C-section

[Mummapenguin20]

Hey mummy’s can anyone that’s recently had a c-section give me must haves for there hospital bag x

Long charging cable for your phone!

Flask for tea or someone willing to make/pass you tea frequently 😄

Your own painkillers so you don't have to wait to be offered.

Pants that come high up and don't interfere with the incision

Good luck! Hope it all goes well. I'm 7 weeks post planned section and basically feel back to normal in terms of lifting etc.

Fab thank you. My c-section is in feb just want to get my bag sorted. Xx

Expensive but I found the Frida mom c section disposable underwear amazing! Would happily have continued wearing for a while 😂. Moved to these after a week (again so expensive 😫) https://www.johnlewis.com/cantaloop-caesarean-section-briefs-pack-of-2-white-black/p587769?size=s#product and after a few more weeks m&s high waisted underwear

long charger cable in case plug socket is far away, so you don’t have to move

big water bottle with built in straw

hand sanitiser to use before you can get yourself to a sink

lots of cereal bar type snacks as you’re so hungry afterwards (nil by mouth beforehand, my c section was 6pm so I hadn’t eaten all day!)

Oh and maybe a bottle of lactulose (if you’re prone to constipation). I didn’t bring S was told I could get it at the hospital but it was so hard to get them to give me any. It’s just over the counter ! (Was also a life saver with pregnancy constipation!)

Not for your hospital bag but something I wish I knew.
Shave.
EVERYTHING.
Or the nurse will do it for you.

Totally agree with @Ljhunt on the frida disposable underwear. They were a lot more comfortable and handy than I expected.

I found the maternity ward roasting so I’d also suggest a flask of cold water and lots of snacks because I found myself starving at night.

Long charging cable or even a portable charger for your phone is great.

I found it easier to have a separate bag for me and then for my baby as it meant my dh could grab things quickly.

I had one 2 weeks ago and agree with what everyone has said. Long charging cable and big knickers defo got me through!

I also took some peppermint capsules from Holland and Barret to keep trapped wind away - I didn't get any but it could be coincidence ha.

I also asked for a pico dressing on the wound and it's healed really nicely! My csection recovery has been a breeze compared to my forceps one.

Flip flops/ slip on shoes so you don't have to bend over. Not very glam, but those Skechers slip ins are awesome!

I also took a portable rechargeable fan that I got from Amazon. Firstly the ward was roasting but I used it to dry the dressing after a shower too!

You don't need to shave EVERYTHING. You might prefer to do the top of your bikini line. You can see on Google images where the scar will sit, just below the bikini line. Take off an inch and you'll likely be fine.

I let the nurse do it and that was absolutely fine as well.

A bottle with a straw really helped me.
good luck x

Portable charger (x2) so you don’t have to try get things plugged into sockets. Compression socks, extra wide shoes (feet will swell a lot).

Pah I tried, couldn't even see what I was doing let alone reach. Nurses did it, I'm sure they've seen it all before!

A portable charger was so useful!

Definitely a drinks bottle and some snacks like breakfast bars

Talc really helped with getting the stockings on and off between washing.

Lots of extra pillows at home. I slept upright for a while, much easier to manoeuvre. And a spare pillow to hold over your wound when sneezing, coughing, laughing etc.

Feeding pillow helped for when holding baby at home, stopped me having to rest on the wound.

While the nurses did indeed do a good job, I had a pico dressing that sat higher than they had shaved. Removing that a week later was not fun.
OK yes, you don't have to shave everything but i would do more than you think.

But you’re not supposed to I thought because of infection? They want to do it for you right?

I reckon you should ask if you should because they might say not to

My midwife told me to shave. Ask yours.
You can do an electric shave.

Whatever you do, don't drink any fizzy drinks until you can move around well:)

I had emergency c section last year and they didn't shave me. I suppose it might be different for a planned one. Flip flops definitely and a towel. And long charger and a big water bottle to fill, and Bluetooth earbuds so you can sleep if mums/babies are loud around you.

Big knickers
Your own painkillers
A nightie not pjs because you'll need a catheter
Maternity pads
A drink
Those pre-made bottles if you're not planning on breastfeeding

And yes to the person that said shave before you go in. I was advised to shave an inch off the top and that was definitely not enough! Removing the dressing a few days later was painful as fuck!

Disposable underwear- high waisted so that they are comfy (I got the Tena ones and they were amazing)

Windeze tablets- didn't know wind was a problem following section, but gosh did those tablets help!!

Water bottle with straw

Snacks- hospital has set eating times which never fits with when you are hungry!

Phone charger!

Agree with all of the above! I went for a portable charger over long cable and got hubby to charge the portable one during the day.

Definitely own painkillers and a straw water bottle. Flip-flops or slides rather than slippers so you can wear them to the shower. Snacks! Big knickers that go way over your scar, also soft and high waist clothing. A cardigan! Easy to put on and off rather than a dressing gown. Plenty of pads, you still bleed after a csection.

Definitely shave your bikini line and down, you don't need a Hollywood but after pulling the sticky dressing off pubes, I defo learnt my lesson for my second csection.

I waxed an inch or two off the top and that was enough for the C-section incision.

My top tip: glycerine suppositories.

When you feel the urge to poo a few days after your C-section, you'll probably be feeling very tender in your incision area and the idea of straining any muscles down there will horrify you. Just use a glycerine suppository, wait a few minutes until you really have to go, and your poo will just slide out easy as anything.

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but I highly recommend the lansinoh perineal wash bottle - great to use while you're sat on the toilet to give yourself a quick rinse/wash, makes things so much easier when you're feeling a bit sore x