Anything extra I should pack in my hospital bag for after a section?

[CountingDownToML]

Kept my list of what I'd packed for DC1 so feel fairly organised, but that was a vaginal birth.

Having an ELCS this time and wondering if anyone has any tips of what's to pack that I might not think of?

Thanks

The biggest knickers you can find to go over your wound!

I was thinking these - do they look large/high enough?

Yep, big granny pants!!!

Food!

Some decent coffee too

Nightie rather than PJ's because you will have a catheter for the first night

Peppermint oil capsules, they will help with the trapped wind after a section. Also get some lactulose for home, I couldn’t go for 4 days and got myself into a right panic!!

• Extra long phone charger e.g. 2m because the sockets are often a long way from the bed and you might not be able to reach/move easily

• leak proof water bottle with an inbuilt straw so you can keep it beside you in bed without it leaking and drink from it lying down via the straw

• nightie rather than pjs. I had a maternity nightie with straps which was great for bf and then popped a t shirt over the top for a bit of privacy to walk around in once I was up and about

External battery for charging phone. I was in hospital recently and the although I had a long cable plugged in I could not reach it from the bed. External charger saved the day. Take snacks - nuts, cereal bars.

Yep snacks. I was ravenous and couldn't easily move around so cereal bars on the bedside table.

Extra snacks and drinks.

Comfy clothes.

I spent my first night in hospital bed with a bra on so lots of skin to skin my baby. Couldn't move anyway until the morning.
Shoes that slip on easily, I wore sliders.
I just basically made sure mu husband set up everything within arm's reach before he left the hospital that night so had nappies, wipes, and nappy bags under the cot, extra blankets and clothes for baby too, on one side, and on the other side, had my table with my phone plugged in to charger, kindle, ear plugs, water and snacks so it was easy overnight. The midwives will help though.

I had my 4th c section 2 weeks ago and other than the usual things, I took a nightie, as like others have said you’ll have a catheter in. Big granny pants to go over your wound, peppermint tea, tea bags - these were a godsend for the trapped wind pain afterwards. I was in far more pain from trapped wind up in my shoulder than the section pain itself. The midwives would bring me a cup of hot water and I’d put my own tea bag in.
Then lactulose for at home. The constipation, and trapped wind from taking codeine was unbearable. The lactulose helped ease things and made things ‘softer’. As you won’t have the sensation to be able to push to go to the toilet.

Dried fruit. Constipation is no fun at all. The op can mess with your digestion.

Massive pants and dulcolax. I didn’t poo for ten days because I was too scared and also couldn’t. These helped massively.

And a nightie as others have said. I had flip flops because my feet were like an elephant’s.

I've had two CS and was in a hospital gown for the op. Catheter removed 3hrs post surgery and I showered and changed into PJs at that point. So if you prefer PJs, as I do, perhaps take them anyway?

You do lose a lot of fluid post CS (mostly through sweating IME) so will want to drink lots. If you're not a big water drinker, you could take some squash with you to add to the jug they provide. A handheld fan can help too.

I also had no pain from the CS beyond trapped wind and found the peppermint capsules in water from the midwife a higher concentration and more effective than tea. Plus, they will want to monitor how much you're using.

And dried fruit is good for the inevitable sluggish bowel post surgery.

Good luck. I found mine really straightforward. Didn't need any help from midwives and was up and about within 3hrs each time. Home 12hrs after one of them in fact. Getting up asap and standing tall is the best thing you can do, even if it feels weird.

Oh and all the pads. I bled as soon as I stood up for about two weeks. It wasn’t nice!

@fluffyteach

Oh and all the pads. I bled as soon as I stood up for about two weeks. It wasn’t nice!

With bins in each loo!

Definitely lots of snacks - I went in for 7am but due to being last on list and other emergencies that came in didn't go to theatre until mid afternoon and I was in recovery until early evening so I missed every hospital meal round. Was ravenous by end of day!

A massive bottle as you get really dehydrated and it's a pain to have to buzz hospital staff to fill it for the hours when you are immobile.

Going home clothes that are easy to put on without much bending and that do not rub on wound - eg I was glad I had taken a dress as my other option was leggings and the bending to get my legs into them would have been too much on first day. Ditto footwear - I was glad for my flip flops!

Not so much what to take but how to pack - bear in mind depending on COVID restrictions at your hospital that visiting hours for partners might be quite limited. If so, while you are still immobile you might need to get hospital staff to find things in your case and pass them to you so it helps to have things packed in small labelled bags inside :)