Shower after c-section? How?

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I have my ELCS next week and I’ve been thinking about every teeny tiny thing. I’ve heard they make you take a shower before you get discharged from the ward? How many hours after c-section? And how exactly do you shower after the operation? A proper shower or like a sponge bath? Sorry if this is a silly question!

For me it was the next day. Someone had whipped out the catheter. Then someone else turned up and announced she needed to strip the bed and I should take a shower. I think I must have looked shocked and like this was an impossible feat. She told me she’d keep an eye on my baby and not to lock the door. And I used the electric bed to sit up, got out slowly, shuffled across the corridor to the bathroom and had a shower. I don’t know how. I think it was just pure compliance to a woman who was waiting to change the bed and brooked no argument.

Both times I had a shower the next day, they’re keen to get you up and moving. As for how - slowly!

In my experience it’s within a few hours! Six, maybe? It felt far too soon to me. I was shaking, could barely stand. It felt like some mad dystopian joke. However it probably was helpful to get up and about and I probably felt marginally better for it. I took nice smelling shower stuff with me both times I’ve had a baby to try and make me feel a bit more human again, if you can do that then that might help. Congratulations and best of like with the birth!

A proper shower? 😳

I couldn’t have one at home for three weeks because I couldn’t lift my legs high enough to get into the bath. Same issue in the hospital the step to get into the shower was too much to manage. 🤢< not envy

Hi, my wound was covered with a big waterproof dressing for the first few days. I had a shower the following day and it was fine, just made sure to have the things I needed up on a chair so I didn't have to bend down. It amazed me as to how quickly you can be mobile althoughI was grateful to have a good recovery. Wishing you all the best.

10 and 8 years ago now but no one forced me to go have a shower. Yes they checked I was ok moving around a bit and all the other stuff but I didn't want to have a shower there and waited til I got home. Only in for two nights with my first and one with my second. Felt more comfortable doing that at home with help from my DH.

They never made me take a shower with either of mine but you'll probably want to! Once the spinal wears off you'll want to move around anyway.

I waited till home with DD2 though as I didn't get catheter out till morning and then I was discharged late afternoon anyway so I just had one at home.

Didn't make me take a shower (4 yrs ago)

I felt better after showering, just take your time.

You walk very slowly and slightly bent over bit you will be able to do it about 24 to 36 hours after a c-section. You'll be able to tell who had a c-section and who had a vaginal birth on the ward. The VB women shuffle legs apart, the CS women shuffle stooped over!

Thank you so much guys ❤️

I’ve had 2 sections, but same both times - I showered that morning before going in, was first on the list so baby out early and then showered again the following morning. I was up and moving with catheter out by lunchtime but didn’t feel in need of a shower any sooner, it’s not like a section delivery is sweaty! My room had a shower over the bath so just climbed on over no problem, even shaved my legs before going home on day 2!

Yup, after a few hours, when the spinal has worn off. MY DP came with me, I don't know if that would be allowed everywhere but it really helped because I couldn't bend. He just held the soap and provided moral support.

You will need to get up and moving. Make sure you keep on top of your pain relief and ask for more if you can't cope - I had oramorph which was wonderful for the first few days.

I had one last year, and they didn’t make me shower!! I was only in for 15hrs after the section and got up and about as soon as I could. I had a shower when I got home, it was fine, despite having a freestanding bath to have to climb into! I’ve not heard of forced showering - I doubt then can make you!!!

Mine was the next day, it was actually lovely. Made me feel human again. Whilst you're in hospital they're really on top of your pain management and you should be able to request oramorph every 2 hours on top if needed so if you're worried just ask for some morphine and go in the shower 15 minutes after taking it. You don't have to wash hair or do any vigorous cleaning if you're not up to it, just stand under the water for a few minutes. I had to remove my steri strip dressing and midwife said it was easiest to do it in the shower after getting it really wet. My sister removed hers dry and said it was pure agony whereas in the shower I didn't feel a thing as it came off

I wasn’t made, or even asked to have a shower.

wouldn’t have anyway, the facilities weren’t great..

the only thing they wanted to see was that you’d had a poo, to make sure no bowel nicks etc. you can persuade them to let you go home with some good farting instead if your bowels aren’t cooperative 😂

I had one the next day - nice nurse helped me there there but I think it was as a pp has said to get you up and moving about. She told me to stand backwards and checked dressing straight afterward. I can't remember washing hair etc but I did feel better for it - but as I recall a nurse did help me. I was in for 5 days so think had 2 . 2nd was a bit quicker than the first. This was NHS but the shower was very close to the small and thankfully quiet ward.

Thanks everyone!

Oh also, I definitely wasn't "made" to have one. Midwife asked if I'd like one and I said yes please! They should have a chair in the bathroom you can put your things on so you don't need to bend down

I had my elcs last week (second baby) and nobody made me shower.

After my first (vaginal delivery but with bad tear and blood loss) I went for a shower to feel more human. As per a pp I took really nice products which helped me feel more me again. BUT I ended up feeling really light headed I think from the steam and how long I was in there as I was really slow moving.

I ended up waiting til I got home after my section (discharged day 2!) but had taken the nice products and some cheap flip flops as I didn't like the idea of shared showers 🤣

Wound has a huge waterproof dressing on which will be fine.
Take it slow.
Pat dry rather than rub

I actually planned to have my husband come with me in case I felt light headed again (our hospital they are single showers but like big ones with extra space like a disabled shower unit) but as I waited til I was home there was no awkward conversation with the midwives 🤣

No one suggested I have a shower, (and if they had, I’d have said no thank you because I wanted to wait until I got home) but I was up and moving around 6 hours after my c-section anyways so didn’t need any encouragement to move.

I’ve had 3 sections, 1983, 1987 and 1994, my recovery after each one varied.

In 1983 I did as I was told and was bullied by the midwives, in 1987, I was too ill to care (19 hours of labour, failed forceps and an emergency section, son in icu)
1994, I refused to have a bath or shower (dirty facilities) I questioned everything and created a scene when they wanted to put my baby in the nursery.
A lady in my little ward was given the wrong baby to feed in the night!
Its your body, your baby and you know what you can and can’t do.

I've had three sections and was told to go and shower the next day every time. It's hard shuffling there- a quick shower does the job don't worry about shampooing hair etc! You'll feel like a new woman afterwards!