Tips for c-section

[georgie26493]

What are good things to do/prepare pre and post c-section? X

Eat dates before the operation. Then eat dates after the operation. Loads and loads of dates. They soften your stool and make it much easier to do your first poo afterwards. I learnt this the hard way with DC1 (very, very hard!), and was prepared for DC2.

Glycerine suppositories to help the post birth poop. And peppermint for trapped wind post surgery. You'll think you have pulled a muscle in your shoulder but it will be wind, trust me,!

Practice getting up and down from bed without using your stomach muscles, there's a knack to it, but if you forget and try to move normally it's a bit sore. Also try getting out of chairs while holding something without stomach muscles, I remember getting stuck if I sat down to feed DS, then couldn't get back up to put him in cot.

Do you know if you'll have someone staying overnight with you in hospital? If not make sure they put everything within easy reach before they leave, especially the help buzzer. If they are staying tell them to pack their own pillow, blanket & lots of food, they won't be fed and will be sleeping on a chair.

Get a long scarf or strap and have it hooked around your foot, holding one end in each hand. Pull on this to sit up so you're using arm muscles instead of trying to use tummy muscles.

Have things within reach and a bag to help you carry them around (water bottle, feeding stuff etc)

I also picked up loads of things with my feet while pregnant then after cs and when baby wearing. Practice it, it helps for when you can't bend down - pick up with toes and then catch it from behind your back with your hand.

Buy large underwear if you don’t have any already. After my C-section I had to send my dh out to buy me some. I only wore bikini line underwear before the csection and after I needed it to sit on my stomach instead to avoid irritating the scar.

Same again for leggings. I never wore them until after the csection, I went two sizes up and I still wear them daily now. I always used to wear jeans before.

I didn’t have any problems with pooing, I think I was odd though with that. Everyone else mentions problems with pooing, the hospital prescribed me laxatives but I never used it.

The first time I had a shower I feinted. I had it 36hrs after the op, luckily I was still in the hospital so I had help. I knew I was going light headed and asked for help in time. I think it was the heat and standing for 20 minutes that caused it. I haven’t heard anyone else who has had a C-section mention this problem, but just ask someone to be on hand to check on you the first time?

Good luck with it and your soon to be newborn.

Warn whoever is supporting you that I'm
Day 2 you will start farting a lot but they cannot laugh and make you laugh (even if it hilariously startles the baby) as it will hurt you to laugh.

You or your support person will have to
Inject your leg for ten days - they'll show you how in hospital - but be prepared for this

@georgie26493 get a big cushion to sit on to help getting up and down off the sofa and try start walking as soon as u feel ur ready as that will help nice sort walks to start with then increase bit longer each time

Veet your pubes, everything down to the pubic bone, so they don't use the scratchy dry clippers/razor and leave you with itchy regrowth!

They didn’t do that in the hospital I was in and they advise not to do it a few days before for infection reasons and stuff

These are all brilliant! Thank you x

Buy yourself a couple of spare pairs of compression socks. You will need to wear them for a while after the operation but the hospital only gives you one pair.

If you have a partner put the baby's crib/moses basket on their side of the bed so that they have to lift baby out and not you in the night

Buy Fridamom high waisted disposable pants. They are high waisted enough to stay off your incision.

Highly recommend Hibiscrub for before and after. Dates + high dose of magnesium for good poop (painkillers make you constipated). Have a support person ready to help with positioning, propping you in bed etc especially if you need to feed your baby and have your water bottle ready.

I wore disposable post c-section knickers for 2 weeks, they were amazing! I also lived in dresses! It’s so much easier to get dressed. Walk as much as you can even if you don’t feel like it. it’s really not that bad. Good luck 🤞

I put a walking stick by the side of my bed to help me get out!

Paracetamol for when you get home.

Someone to mind baby when you do your injections and to take you to appointments if necessary (they recommend waiting 6 to 8 weeks before driving).

Wish I'd packed some waterproof flip flops or crocs in my hospital bag for use in the shower room if you end up staying that long. Disposable knickers were a godsend!

Good luck and remember to take it steady.