Elective C Section - Tips Welcome

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Hi there,
I've been booked in for an elective section, and feel really positive about the decision.
I was wondering if anyone had any tips for post-section care? Anything I should take in my hospital bag etc?
Thank you!

Tablets for trapped wind! Don't go without them. I had the worst pain in my shoulder afterwards which I didn't realise was trapped wind. 'Passes' after a couple of days though. Peppermint tea works just aswell.
Shoes that you can just slide your feet into and plenty of snacks within easy reach.

When you get home it's worth tying a scarf/tie/belt to your headboard (if possible) to help lift yourself out of bed.

Slippers that you don't need to bend down to put on your feet. Flip flops for shower - I caught athlete's foot in hospital after a C Section.

I loved my elective c section experience. Here are some bits of advice I'd give:

• If you can, have a salon car pick you up from the hospital rather than a 4x4. It's hard work getting up into a 4x4.

• Ask the hospital to give you codeine pills as painkiller after the seciton at hopsital and also a set to take home. Discuss this with your midwife so they know. They'll break the worst of the pain in the first week after surgery. But don't stay on them longer than a week or two. I'm that first week I took a mix of codeine, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol.

Getting our of bed will be painful. As your partner to help you as much as possible, and watch videos on techniques to maneuver out of bed.

Try to spend 2 nights in hospital post c-section. It's hot so bring a fan. But equally I'm the first 24 hours or so, with the help of the idwife/nurse, get out of the hospital bed and then when you feel ready take a gentle walk around the bed.

Fill your freezer with delicious meals like lasagne.

You got this!

A long cable phone charger. Big pants. Tie something to the bottom of your bed to help you sit up. Dihydrocodeine
for pain relief once home. Audiobooks. Squash (no one likes tepid water that’s been in a jug all day and it’s really important to drink lots). Bio oil massage for the wound once fully healed.
My ELCS was lovely compared to my vaginal birth.

Following for tips! I'm booked next week!

Big knickers 🤷‍♀️
The higher the waistband the less it rubs the scar so big pants are your friend.
And a soft cushion for the seat of the car when going home 🤣you will without fail hit every pothole or speed bump and it will make you wince .
Pepper mints for the trapped wind in the shoulder and peppermint tea.

As someone who works in obstetrics... please don't take an absolute ton of stuff that you aren't sure about in, there's hardly any room (if you're in a bay with other patients i mean, side rooms are different) for anything as it is. When I was in having my son 14 months ago a woman brought in a big suitcase, a trolley suitcase and a gym bag, it was insane lol. I left stuff in the boot of the car and had hubby bring it in as needed to save space and save me tripping up around rhe bed side.

Sliders are the best thing I took with me, as people have said the showers... well, yeah don't go barefoot in those lol+

Slippers, massive pants, bigger the better! Have a supply of a mild laxative at home to help you go to the toilet after. The myriad of painkillers make constipation a real issue and you don't want to strain as it can be painful. Roll up a towel and wrap it around you when you go to the loo, it stops you feeling like your insides are going to fall out. Lots of cool nighties!

Thank you so much, did you buy anything for the aftercare of your scar?

High waist underwear so it sits on the bump rather than the hips/scar. I had to ask my dh to go and buy some the next morning because I only had an hours notice I was having a C-section.

Also if you like wearing bottoms/jeans etc then make sure to buy high waist leggings. Alternatively dresses/nightie etc to avoid putting bottoms on. I did this for the first few days then started wearing high waist leggings.

I had paracetamol and ibuprofen and managed on those for 2-3 weeks. The hospital supplied me with a stronger painkiller to take home but I didn’t take it in the end, stock up on them now so you have them in the house when needed.

Probably already on your list but maternity pads. Also be careful when having a shower, the second day after surgery I had one and I felt very lightheaded, I might have feinted I can’t remember. The midwife helped me get back into bed.

I wouldn't buy anything for the scar for a while after as it takes a while to heal properly and I would be worried about infection. I am 5 weeks out from section number 2 and the stitches aren't even dissolved yet.

For tying something onto the bottom of the bed to help get up at home, any suggestions for what to use on a divan bed?