How to prepare for a c-section

[MissyK]

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

I would also recommend that liquid iron supplement - helped me enourmously as I was slightly anaemic, but was worried about getting constipated, and the liquid ones apparently have less side effects. Can't remember the name, but got it from Boots, so they should be able to advise you

Hand cream - the drip needle into the back of the hand is painful and my skin there reacted a bit and needed soothing.

Thank-you Spamm - I get anaemic too (currently ok) so will def add that to the list.

You ladies really are very helpful

I had a section with my 3rd, honestly, it was NOWHERE near as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Just THE most surreal experience ever!

The worst bit for me was the trapped wind in my shoulders, someone here has mentioned peppermint tea. The midwives know about this and normally are happy to supply peppermint tea.

Make sure you take arnica, this helps aid the healing process and I'm sure helps with the after pains.

Word of warning though, DON'T overdo it after your section. Because i felt so fine after I was lulled into a false sense of security and was really doing far too much, inevitably I had a few minor problems with my scar.

HTH and good luck

would second the arnica this really helps, also someone mentioned taking drinks in, i found the ones with sports tops on the bottle much better as i could lie down and drink, sitting up is hard for the first day. But i was home by day 3. try not to worry, it was nowhere near as bad as i thought it was going to be.

Was also out 48hrs on the dot after elective cs. agree, take analgesia when its due not when you need it.

I actually started driving after 3 1/2 weeks, all the insurance company wanted was me to have seen my gp who documented that i was fit to drive.

another top tip, i got my husband to trim the lady garden on the morning of the cs so as to avoid the plastic useless nhs razors and being shaved by somebody else!!

I've had 2 sections and having another one in Feb. Top tips would be

Make sure DH leaves everything within reach hen he goes home. When my first was born DH left my baby stuff packed in the bag on the other side of the room. He never thought to unpack it and I never thought to ask him so when it came to nappy change................

Remember to take bits for the baby into theatre with you including a hat.....I forgot a hat with DD.

Forget paper knickers, they dug into my scar, just as cheap to get supermarket bargain granny knickers!

I was home within 48 hours with both of them. No problem with DD but when DS came along I felt so good I did a bit too mcuh at home and my scar ached for a bit longer than my first section.

Take regular analgesia for the first couple of weeks, don't wait for the pain to arrive.

Accept help.

Hi MissyK im with you on May thread, I too am having planned CS in April after due to birth trauma with DS, last time I ended up with ECS and im very very panicky this time, just wanted you to know not on your own x

Definatley get up and about as soon as you can.
I had elcs with ds2, he was born at 9.40 am, was out of bed by 7.30 and came home at 2pm the next day
My hospital said basically as long as you were feeling ok and weeing properly then you could go home.
Also something that i was never told after my emcs with ds1, be prepared for a horrible feeling when you cough or sneeze!!! I thought i was going to burst open.obv that wouldnt happen but its a horrible feeling so i used to have a cushion handy to hold into my tummy to support it a bit.