Is there anything I should pack/buy for before/after c section?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello,
I'm having a c section in 6 weeks. Is there anything anyone would recommend for hospital bag that's not very obvious? Anything for healing after ie dressings, creams etc? Trying to be prepared! Thank you for any advice

Peppermint tea, helps with the trapped wind greatly.
Very very big pants. Right up over wound pants.
Arnica tablets for bruising.

With baby things I put one vest, one sleepsuit, hat, into small food bags. Easy to grab a fresh outfit when needed.

Good luck, I loved both my sections, the second in particular because I knew what to expect.

Massive comfy pants and trousers!

Something I wished I'd thought of but didn't - a breastfeeding cushion to help keep baby's weight off your scar (if you're intending to breastfeed).

Oops missed healing.

So I'm farming background. Mi put a capful of hibiscrub which is hospital level antiseptic into bath. I then dried wound with a hairdryer. Now some say not to do this as it blows the dust out the dryer into the wound. But I never dry my hair so mine is like new, and I never got an infection.

I then out a maternity pad longways across the big pants, like a protective barrier to stop pants or clothes rubbing.

Arnica tablets to help with the bruising and swelling

I stuck a bog standard thick sanitary pad sticky side down on my clothes on the inside to act as a little cushion for my scar.

Apple juice to drink and stay hydrated/loose for the post partum poop. Which was quite scary! But actually fine.

Lip balm. Post GA for me I was so so so dry.

Straw to drink from. Don’t know why but easier to drink from!

Massive pants. Maternity, overbump leggins/bottoms to wear home.

I had a silicon scar patch for later, seemed to do some good

Full brief pants at least one size too big. Want them to come up over wound.

Take it easy afterwards. I felt OK then went a for coffee and a walk round the shops and it really took it out of me. Once I learned to take it slow for a wee while it was fine.

Lots of paracetamol and ibuprofen at home as you will need to take them regularly for the pain. Once the midwife has taken your dressing off at home you will need to keep your scar clean and dry until it has healed. Just use warm water each day to keep it clean so no dressings or creams needed. I would recommend big knickers that go over you tummy and scar so the won't rub or irritate. But mostly take it easy as much as you can.

Full briefs 1-2 sizes bigger is all I packed that I hadn't with VB's.

Do ask for your bag to be put close to the bed. Mine was dumped at the opposite side of the room, I got up to get something and felt OK but then wanted something else. Got up again, took a few steps then decided it wasn't important enough as I felt like a lead weight lol. The next morning I felt fine though and refused any additional pain relief after the spinal wore off, good thing for me as I know I would over do it if I did take some.

Huge pants, like 2-3 sizes bigger and the most granny style (black) ones you can get.

Clothes that are loose round the scar, leggings or tights I found really comfortable.

A cushion for BF is really useful too if you're bfing.

As much help as possible at home afterwards. I'd encourage you to get up and out ASAP but only for very short walks. Don't push yourself too far.

Big knickers ! Nothing special, just Chesworth black supermarket ones in a size up.

Water bottle with a sports cap, do you can drink lying down.

Nighty rather than PJs (you’ll probably be catheterised).

Lipsyll (maternity wards are very hot).

NOT under bump trousers - under bump = on the scar. You’ll need dresses, dungarees or nice, sift high waisted yoga pants or “overbump” jeans, skirts and trousers.

I didn't but I wish I packed a scarf to tie to the end of the bed to help pull myself up. Would have been so much easier.

When they say take it easy, they mean it.

Hot water bottle at home for your stomach. 30 mins before trying to get up it made it so much easier.

You can buy special c section pants. I got mine from mother care but boots and John Lewis do them too. They come up high over the scar and have built in support. Feel more secure than normal pants but not as compressed as say Spanx. It's £25ish for 2 pairs but I wore them for a month after. I'd no issues with healing and 18 months later the scar is barely visible

Wind-ease tablets. Plenty of pain killers. Over bump everything. Pillow for feeding. Maternity pads for the wound as well.
Good luck! Both my sections were great experiences and I recovered quickly.

