C-section next week - please advise

[Angeldelight21]

Hi everyone,
I'm having a C-section next week and was wondering if you could share your experience.
I'm wondering what can I do for a speedy recovery. Also I want to breast feed, not sure if a section would interrupt the hormones etc. Is it anything I need to know or buy? Any opinion is highly appreciated.
Many thanks X

Ring the ward the day before they will tell you what number you are on the list, this effects what time you can eat and drink to, so ask so you're not starving. Have bags packed with things easy to grab because someone else will most likely be passing you things (partner or midwife) use your buzzer! Midwifes will happily come just to pass you baby, ask for pain relief religiously and keep on top of it, I breastfed both my babies after sections and had no problems at all, I expressed colostrum the night before my section to try help but not too much, baby went straight on my breast both times. They will have you up very quickly afterwards, its daunting but will get you home the next day. The hospitals have pumps too if you want to try increase supply but id just keep baby close and on you. I'm 5 weeks PP with my second, stil very sore because I had an infection but getting there. Buy LOTS of paracetamol and ibuprofen for home. Hope it all goes well, any questions just ask xx

Recovery- sit on your ass as much as possible. I overdid it and am still struggling because of it x

Ah see I’m sorry but I’m going to say slightly differently in terms of recovery- it helped me to be up and about ASAP. I was out of bed and showered the morning after, home in the afternoon, well enough for a gentle walk on day 3. Everyone is different but it surprised me how quick my recovery was.

Drink peppermint tea after- lots of it.

Get Rennie deflating post C section wind is horrendous! Keep on top of your pain relief and buy some really enormous knickers.

I think you have to balance some gentle movement with resting enough, I found if I sat too long it was really painful to stand up but once you’re properly upright it settles down again. Take time to prop yourself with cushions when you’re feeding, you need to be comfortable. A feeding pillow can be helpful so you’re not having to support the weight of the baby.

Csection doesn't/can't interrupt hormones or affect breastfeeding, the removal of the placenta is what triggers milk production. Your body will produce colostrum for the first days anyway before milk starts, colostrum is all new babies need. Csection can slow the start of milk production after colostrum (I didn't find this though), so lots of skin to skin alongside good pain relief, plenty of food and water for you.

Yeah sorry I didn't mean literally all the time obviously potter to the toilet but let people help you. I did far far too much, opened my wound got an infection and am struggling now. Maybe I'm just infection prone though as I got one both times and yes to peppermint tea! Oh and your first couple of poos will feel like your giving birth to a mystery twin from your bum. Sorry but true and noone tells you! Drink loads and take breastfeeding safe laxative x

Stock up on pain killers and keep on top of taking them.

I had an emergency c section with sepsis and major haemorrhage and still managed to breastfeed for 15 months. So give it a try!

Hope it all goes well for you xx

I had a planned section a few years ago and found feeding very difficult to establish, no idea if it was related to the section or not but this time I’m planning to collect some colostrum in syringes beforehand to freeze and also keep as hydrated as possible in the ru up to the section. I also found the ‘laid back’ feeding position most effective. Hope it all goes well!

I've had two planned c sections. No problem breastfeeding either of them.

I am in the 'get out of bed as soon as your catheter is out" camp and attempt to stand up straight, BUT do not forget to take all the painkillers they prescribe at the right times until the prescription runs out. I made the mistake of feeling like I was okay in my first recovery and forgot to take them. I was not okay! Second time round I took them all at exactly the right time and was fine, despite having a 1 year old and a newborn to look after.

Big knickers to come above your scar are a must as well as continue wearing maternity leggings which come up high.

I had section and thought it was brilliant, I got up and about as soon as I could I did hurt at first but it helped me heal I think as I was moving. Tip from me would be when you get up shuffle to the open part of the bed and lower the bed until your feet are on the floor and then raise the bed standing up with it.

I wasn't able to breastfeed as my milk didn't come until day 4 however I had formula with me as advised so covered all bases

Good luck xx

If it’s a planned c section you might be able to choose the music in the delivery room (or at Hearst the radio station) 😄. (You might not be able to stop the surgeons chatting about their most recent round of golf though…

Also if you don’t already know the sex of the baby you could ask them to show you (or your OH if the curtain is too high so that you can find out for yourselves.

Big pants, be religious about the pain killers.

For one of my dc the hospital attached a rope to the end of the bed so that I could pull myself up - it was a brilliant idea.

