped up as I found this easier to be able to get out of bed in the night to feed dd and change her.

Second the advice about loose comfy clothing and big pants!

I had an elective the second time around and they let me take my own music in for the delivery and one of the nurses took some amazing phtotos with our camera, right at the moment dd was delivered. I'm not sure if all hospitals allow this or even if you would want to but it's worth asking.

Please don't worry, I had an emeregency cs with my ds and in comparison, my elective was calm and I could even say, enjoyable.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 12/12/2008 11:44

Mentally, try not worry, both my elective sections were calm and pleasant events. You are in the hands of a team of people who know what they are doing and have a plan to deal with any variation from a straightforward c-section. A midwife is in theatre waiting to take care of your baby once it is born. You are not at the mercy of the system of one midwife looking after several labouring women at once and hoping she will be in the room with you when you need her.

Prepare yourself for a 6 week holiday from all housework once you have had your c-section. Organise for a relative or friend to hoover for you if it really bothers you. Let your dh know now that you will not be doing housework for 6 weeks so he can't say he wasn't warned.

How old is your ds ? I trained my ds to climb into his bed himself and in and out of the bath, sorted out appropriate steps/handily placed stool etc and let him practice so I wouldn't be tempted to lift him post section. Ditto with getting in and out of his car seat. I talked about not being able to lift him after the baby came and needing his help to fetch nappies etc.

On a practical note, buy some Big Knickers, plenty of them, the kind where the elastic comes up to your waist, instead of being around your hips. Other knickers will rub along the scar area.

General stuff for having a second child.....

Prepare some meals and put them in the freezer, stock up on loo roll and washing liquid. Sort out internet shopping if you don't already do this for groceries.

Can you afford a mothers help for a couple of hours a day. it was a luxury but really helped me loads.

Buy some thankyou stationery and stamps ready to acknowledge gifts and if appropriate get some birth announcement stuff ready too.

JetLi · 12/12/2008 11:48

No personal experience, but I saw a local homeopath for a friend's CS. She gave us Arnica (but this should only be taken afterwards and not before the procedure) and also a solution of Hyper-Cal (I think that was the name) to bathe the wound and promote healing. My pal was elective due to breech, but much like ScottishMummy she recovered fully and very quickly. I seem to remember she had to wear those funny stockings - not a problem, but under her thick fleecy PJ's she got a bit hot! The hosp did panic a bit about her raised temp until she pointed this out (along with the rubber mattress and the stifling heat on the ward ). Good luck!

eidsvold · 12/12/2008 11:50

arnica tablets for healing

tea tree oil - mix a few drops with warm water to bathe wound - helps keep infection at bay

Paper towels for patting wound dry

Peppermint tea or cordial to help with trapped wind.

MissyK · 12/12/2008 11:52

Thank-you for your reply.

I will be ok with not driving as DH can take time off work & mum lives 2 mins walk from here & luckily ds' nursery is a 5 min walk for when I'm feeling up to it.
I am lucky that there are no steps to negotiate with a buggy between my house & mums/nursery and that there is space in my hallway for it to remain open to aviod bending to fold it.

Good advice about the clothing, I'll invest in some tracksuit/gym bottoms & 'granny pants'.

Does anyone know of anything that I could take to minimise bruising etc?

I know each person is individual and recover differently, but I was wondering how soon people were up and about(in hospial & down the shops, a walk etc)& also the length of hospital stays etc. From what I have been told so far there isn't really a minimum, more when you feel ready.

Sorry, lots of rambling there
Just trying to get everything straight in my head early on so I am prepared for most eventualities.

OP posts:
JetLi · 12/12/2008 11:53

Gosh yes - pal had much, much trapped wind! Had forgotten about that. I think she used Windeeze and that helped.

rosealbie · 12/12/2008 11:55

I had fotgotton about the trapped wind until eidsvold posted - definately have peppermint cordial.

Both times, my cs scar did get mildly infected about 2 weeks after delivery and my gp blamed it on the stitches not dissolving fast enough. Watch out for any redness and any raised temp/fluey symptoms.

ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 11:56

also online groceries/nappies etc.tesco carry into kitchem.so no need for lifting.
a wee treat take aways occasiionally.
stock freezer with food
buy in NB nappies,wipes,sleepsuits now
take 15-20 baby sleepsuits and vests into hospital.as you may be in up to 5days post op depending on policies and recovery
NB nappies
baby wipes
moisturiser for you (gets hot)
camera
lip balm
nice shampoo and conditioner
fragrance free body wash eg cream E45

ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 11:56

oh god the trapped wind!yes yes peppermint tea/drinks

JetLi · 12/12/2008 11:58

The Arnica is good for reducing bruising, but the advice we got was not to take it before the CS as it can increase bleeding - only take it afterwards. My friend was in for 5 nights - it was her first baby. She got a private room after the 2nd night - I believe that was due to CS (although if you had heard the lungs on her wee daughter having her first bath, I wonder if they moved her to give everyone else some P & Q!!).

rosealbie · 12/12/2008 11:58

I was out of bed the same day walking around the ward. Hospitals stays after cs at my local hospital are 5 days.

After I left hospital after both deliveries I could walk around the shops etc but I remember feeling a bit achey.

Another piece of advice would be to take pain relief before you actually get to the point when you really need it for the first day or so. I came out of hospital with paracetamol and really didn't need to take anything much.

MissyK · 12/12/2008 12:01

My DS is 4 so luckily he has mainly mastered the bed/bath/not wanting a carry thing, other than when in a grump or sick.

DH knows how to work a hoover & when prompted can even manage the washing machine, though how he'll cope with everything for a few weeks we'll see.!

Good tips about freezing some meals, stocking up on the essentials etc.
I'll register with tesco in advance also
I have made a note of arnica - (where would I find this?) peppermint tea & tea tree oil.

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 12:06

arnica any boots or holland and barrett

silentnightplease · 12/12/2008 12:08

Don't try and rush your recovery. I felt absolutely fine but tried to do too much too soon. Stay in hospital for at least 3 or 4 days if it's possible and you can bear it.

MissyK · 12/12/2008 12:08

Ok, lots of sleepsuits & vests.

A lot of you seem to be mentioning the trapped wind - is it really uncomfortable? That hadn't occoured to me

My local hospital use real nappies on all babies so will only need a nappy for the journey home. (Unless they've stopped by then)

Is it worth asking if there is a side/private room?

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 12:09

peppermint oil and tea any health food shop and holland and barrett, larger boots.also boots com great for online ordering

ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 12:13

private room you pay. side room allocated on need by staff.but ask by all means

MarxAndSparks · 12/12/2008 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissyK · 12/12/2008 12:20

We live on the Isle of Man a 'private room' is in fact a side room & so free.
From what I've been told, c-sections & mothers with baies in scbu get prioroty to these. Though wonder of potentially it could be quite lonely But also sure the p&q would be nice to bond with baby & recover..

(Our hospital does not offer private medical care other than ENT & a few other minor things).

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 12:23

my hosp had private pts provision so they pay.side room on wd free.wd staff allocate on needs basis

ScottishMummy · 12/12/2008 12:25

side room would be nice.i found it quite frustrating been in for 5days watching other mums go home.when i was desperate to go home too

MarxAndSparks · 12/12/2008 12:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissyK · 12/12/2008 12:25

Thanks for the tips MarxAndSparks

48hours and you were heading home, that is impressive, how did you find leaving so soon?

so keep my fluids up & painkillers before attempting walks, dressing removal etc. Thanks, your comments have been useful

OP posts:
MissyK · 12/12/2008 12:29

I don't think I'd want my curtains open all the time either! I'd like at least some privacy if on a ward & not like a boarding school dorm..

My dh can be home FT for a few weeks, good point about infections etc in hospitals, my mil works at the nurses accomodation & hears all kinds of horror stories about people getting infections/sixk (although not all from the hospital, some from UK, nursing homes etc)

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread