What to pack in my bag for hospital stay after a c-section?

[BumptasticIn09]

Any essentials that anybody can reccomend?

If it all goes to 'plan' I will be in from a Wednesday until Saturday/Sunday according to my consultant.

It is hopefully a few weeks off yet but want to get prepared, looking for any tips, thanks!

Ah, yes .... a lipstick.

Floatylight - I had the same experience as you with the snoring woman, and the tilted telly. She was snoring away like a drill, and had tilted her tv towards me just before she fell asleep. I got a whole night of Midsommer Murders. Could of murdered her!! My ear plugs were invaluable, although her snoring was so loud they didn't drown it out.

I will deffo ask for private room for baby number 3!! And take ear plugs again!!

Big pants - lots of.
Big maternity towels - lots of.
Maternity nighties.
Dark coloured dressing gown.
Water bottle you can sip from.
Chocolates and sweets
Books, I took Swallows and Amazons, easy to read, coz your interupted a lot and the ward is noisy.
Nice slippers.
Ear plugs.

Good luck xx

A sense of humour

I had 2 c-sections. The first was awful as I had no idea what to expect. The second was great. I would make sure you take:
Arnica tablets
Peppermint tea bags (good for trapped wind)
your own supply of paracetamol - not for using soon after the operation, but for your last day. On my last day, both times the midwives sent my treatment card to pharmacy to order the painkillers for me to take home and pharmacy spent the best part of the day getting the order sorted. Meanwhile the midwives wouldn't give me pain relief because I didn't have a treatment card !

When you get home try to stay downstairs as much as possible if you can as I found it was painful to go up the stairs and I couldn't carry baby and walk upstairs at the same time. Finally, try not to expect too much. Take advantage of it and get other people to wait on you for a while.

instead of taking flip flops and nice slippers take crocs, they're more comfy than flip flops for walking round in but can come in the shower with you and can be washed if necessary (you bleed a lot after-sorry if it's TMI)another alternative to the dried apricots for dealing with the after section constipation (sorry TMI again!) is branflakes, get your DH to bring some in on day 2/3 and drink lot of tea! i third the eyeplugs and prvate room suggestions!

oh yes we had a thermos flask at home which my husband bougth yummy soup in with each day. helped as you dont always want to eat when they wheel the food trolley in

Definately take something so you don't slip i the shower, i did when i had my c-section, with a catheter still in, and it hurt so much, also take shampoo/soap/shower gel, i forgot them when i went in and felt dirty, also take baby wipes, even though you will prob use cotton wool and water for babys bum, they are great for wiping your hands when you are barely mobile.

Also take a dark (to hide stains) fluffy towel, for after showering, the NHS ones are like sandpaper.

I would also recommend plenty of spare nighties, i bleed through so many times, which is why i would also recomment those 'mats' which are absorbant, they are great to sit on incase you bleed through, saves the embarressment of multiple bed changes.

If you do use the shower, get DH/DP to go with you, so you don't hurt yourself, the nurses will take care of your newborn, i didn't want to leave DS with anyone so made sure DP stayed with him, and then wished i had him with me.

Good luck.

The trouble with big pants is, once you've discovered them, you never want to go back to anything skimpier: I've been wearing great big granny pants for 3 years now!!

It's so true

make sure you take lip seal or vaseline for your lips as its so hot and dry in hospital, and also body lotion and face cream. take dry shampoo as it will be difficult to wash your hair. take a light weight dressing gown, NOT a towelling one as they get really hot. spray dettol for the loo and sinks (that sounds so parnoid). lots of snacky food (get people to bring you in things) cos its so difficult to eat sometimes especially when you are breast feeding as the dinners get cold! old slippers that you can throw away when you leave hospital.

Never had a x-section, but crocs are quite useful for the shower as the cubicle floor may be quite - er ... bloody

Take your own bottle of anti-bac hand gel.
I was in for 5 days with my DD. The dispenser on the ward ran out on the first day and in spite of DH asking the nurses about refilling it at least once a day it was still empty when we left.

Birth announcement cards are good way of filling the time when baby is asleep.

