repacking hospital bag for c section...what do i need??

[NameOfTheNick]

I will be scheduled for a elcs in 3 weeks time.

What do I need to pack differently than for a vaginal birth? I know I will need to pack more babygrows and vests and will need nighties instead of pjs for the catheter.

Any words of wisdom?

I haven't had my baby yet (hoping for a VB, but researching both incase) but I've been on Mumsnet long enough to know that you'll want BIG pants, i.e. ones that sit high on your tum, not right on your scar (ouch).

Hopefully more experienced ladies will be along soon. :)

I had a c-section last March for breech, previous was vaginal.

I'm trying to think back, but definitely nighties, BIG BIG pants and I took big PJs which could go above my scar.

Can't remember anything else different.

Oh and more stuff to keep me entertained afterwards, as I knew I was going to be in for a few days.

Good luck!! Mine was a lovely experience - very calm and relaxed.

I've had 3 sections and by the time I was out of my theatre gown and into my own nightwear the catheter had been removed so I preferred PJs (easier for breastfeeding too.)

BIIIIIIGGGGG pants. Real cotton jumbo ones, not horrid papery disposable ones. Buy cheapy old lady knicks that you can throw away after if you don't want to wear them again (but you'll be wearing them for weeks IME)

Depending how long your hospital keeps you in for - take your day clothes (loose, cool comfy maternity wear). I hated being in my nightwear all day as I wasn't sick enough to stay in bed!

Books, magazines, a bottle of squash (you get thirsty as hospitals are so hot).

Good luck

Big pants are a must!

Nighties aren't essential as they'll probably take out your catheter whilst you're still in the hospital gown if they're anything like my hospital as they'll then get you to have a shower and you can change into your own clothes/pjs. With that in mind, you might want to bring your own towels!

You'll be in hospital for a few days so pack some nice smellies/ vaseline/moisturisor to keep you going and because they keep the wards quite warm so your skin dries out.

Do pack some nibbles for you so your OH doesn't have to go and get some once you're out of surgery. On that note, also pack a good meal for whoever is with you (sandwiches etc). Even with an ECLS you might still get pushed down the list if they have emergencies and not get into surgery as planned. Also once you're out they won't want to leave you and although the hospital will feed you on the ward, they won't feed whoever is with you and they'll have to trek a mile away to get some hospital food at a time when you'll really need them with you as you'll find it hard to sit up and pick up your baby immediately.

Flip flops/slippers to walk about on the ward are nice.

Good luck and I hope it goes well!

I've packed more or less the same as I did last time tbh. I agree with taking giant pants; you can get disposable ones but I just bought a couple of multi packs from primark.

I'm planning on taking a water bottle with a sports cap (easier to drink from) and plenty of snacks as the food at my hospital is vile.

I think they'll only keep me in for 2 nights max unless they're concerned about feeding so you won't necessarily be in for ages.

I'm also taking tonnes of magazines etc to keep me occupied before/after. There'll probably be lots if waiting before the op as you get bumped down the list as emergencies come through.

Good luck!

Um, I wore pyjamas after a c-section. I think I only wore the top until the catheter came out then put on the bottoms.

Apart from that and the big pants your packing shouldn't be too different - I think I had snacks, lucozade, washbag, big pants, clothes and nappies for baby, breast pads (didn't use), book, phone, eye mask and earplugs, maternity pads, slippers, thin dressing gown, make up (didn't use), camera.

Don't forget your going home clothes.

Good luck

Second the sports bottle to drink from as you won't be able to engage your abs to sit up to drink from a cup.

Lots of flannels. My ward was hotter than the sun and I needed a nice cool flannel to keep me cool.

A notebook and pen - if you forget anything you can write lists for DP/DH and send him home for stuff.

There is very little space in hospital. I stocked up the boot of the car with extra packs of nappies, cotton wool, maternity pads and baby clothes. When I was running short of supplies, DH would restock at visiting times.

Plastic bags for sending dirty washing home every day.

peppermint for the referred shoulder pain - I did not take any, and the pain in my shoulders was the worse bit - I am not sure what would work - tea or cordial - hopefully someone else will know.

Lansinoh if you plan to BF.

I'm having my 3rd CS in 3 1/2 weeks. Big yes to the big knickers. I just bought 10 pairs of the biggest ones I have ever seen in BHS yesterday, and they were on BOGOHP, btw!

I have high waisted maternity PJs for night time once the catheter comes out, a nightie for while I am still in bed and before the catheter comes out, and soft, high waisted leggings and loose tunic tops for going home in / wearing on the ward (like Sidge I'm not ill and not going to wear PJs all day).

