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Original poster

Shower after c-section? How?

101 replies

dreamerkr · 20/10/2022 17:20

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!

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toulet · 20/10/2022 18:26

God, it's awful. Don't drop your shower gel like i did 😭

toulet · 20/10/2022 18:28

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.

There is such a discrepancy with pain relief. I was only offered paracetamol.

Mommabear20 · 20/10/2022 18:28

Not after a section, but was asked if I wanted to shower within 2 hours of having DD, felt like I had too (FTM) so did, was awful as felt dizzy and nearly passed out, so when I had DS and they mentioned a shower I said no, god I wish I had! While it was awful to actually shower, I definitely felt more human after having a shower post birth than not.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 20/10/2022 18:30

You need that shower gel on hook

Newuser82 · 20/10/2022 18:35

I had to have a shower after both of mine. Honestly it was like some sick kind of joke 😂. It's meant to be best to get up and walk around afterwards but I'd have been huge happy to have given it a miss!

CherryMaple · 20/10/2022 18:36

I have had 3 sections and they were all good experiences.

However, after the first one I nearly fainted in the shower - it was awful - and I could barely get back to my bed. The second one, the only thing I had in my ‘birth plan’ was that I was not going to have a shower after the delivery. The third one, the midwife WOKE ME after the section AT 4AM and told me to go and have a shower. I said No - I was asleep and the baby was asleep after feeding. She wrote in my notes that I had refused to shower 😊

I would recommend delaying the shower if you feel unsteady on your feet at all.

eurochick · 20/10/2022 18:36

I was in the shower about 9 hours after my section. I really needed it. I am terrified of hospitals and think I had terror BO. I stank. They removed the catheter and the midwife stayed in the bathroom with me on the other side of the shower curtain, to make sure I didn't fall.

starfishmummy · 20/10/2022 18:50

I was got up next day to have a bath which had been run for me!! The midwife helped me in and out. The following day I was left to my own devices and thought I'd have a shower but all the showers were the overbath sort, there were no grab rails and I just felt that without help getting in and out was going to be a problem. I had a strip wash.

blebbleb · 20/10/2022 18:54

I think I had mine about 24 hours after. Luckily I had my husband to help me take my clothes off and then I sat on the chair thingy. I struggled to wash my downstairs area but I just about managed. Just take it slowly and you'll be fine. You'll feel much better for doing so.

MrsCarson · 20/10/2022 19:03

Mine was forever ago.
I was on morphine and a lovely healthcare worker came with me, washed my back and made sure I had rinsed all the shampoo out as my hair was thick and curly I pretty much stood holding onto the grab rail. It felt wonderful. I had a dressing over my wound and the nurse came by and changed it after I was back in bed as it got a bit wet.

Crazycatlady83 · 20/10/2022 19:08

My CS was last year. The next day, I took the dressing off (hospital didn't replace it as said no need) and had a shower. DH looked after the baby. It was honestly fine! With my first 7 years ago, had a shower that same day (CS in early morning, shower by early evening) and the day after. The maternity nurse came the next day and asked if I needed help to have a shower but I said no need as already had two

I found the recovery after the CS as fine, I think the key is to get up and moving when you feel able but don't do too much!

Good luck

CryCeratops · 20/10/2022 19:10

I had a proper shower. The hospital had it in a wet room so no need to step over anything to get into it. And there was a little chair to put stuff on.

I can’t remember how long after the c-section it was though.

MrsAvocet · 20/10/2022 19:14

I think it varies massively from person to person. I was walking quite normally the morning after my section (had it in the afternoon so they didn't get me our of bed til next morning) And I'm not super brave or anything, it genuinely didn't hurt that much. I got in and out of the bath without difficulty the next day. But there were women on the ward who were clearly in a lot more pain than me and they couldn't manage that. I think it must depend to some degree on who does the section and under what circumstances. There was absolutely no rush about mine and I'm told my Consultant was recognised as being the best in the city, so I think that must have had an influence. I had hardly any bruising even and my scar is tiny. (So was my baby mind you.) When my dressing came off I was really nervous because others had told me horror stories but when I looked at it I thought "Is that it?" I ended up stuck in hospital for nearly 2 weeks afterwards because I had kidney problems from pre eclampsia but mobility and pain wise, honestly it was nowhere near as bad as I expected.
It's good to be prepared and ready for the worst but also to hope for the best! You might find, like me, that it's not too bad. I hope everything goes well for you,

cookiecreammmpie · 20/10/2022 19:14

I've had four sections. With three of them I had had a shower and changed from my hospital gown to pjs within about 4 hours. The other one was an emergency so I had a bed bath and then shower the next day. I wasn't forced to shower but encouraged and I wanted it, I felt gross lying there in the bed wearing nothing but the gown and a pad between my legs with blood all over the sheets. It was nice to feel clean, put knickers on and be able to move about.

tunabastard · 20/10/2022 19:15

For me it was within a few hours. I probably was very lucky. I had no pain and just cracked on with it. My recovery was really quick too. Back to normal in a couple of weeks. Driving again after a month. I was 39 and it was my first baby.

blitzen · 20/10/2022 19:28

Ask for help getting your surgical stockings off. And back on. A lovely student midwife helped with mine xx

abitunsureaboutthis · 20/10/2022 19:31

I had an emergency C-section this year. I ended up infected and with a large amount of bruising.

