C section must haves!?

[mamaandthegirls]

I am due to have my first c section next week and as I'm heading into town tomorrow id like to know what must haves you had for your c section during the post partum period?

Good pain relief !

Colpermin.

Massive pants!

2 C-sections here, 1 emergency and 1 planned and I LOVED Mothercare's c-section knickers, pricey at £25 for 2 pairs but so comfy and supportive. Still wear them to hold on the old Mum tum ;) Good luck OP :)

Dried fruit and plenty to drink (take some squash to dilute). Also juice is nicer for swallowing tablets.

Insulated cup with lid for your tea.

Big pants.

Shower gel on a hook so you don't have to reach down to floor in hospital.

Dry shampoo.

V shaped pillow is nice to support baby on your lap and protect scar.

Slip on shoes eg crocs or flip flops.

Second the mothercare c section pants! Pricy but well worth the money and last, still have mine 4 years later!

A pillow from your own Bed, nice big soft squishy one! For when you sneeze or cough

Sports cap water bottle, so you can drink lying down
High waisted soft trousers or skirts, or over bump maternity wear. Yoga trousers and tube skirts with the fold over top are ideal. “Under bump” = “on the scar”.
Liquorice and dried fruit to help the first poo along!

Nice shower gel! Big pyjamas, peppermint tea. Prune juice, big pants and soft leggings / yoga pants

Arnica tablets, big knickers, nice cosy pyjamas, cough sweets were a life saver for me, I had a general anesthetic for mine and couldn’t stop coughing when I woke up.

Plenty maternity pads - No one told me you still bled after a c-section 😂

Wafflethewonderdog neither did I!!

@wafflethewonderdog DD1 would adore your username lol
I'm thinking of buying some pjs in primark tomorrow, shall I get night dresses or bottoms and top? Also can anyone tell me what the pain was like afterwards, how long it lasted and what pain relief they gave you to cope?
Last birth was vaginal birth so not used to all this c section buisness!

I was given difene suppositories and paracetamol while in hospital and difene 75mg and paracetamol at home, I took them for two weeks because I was afraid to stop, pain was pretty manageable after that. The best thing is to keep taking the tablets regularly and not let them wear out completely before taking the next lot

Also recommend arnica tablets! Only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen after mine, like a strange dull ache kind of describes it, weirdly numb feeling too ?! I could tell when due for next dose of painkillers for about the first week then gradually didn’t need them x don’t try to do too much, you will know about it if you overdo it !

Personally I'd get nighties as you might not want a waistband near your scar.

I had a c-sec with my first and a vbac second time - I found the second worse to recover from. Everyone seems to be different but I didn't have any pain after my c-sec - they had me up walking later the same day. I only had the painkillers the hospital issued me with and was fine.

I found the tablets they gave me sufficient for pain. I stopped taking codine as soon as possible as it caused me constipation!

Don’t waste money on expensive pants just go to Matalan and buy some high waist pants a couple of sizes too big. Get black ones or dark colours.

Lots of maternity pads - yuk!

Some nice juice as they really encourage you to wee as soon as possible.

Defo big pants. I preferred nighties over pjs. Slip on shoes, I had flip flops as my feet were still swollen and bending down is really difficult.

Just a tip - be prepared for the worst trapped wind imaginable. No one warned me, so I feel its my duty to TELL EVERYONE! Peppermint tea might help.

Massive high waisted knickers.

High waisted maternity leggings.

Enough pain killers to take them every four hours on the dot. Don't wait for the pain to get too bad to begin with, take them religiously. I was fine with ibuprofen and paracetamol at home.

Something to make having a poo easier (I had iron tablets to take as well so post c-section poos were not fun for me!)

Dettol, as the shower room left a lot to be desired, they can't get in and clean after every person, and it was not nice. Disposable c section pants from mothercare. Pads. And loose high waisted clothes, or big baggie nighties.

They had music on when I had my second and asked if I wanted a particular song /band playing but couldn't think at the time, still not sure what I'd have chosen as my dds music to be born to!

I found the pain fine it was sort of an ache rather than pain. And the painkillers they give you take the edge off anyway. As it’s planned they might do enhanced recovery and you drink special carb drinks so should be up and about within six hours. Actually when I first got up it was quite sore now I think about it but manageable.

Someone recommended to me to take my dressing gown cord and tie it around the bottom of the bed to pull myself up with in the night. That actually worked really well except for when my husband didn’t tie it tight enough and I fell backwards so if you do try that make sure it’s a tight knot!

Other than that big knickers and nighties like everyone else suggested!

You should be given morphine tablets post op along with paracetamol and diclofenic. You will be up on your feet later on in the evening as they want you mobile asap. I remember doing a lap of the ward whilst my catheter was still in, it took a while - it wasn't agony but was a bit sore. It was more of a stiffness type of pain. Make sure you take your meds religiously when they are due to keep on top of the pain otherwise it makes pain management difficult. I was on pain relief for about three weeks after but I have a low pain threshold, everyone is different and you will know yourself when you don't need to take anything.
Definitely a nightdress instead of PJs. Jojo mama bebe sell good c section pants, they are £8 for 5 pairs and they're mesh to allow air to the wound and go away above the belly button, they don't dig in as you will be swollen from the op. They also washed very well.

Agree with pp on colpermin tablets, arnica tablets and lots of fibre. Also drink loads of water as they tell you you will need the catheter back in if you don't pass enough
urine on your own!

Comfy, stretchy trousers or skirts. You will not want anything near your scar. I had some super comfy tracksuit bottoms from M&S for going home. Wore nighty in hospital as was more comfortable and easier when it came to having the wound checked. I was up and about the next day, showering less than 24 hours after the op. You'll need pads as you'll still bleed. Big knickers. Slip on shoes. I was on oromorph in the hospital but sent home with paracetamol and ibuprofen. Peppermint tea to help with the trapped air. V pillow. I had an emergency c section so wasn't prepared at all! My mum went out and got bits I needed for my DP to bring up to the hospital for me.

Thanks for starting this thread OP the tips are invaluable.