I took loads of easy to eat (and healthy!) snacks for afterwards. I was absolutely ravenous after my first c- section and the midwives were so busy I did not get a piece of toast. With ds2 and 3 I was better prepared. I am not a big fan of hospital food and you need the energy! I also took squash as you need to drink loads of fluid and the water is not necessary that nice!

I had 3 c-sections and found them calm and positive experiences.

I have one soonish too, just reading your comments for ideas 😂 I’ve watched every video there is on it! Most say peppermint tea (as someone above has suggested) or the peppermint capsules. Also chewing gum for digestion as well. A nightie rather than PJs, just been shopping for one today and most are hideous 🙈 but I think I’m going to get one online that unbuttons down the front. I ordered big high waisted cotton pants from next yesterday and I have a pair of ‘jersey joggers’ from there that just look like summery trousers. I’m still able to fit in them now because they’re so stretchy and come above my bump so I’ve ordered them in a size up to wear leaving hospital. Have seen a lot of people say they took trainers and it was sore to bend down to put them on and their feet were so swollen they couldn’t get them into them so take slip on shoes instead. I’m going to take flipflops to wear in the shower so think I’ll just wear them home too! Some people say take paracetamol but check when/if you should be taking it. Also ordered a small v shaped pillow because I have the big pregnancy pillow just now and love it so much for sleeping in and everyone says you can’t hold the baby in bed properly so have to kind of lie him/her to your side so I’m thinking if I put that across me it will be easier. Also a pillow left in the car to put across your stomach and put your seatbelt over so it doesn’t hurt on the way home

Vitamin E cream for the scar when it starts to heal - used it on my first c-section scar and my appendix scar (from when I was much younger!!) and helped to heal nicely!

Big wide slip on shoes or slippers. Crocs are ideal. Twice my water retention has peaked when I really couldn’t lean over.

Slippers, dressing gown, loose fitting pjs or nighty, big pants one or 2 sizes bigger.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen as many packs as you can (I took them for 7 days) .

Water bottle with straw so your not having to struggle to drink.

I packed all of babies things in sandwich bags each bag had a vest, sleep suit, hat and nappy in so when partner left and I was still in catheter the midwifes didn't have to route through my bag looking for clothes, they were there ready in bags.

I didn't but I recommend a extra pillow to help you get up. The more propped up you are the better you can get up. If I wasn't literally up right it took me 20+ mins to get out of bed.

The good ladies of MN recommended me a black towel many years ago. So if your maternity pad isn’t quite up to it, and you need a wee, and you’re sharing a room/bay, you can wrap it round you and look like you are just going for a shower.

After my emergency c section these things helped me a lot:
Hair ties if you have long hair, for the first few days you have to shuffle up and down the bed and my hair kept getting trapped and pulling, and also got really knotty!
Water bottle with a straw so you can have it to hand, a big one so you don't need it filling up as often
Flip flops
Lots of nighties
Under the bump knickers, I had some from amazon that sat under my scar, but over the scar would be fine too!

Pack a big bag of soft dried apricots. You’ll want a snack, and if you get through these you won’t have any trouble with pain going to the loo afterwards. This is the best advice I ever got from mumsnet!

Thank you soo much for all advice! The most useful is probably hair ties as last time (not c section) my hair got so tangled and matted I forgot to pack them! Plus the water bottle!
Are you allowed to have lactulose?
And you are meant to keep the wound un covered without a dressing on?

And...is the first BM as bad as after a vaginal delivery?

Peppermint tea wasn’t strong enough peppermint for me. I needed peppermint oil, so I would recommend that for you more than anything. Don’t underestimate how bad the wind can be!

@cantthinkofaname2021tyey prescribed me lactulose when I left but next time I'll ask for it earlier good luck!! Hope all goes well