I think I showered the day after the operation, because of the bandage removal needed. Just very carefully. I did not even wash my hair, or use any products, in order to not make any infection worse. I also did not let the water hit the wound directly either, just kind of shielded the area with my hand and let the water hitting my breasts and tummy drip down to do the work. I took my partner with me to most bathroom visits in the beginning and to showers, so he could hoist me back up, help me dry, as things were quite painful. There was no chair/seating in the shower in my case, so I had to keep standing. It was all clean.

As a tip for others in the same position: As my wound was infected, I used a maternity pad (horizontally) over the wound after the bandage had been taken off. The (thick) maternity pad was super soft, cushioned any rubbing, and soaked up the pus and liquid that seeped from the wound. Obviously I changed it very regularly. Antibiotics helped to fight the infection.

Twokidsanddone · 20/10/2022 19:31

I had a shower I think around 8 hours after. I shuffled to the bathroom, Stripping was fine as I was still in a gown (they gave me two, one to wear properly and one to wear backwards as a jacket to hide the little dignity I still had!). It was easier showering in the hospital than at home as I couldn't lift my legs over the side of the bath. But I had bled on the bed and over my legs so I really, really wanted the shower. It was hard but it felt amazing shuffling back out in clean pyjamas and feeling a bit more human

Morielle · 20/10/2022 19:35

I couldn't wait for a shower and was begging for one as soon as possible which meant as soon as the spinal block had worn off. Your incision will be stitched and the water will just wash over it. I just needed to wash the operating theatre feeling off me.. felt a million dollars afterwards.. was probably about five hours after the c section. Catheter was still in.

MovinOnUp · 20/10/2022 19:50

I had an ELCS just over six months ago.
I had DS2 at 10ish and was offered a shower at around 5ish.
I was keen so I'm not sure if they would have made me or not.
I was helped into the shower, Made comfortable on a shower chair and the nurse made sure I could reach all of my toiletries etc.
Once I'd washed I pressed the buzzer for someone to come and get me.

Getting out of bed and showering so (IMO) early was nerve wracking to be honest and I was so shaky, But I made it and I did feel loads better for it.
So overall I would recommend trying to.

Bookclub99 · 20/10/2022 20:36

I've had two c sections at 7am in the morning and both times I was up and in the shower at about 7am the next day. It feels unmanageable at the time but you'll feel so much better afterwards. It's ok to get the wound wet, just dry it very carefully afterwards - no rubbing!

Spin4Gin · 20/10/2022 20:48

I had a shower the next day and it was the best feeling! The hospital shower had a seat so I could sit down under the water and it really helped me feel better after everything. I sweated literally buckets worth afterwards because of all the drugs and having a shower felt soo good. Just take your time, sit down if you can and try enjoy it. It's a great way to keep your scar clean, just let the water wash over it each day on the shower.

TheOrigRights · 20/10/2022 20:56

This is interesting. I've had 2 vaginal births so obviously no experience.
There's another thread where OP is asking for advice on how to decide between elective CS or induction and by far the majority are saying CS.
Even if induction is harder (if that's the right word) than CS, that the post partum recovery would be quicker seems like a really big factor to take into consideration.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 20/10/2022 21:09

Mine was about 5 hours. As soon as the spinal had worn off.

It honestly wasn't too bad. Same for the first post surgery poo. I think I'd read loads of horror stories and blown it all out of proportion for myself.

I had a bit of anxiety about leaving my baby while I went to shower but left my baby with his dad so he wasn't completely alone.

I was actually discharged the day after and at home showers were a bit harder. I did benefit from my partner being in there with me as I had to step in and out of the bath.

I also took some of the no rinse body wash soap from the hospital for freshening up.

Tassen · 20/10/2022 21:22

Had an EMCS 15 yrs ago & had a shower the next day.
Wasn't in any pain & walking was fine.
The only weird thing was having a shower with the catheter still attached to me.
The only difficulty I found was trying to get my clean knickers on after my shower.
I pressed a button for help (not realising it was the emergency button) & 3 terrified midwives rushed into the shower room.
The look of relief on their faces when I explained I needed help getting my undies on (blooming catheter) & we all just cracked up laughing!

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