Planned c section at 38 weeks, tips please!

[Chocolateporridge]

I'm 33 weeks and due to complications have just been told I'll need a CS at 38 weeks. My DD was a vaginal birth and I was expecting the same this time round, so I've been reading up on the c section threads about the actual procedure but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips about what I should pack in my hospital bag, and also how much help I'll need afterwards and for how long. I have a dd who is 4 and my husband is self employed and won't be able to take much time off. My mum is going to come and help out for a bit, how long do you think I'll need her for?

Giant pants, I would advise you get up and move around as soon as they will let you, I felt fine within a few days but I had my husband to help for 3 weeks, good luck

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, having an elcs at 39 weeks, DH is self employed and cannot really take any unnecessary time off work. I have however had a previous elcs so know what to expect.

I agree with Purple get up and move around as soon as you can. I would advise standing up straight too not hunching over, if you can.

I also have a dd who is 4 and goes to school so will be home alone. As they recommend not to lift anything other than your baby or do too much I'm going to get DH to make me a sandwich to leave in the fridge before he goes to work and then for the first week or 2 just concentrate on the baby. Sleeping when the baby sleeps and it won't hurt to stay in pj's during the day either.

If you have the help of your mum, get her to stay as long as she will or you can put up with

I'm also tempted to make and freeze some meals beforehand so that all DH or my older DC (15 &11) have to do is bung it in the oven which will save time and help out DH after a day at work.

As for the hospital bag, pack enough for 2 days (DH can bring more stuff should you stay longer) and make sure you pack a nightie for the first day as you will have a catheter in and will be a bit awkward with pj bottoms.

Prob in hospital 2-3 days and I chose not to drive for 6-7weeks as didn't need to this time I will need to so husband has wk off then mum here for a week then husband off another week then hopefully will be fine.

Recovery from elcs is generally quicker.

I have a 4yr old too at school hence needing to drive. Bonus being they don't need lifting n can dress themselves etc with minimal assistance.

Thanks so much, these are exactly the kind of practical tips I need. My dd is in nursery in the mornings, my mum can come for the first two weeks and my dh can work slightly reduced hours the third week, but he can also do nursery drop off and collection, do you think that will be enough help?

Yy to big knickers, also some edible food instead of hospital grub! Also prune juice as cs can make you constipated. I found driving fine afterwards, I have had 3cs, recovered best from no 2 (emcs) because I was a lot fitter beforehand! Good luck

Hi chocolate, the first 24 hrs is a bit of a wipe out but you gradually get better. I had my section last Friday, home Saturday evening, made dinner etc absolutely fine. Didn't leave house till Tues for walk and coffee/cake. Each day done a bit more -registered baby and lunch on Thurs and went to GPS/Sainsbury's today. Little by little. For the hosp bag you need some v comfy clothes-I had jersey pj pants and tops. I brought my pads but the hosp used theirs. I didn't shower either preferring to wait until home but tok all my toiletries with me. Eye ask, ear lugs and iPod with music are essential for postnatal ward. The constipation has been the worst part of it all so make sure uh eat lots of things that are natural laxatives after birth. Peppermint. Tea for the wind!

Ear plugs even! Feeding baby and typing at same time!

Definitely big knickers! We're talking granny style, up to your armpit jobbies. You don't want to risk any knickers edges near the scar.

Tena lady pants-they are big soft pants with in built pads-great!

I'd do all the usual baby preparation, such as freezer meals, only more. It took me about 3 weeks before I could do a supermarket trip. Big, high waisted, granny knickers are sadly a necessity because more dainty ones sit on the scar. My co-sleeper cot was brilliant because it was much easier to lift dd in and out from there than a cot or Moses basket.

Oh thanks, didn't realise about the constipation, I've had horrendous diarrhoea all through this pregnancy so constipation will make a change Thanks for the peppermint tea tip too, I wonder if they'll make it for me if I bring the tea bags?!

Agree with giant pants, do not under estimate how giant they need to be. Maternity trousers but over the bump ones are also good to wear.

Think about where you will change and bath the baby, as you won't be wanting to do too bending over. Someone lent me a change/bath station so I could do it all stood up, it was a nice luxury to have.

Good luck and there are positives too - no stingy wees, tears and stitches down below etc. I found recovery to not be too bad at all and in hindsight it was good to have those weeks of sitting on the settee, doing nothing except bond and establish bf.

Lots of hospitals have side cots they can attach to bed, but you have to ask.

Don't be alarmed that there are about 10 or more medical personnel in theatre with you. By the time you've added up the surgeon, aneathatist, nurses, paediatricians, MW and various assistants, it's a lot of folk.

On a more practical note -
"Under bump" clothes = "on the scar". You need dresses or over bump trousers/leggings or yoga pants type things with a big, soft, roll-over waistband.

A water bottle with a sports cap will let you drink lying down.

Shower gel on a hook is esentisl for a couple of weeks.

Ask for hospital physio to come and see you and show you how to get in and out of bed etc with least pain/effort.

A good baby sling with lumbar support will let you carry your baby around and get out and about. I was advised not to push a pram for 6 weeks.

With DS I didn't drive for 4 weeks; with DD it was 9. She was a very crash section with no niceties at all, I was battered and bruised and recovery took ages. I am sure a planned cs will be much gentler!

Can anyone point me in the direction of soft, over bump trousers (preferably for the shorter mother)? I keep reading about them for after CS but haven't found any.

Yoga trousers from tkmaxx!

I've just had a look for yoga pants/trousers and there's someone selling ex-matalan ones on Ebay for a tenner so I've ordered a pair.

Your hospitals all sound much nicer than where I had dd, although ds will be born in a different hospital so I'm hoping they'll be a bit kinder there!

I'm worried about taking the pram out as I have to bump it down/up 4 stairs so have suddenly realised I won't be able to do this for a few weeks!

Thanks for all the tips

I would add get LOTS of pillows, cushions etc to prop you up when you get home. I found it hardest to get up and down from the bed or sofa so that helped. And giant pants!

Get a sling for popping out so you are not trapped at home until you can manage the pram and those steps.

I highly recommend getting a c belt. I've just stopped wearing mine at four weeks post ELCS. Made a huge difference. Plus the big granny pants

I had an elcs at 38 weeks with dc2 because she was an unstable footling breech. I'd had an easy vb with dc1, and like you I'd expected the same again.

It was a lovely experience, and at least knowing the day and time meant we didn't need a mad dash to the hospital in the middle of the night!

Definitely pack big pants and soft trousers. I wore my pjs for the first 3 days, then my over bump maternity jeans were fine.

I found getting up and down from our sofa hard for the first week or so, I needed to sit on a cushion with another couple behind me.

By two weeks I felt completely back to normal, and was able to cope home alone with two children when DH went back to work. I was happily driving the car and pushing both children in the stroller for reasonable distances.

Does the sling not put pressure on your tummy area?

If not, then I'll get one, it means I'll be able to pop to the shop or the nearby park with dd!

CS scars are very low and tiny babies sit high in a sling.