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Original poster

What do you wear when you go in for a elective c/s???

26 replies

fifisworld · 24/10/2007 13:51

I had emergency c/s with ds so was already in a big t-shirt which they left on me.
Do i take something simalar in next time or do they put one of them gowns on you?

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sparkybabe · 24/10/2007 13:55

They will put a big gown on you - it's an operating theatre after all. Then in my case they couldn't find the screen to go between me and the 'work' so they sort of just held up my gown in front of my (and dh's) face. The rest of me was as nature intended
Oh and they put big pulsing boots on too, to keep your blood flowing.

Martha200 · 24/10/2007 15:09

fifsworld - so glad you asked this because it reminded me last time I had an emergency c/s and this time will be a planned.. though I had a really weird dream a week ago that I went wearing a nightie and still left knickers on and had a big lecture in my dream about wearing the wrong things.

When I woke up I realised that small details I could not remember and meant to ask about this, but you beat me to it

Original poster
fifisworld · 24/10/2007 15:37

Ive posted about this on the childbirth thread as well, aparently they put you in hospital gowns, but its been recommended to take a dressing gown in as well for the walk to the theatre as the gowns dont close at the back.

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LilBloodRedWantsGore · 24/10/2007 15:39

Hmm - the only thing I wore was a catheter and heart monitors

llynnnn · 24/10/2007 16:42

I wore a hospital gown and stayed in it until the nighttime when the midwives helped me change into my own nightie.
The gown didnt have a back in it though so def suggest a dressing gown to wear when walking to the theatre.
also, you arent allowed to wear any nailpolish (so my lovely manicure that i'd done specially the night before had to go!) possibly obvious to everyone else, but i didnt think it wouldnt be allowed!
Hope everything goes well for you

Original poster
fifisworld · 24/10/2007 18:16

Why are you not allowed to wear nailpolish, not that it matters coz i tend not to wear it anyway but just wondered what difference it makes??

OP posts:
sparkybabe · 24/10/2007 19:40

you are not allowed to wear nailpolish cos if you are oxygen-starved your nails go blue first, and anyway thats where they put the blood pressure/oxygen meter thingy clamp. You are not even allowed your toe-nails coloured. Try removing toenail varnish when 42 weeks. Not high on my priorities(neither was leg shaving or even toenail cutting)

yama · 24/10/2007 19:52

I forgot to take my knickers off - God knows where they ended up.

eidsvold · 24/10/2007 23:01

they put a gown on you - I was even given a hospital dressing gown to put on whilst waiting and then when you get on the bed to be wheeled into theatre - you can take the dressing gown off.

what sparky said about the o2 levels and nail polish.

You will also be given a lovely paper cap to put in as you are taken into theatre.

elvisgirl · 25/10/2007 00:50

Hope this is not too thread-crashing...If you are wearing a hospital gown, can they still put the baby straight on your chest if it's alright ? ( & the hospital is enlightened enough to do it? ) Does the gown open over the chest so the baby can get skin-to-skin contact?

SnottyGorillaHead · 25/10/2007 01:09

no the gown opens up teh back. but you can just pull it down at the front - they are very big and loose. hopefully you will get left on your own with your baby( with your dp/dh) in recovery so you will have privacy

SnottyGorillaHead · 25/10/2007 01:13

sorry didnt explain properly. they wont put the baby straight on you when its born as they are still sewing you up for about 20 mins. you will get the baby up beside your face - its a bit awkward as you are lying down and cant use your hands properly but your dp/dh can hold teh baby next to you if you cant.

thsi means you ae so busy admiring your baby you dont note them guddling around inside you

then they wheel you into recovery & prop you up in teh bed a bit ( coz you are numb from teh chest down) and hopefully then you get to feed your lovely baby

Original poster
fifisworld · 25/10/2007 09:00

I also forgot to ask, do i need to take a pair of knickers down to theatre with me for them to put on me when they are done. I can vaguely remember having loads of pads stuffed between my legs last time but dont know if they put knicks on me or not.

