Maternity pads also help reduce the risk of infection because they're more breathable than the plastic-backed, bleached, and sometimes perfumed normal pads. The big supermarkets do own brand maternity pads for around 99p for a ten pack. You need them for at least the first week and then switch to normal pads if you want to.
You can't eat for four hours after the surgery but you can drink once the spinal has worn off enough, I was so much more thirsty than hungry anyway. Stick to water, fruit juice, and the odd cup of tea for the first days. Avoid milk (constipation) and fizzy pop (wind). When they do let you eat start light, even if you're starving hungry, it's not worth the tummy ache afterwards.
For visiting afterwards it depends how you feel, do you want crowds of people descending on you? Luckily the wards are restricted (usually 2-3 to a bed) but even then you're not obligated. Appoint your DP the job of wrangling visitors both in the hospital and at home. Make your visitors get their own tea and coffee and if anyone offers to do any jobs then accept (usually people ask if they can bring anything with them like bread, milk, etc), major abdominal surgery is about as much fun as it sounds and you'll more than likely be sore afterwards.
When your DP leaves hospital make sure he leaves everything you might need in your reach. The first night it would be a drink and the MW call button. Once you're able to walk/stand then get him to make sure nappies, etc are within reach - easiest thing is to leave them on the table-tray at the end of the bed.
You need roughly 5-6 bottles per 24hrs but pack a few extra because caesarean babies tend to throw up more than vaginal babies because of the mucous still in them. Feed little bits slowly and wind often. I was mixed feeding in hospital and I found that asking them for a premature teat helped as well as winding after every few minutes.
Take a few comfort items with you such as your comfiest nightie or favourite socks or your own bed pillow. It sounds silly but when you're sore and tired and feeling a bit fed up something small like your favourite showel gel can make you feel a bit better.
Sleep whenever you can! Post-natal wards are busy and noisy, newborns cry, and night is often louder than the daytime so snatch a snooze whenever you can.