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Original poster

C-Section Tips?

10 replies

PinkButtercups · 21/10/2022 23:49

Just that really.

I'm having twins and at the last scan Twin 1 is footling breech. They said from the beginning that c-section may be what I end up with. As long as everyone is safe I'm happy to go with whatever is needed but would like to be prepared as I can.

I've not had a c-section before and nobody I know has either so looking for recommendations that helped you with recovery or just in general.

I have a DS (3) and DP will have two weeks off.

Hopefully they will turn back to head down but incase they don't any tips would be great. Thank you Smile.

OP posts:
MummyJ36 · 22/10/2022 08:10

Hi OP, congratulations! How exciting to be having twins! I had a section recently so can offer a little advice. It’s amazing your partner is taking two weeks off but do you have anyone else who could help out after this period? A parent or sibling or good friend? You will have 3 kids to look after and from experience you will likely be quite immobile for the first few weeks, and even if you recover quickly you still have to take it easy to make sure you don’t set yourself back. Just someone who can help lift the babies, help with older DC, reach up high to get things from cupboards etc.
If older DC is in childcare I’d also recommend having them go an extra day or two for at least the first month after the babies arrive to give you a bit of a breather. My oldest DC was at school when my new DC arrived and I was grateful to have a bit of peace Monday-Friday (as much as I love older DC!!)

Its tempting to push yourself to “get back to normal” after a section but the easier you can take it the better. I had to accept the house would go to shit a bit for a short period and I’d live in my pjs for longer than I ideally wanted to!

Danascully2 · 22/10/2022 08:16

Congratulations! I haven't had twins but have had two sections and agree it's really important to pace yourself even once you're feeling a bit better, and if you possibly can find anyone else to help out for a bit longer then definitely do! Think about the layout of your house if it has stairs- to start with you won't be able to just pop up or down stairs to fetch something so make sure you have everything you need in easy reach. Also, get a litter picker as you won't be able to bend down to the floor for a while and I found it very useful for picking up things I'd dropped the first time and the second time for picking up toddler's toys from the floor.

AlexandraJJ · 22/10/2022 08:22

My tips would be to buy granny pants so the elastic doesn’t sit on your scar, it made me scream in hospital. Don’t use soap in the shower around there and take lactulose until you’ve had a few poops don’t strain

Nicolelinda96 · 22/10/2022 08:36

Buy some sanitary pants. I bought the always ones and they are super comfortable and go right over your scar. And it sounds obvious but take it easy as you can (life permitting) a few days after mine I tried a 15 min walk to the shop and started to feel very weak and dizzy.

Apollonia1 · 22/10/2022 08:46

I had a c-section with twins.
It was an amazing experience -very calm and over so quickly! Second twin born one minute after twin 1!

My recovery was fine - was back to normal within 3 days. I stayed in hospital for 5 nights. By the time I left hospital I was fully back to normal - no pain and no issue going up and down stairs, reaching to a cupboard etc. I didn't have a toddler like you do, but I don't think I would have wanted to pick up a toddler.
I had no help at home and since it was during lockdown, no one could visit. But I felt fine so didn't need help. I don't know if my post c-section experience was very lucky, or the norm.

121gigawatts · 22/10/2022 08:53

I really recommend the cantaloop c section knickers. I got my first pairs from John Lewis but you may be able to get them elsewhere. They're £35 for two pairs which I know is really pricey but they've really aided my recovery twice now. I recommended them to two friends who have had sections who both found them brilliant too. With my last baby I managed to find someone selling some (brand new still sealed in box) on ebay as they never ended up having section. My c sections and recoveries have been fine. Good luck OP 😊

Original poster
PinkButtercups · 22/10/2022 15:18

Thank you all.

I will take a look at all your suggestions.
It's been really helpful thank you.

My DS is in nursery Mon-Fri in the mornings. He can't go any longer and I have no help after the two weeks but if they stay nice and snug until my induction/C-section date it does mean I'll end up having DP for around 4 weeks and everyone else will also be off for Christmas 🤞🏼. Other than that there is no one else to do nursery drop offs and pick ups etc.

Thank you so much everyone Smile.

OP posts:
Astar8 · 18/12/2022 09:53

I had my DS last month with emergency c section so I have a lot of fresh advice.

  1. if you plan on breastfeeding or pumping your milk, know that it’s possible for your milk to come in after a week or so This is because of the shock your body goes through with a CS and the imbalanced hormones at this period. I was concerned that my baby was relying on formula for far too long, my breasts were soooo empty and light until day 7.
  2. like everyone said, recovery is hard! I started walking the next day had shower etc, felt like “oh this ain’t bad” once the epidural wore off 24hr later omg I couldn’t take a step up to my room! I needed all the help I could get for that first two weeks especially.
  3. don’t stop the pain relief until you feel totally better! I tried to wean my pain relief after a week n I found my selves sweating, shaking, headache…yeah never again. I finally stopped regular pain meds after 14days and took it as and when
  4. any pain relief with codeine will make you constipated (and may affect milk supply too so I’ve heard!)
  5. I slept on my back then rolled to my side after a week to get my DS from the bedside cot easier and my incision opened :( all the heamatoma from underneath pooled to one side and the big lump put pressure on the incision
  6. rest is your best friend. The more you rest n sleep the quicker your recovery! Don’t try and be a superwoman like me

i healed in a little over 2 weeks (I was set back because of my wound) so rest as much as you can and call on help. I had both parents & 6 siblings and I went from saying I’m only going to stay with them 1 week to staying with them for 4! :)

Greybeardy · 18/12/2022 12:04

@Astar8 re. your 4th point - codeine isn’t prescribed in the UK to women who intend to breastfeed because of the small risk of neonatal respiratory depression (not because of any effect on milk supply). Dihydrocodeine is often used though and does not have the same risk. (Both can make you constipated though). HTH.

Astar8 · 18/12/2022 13:02

Oh wow! I didn’t even know that! They gave me some :( and my midwife at my checkup told me to stop immediately! It’s a shame the hospital gave me it and never informed me of the risks …damn

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