Preparing in Advance for Elective Cesarian

[darlingbabs]

anyone got any advice. Is it worth massaging/moisturising tummy so scar heals quicker? Should i keep walking in the park everyday even though i have back pain to keep fit? have never had an op before and am really, really scared. Fainted today just talking about it with hubby - so wet!!! any advice woudl be really helpful. I have a week to prepare as I was hoping to have a VB but apparently it wont be possible....

Before wash with that clincal soap that you can get in boots.
Shave or wax
Order in loads of pads.
Take it easy afterwards.
Take pain relief when they offer it.
Have a private room if yo can get one better for sleep.
Slip on shoes too afterwards.
Ametop gel for your hand, order from pharmacy.
Don't look at your scar, your skin will be bruised, midwife wanted me to look at it because mine was "like a pencil line"
Celebrity googles
Tell them what you want and don't want or get your partner to do it.
Two boxes of baby stuff one for upstairs one down so you won't need to keep going up and downstairs
Positive thinking!

yes, i too am interested in the eating thing? do you just not feel like eating afterwards? i cant imagine how i will not faint in the theatre if i havent had my brekkie!

I think the adrenaline keeps you going. I didn'ts snack after my planned cs until tea-time. IIRC I had sips of water after the op but no food. I din't remember being hungry though, and I'm another one who loves her breakfast!

My son did puke a lot, but my hospital provided clothes so I don't know how many I got through. If someone can bring clean ones in each couple of days that would be ok. I would use a muslin under his head, laid over the sheet and tucked in (and did for a few months afterwards!) so I often got away with not having to change the sheets too.

My Oh would bring in snacks and cakes and stuff, to be honest I was eating normally in the evening after a late morning section. I have to say being able to eat Rocky Road at 3am was a good memory of mine.

Peppermint tea will be good for the wind - and there will be wind!!! but better check with a BF expert on the effect of peppermint on milk supply. Midwives had peppermint capsules that we could have.

Shoes without backs will be a must - flip flops for the shower, may as well keep them as slippers too. Bending down to put on shoes was not something I could do easily!

Bring some thick maternity pads for when you're wearing knickers - you won't be until the catheter's out. I was laid on maternity sheets or whatever they're called the first night.

Move as much as you can - if you need to take more painkillers to move then do it - it's better than not taking them and having to lie down. The more you walk about the quicker you'll be on your way!

Do not be afraid to press that bell - you can't move easily and picking up your baby is a bit of a palaver as you can't just reach across. I was a bit naughty in the end, I had a blanket underneath him. I would make sure the cot was touching the bed and I was on the same height, then I would gather the blanket like a hoist and lift him to me. I never let the midwives see me do it- I don't know what they would have said if they did! But to be honest it would take me at least 5 minutes to lower bed, put up back of bed so I could sit up, slide onto feet, walk round bed to baby, pick up baby, come back to other side of bed, struggle back on etc etc etc. This was all because I was too shy to press the button whenever I needed help.

I went home 4 days after the section. I might have been able to go after 3 but I was in the "3rd day blues" and was in pain still. It was quite amazing the change in me on Day 4 - I was moving without too much trouble, all happy and raring to go home!!!

Actually I do have a whole list of questions in case anyone can be bothered to answer some of them? I would be eternally grateful!

1. did anyone get a pre-med for the operation to calm them down? can you have gas and air or something - i know its not painful, its just the thought of it.

1. Do they take the baby away from you afterwards, i read something about having to be on some kind of recovery ward, although i am actually going private at the Chelsea and Westminster - is it usual to then take the baby away?

1. will they let you/can you breast feed straight after the baby is pulled out like you would with a normal birth or would that not be possible given the cut? Seems like the cut is quite low down but maybe they wouldnt like the baby to be put onto you?

1. What pain relief do they send you home with? please tell me its more than paracetamol? does it have any impact on your milk and also does it make you feel spaced out or is it purely a physical thing? I have just been given some kind of codeine for my back and it seems to make me feel really weird the next day...

1. how many nights did you all spend in hospital afterwards?

