C-section booked : advice on what to expect

[le42]

Could anyone offer me some advice on what to do on the days leading up, anything extra to pack I might not have thought of, aftercare advice....

How soon were you able to walk up stairs, I live in a flat (no lift) and have 26 stairs to get up... will I be okay?

Thanks in advance lovely mums!

Following as I am 90% decided on having an elective CS this time!

Get peppermint oil tablets and arnica tablets for after the op, the first deals with trapped wind that would get painful otherwise, the second helps healing.

I was in hospital for 4 nights after my CS but once home (normal house) I was fine with stairs.

Take all the painkillers you are offered for the first 48 hours, after that it gets much easier

Stairs will be fine. Ask a physio to show you how to get in and out of bed but you will need help at first.

You won’t be able to wear maternity jeans afterwards because the band will run your bump.

Thank you, do you get peppermint tablets and arnica from a chemist/ health shop?

With that many stairs I'd be trying to stay in for a second night, personally. I was released roughly 24 hours after my section and getting upstairs to bed (17 steps) took me about 20 minutes, I had to just stop on the stairs and couldn't go up or down. The second night home I was considerably better.

Get big, full brief pants that come up to your belly button, ideally cotton ones.

As above, the first two days are worst for pain. Check you can do stairs in hospital before leaving.

Thanks for the advice- I’ll make sure I have enough mobility before I leave.

How long was it befor you could go for 15 min walks etc? I’ve had such horrendous pelvic girdle pain I can barely walk as it is - I’m just so so excited for the day I can walk without horrendous pain!

Pack a long scarf! One of the healthcare assistants in the ward tied one to the bottom of my bed to make me a hoist! It was a godsend when I needed to sit up and saves your poorly tummy muscles.

I've had two ELCS, and they are fine so don't worry. With my first I lived in a top floor flat and the stairs were challenging but just take it really slow.

I stayed in 2 nights for both, can't comprehend how anyone gets out sooner. The next day the pain was pretty bad for me as I mobilised, tried to shower, so definitely take all the drugs you can get but it is best to mobilise soon, albeit very gently.

Take your own pillows, take some peppermint tea/peppermint capsules for trapped wind and make sure you drink loads of water. you really want to avoid being constipated.

Back home, it's great to have a changing table and do no bending if possible. Don't lift anything heavier than the baby and accept all offers of help. A feeding pillow is useful, and take all the pain meds on schedule even if you feel fine. Pain can sneak up on you. Take walks but not too much too soon. Good luck!

I had a section 6 hours ago. I've been using my bed rails to pull myself up. My spinal has worn off and I've had my first dose of paracetamol. All good so far. Not having issues getting baby to or from the cot. Much better than the same time after my vaginal birth!

I had a good recovery and was out and about in about 3 to 4 days. Do you have a plan for pram on stairs? You won't manage that for a few weeks at least.

I have had 3 ELCS and I would take it slowly but confidently if that makes sense. I was advised to try and walk as normally as possibly but at a slower pace. As pp said take all the painkillers on offer in the first few days and accept all offers of help. I found getting up and moving - showered and dressed - really helped my recovery. Don’t over do it though!!!

I was fine with stairs when I got home the next day. Going for walks by day 4. Recovery was an absolute breeze for me, only felt pain when I forgot take painkillers, so keep an eye on that. Good luck!

I was discharged 24 hours after my EMCS and was fine on stairs although it was uncomfortable at first. Get lots of pairs of big knickers as I wore those for six weeks. Do what they tell you with regards to trying to get moving as soon as you can and drinking water to get your bladder going after the catheter comes out. The constipation and trapped wind was very uncomfortable, as others have said drink plenty of peppermint tea.

Good luck, my c section was a v positive experience for me despite it being for a complicated medical emergency, and if I have more children I will be going for an elective CS.

@cottonsock - my partner is off for a month so I’m lucky I’ll always have support but we we got the bugaboo bee so I could take the carry cot out separately and leave the frame downstairs if I was by myself. But I think I’ll be mainly in the flat ordering a Tesco shop!

@endodrelationship - Congratulations!!!!! ❤️

@bear2014 - great advice thank you so much! For the peppermint - is that just from a health shop or a pharmacy?

Thanks everyone - you’ve been a marvellous help! 🙏

I must be a weird case as I had very manageable pain after the op (refused hospital painkillers and just took paracetamol & ibuprofen). However the recovery period was much longer, 4 weeks today and I still get twingey pain from the scar that stop me from walking longer distances.

So listen to your body and recover at your own pace. The first two weeks might be rough since you’ll be sleep deprived, taking care of a newborn and recovering from major surgery. Focus on keeping yourself well fed, hydrated and showered. All other tasks like cleaning up or answering emails can wait! Get partner/family/friends to buy healthy snacks for you from the shops or get restaurant meals delivered.

Also, don’t be afraid to say no to visitors. One thing I found extremely tough was the stream of people who want to come visit and it was also awkward refusing them since many had gifts. However receiving too many guests can seriously drain what little energy you have left. Use your csection as a good excuse and tell people you still need time to recover. For very close relatives (grandparents, siblings, best friends) you can allow them to to visit whenever they want but cheekily say that they need to bring food with or help load the washing machine. Most won’t mind at all and you can have them take the baby off you for a while!

The stairs will be fine but may take a while to climb for a couple of days.

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen. Take them back to back rather than at the same time so you've always got something for the pain. Big knickers are a must.

I didn't need anything for wind or constipation after either of my sections.

I was going for walks from day 4. The pram is handy for leaning on.

I had an ELCS four months ago. It was a complete breeze compared to my first (assisted) birth including recovery although my first birth was particularly traumatic and I was left injured.

That's not to say it's not painful, the first two days I took oramorph in hospital before I was discharged (compared to 5 days in with first). I took diclofenac and codeine home with me and took for a further five days so the first week I was on some heavy duty painkillers. With these though it was completely manageable. After that I took paracetamol and ibuprofen for a few days.

My DD was born at lunchtime and I was waking (slowly and with help) from my bed to the toilet by 7pm.

The first two weeks I was sore and tired easily but managed a few walks to the park with toddler DD and DH etc. Got better much quicker after that.

Take massive knickers and peppermint tea. You don't want anything rubbing on your wound and the tea helps with the trapped wind which can hurt. Get some lactulose in, you do not want to be constipated and some painkillers really bung you up.

If you're going to be awake be aware that you can feel everything they do to you. No pain, but rummaging, pulling, pressure etc. It's fine though.

I would have 100 ELCSs rather than my first birth. Not that I'm having any more, I'm done!

Oh and be prepared for the fact that you'll have the inject yourself with blood thinners for ten days afterwards (or enlist a non squeamish DH to do it!) Those little needles bloody sting! Pinch a bit of skin first (thigh or belly) to stop the bruising.

Also take shoes/flip flops you can slide on, clothes you can wear easily for the way home (avoid bumpy roads!).
Not everyone has to have blood thinning injections I don’t think, but likely you’ll be advised to wear support stockings and move around as much as possible in first few days.

We were told at our prep session that they're standard with the new "Enhanced Recovery" (aka kick you out next day) protocol.

I confess I refused them. I'm needle phobic and I simply would not be able to inject myself - I've got better in recent years and can now tolerate blood tests to an extent but that would set me back years.

Peppermint and Arnica are both available from Holland and Barrett or similar.

And yes to big pants, proper grandma ones that come right up to your bra, go up a size from normal.

I stuck a sanitary towel on the outside of my pants along the scar line for the car trip home to stop the seat belt catching.