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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Do you still need to use maternity pads if you've had a csection?

20 replies

lgmum2b · 02/02/2011 11:56

Hi ladies,
I was pretty much organised, bought the maternity pads and granny pants...but bubs turned breech last week and as I'm 38 weeks on Sunday I'm now looking like the birth will be via a csection.

So my question: Do you still require maternity pads if you've had a csection?

This is my first so no idea what to expect.

Thank you!

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Guacamole · 02/02/2011 11:58

Yes, you will still bleed (although often not as much), and it will last for a few weeks (in my case 3). Make sure the knickers are high so they don't rub against the scar.

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 02/02/2011 11:59

Yes, you do - the bleeding (lochia) is from where the placenta detaches from your womb, so will happen regardless of whether you have a section or a vaginal birth. It will probably be more than you expect, especially in the first couple of days, so don't be too horrified!

The granny pants are even more essential when you've had a section, as they will come up past your scar and prevent it getting irritated by any other clothing.

Original poster

lgmum2b · 02/02/2011 12:02

Thanks Ladies
x

OP posts:

runnyeggsareyummy · 02/02/2011 12:35

Oh yes, it doesn't really make any difference. I suppose I sort of hoped that after my EMCS they would sort of suck all the blood out but forgot that basically there is still a wound left where the placenta was. I bled for about 7 weeks, as did some of my friends although quite a few only bled for 3 or 4. I was quite surprised at how heavy it was and for how long (heavy for 4 or 5) but then I have always had light periods or none at all due to the mini pill.

trixie123 · 02/02/2011 12:52

yes you'll need them and I would recommend getting very cheap cotton knickers rather than disposable which are awful and also tiny no matter what size you buy.

jaffacake79 · 02/02/2011 12:55

Yes you still bleed tons! Cheap granny knickers are a must as then they don't irritate the scar, and you can also chuck them if the loss is horrific.

Get on your knees with your bum in the air and let your bump kind of dangle, this will give bub room to turn back round if they fancy.

diggingforvictory · 02/02/2011 12:58

Make sure your granny pants are huge. I was a size 8 before, and needed size 16-18 pants for the first week after my section!

And yes I bled loads.

Prinpo · 02/02/2011 13:02

Oh yes, I passed clots the size of steaks .

Good luck with the section. I've had 2 and will have one more in July. The two I've had were better then I expected. I hope yours goes well.

Ragwort · 02/02/2011 13:06

Yes you will - also (sorry if TMI) I was unable to move properly after the op (EMCS) and knew I was bleeding heavily, asked a nurse to pass me the pads and she left them out of reach - I know it sounds stupid that I just didn't ask her to pass them closer but I was so weepy and emotionally exhausted (health problem with baby) that I just didn't know what to do - so please remember to be assertive - good luck.

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 02/02/2011 13:08

Ragwort, that's really sad. When I was unable to move after my births (C-section for one, epidural for the others) the lovely HCAs washed me and changed my pads, for which I was most grateful.

MmeLindt · 02/02/2011 13:08

Yes. But I bled less that the after first birth (VG)

ChocolateBrownieGuilt · 02/02/2011 13:16

"Make sure your granny pants are huge. I was a size 8 before, and needed size 16-18 pants for the first week after my section!"

I had the opposite experience - so carefully!

Was 10 to 12 before

bought size 14 granny pants from M&S and they were hooooooge.

And I put on 2.5 stone when pregnant- including wt of baby etc.

nunnie · 02/02/2011 13:23

I got m&s granny pants in a size bigger than I usually am and they were massive too, must be an M&S thing.
You do still bleed. Mine wasn't as bad as it was when I had a VB but had to a quite a few pad changes a day.

lilly13 · 02/02/2011 19:17

sorry are maternity pads different from pads used for periods (aka always, etc) and where do you buy these? didn't mean to hijack the thread...

SarahScot · 02/02/2011 19:22

Asda sell big pants in packs of 5 for £3.50. Buy a few packs and treat as disposable while in hospital. No-one wants to take those home to wash!

SarahScot · 02/02/2011 19:23

Oh, and Asda are selling packs of 10 Night-Time pads for 72p at the moment.

Lilly, they are all the same thing basically, the maternity ones just cost far more!

zebedeethezebra · 02/02/2011 19:34

Definitely - 2 packs! All the best.

Flisspaps · 02/02/2011 19:41

The pads are different as the normal ones have some form of plastic in (all to do with keeping you extra dry/keeping odours at bay IIRC) whereas maternity pads are cotton to help your undercarriage 'breathe'. They also soak up more which makes it harder to tell if you are bleeding heavily.

However with a c-section you're not going to have a wound where you've torn or had an episiotomy, so I would imagine that the cotton/plastic thing is less important.

However, I only used maternity pads for a week (with a 3rd degree tear) and then used normal night-time pads. Much more comfy than a mattress maternity pad.

mousesma · 02/02/2011 19:49

I had an EMCS and only used maternity pads for the first couple of days.
Once I left hospital I used normal pads with the "dry-weave" top.
As part of the CS they usually suck most of the blood and tissue out so you may find you bleed a lot less than you would for a vaginal birth.
This was certainly the case for me, I still have a cupbaord full of maternity pads where I stocked up pre-birth thinking I would need loads of the things :)

Blatherskite · 02/02/2011 20:06

I think you're supposed to have the maternity pads rather than the normal ones as the smell of your locia is quite important and normal pads mask this - along with any potential problems. The midwife who visits you at home will ask about the smell, t'is gross.

For my 2nd section, I bought some sterile maternity pads from Mothercare and used them as padding for my wound by sticking them across the front of my huge granny knickers as well as wearing them the traditional way. It kept the wound dry and also helped protect it from getting knocked by baby feet or rubbed by trousers. Would definitely recommend it.

Also, I bought and took in some of those absorbant bed mats. If you ahve a section, for the first 24 hours or so, you won't be wearing knickers as you'll have a catheter in and will have a very fresh wound which will need checking by the midwives. When I had my first section, the hospital put a mat under me to bleed onto at first but they were very busy and quite crap and I found it very difficult to get anyone to come and change it for me when it got uncomfortable to be sitting in my own blood so the second time, I bought a pack to take with me and got DH to help me change it when it got gross. Also helped at home when I wanted to air the wound. I got an infection in my first one so I was very careful about keeping it extra clean and dry so it could heal ASAP.

I was told to get on my hands and knees and scrub the kitchen floor towards the end of my pregnancy as being in that 'bum up, face down' position can help baby turn. You've got nothing to lose by trying it and if it doesn't work, at least you'll have a spotless floor :)

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