Hospital bag for c section??

[Excited2meetmyprincess]

Sorry in advance that this has probably been done a million times but just after some advice as I don't have a clue where to start.

I am having a c section so just wondered what I need to pack in my hospital bag? And how many outfits do I need to take for baby? All my friends have given birth naturally so we weren't sure if it was different with a c section.

Thanks in advance xxx

not very different really. plenty of loose nightwear, big pants!
I was very hungry and second time round packed loads of snacks/drinks.
could not have got through without my lip balm! sounds daft but found it essential

Never had one but the only extra things I can think of that you might need is somethings that make you comfortable, nice slippers or pj's, no low cut pants or pj bottoms. Maybe a breast feeding cushion so you can have your snuggles with baby without him/her laying on your scar?

I'm sure some expert mummys will be along soon.

Not much different but make sure your pants are huge, they kill if they're not ( CS veteran here) oh, and an extra pillow to lie the baby on, hug to your wound etc.

No different for baby, but c section stuff for mums ( I have had 2 emcs )

• water bottle with sports cap so you can drink lying down.
• shower gel in a bottle with a hook

( radox do one )

• yoga pants with a big soft, high, roll down waist, or loose dress to wear (you won' t shrink back to size for a few weeks and anything " under bump' is also " on the scar"). I got mine from Hush.
• dried fruit to help ' get things moving' . The first poo after a cs can be quite scary.
• Some people swear by arnica to help with bruising. I don' t know if it works or not, but took it anyway and didn' t suffer with bruising. Tea tree cream was brilliant when my scar flared up a few weeks later too.

For once you are home -

• an online grocery shopping account
• a good sling that puts the weight in your back rather than abs. You'll be advised not to push the pram for 6 weeks.

Oh, and you may be in slightly longer the newish a normal birth - I wasn't allowed out till 3 days later after my second, despite my begging.

Oh yes! Big pants! And a dark towel for walking across the ward if you are leaking. Don' t listen to any tales that you won' t get lochia ( post natal bleeding) with a cd, because you will. So plenty of maternity pads.

Apple catcher knickers are definitely a must - and the comfiest, stretchiest gong home outfit you can find, nothing that might dig into you. I also brought double the amount of maternity pads with me as I was advised that once the dressing was off, having a pad stuck into your knickers across the scar area helps to 'cushion' it a bit more. Certainly helped me. Good luck!

I've had 3 sections. Would recommend loose nighty, big pants not too tight, extra maternity pads to place between scar and knickers( stops rubbing and soaks up moisture) liquid talc for under boobs ( if you can still buy it) peppermint capsules/ tea bags to help with trapped wind after op and I had a breast feeding beanbag cushion that kept baby off my wound . Hope that helps

Oh and the hospital shower didn't have a shelf for shower gel so I would tie string to some so you can hang it up. Painful to get it off the floor. And lots of extra snacks.

I was also told to wash stomach with antibacterial soap for a week before op and eat natural yoghurt ( you might want to research that a bit ). When you have your first bm hold a sanitary pad onto the scar it gives you extra support.

Definitely recommend big knickers (primark did some massive ones that were really comfy and you will be wearing them for quite a few weeks post section) Trousers that are loose over your scar (jeans were a no go for me for a couple of months) A big cushion will also be handy for propping yourself up in bed with, nobody told me that I would struggle to lie down flat for six weeks after the op!

As for baby stuff, take as many outfits and nappies as you can, newborn wee/poo was far leakier than I thought it would be and I was changing babygros quite frequently.

Giant pants. Forget primark - they are too stingy with fabric. M & S granny points 3 or 4 sizes larger than usual.

Buy a flask and get DH to bring ice from home to keep in there. You can then have lovely cold drinks all day and night!

Thank you for all your replies. They have been really helpful. Still got 11 weeks to go so a while before I need to pack but want to make sure I have everything I need xx

Yy to granny pants, especially as the paper ones some people use press into the scar at just the right height. Ow.

For going home, I'd go for over-bump trousers of some sort, or yoga type trousers where you can fold the waistband up.

And when you get home, put a basket of change stuff including babygros on every floor of the house (of appropriate) so you don't have to carry the baby around too much and just enjoy snuggles.

Flip flops. Bending to get into,shoes with backs is not easy.

With regards to the dried fruit- as soon as you feel able to eat something eat some apricots. I'd say at the very least 8-10 a day. That first poo will be tricky otherwise. However don't make the mistake of thinking that once the first poo is out your problems are over! Your digestive system will take a week or so to recover especially if you get prescribed co-codamol for pain as that will make you constipated! Keep eating the apricots!

Pants with a really high waist. Yoga pants were wonderful, I lived in them in the house for weeks after my c-sec. Shoes you can put on without bending.

Why is the first poo after a c section so bad?? I have never heard this before! I'm getting scared now x

The anesthetic plus the trauma of the operation sends the bowel into shutdown mode. It takes time for it to come back to operational mode. There will be wind in the meantime and plenty of it! The post natal midwives will be asking you at every opportunity if you've done a wee and opened your bowels as its a good sign that your body is recovering. The apricots really help to get things moving but I can't stress highly enough that you should keep eating them. The last thing you need when your tummy is stitched up and even more so after your stitches have been removed is to be trying to strain a constipated poo out

No need to be alarmed its just one of the side effects of a section. I've had 5 sections and the first time was an emergency so found out too late about the poo thing and ended up constipated. The midwife recommended the apricots and said if I ever have another (ha!) that I should eat them as soon as I felt able to eat.

Oh, yes, the wind! I thought I was having a heart attack as I had shooting pains in my left shoulder and upper arm - turns out it's just referred pain from too much gas

Lots of food that will keep you moving, but however you give birth, those few days afterwards are not ones to much around with in regards to poo. Ask for that liquid constipation medicine (mind has gone blank!) if you don't get it, though we were given it as standard, as don't be afraid to ask for a suppository if you haven't gone in a day or so or feel particularly bunged up. If you do need to strain, hold your tummy gently while you do.

I didn't have much problem with poo.

Thanks for this thread. What size bag did you all take? I'm thinking a hand luggage size suitcase for me and slightly smaller bag for baby? Is that extreme?

Also good to take anti bac wipes, if you are using a shared bathroom and nice toilet wet wipes for yourself.

(Long post alert)

This is my list:

For me -

Big knickers
2 or 3 packs maternity pads
1 pack breast pads
Baby wipes
Nappy sacks (for used pads etc)
Lip balm
Shampoo and conditioner
Shower gel
Deoderant
Hairbrush, hair ties and clips.
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Washbag
2 flannels
Make up
Carrier bags (dirty washing)
Moisturiser
Slip on slippers and flip flops
Nipple cream
Going home outfit
Dressing gown
2 nighties
2 pairs pjs (high waisted trousers)
1 bath towel
1 hand towel
Socks
Snacks and drinks
Bendy straws (so I can drink laying down)
Breast feeding pillow

For baby:

10-15 baby grows and vests
6 bibs
2 hats
3 or 4 pairs of scratch mits
Going home outfit
Muslin squares
2 packs nappies
Cotton wool
Sudocrem
Carseat

(Some of this may be kept in the car, then I can send dh for it if I need it. We live quite far from the hospital so it's not easy to just pop home and get things.)

I'm still hashing out the numbers of things for the baby, not sure what I will need!! Hope that helps. Good luck with your c section. :)

Oh yes, peppermint tea was my saviour both times. First time, I also had such bad pain in my shoulder they had to call a consultant during the night,