Don't underestimate how many clothes you will need for baby. Admittedly I had an emergency CS so wasn't anticipating being in as long as I was, but had to despatch DH and my Mum for more sleepsuits on at least 2 occasions.

I would go for dark PJ's given the bodily fluids involved post-birth! Although don't worry too much about top. My DD was not exactly a duck to water where BF-ing was concerned and I spent nearly the whole 5 days topless or just wearing a nursing bra!

Have you asked if they'll let you have music in the operating theatre? I know some places do try and make sections as chilled out adn personal as possible and it might be a nice option if it's available to you.

Best of luck!

Echoing what LadyThompson says - make sure you drink plenty and eat lots of dried fruit to keep you regular...five months on the memory of the pain of that first poo post baby still sticks with me more than labour and the emergency c-section !!!!

Sally - you'll scare the OP!!!

FWIW (TMI - I know!) I didn't find it that bad. Take your lactulose, relax and follow any instruction you're given!

The loos at our hospital had footstools and advised you to sit so you knees are slightly higher than your waist as apparently the positioning helps things along!

Yes Sally, thanks for that

Ok, dried fruit & even more cordial have been added to todays list!! I might even invest in a pair of crocs too
I'll justify them to DH for essential not falling over & then for in the garden with the kids in the summer.

Lol @ you ladies who are warning me about falling in love with big pants.. I think my DH will hope not

Already have our own anti-bac hand gel packed - my MIL gave me some last week as she works in the hospital & says Maternity is the unit where it often gets overlookedbeing replaced so much due to short staffing. Great!!

Wanders off for a cup of tea in peace before ds & dh start charging round the house

On top of the Big Knickers and good maternity pads, get something comfy and not too tight to wear home. I had maternity leggings and a long top.

Get some non-perishable snacks, because at some point, you will be bloody starving! (I took cereal bars, etc - was a lifesaver) and plenty of water or juice. I was so thirsty afterwards and got through a whole bottle of Lime cordial in 6 hours)

For you:
Face wipes
Cooling spray
Chewing Gum for morning mouth - You will be visited by nurses and doctors before you've had a chance to brush your teeth
hairbands and brush (if your hair is long)
Plenty of change for TV card or whatever - I never watched the TV, but it was great having it there for company as I unexpectedly had a room on my own. The familiar background drone of Sky News helped me feel like I hadn't landed on another planet!
Plenty of Knickers - I can't stress this enough!
Lip Balm
Mobile phone and charger
Diary and pen for jotting down thoughts
Slippers/Flipflops - I had a pair of crocs, which although look nobbish, were great for showering in.
Comfy nursing bras and a few breast pads
Be kind to yourself and stash a bar of your favourite chocolate in your bag. I found that my mother had secretly put a bar of Snickers in my bag.. It was a fabulous surprise..

For baby:
Babygros
vests
socks/booties
mitts
hat
nappies
Simple wipes
a pramsuit/coat for going home

I never had a 'going home outfit' either. Just wrapped her up in warm layers of vest, babygrow hat mittens and pramsuit - Twas November though..

I don't know about anyone else, but on the day I was discharged, I had to wait from 9 in the morning til 6pm that evening for my drugs to arrive from pharmacy before I could go home.. That was bloody AWFUL. So make plans for an extra half a day stay.

Good Luck! How exciting for you

Oooh I've thought of something else a lipsalve/chapstick for your sore nips - it really works.

Saw a question on Yahoo Questions the other day
"what to you get for free when you give birth in a hospital"..... I kid you not .... (I know she probably meant the bounty pack but still made me laugh)

BTW I think they give you some antibacterial gel in the pack these days.

LOL at sense of humour, and that you will always want to wear big pants!!

Get your arnica online and get the strong stuff. Eat lots of it starting the day before your section. I think you have to go to t helthfood store to get the strong stuff. And I think tabs are better than cream.

Oh, and food if it hasn't already been said. The stuff they give you in the hosipital isn't fit for human consumption. Organise some nice heated deliveries from home.

Also they won't let you eat after your section until you go fo a poo. So, I suggest stacshing some biccies and othe nibbles to tie you over.

Oh, and:

You may have noticed that all this stuff will not likely fit into a dinky aeroplane-sized half case. No. Not a chance.

