My C section is booked! Any tips or advice?!

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello, today my elective c section got booked for 16th June! Nervous but excited
My second pregnancy last time was a regular delivery
Is there advice or tips anyone has? Anything different I should pack in my hospital bag? Thank you for any advice x

Flip flops for walking around when your on your feet, and for showering.
Little bottle of squash. I can’t stand warm water on the wards.
Little snacks to keep your energy up.
Comfy pillow, or breast feeding cushion if you plan on breast feeding

Make sure you are well hydrated as once they remove the catheter they give you time for your bladder to work. I was dehydrated so was at risk of them recatheterising me.
Also giant knickers to go up and over your scar are much more comfortable.
I had an emergency c-section last time and a planned one this time. I found recovery ok and have had no complications since.
I am sure you will do great

Came on to say knickers and bottoms that go up higher than scar too

Slip on shoes for going home, huge knickers, nightdress for afterwards (as you'll have the catheter in for a few hours), stretchy leggings and drink plenty of water afterwards - I drink peppermint tea I'm the days after to combat trapped wind from the surgery 😅

Look forward to it, I found it to be such a chilled, relatively quick experience, and the moment they lift your baby upto see you for the first time is amazing - would definitely do it again if needs be.

High waisted knickers and a water bottle with a long straw so you dont have to sit up to drink! Good luck you'll be fine I had one December 2019 it went well!

I had mine Feb 2020 and it went perfectly. All of the above plus wet wipes for someone to wipe you down when you are back on ward. I was sweating buckets due to the morphine and also the fact they don't open the windows

Recommend high waisted knickers silk knickers from Primark. I'm still in mine 7 months pp and 3 sizes too big!

Bring a dressing gown rope to tie to the end of the bed to pull yourself up with, as you won't be able to do this for at least a few weeks.

Don't let your husband/partner go to make phone calls while you're in the recovery room - you'll be a bit stoned with a brand new baby and will want company!

I found moving around/sitting up etc pretty easy after my two sections, but I may have just been lucky.

I brought my own music with and it was nice to bring each of my kids into the world to some of my favourite classical pieces. Sections were both lovely, relaxed events, even though second was officially an 'emergency' as I went into labour about 18 hours before I was due at hospital!

BIG pants - Sainsbury full briefs are comfy (I'm still wearing mine 3 months later!)

Water bottle (but to be honest my hospital was great and always someone popping in to offer to water and it was always chilled)

Snacks - but not grapes - which can give breastfed baby diarrhoea

something to ease constipation- first c section it took days to get things moving again

Biggest tip - get on your feet as soon as possible. I had twins via emergency c section in January at 9am and was out of bed by 2-3pm (babies in NICU so if I wanted to see them I had to get up). Catheter came out that evening
My recovery was sooooooo much better. Didn't need any morphine - paracetamol only and was home after 2 nights. On my feet moving around lots (had to travel in every day to spend time with my babies in NICU)

So much better than first c section and I'm sure that's because I stayed in bed and didn't move much that time round