If you’ve had elective c-section can you tell me…

[CookieAubergine]

…what happens after baby is born?
I get the bit about going in, going for the op, baby arrives. Then what, go to the ward?
If I can’t go home til the next day what happens for the next twelve hours? Look at baby? Will baby feed?
Do I Read a book? Telly? Do I get dinner? Will I get any sleep?
How long will anaesthetic last? Will they get me out of bed to move around same day? Will it be for me to change nappies or could that be a struggle?
I’m not seeing the midwife for a couple of weeks so if anyone could advise I’d appreciate it. I know I sound ridiculous btw!

@TakeYourFinalPosition my hospital don't provide milk, and when my sister gave birth in a different area over 10 years ago they had already stopped them. Apparently a lot of women were stealing milk and nappies to bring home. I'm sure a minority were desperate but otherwise that's really low.

I think everyone has covered what i would have said so i thought id suggest something that helped when home. Due to the pain it was hard to bend so i bought a litter picker and this helped me grab things without bending. I even used it to help put my socks on!

Deflatine is the magical relief and trapped wind in your shoulder is normal!

Once you catheter is out, go to the toilet. Take a pillow to hold into your stitches.

Gently, move as much as possible. It helps in the long run.

Last one, get you toiletries and put them in a wash bag to hang in the shower. I learnt the hard way that when you drop your shower gel it is hard to bend down and pick it up.

Oh, and keep an eye on your wound. As soon as it feels hot or anything get it checked. The baby will be your focus and you will forget about yourself.

I had an emergent c-Sec with my first and elective the second time. I absolutely loved the second birth.

@loulamay I could lift baby by myself right from being in hospital so long as she was at waist height rather than on the floor. You’re not allowed to drive for 6 weeks usually abs the advice on baths and showers seems to vary- I had a shower in the hospital and could do that regularly but didn’t have a bath for a few weeks.

Not sure if it's been said already but don't worry if the first time you stand up after having the catheter out you wet yourself. I pissed all over the floor twice , midwives have sen everything and weren't the least bit phased! Just trying going for a wee regularly even if the last thing you want to do is get out of bed.

Hi op i had dd (now 12 weeks) by c section.

She was born lunchtime, I was taken to the ward and told to set my phone alarm every 3 hours to feed baby. Basically spent my time feeding, burping and changing baby.

Everything took ages as obviously you're in a lot of pain and have to take it easy.

DH was allowed to visit 12-8pm, i was discharged around 5pm the next day and sent home with painkillers, blood thinning injections.

The walk to the car was horrendous l I was in agony and wished I'd insisted on a wheelchair.

Oh forgot to add: I had to take my own milk and bottles in.

My first section was relatively straightforward.

I was in recovery for about 4 hours.

Before the painkillers wore off I was given a bed bath.

Baby was in cot next to bed and he was passed to me for breastfeeding. We both took to breastfeeding quite quickly. The mw helped at lot at the start with getting the latch established.

After 4 hours was transferred by wheelchair to postnatal ward and shared a room with 3 others. I found that tough as they had all had vaginal deliveries and were able to sit up comfortably and get up and move around and I couldn;t.

Next morning they removed my catheter and I went for a shower. Bloody hell that was agony and had to press the emergency button for help.

I had to stay in for 5 days as I was in a lot of pain and needed strong pain killers. The advantage though was loads of help with breastfeeding.

Not much chance for sleep as sharing a room with 4 new born babies. I slept when I could and the pain killers did help me sleep a bit.

Second section was a horror of post op complications so I wont share that one.

I've had two, and whilst the first was absolutely fine, a few things made the second even better. The majority of the experience is as pp have described. Minor differences such as both times my obs on the Labour ward were for four hours prior to moving to the post natal where a pp mentioned, I think, one hour.

The biggest difference with the second, which I would strongly advise you to follow, is that because of Covid, they were generally keeping mum's in for less time so there were fewer mums in and they had a bit more time. First time I was bed bound until the following morning when I work up sitting in a puddle of blood. It was grim. Then it was catheter out, try walking, go to the loo etc.

Second time, the mw had me out of bed that evening once I could fully feel my legs again. The catheter had to stay in until the following morning (which was great as I didn't have to worry about going to the loo) bit it meant I started walking, took myself (with catheter in tow) off to the loo to brush my teeth and wash my face. The nurse also helped sponge me down, and changed my bed sheets and pants before night time. It was so much more humane.

@loulamay

Also following ahead of mine in three weeks! Sorry to hijack but can I ask - once you were home, how long until you were ok to: lift the baby by yourself and drive your car? Also can you shower and bath straight after a c section or do you have to wait?

For me, after my first section I could:

lift baby by myself - next day
drive - 8 weeks before I felt safe to
shower - next day
bath - took me months as it would have been too painful to get in and out of bath

I would definitely advise taking some lactulose in with you and having it as soon as you are back to the ward. I had some advice from a friend to do this and I didn't. By day three I was so backed up and in absolute agony trying to open my bowels and trying to not strain my stomach muscles too. That alongside having a 3 day old baby who had just woken up I didn't know what to do with him I felt like I was about to give birth to another baby although I clearly don't know what that feels like! Sorry if that's too much information I just wish I had listened to the advice. By the time the nurses had given me their lactulose it took a while longer to get going. The rest of the advice that has been given has been great. Good luck with it!!

Ime-

Ward is fucking hot. Bowels of hell hot. Take baby wipes to wipe yourself.

The only help you get is an assistant offering to show you how to bath the baby. Which wakes the baby you’ve just spent hours feeding and were just settling down for a rest.

Breastfeeding help is “why don’t you give her a bottle”.

Take earplugs. Other people are loud

You have no idea even after an elective how long you may be in for, prepare for a few days just in case. Things that could keep you in include baby going to neonatal for something fairly common like too much mucus, baby losing weight and you needing help with bf if you are. Complications with section, unlikely but you never know. You probably won’t have much time to spare but an iPad or book may be handy. Ask for help. Even after an elective you can feel awful, I wish I had stayed in longer but went home the next day, was in a lot of pain even with painkillers I was given and felt weak, faint, sore, headaches etc, got better but it took days, get as much sleep before hand as possible! I wanted to fall asleep during the op I was so tired! Good luck! I don’t mean to be negative just prepare for all possibilities and don’t feel bad if you don’t feel as great as some folk do! Also if you are looking to bf then harvest colestrum! (Google/ask midwife after 37 weeks!)

Ward is fucking hot. Bowels of hell hot. Take baby wipes to wipe yourself.

Yes to this!! Baby was born mid June and the heating was whacked up high and no windows allowed to be opened. My impetigo ended up flaring back up due to the heat 😩