C-section next week what do i need to know?

[Valiant1]

what time do we go in have been told 8am?
what happens after re visiting?
i have to take my own milk how many will i need to take i have 12 ready made bottles will i need more?
tried to ask today but they were busy and am sitting here in a flap now :(

[CBear6]

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.

[ShowOfHands]

Please use maternity pads instead of sanitary towels at first. It's v important for monitoring your loss and avoiding irritation.

[GiganticusBottomus]

OMG I nearly forgot the most I important thing. Make sure you ask for and take lactulose (stool softener) as the pain meds will have can make you very constipated .
Don't stop taking them after you do your first normal poo either. Trust me on this one

[GiganticusBottomus]

If you don't want to have the nurses shave where the incision will be made I would get dh to do it or go to a salon and have a professional do it!
Also a I felt quite warm in theatre and dh had a cool damp flannel to wipe my face with which was great.
Make sure you take your dressing gown and some slippers so you don't have to walk down to theatre with your coat and trainers on like some people I may mention
Also don't be surprised if your baby has a cough like they are on sixty a day. Apparently because they don't go through the squeezing down process of a vaginal delivery they can have a lot of mucus to cough up. With my pfb I rang the bell in a panic when dd was coughing and all this 'stuff' came out

Good luck with it

[Fizzylemonade]

Remember to keep changing your pads as you cannot feel your blood loss! I second (or third) big granny knickers that come up to your arm pits. Comfort is key.

I never used maternity towels but used big night time towels as they were cheaper.

Yes, keep asking for pain meds if you are still feeling any pain or discomfort. My first c section they gave me morphine injections, 2nd c section at different hospital no morphine at all, they did paracetamol and diclofenac, and I had to ask for more as I was really hurting (I have lots of scar tissue from endometriosis so that didn't help)

I picked both children up by the blanket they were swaddled in as their heads were supported. Had automatic bed so it was easier to raise yourself, and pull yourself into a sitting position using bed rails.

[fairimum]

take super giant over your belly button granny knickers!!!!

[ShowOfHands]

I didn't ask for any either because I didn't need it and they didn't offer so assume that's quite common. Definitely ask if you do need it and keep on top of it if you're experiencing discomfort. They usually like you to be responsible for your own meds so that you're used to administering them once you're home. Most places give paracetamol 6 hourly and diclofenac 8 hourly as routine.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

I didn't get given any pain relief after my CS for hours and hours. I didn't think to ask for any and the staff forgot to offer me any

So yes, do ask for pain relief after if they don't offer it to you first.

[ShowOfHands]

Most things covered here so will just add the thing that surprised me most. Trapped wind afterwards is very common and uncomfortable. A LOT of air gets in there during the op. Don't be freaked out by it. The midwives can give peppermint water. It can cause pain in your right shoulder which surprised me. I've had two emcs. Both utterly fine and the only discomfort afterwards was the shoulder pain from the trapped wind. Do NOT be alarmed by the copious passing of wind needed to clear it. All other cs patients will be similarly wind powered.

The only other thing which surprised me second time round was that I had to administer daily injections to myself (tinzaparin sodium = blood thinner) to decrease dvt risk. This is standard in my hospital and may be at yours too.

Congratulations. I was up and about within hours of both sections and had a 1 night stay with dd and 2 nights with ds. Recovery has been straightforward for both.

[Valiant1]

Thank you all wrote it down and been shopping so have bought some snacky things will read that thread in a min hope you not implying i am an idiot flisspaps ;) lol am making my week busy so it flys by thankyou all again xx

[pleasenap]

Oh and pillow/cushion for car ride home to put between your tum and the seat belt!

[BikeRunSki]

Also, "under bump" clothes = "on the scar".
Take over bump bottoms, or a dress or tracky pants for going home.
(if this is your first baby, you probably need to know that you won't ping back into shape straight away).

[pleasenap]

With my CS I couldn't eat after midnight and couldn't drink from some stage in the early morning. I arrived at 8am but I didn't have the op until 1pm - so there was some hanging around. Depends on how many booked, how many emergencies there may be.

• you get undressed into med stuff and wear lovely flexi long socks.
  
• take you to theatre - in room beforehand given epidural (bit uncomfy) - DH was with me for 1st, but not for 2nd at different hospital.
  
• lie you down, catheter in (you don't feel it) and get started, sheet up so you can't see the actual op. Your DP/H will be at your head. Anaethetist / nurse will keep you chatting. Everyone very friendly and kind (helps cos you might feel a bit freaked!)
  