1. do you think that having a csection (elective as opposed to emergency) had any impact on getting PND or the baby blues? I have had panic attacks and depression in the past and remember being told in nct that you are more likely to get depression if you dont have it naturally (but I know that they can be quite hardcore about that type of thing)

I think thats it! thanks

1. I didn't, but then I didn't ask. It wasn't offered but I'm sure if you ask they might do.
2. Baby was shown to me before checks etc, OH took pictures of the weighing. He took baby into recovery while I was being stitched up, then baby was put in bed with me about 15 minutes later. One or both of us was with him the whole time.
3. I didn't ask re the breastfeeding but I have heard that it is possible.
4. I got diclofenic acid (like ibuprofen on steroids!) and paracetamol. I didn't need any others by the time I went home.
5. I went home on Day 4.
6. I have had no inkling of that, although it's probably better for someone who has had both CS and VB to be able to compare.

Happywheezer - did you put this ametop gel on yourself then before the op or was this something you massaged in afterwards to your hand when it hurt?

shaz10 thanks so much, really, really helpful

darlingbabs, you can request that baby be delivered onto your chest just like a VB. Whether it will be possible or not might depend on the surgeon, I'm not exactly sure but I know it does happen. Mention it's important to you & they'll do their best.

Is this DC1? If so, re the breastfeeding, have some bf helpline numbers on speed dial in your phone! Having an expert/sympathetic ear on hand made all the difference to me.

Re. no.6, don't worry about the CS making PND more likely. I think having a traumatic birth experience can make PND more likely so I can imagine an EMCS would have an effect. Yours is planned and unlikely to be 'traumatic' in that sense (although I am v squeamish too so understand why you fainted!). I got PND after a perfectly straightforward VB. I think a lot of it just depends on your personality and your baby's personality etc etc. If you do start to feel low, you have mumsnet which is a wonderful source of help and support. Wish I'd known about it at the time!

Best of luck

The canula doesn't continue to hurt beyond the "sharp scratch" of the needle going in. I barely noticed it the whole time it was in. I've had a few since and have not really not noticed them at all.

Too many 'not's!

Agree with hairymelons on the breastfeeding thing. As it's an elective, you could even "book" a visit from a La Leche League counselor or someone? If I have an ElCS next time I'm going to do that.

darlingbabs, according to NICE, there is no difference at all between women who have VBs and women who have CS's in terms of postnatal depression (that's both kinds of CS, they don't differentiate) -

Rather dense document is here if you want it, refs on p.18 - www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/10940/29334/29334.pdf

Be prepared to go into labour before your section.... I had planned an elective c-section for breech baby and thought I wouldnt have to go through labour...

I went into labour a week before my planned c-section !! I was so shocked and un-prepared! I thought i was having braxton hicks all day..

.. turns out it was contractions, I got to the hospital @ 8.00pm and was 9cm dilated .. baby born by emergency c-section @ 9.30pm.

also in my opinion the trapped wind after c-section was more painful than my actual wound!

!!LACOTULOUSE !!LACOTULOUSE!! LACOTULOUSE!!

Too right about the wind being the worst of it. It was excrutiating and I remember it clearly 8 years later but mine was not in my shoulder and lasted for a few weeks! No one mentioned it to me before hand so I had no idea!

Best advice as above is be prepared for it and take something for it whether you need it or not, cos you'll never know when it will strike!

My wind was all afternoon after the section. Not trapped, no feeling below boobs so no way of holding it in!

Goodness, the thread is making me re-evaluate trying for a VBAC in July which I have been pretty vehement about. I am now thinking back to how easy and stress free (apart from the nervousness beforehand) my twin c-section was and am now leaning to having another one . I was out pushing a twin pram within a week and all was fine.

I have had two earlier VBs as well and they were even more nerve wracking as the outcome is really not guaranteed.

I don't want to scare anyone on this thread, but I could remind you of trying to stand up the next morning?

Same goes after a VB, Shaz10. I was walking round holding on to my bits for days in case something fell out!

I don't think either is a glamourous experience. Lactulose is on my shopping list for next time too BTW, however the baby is coming out!

Lactulose added to my shopping list too!

I had forceps in theatre last time so felt well and truely butchered inside adn recovery was over 6months to feel normal so it can't be as bad as that!

blimey - i have had constipation throughout my pregnancy and lactulose gave me terrible wind - at least i am on top of this one having already been on 4 sachets of movicol a day throughouth the last 8 months! Not any more though, now seem to have the shits all the time - maybe its the fear! Thanks so much for the article on PND and for all the thoughtful and sensible advice. I have been having Braxton Hicks today i think - having never had them before I dont know so I will probaby get mentally prepared for the CS then go into labor tomorrow!

Wax!

Take hair dryer to hospital & use it to dry CS area after shower

Do NOT try to massage and do NOT put cosmetic creams on your CS scar before it totally heals. Definitely not before the 6 week check.