C section advice

[Natasha9]

Hi all. I’m having an elective c section on Monday baby is measuring on the 99th percentile and after research and consideration I feel a c section is safe for both baby and me. Can anyone tell me their experience of an elective c section? Any tips on recovery? Anything you wish you done differently? Anything as a must for my hospital bag? It would be really appreciated :)I’m worried if baby is big he won’t fit into much of the clothes we have now so am I best to buy some bigger? I’m currently moving home and feeling stressed to the max which I know isn’t good for me or baby but trying to be organised. Im a first time mum so it’s been difficult. Thanks in advance

Congratulations! I'm lying here with the result of my c-section from May last year 😊

Don't worry, everyone was friendly and efficient and lovely in my hospital. There are a lot of people in theatre, like maybe 10 and they were all brilliant. Take all the painkillers you're given and make sure you have ibuprofen and paracetamol for when you go home. Go easy on yourself after, even when you feel you can do things your body may not be ready for a few weeks.

Take (or have someone else take) photos and video - the first hours/days/weeks go so quickly!

I'm not sure what else - but good luck and it's worth all of it 🥰

Oh, and take the size predictiom with a pinch of salt, they're not always right!

Also maybe take a look at this thread: Honest experiences of c-section recovery www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4694825-honest-experiences-of-c-section-recovery

First of all, don't worry too much about percentiles - these can sometimes be a bit off. I was expecting a 10lb baby (97th percentile) and was induced early as a result. The induction didn't work and i ended up with a semi-elective csection (not emergency but not planned either). I'm actually having my 2nd csection (elective) later this month.

On recovery - take it as easy as possible. Follow all the advice on not lifting, bending etc but try to get balance right on moving around too - will help you recover quicker. No hoovering!!!!!

Use maternity pads along your incision for a bit - helps keep dry, feel supported & will also help identify any leakage, infection etc. I intend to do this again for a couple of weeks but have bought a csection support band to use after it.

I've made myself up little boxes for toilet & ensuite with maternity pads, baby wipes & spare pants just so that life is easier. Keeping things you need handy around house (up & downstairs) will help.

Keep on top of pain meds & take lactolose at first to help with painful bowel movements.

Support pillows in bed & a good quality nursing pillow (even if not breastfeeding).

Slip on shoes!!! I also found I needed my husband to help me put on pants for first couple days or so.

A pillow to support incision from seat belt in car - esp on way home from hospital.

I was told about possible trapped wind after surgery resulting in shoulder pain - didn't experience myself but heard peppermint tea helps.

I'm sure there's more so I'll pop back if anything comes to mind.

My experience of the surgery itself was that it was a lovely, relaxed way to meet my baby - I was ravenous after so take lots of snacks!!!

Oh and i should say - she was 8lb in the end at 97th percentile so not overly huge!

Congratulations! I also went with c-section when told baby was potentially up to 4.4kg and 10cm head (though as others have said the scans can be massively off in weight estimation). He was 3.9kg. Big head though.

I was so pleased to have c-section though. Very predictable, calm, recovery was fine, the most unpleasant bit was getting the catheter taken out, walking in less than 24 hours, didn't need any pain relief once home after 3 nights. My big worry with vaginal delivery was tearing and incontinence and while it may take a big longer to recover from c-section, I was back to running after 9-10 weeks (though then I read that I should wait till 12 weeks so eased off) and honestly I am so glad I didn't try to deliver vaginally.

Slip on shoes.

Pack your hospital bag with all the essentials clearly marked and at the top of the bag. When you're stuck in bed afterwards you'll want to be able to tell your DP or whoever to get you a clear shirt or your lip gloss or whatever and for them to be able to find it easily.

Elective c-sections can be a great experience. My recovery was fine and three kids later I can still jump on a trampoline etc unlike a lot of my friends with natural births. I think there is a lot of bad press around c-sections but there are upsides people don't talk about as much.

Practical advice ....

Take a sports cap water bottle for drinking whilst not quite upright.

Take some squash/cordial as room temp plain water is awful.

Take snacks - I was permanently starving and wanted sweet and a savoury snacks.

Don't worry too much about clothing sizes. It will fit, and if it doesn't then poppers can be left undone/baby can be swaddled in the blanket.

Take pants that are bigger than you have ever imagined. They can't be too big.

Washable sanitary pads were so much more comfortable than disposable ones.

Get up and walking as soon as you can. You may feel like a truck has hit you, but the sooner you're walking the better you'll feel.

Try to enjoy your time in the hospital. Other patients and their visitors might be hugely irritating, but focus on your lovely baby and don't wish the time away. They are so so tiny and new - hold them and breathe them in and avoid mentally rushing on the the next phase at home.

Good luck

That is beautiful advice, Happy!

Honestly c section operation itself was fine as an operation can go, recovery was hard for me, as they basically cut your core muscles. if I could have done one thing different was to start Pilates at atleast 12 weeks post recovery. I didn't do anything and had back problems Xx

Oh yeah and I didn't think I would bleed, how wrong was I 😂 take maternity pads also Xx

Get the mesh/ net underwear. I found it so much lighter against the incision and it allowed air to circulate and stopped the area getting sweaty. Also for when you get home, lots of pillows. I found sleeping lying down impossible post section, so I needed to be propped upright for about 10 days.

I had an emergency section but the recovery was the same!
My advice would be to take care of your back - by cutting the core muscles around the front, it weakens the 'band' that (excuse completely non medical terminology here) holds your lower back together, and for me at least it felt like my hips and lower back were loose and weak.
Lots of stretching, yoga and physio helped, but if I were to do it again, I'd also try to limit the amount of bending at the waist I had to do. If you don't have a changing table for the baby, maybe consider getting one - we didn't as we didn't have room at the time and it meant we were doing nappy changes on the bed or sofa which was not a good position for my back at all!
Once the scar has healed enough to be sealed, take a little time to massage the line of the scar every day as it will help to break down scar tissue below the skin and will heal better and lie smoother - same as any other major wound.
Good luck OP, hope you have wonderful experience meeting your lovely baby!!

I had an elective for my twins :)

Things I found incredibly helpful/wish I'd had sooner:

• nightie as well as pyjamas
• slip on shoes, slippers and plastic sliders for the shower
• a pillow to cover your incision on the way home in the car (helps with the belt and bumps)
• I borrowed a spare toilet support off my grandad, know it sounds weird but I couldn't pick myself up off the loo without it and meant I wasn't struggling
• hair bands and dry shampoo
• snacks
• premix baby milk in case you can't breastfeed or aren't planning to
• take all the painkillers you're offered
• take the laculose :)

i didn't do anything much for mine. Wasnt on mumsnet to read what I should be doing!! Got some big pants to avoid the scar.

Bjscuits and squash for the hospital.

Painkillers at home. That was it!

I'm also having a planned csection on Monday! My 3rd section, so obviously the experience hasn't put me off! Great advice here. It's overall a very calm and positive experience. I felt human after 5 days, almost normal by 10 days. Good luck, you'll be absolutely fine. 5 days until we meet our babies!

All excellent advice above.

Only thing I would add is that if you are remotely squeamish don't look up into the lights during surgery. They are normally mirrored and will give you a grandstand view of the surgery.

I had 2 elective c sections and both were amazing experiences. Very calm & peaceful.
My recovery was quick and easy. Two most important bits of advice...don't lift anything other than the baby, no matter how well you feel, in the first 6 weeks. And be very vigilant and conscientious about cleaning your scar to avoid infection.
Pack very big pants and very loose comfy clothes to be in hospital in/travel home in. Bring a small pillow to put over the scar area for things like the car ride home.