So, don't be shy about taking a BIIIIG bag. I used DH's enormous leather holdall (more room than a standard suitcase).

PLUS I took my handbag containing mobile, makeup bag, mints, Nintendo etc (essentials at easy reach)

AND I made DH take a rucksack with books, sweets, snacks, drinks, and all the baby clothes, nappies and blankets.

AND a pillow

Take it all. Better too much than too little. Don't risk having to send your DH home to get "You know, my pink nightdress, oh and that pack of maternity towels on the side please"...

...because what you will get is a strappy chemise you forgot you had, and a pack of panty-liners.

Biiig cotton pants - proper apple catchers.
A nice soft towel.
Pack your husband/partner in your bag, don't let them chuck him out of the ward at night. Mine stood his ground and stayed for 3 nights. The nurses made him a bed on the floor. The first night I was without him and got no help from the nurses despite DS screaming all night and me not able to get off the bed.

Leave your vanity and dignity behind.

Had em. c section back in September and was in for a week due to Strep B too.

Lots of good advice here but remember, everyone is different. My sister had 2 c sections and her DP ended up rigging a rope system to their bed when she got home as she couldn;t get up, but i found it quite straightforward and asked to get in the shower after 12 hours. There are no medals so do what's best for you, even if it's different to everyone else.

Do try to get up as soon as you feel able, it will help your recovery plus hospital staff will really not want to do much for you/your baby. they will help if needed but you may wait a while - best to try to do it yourself. Make sure DP is around when you do get up though. i was helped to shower room and left alone 12 hours after op! DP was in SBCU with DD.

Your first shower will seem like a blood bath, so take 3 towels, one to mop up blood from floor and 2 to dry.
take flipflops or disposable/cheap slippers.
I took anti bac wipes too - wiped loo seat before and after use.
DP brought flask of milk in for me so i could have cold milk when I wanted.

And be glad that a planned c section means not much pain of labour (pain after though!).

I needed ear plugs and eye shields even though I was in a private room! The night staff gossiped together all night at the workstation just outside my room - so glad I had them.
Snacks like fruit and nuts, muesli bars, little treats.
Food that your DP/H can eat. You will get meals but he won't. Mine had to wander off for ages to some faraway cafeteria to get lunch etc.
Little luxury moisturisers, lip balm, compact mirror, etc. And maybe think of some way to wash you face and brush your teeth without getting out of bed. e.g. face wipes / face cloths, cup of water, DH's help.
A big water bottle you can sip from. I took a hiking water bladder (Platypus) which has a hose and clip. I didn't even need to move to have a drink which was fab when I couldn't sit up/lean over.
I would echo advice to stay in bed for longer. I had severe SPD so luckily the physio wrote all over my chart that I wasn't to get up at all. I asked them to leave the catheter in for longer, and took the opportunity to drink lots while this was in! (Just make sure the staff watch the catheter bag and empty it often enough.)
I took dark coloured nighties with a stretchy v neck.
I echo the giant knickers thing. I got a multipack of black ones from M&S.
I wouldn't interfere with the music etc in the op theatre. The surgeon has a pretty important job to do and believe me, you want them to do a good one for you.
When you put the gown on for theatre, make sure you put it on with the opening at the back. I got it the wrong way around and they had to strip me off in the anaesthetic room.
Don't forget to get your DP/H take a camera into theatre. We have the most amazing photos from when DD was 5 minutes old (the operation was still going on but I didn't really care after DD arrived).
I would say magazines, but I spent the whole time staring at my new DD and didn't need them!

Loads of chocolate (helps the milk production )

Big knickers should be at the top of your list.
Nighties, not PJ's (more comfy on the scar)
Wet wipes for yourself to freshen up before you are up and about.
Handheld mirror so you can see yourself when you want to put on some make up for those first visitors.
Phone + charger.
Snacks and drinks.
Camera
Have a baby bag and a mummy bag. Makes it easier for people to find fresh pads/nappies if they're helping you on day 1 without having to empty your whole bag.
Enough nappies for baby, they can produce amazing amounts of poo for such tiny creatures + a couple of fresh suits and vests (same reason).
A couple of hats for baby. One that can get dirty and 1 to take baby home in.