Check doors arrangements with the hospital - whether you are expected to collect meals housed from the trolley in the corridor/ do they bring them too you, etc. if you prefer, get your OH to bring food in.

*at least

*check food

Massive pants
Codeine and ibuprofen for home
Peppermint oil in hot water for the trapped wind
Arnica cream for the bruising
I was up and about the day after but take things slowly and accept all the help you are offered!

I breastfed both in recovery room with no issues. Your milk might come in day 4/5ish but colostrum is plenty for them until it does. Don't be bullied into 'topping up' with any formula, it will disrupt your supply

Be prepared that your time slot might get bumped for any emergency sections. My first was emcs andsecond was elcs and was pushed from 8am to 2pm as they had 3 emergency ones

Good book
Nice snacks and drinks
Camera/phone

Congratulations

Oh and an extra long phone cable in the hospital bag!! Need the phone charged for all the pictures and messages and Netflix!

Ladies, thank you for all replies.

Did you buy any special dressing/plaster to cover the wound while showering?

id get a baby change unit on market place - far easier to change baby than trying to at other places

walking with the pram, just round the block at first, but after 10 days this should be fine and keep building up the walking.

coughing and laughing will be difficult as the muscles you use for these activities will be effected, be careful

hope all goes well for you

Don't be bullied into 'topping up' with any formula, it will disrupt your supply

good advice

@ivykaty44

Don't be bullied into 'topping up' with any formula, it will disrupt your supply

good advice

Is it?

Because some women might not have a choice. My baby would have gone very hungry.

I've had 2 c sections and breastfed both - no issues at all. The most important thing is to put the baby to the breast as often as possible to stimulate supply so feed on demand (and if you feel like a 24/7 feeding machine you're doing it right - it's exhausting at first but gets much easier).

My top tip for quick recovery is to get moving as soon as you can. Once you're delivered to the ward, ask the midwife when you should be able to get up and then ring your buzzer at that time and ask for help doing it. Keep on top of painkillers to help you move easier. Keep pottering about in between resting and it will become gradually less painful. Conversely, once you start feeling pretty much back to normal (around 2 weeks for me), take it easy! Doing too much at that point can really set you back. Remember it's major abdominal surgery so you do need to let everything heal!

They will tell you what to do with the dressing. Mine both times was removed after 48 hours (do this in the shower if you're the one doing it as it's easier) and then the incision should be washed with warm water and thoroughly dried - air drying is best. Generally it doesn't need a dressing after that but if you spot any bleeding or fluid then do check with your midwife or GP - first time I had a minor infection and was advised to cover it until it stopped weeping.

Good luck!

Men's tight shorts underwear. The band will go up above your scar so it won't rub. It's also tight so helped me feel 'kept in place'

Stick a maternity pad on the inside against your scar so it's like a little pillow.

Take all the drugs they offer you.

And just take it easy.

Had no problem breastfeeding with either an emergency or planned section.

Best wishes

Agree with all above- get moving gently as you can but DO NOT lift or push or pull anything and stay religiously on top of pain relief.

I alternated an NSAID with either paracetamol or co-codamol every three hours (so took each every six hours, if that makes sense) so always had a steady dose of painkillers in me. God send.

Also. The poo. My god. Absolute hell. Take lactulose in the few days leading up to surgery and then every time you take co-codamol or paracetamol thereafter... honestly those first few pops hurt more than the recovery.

I also put a maxi-pad backwards against my scar; it really helped to reduce infection and protect it a bit. So the pad bit is against your scar and the sticky bit is in the waistband of your knickers.

Finally- once that wound is closed, massage twice daily with bio-oil. You'll thank me later for the poo and scar advice!

Get moving but not too much. So when you are at the hospital and they come to help you get up - as scary as it is - do it. I had a very kind midwife who helped with things like getting my underwear on (hubby at home at the time). The nurses will help you. And when you are still in the first few hours post op when you just can't move - ring the bell for help (assuming your partner can't stay).

To recover - once home. I am active mum with a toddler and I rested so much once home. No heavy lifting and short 20 min walks each day with pram to support.

I set alarms at night to wake up for pain killers so they never wore off. Or woke in pain.

For breastfeeding - my baby latched immediacy but my supply didn't come in by day 6 so I just had to stop. But during those first few days when the baby was feeding all night I found it much easier to sleep on the sofa. Much easier to sit upright from lying down on a sofa then bed and tv kept me sane during the long feeds