C Section Advice

[bubblebath62636]

So today I got booked in for my section I'll be 39+6. This is second baby but first section.

Does anyone have any tips?
What happens if labour starts in the meantime?
I do have some notes from the obstetrician but struggle to read them.
Anything i should bring that I probably haven't thought of?

I haven’t had one yet but have a life long fear of giving birth and I’m now pregnant and having a section so have spent every day researching 😂 If my labour starts in the meantime I’ll be in there hoping they can do it ASAP. I’m taking the usual hospital stuff as well as flip flops (for the shower and to wear home if my feet are huge and swollen as I’ve heard they might be), peppermint tea/tablets for trapped wind, a pillow left in the car to put over my stomach to stop the seat belt touching it on the way home (apparently helps when you go over bumps etc), have seen people suggest putting the full baby’s outfit in sealed plastic bags that are labelled so if the midwife is dressing him/her they aren’t having to go through your bag looking for it, I’ve bought severely loose joggers that come up really high and also going to take a loose dress so I can see what I feel like wearing home and I’ve got a button up nightie so he can have skin to skin without having to pull the whole top down

You probably have all these things anyway, but here is my list. Really big pants as small ones creep into your scar.
Sanitary towels.
Snacks.
You can’t shower right away, so wipes to freshen up are nice.
Slippers.
A few days worth of clothes for your baby.
An eye mask can help you sleep if the lights disturb you.
Your own pillow.

Nothing to add packing wise, just wanted to say you’ll be fine. I had a vaginal birth first time and c section second time - best decision I ever made. Take it easy afterwards- get some batch coming done before and remember the procedure itself is over very quickly and then all being well you will be up and about in no time.

My first was an emergency so I just winged it but had an elective second time around and was much more prepared!

So the usual hospital gear plus:
Baby wipes - to freshen up whilst bedbound.
A v cushion (not a solid feeding pillow!) - to place over the wound and use as a prop for baby when holding/feeding.
A pack or 2 of full briefs - I leaked through so many!
A nice shower gel/shampoo/conditioner for when you can finally wash.
Peppermint Rennie's - great for heartburn and trapped wind.
Slipper socks - my feet were freezing in bed for some reason.
A nightie for that first day - baby up and under for skin to skin. Also easier to freshen up and for midwife to nip in to change your pad (I didn't expect that first time around 🤣)
I basically lived in high waisted joggers/leggings and strappy vests with Sainsbury's stretchy bras underneath for the first few days as they were easy to move and latch baby.
Food/drink that help move your bowels (oranges/prune juice etc) as ours wouldn't let you go until you had pood and it was a bit nerve wracking...

Also - shave along the top of your pubes before you go in or even better if you can wax/epilate to keep them away for longer. They get you to remove your bandage on the shower and don't want to be dealing with dry razor rash under there! I was terrified to look at it first time round but honestly, my stitches were the disolvable ones and could barely see it.

I had two c sections, emergency and elective. If you go into labour before, you go to hospital and either carry on with labour if you want or tell them you have an elective booked and you'd like it now please.

Do read up what you can beforehand about having a c section. I didn't do any research into having one with my first. When I had my second, I did lots of reading up on it and found out so many things I wish I'd known first time around.

Thank you for your replies - a lot o didn't think of!

Does baby stay with you for feeds etc afterwards? Planning to bottlefeed but a little worried about picking baby up for feeds!

I bottle fed my first and he stayed with me in a private room for 2 nights then on to the ward for 1.

I did wake up one morning and panicked because he was gone but it turns out the midwives took him along to their station as I was snoring soundly and he kept snuffling and stirring - apparently they enjoy stealing the babies for a bit, not sure if that's changed now though!

A v cushion was still a life saver for bottle feeding as it made it easier to hold him.
.

Special c section pants were a game changer for me. I got some branded ones on John Lewis, they were quite expensive but I couldn't wear the normal granny pants because the material made me feel ill catching on my stitches. I had two pairs and had to wash & air dry them daily!

Youtube has loads of helpful videos on what can help during recovery.

Good luck op :) my c section was fantastic and a million times better than my natural birth. Recovery was also not as bad as I was expecting, just keep on top of the pain relief even if you feel fine.