planned CS, what will you pack?

[mumnosbest]

All the lists for what to pack in you hospital bag are based on a normal VB. My last CS was over 4 years ago and I stopped in for 5 days. I think I've covered the basics but what could you not manage without? Any tips or ideas?

I didnt have a c-section but would highly recommend rescue remedy. I found it helped me after & the arnica in it is good for bruising and can be taken alongside normal painkillers.

Just lots of munchies and drinks incase you stay in. I was out in a day and a half this tine but then I did push for it as I hate sleeping in hospitals or not sleeping

Peppermints for the trapped wind. If that does not work there is some medication that the midwifes can give you ( I needed that last time as it was so bad)
Make sure you've got some bits and pieces you can read/ eat when feeding through the night

Hope it all goes well

Ear plugs, slippers you don't need to bend over to put on, I pod, mints, snacks, I took cereal bars and flapjacks last time. And a towel for your hair, one that you wrap your hair in, and a compact mirror, hand to look at your scar if you need to, without getting up from bed.

Peppermint tea for wind, big pants (briefs in a size bigger than usual were fine, and I wore them for quite a while afterwards so cheap Primark numbers much better than paper knickers), nice food as hospital nosh SUCKS, lounge pants for over scar and long t-shirts instead of regular pyjamas, maternity pads, nursing bra, magazines, phone, glasses instead of my usual contact lenses, cleansing wipes, moisturiser and lip balm. Plus normal things for baby.

Stuff I took but didn't use - shower stuff (I was out in two days and wanted a proper bath at home rather than a shower in a hospital cubicle).

I took cereal bars, juice cartons, water bottles, straws and crisps. Flip flops instead of slippers so I didn't have to bend over to put them on and didn't worry about slipping over in the bathroom.

Also I bought cheap(ish) breastfeeding nighties rather than PJs as you'll have a catheter at first and won't want to bend down to pull up trousers after that either.

A feeding pillow is good as are pants big enough to hold a sanitary towel over your scar. Helped me feed more secure once the dressing was off and I could see if there was any blood or seepage on the pad. Plus it's an extra layer of protection while breastfeeding.

Your hospital might have peppermint water so worth asking as it's one less thing to take.

Re: trousers/PJs, I was in my surgical gown until the catheter came out so that was fine. Hospital's undignified enough without worrying about flashing your fat thighs/fanjo/ugly pants/maternity pads at other people's visitors... The lounge pants/PJ bottoms made me feel less like a butchered piece of meat, but maybe that's just me.

Thanks all. Lots of things I hadn't thought of. Hope I can be out within a day or 2!

when I went in for mine, I took a lightweight dresssing gown - they let me wear it over the surgical gown when I walked to the operating theatre (nothing too heavy, as the wards are so hot!)