I also take a full make up kit for photos (after horrific photo experience with DD1!!!), and extra bath towels (as I am paranoid and don't use the same towel twice after a CS!!!!!). I've bought a couple of magazines too, as I don't resent being broken off reading a magazine as much as I do a book! Looooads of maternity pads and breast pads too!

At our hospital you can take your own music to play during the op, so you might want to find out what they can play (CD / memory stick etc) and take soemthing along.

Not related to bag packing, but I'd also say to get up and out of bed as soon as you feel able (obviously with the agreement and help of the mws!!), and to get the catheter taken out asap. Use the call buzzer as much as you need to, and don't feel bad about it. Ask the mws for help with whatever you need (even things like bathing the baby for you if you want), as you will need more help at first than with a VB. If you are in pain, tell the mws and ask for pain relief. Oh, and it is completely amazing how much difference a shower makes once they say you can have one - it can be a bit of a nerve-wracking thought, but both times I've been like a new woman afterwards (one of the mws didn't recognise me afterwards last time!).

Good luck, and enjoy meeting your baby :)

Big pants (primark)
Cereal bars - I was ravenous!
A water bottle - really thirsty (to do with milk production?)
A book/mags/crossword - for before (especially if delayed) and afterwards if like me you had a baby sleep for 6hrs in the middle if the day
Slippers
Dressing gown (a lighter weight one is easier to manouvre with wound)
Extra pillow/feeding pillow
Babywipes - not just for baby, really helps when you can't get out of bed for making yourself feel more human
Leggings or tracksuit bottoms for leaving the hospital, I know lots of people talk about leaving in their jeans, but I found even my maternity jeans sat wrong.

Don't be in a hurry to go home. I have had 2cs and the first (emcs) I was kept in 2 nights and walked out fine, not on painkillers from when I left the hospital. 2nd one (elcs) I left 24hrs afterwards and I wasn't up to it, needed painkillers for another week. You need that time taking it very easy, just walking out to the car and travelling was all I could cope with and I was in agony by the time I got home.

Good luck!

Oh, and something that really helped was having a smaller bag where I could easily reach it with the things I might need but would feel silly asking for help with (books, snacks, pen and paper etc)

I think I need to thin mine out a bit - my bag looks like I'm going on holiday!
With towel, cotton wool, pads, nappies, baby grows, pjs, toiletries, slippers.

I'd buy a pack of the 'maternity bed pads' or similar, as my ward ran out of them on the day of my elcs. You may find that with the catheter in that your sanitary pad could leak onto your sheets, which won't get changed right away if you're still immobile (in my experience, anyway!)

Keep a cushion in the car for your journey home, hold it against your incision site as it really helps with any pain you might have on a bumpy journey.

Shower gel with a hook. I burst into tears when my shower gel fell off the shelf & I couldn't pick it up. Had to buzz a nurse to come & pick it up for me

And BIG pants as has been said before.

Fennel tea. Good for nausea and trapped wind, but more importantly it can help stimulate milk production; something that is hindered by a c sec. I drank fennel tea by the bucket load after my emcs. I bet if I had some now it would remind me of that first week.

Plastic bags. You'll be in a few days and need to send dirty clothes home.

Toilet bag with string handles so you can loop it over the tap in the bathroom - you so don't want to be bending down.

More than one towel. First shower Will cover it in blood.

FLIP FLOPS. It's very hard to put on shoes with backs, I never realised you have to bend!

Pillows - with brightly coloured pillow cases so they don't take them away to the hospital laundry.

A DH who Will remind everyone you have had a cs and that you won't be home for five days. Ok you might get out sooner but this way your flowers won't die before you even get to see them. (still bitter)

I only had one shower in hospital, I took a big dark coloured bath sheet just in case of staining.

It much easier knowing you having elective, I hd emergency with DD1 and DH and parents had to run around grabbing all the extras!

Large coloured towel, you can never get the blood out and it isn't pleasant to see it on white. Large because it will be sore to bend over rub legs etc.
Huge pants! I actually got larger after CS due to swelling.
Loads of maternity pads, my MW asked for them straight after CS to place under me.
Nightie with button opening if your BF
I found yoga trousers with roll top were really good forthe next day as they ar really soft and high.
Widgie pillow, I used this to put the baby in as it's difficult to lift them up and down as well as for BF
A whole packet of nappies.
Sports water bottle or the large ones you get with bottle water are perfect.
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