C-section advice - how to prepare house/clothes/recovery tips

[BabyCJuly]

Hi all,

I have a c-section booked at 38 weeks next week due to medical reasons.

All the tips please on how to prepare house, what to pack in bag, clothes advice and recovery tips please.

Also, I’m worried about manoeuvring off sofa and bed - whats best way for this?

Thanks so much!

I have a possibly controversial suggestion :

Tena pants! They are "granny pant" in style but soft stretchy material with no seams and built in absorption for post partum bleeding and you don't have to bend to take them off cos you can rip em off at the sides.

Wish I'd thought to use them after my section but mine was a an emergency so couldn't really plan for it.

Granny nighties or nightshirts for bed rather than pyjamas - during the day you can control the waistbands position but when you're unconscious it's a lot harder and you can find that waistbands find their way RIGHT to the most painful part of your scar!

Agreeing with MANY of the other posts

Rest but stay mobile - you need the blood circulating to aid healing

Prep food, drink, toiletries, gadgets, books, baby changing equipment Etc etc to be accessible and at waist to elbow height

Definitely get a feeding cushion. Great for keeping baby off your scar. Get c-section pants! I so wish I had! They are meant to support your tummy and stop the overhang. No idea if they work but wish I'd known about them; I'd definitely have given them a try.

Get a bath seat for baby. You won't be able to lift or hold the baby in the bath.

Keep taking the medication. Even if you don't think you need it. You do!

Check with your car insurance provider when you can drive.

OP so not blow dry the scar ( as one MW told me to, I got an infection in it & was told using hair dryer rather than towel to dry it after shower was the cause).
To get up from lying flat on back - 1. Arm furthest from side you want to get off bed from - bring over your body and press palm down Or clenched fist on bed/ floor wherever you are - in the gap Area under your arm pit Next to upper chest . The reason is As you push down with this hand/ arm upper body It will take your weight rather than your back/ abdomen

1. Breathe in and engage What you have left of your abs/ pelvic floor and then turn your body from back flat so that you are on your side, pushing through the hand in point 1
2. Still engaging your core- push down on the hand/arm you moved over again as you raise your upper body Off the bed - your bum and legs still on bed and you are still side ways

4 put both hands/ fists down On bed One either side of body and use them to take your weight as you move onto butt and bring legs round put feet on floor 5 push down through arms/hands, lean forward Slightly to get your weight on your feet keep core engaged and stand At point 3 you can roll slowly to the floor, get on knees and face bed using it to pull up to standing Your MW or HV will Explain it to you - sounds complicated but it’s not. When ever bending sneezing picking baby up or down, Breathe and engage your core before you do any of it. Try bathing baby in kitchen sink so not bending Low Good luck and congratulations

That's odd pantsomime it was after getting an infection that the midwife advised me to use the hairdryer.

The hospital gave me large surgical mesh underwear that didn’t rub my scar and could still wear a pad with. Think you can buy on amazon.

Batch cook some meals.

I had sore tummy from trapped wind , got some peppermint oil.

Do you have a supportive partner that will be able to help with lifting, housework etc ?