• all done - bit of tugging - baby hurrah!
  
• See baby, baby weighed and wrapped and laid on your upper chest
  
• taken into recovery - baby in your arms, skin to skin, give baby a feed (BF or bottle). I never feel too great in recovery so my DH has always had to give a bottle cos I feel a bit too rough - but friends of mine have had very short recovery periods and felt absolutely fine. If you feel nauseous they can give you stuff for that anyway.
  

• My DH was able to stay for the whole day until last visiting hours. I think they tend to put CS patients in smallish wards (2 or 4 beds?) or single rooms if available (I've always requested a single, but you do have to pay)
  

• 1st night I would ping the MW to help me try and feed my DC and help me position him/pick him up out of cot.
  

• Catheter taken out at some stage that night or morning
  

• I've been up out of bed the following morning - friend of mine was up day of op. They like to get you up (ie standing up, possibly odd step) asap within reason.
  

• BIG cheap granny knickers (ones that go up over tummy) and giant maternity towels needed.
  

-Doing normal pee's and poo's seems to make big difference to when you can go home.

• I was in 3-4 nights with mine.
  

• After 1st night I could manage picking up baby to feed him.
  

• Pain gets much better after 1st week. Just keep topped up on pain killers offered.
  

• Get some peppermint tea in in case of windy bellies. I had it with 1st and it was very uncomfy. But didn't with 2nd - possibly as I was by necessity more active due to having DC1 (so you may not need to bother with 3DC!)
  

• Good Luck!

[NQWWW]

Drink plenty of water & juice if you can, keep well hydrated. Will make you feel better during and afterwards and help to avoid constipation, which can be a problem after a c-section. Try not to wind yourself up, the hospital staff will look after you and help, try to relax and look forward to your baby.

[thejaffacakesareonme]

At our local hospital they let you chose the music they put on the cd player. I didn't know about that so DS2 was just born to whatever music was on the radio.

[driedapricots]

knickers - get big belly warmers so they go right up over the cut! i'm probably stating the obvious but make sure you have a lot of help lined up for the other 3 kids once home, they'll be harder work than the baby ..don't plan on being up and walking round for the first week but you should snap back into place quickly enough after that..well, we have to just get on with it don't we! GOOD LUCK!

[happywheezer]

You will be able to pick her up. It will be difficult though, and prob need midwife to help. You have a buzzer though.
Hospitals do ready made bottles. Not sure of the facility for sterillizing. I've heard of some trusts charging for the privillage.
You might be out after two nights. Might have been good to have section on Friday for cost!- Nice to be in over the weekend. Take some money for the TV!
I've had two sections. Make sure you get enough pain relief and keep badgering them if you need help.

[Flisspaps]

This is a very good thread about the exact thing you're asking about (please note, I am not calling you an idiot as the title of the thread may suggest!)

[Valiant1]

yes thank you that's great have a pre-op next week never thought about it today was in a daze really have old pants any ways. have just ordered extra milk will try and b/f but didn't happen with my others :( dh has no car either so will struggle if i get caught short.
the time thing is worrying me as i have three other kids and breakfast club going cost £18
Have the usual toiletries and things bottle of juice etc snacks
What happens with baby and feeding will i have to hold her all the time? i know you tend too but if she is put down will i be able pick her up have had some right mixed stories think i just winding myself up now

[hsmom]

Hi. I had a planned C Sec in May this year.

For timing I think each hosp is different - mine was 7.30am and not allowed to eat after midnight etc.
Have they given you any documents (leaflets etc) or do you have a pre-op appointment? If you have that pre-op appt, where they take bloods etc, you can ask all your questions then.

As for milk - I have no clue as I breast fed (and still am - its ace)

As for other stuff - you need your toiletries (shower gel, toothbrush etc) and I would take a couple of dark coloured towels for a shower.

same with pants! You can buy disposables but I think they are a rip off and really uncomfy so I got some packs of really cheap cotton ones from primark - they worked out cheaper and I chucked them......

Some ppl on here recommended arnica tables to prevent bruising - I did take them but I still got a bit of bruising.... not sure how bad it would have been if I hadnt taken them.....?

Finally - some snacks - cereal bars and similar to help manage hunger pangs at god-awful times in the morning when you will be awake!
Expect to be in for 3 or 4 days...

Good luck, hope that helps a bit!
hs xxxx