OP posts:
eidsvold · 25/10/2007 10:15

our gowns had clips across the shoulders so when in recovery - could drape one down and feed baby. I was able to hold babe with no2 and 3 - no1 babe was off to icu due to her heart defect so did not get to cuddle her whilst they were stitching me up.

For me - no knickers until I had my wash etc later after the surgery. They shoved pads down and had me on a disposable mat thing too. Then later in the day - sponge bath and pjs, knickers etc.

FioFio · 25/10/2007 10:20

This reply has been deleted

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sparkybabe · 25/10/2007 12:57

actually I had paper knickers put on me - disposable and easy to rip off

empen · 25/10/2007 13:08

Really naive question.

Why do you need maternity pads?

claraq · 25/10/2007 13:21

Empen - it's something many people don't realise, you bleed down below (quite a lot) even after a c/s. Possibly not as much as if you had a natural birth - I don't know, having only had c/s. Not a naive question at all - I am rubbish at biology so don't get it. But it happens!

Lorayn · 25/10/2007 13:24

I was able to hold DS after my el-cs straight away, but my exmil was with me helping me as I was all wibbly from the anaesthetic.

You still need maternity pads cos you still bleed!

Also, if you havent had an el-cs before, I dont know if this happens to everyone but it freked me out slightly, so want t warn you so you can be prepared.
They put a kind of wedge under my back, so I was slightly tilted, but I felt like I was going to fall off the bed, the surgeons and nurse were great though, and really tried to reassure me, but I think if I'd known what was going to happen I would have felt happier.

Also I caught a look at my reflection in the theatre light, of my cut open stomach, not nice, made me feel horrid, so try not to look at the light!!!

empen · 25/10/2007 13:27

Had a emer c section but I think I have subconciously blocked it from my memory - good thing. But I am going through it all again in 12 days time - must go to shop and get maternity pads then - thanks for not taking the piss!!

Lorayn · 25/10/2007 13:32

also to those having an el-cs if you want to bf make sure someone with you knows, and that you have it on your birth plan.

I was taken up to HDU just as a nurse was about to give my baby a bottle! She said 'oh,I'll just feed him then I'll bring him over to you' I told her I wanted to breastfeed and she tried telling me it would be best to just let her feed baby as I had just ahd an op and he was hungry.

HUNGRY??? FFS!! My darling wonderful angelic midwife on the ward quite happily told me not to worry about baby not feeding for a day or two after birth (when we were trying to get him to latch) cos he was tired!

eidsvold · 25/10/2007 21:14

I found it fascinating third time to watch in the theatre lights everything that was going on. I finally managed to see one of my children being born. Very cool. Dh was gobsmacked as things like that make me feel very ill but I managed to watch the whole thing. Soi if you are squeamish - don't look at the lights - look at your dh/dp!

Original poster
fifisworld · 25/10/2007 21:49

Im going to ask if they will lower the screen when ds2 is born so i can see.
I can hardly remember anything from my emergency c/s with ds1, i was so knackered and high from all the gas and air.
I also want to ask if dp can cut the cord as that was what i wanted last time but didnt get round to asking about it.
Dp watched ds1 being born and he said he could see right inside me, im surpirised he managed this coz he's normally squeamish and wont watch anything like this on tv

OP posts:
empen · 27/10/2007 19:37

I am struggling to get DP to come into the operating theatre with me nevermind cut the cord or even watch!
I have laid on a heavy guilt trip about him not coming in and he appears to be weakening

feedmenow · 28/10/2007 20:01

Fifi, if I remember right they will go through all of this with you when you go in for your pre-med, and will tell you exactly what you need to take with you. I know I had to take a dressing gown and slippers for the walk to theatre, but don't remember anything about knickers
Don't worry about it as they will let you know everything. And if you/they forget something it isn't the end of the world!
Good luck.
xx