Elective C Section

[Lunamoon23]

Evening Ladies,

Wondering if there are any must haves for post C-section recovery.

For cleaning, recovery, pain relief, anything to help get back to normal self as soon as possible whilst also importantly taking the time to recover.

I keep seeing these tummy bands? Are they worth while.
What about scar treatment?
Stuff to keep it dry once out of hospital or do they supply you with these things?

Also, post birth bleeding - is it still a major thing even with a c-section birth?

Any helpful tips welcomed! First baby - not due until December but I'm a organiser and like to be well informed and organised! Especially while I'm still earning a full wage, makes sense to stock up /prepare now!

I believe I'm due around December 21st. Hoping and praying I'll feel well enough to venture to my grandparents for Christmas Day (tradition since I was a child, never missed one) and of course I'd be taking it easy the whole time I'm there, on the sofa with baby more than likely being passed around like the present that keeps on giving haha!

Thank you in advance!

@Lunamoon23
Honestly, I'm just here because your thread is helpful to me. I'm 32 wks and considering elective c section. I'm a FTM and have a lot of anxiety about vaginal birth, even though everyone insists that it's the preferred or safer option, my anxiety and intuition is telling me to ask for an elective c section, I also have the same concern as you, I want something planned and controlled. I have 4 friends due in July like me and they're all hoping for a natural birth. So just reading these posts is helpful..

@ceruleansky hello lovely! Well I'm glad this post is helpful to you.
Honestly, I've had so many comments from so many people regarding my choice to have a ELCS, 100% of them from people who have had vaginal births. I've given them absolutely no energy. People will always have opinions, but what works for one doesn't always work for another, and in the case of birthing your child I feel it's a completely personal choice that nobody else should have an input on in my opinion.
If you feel a c section is the better option for you, your baby and mental wellbeing then that is 100% what you should opt with. I've read the pros and cons of c section; and in my opinion the risks are no greater than that, that can occur in a vaginal birth.
Did you have your first via CS? As I saw you mentioned your a FTM? X

@Lunamoon23
Yes, you're right.
From whatever angle I look at it, vaginal births seem equally, if not more risky and I definitely have too much anxiety to leave it to chance. Although it isn't like what you see in the movies, and generally you have time to go to the hospital, there are still too many unknowns.

This is my first pregnancy! I meant I'm a first time mom.. so I have yet to talk to my doctor about what I've decided..
I read that you're due in December? How is everything going so far?

Hi OP. Something that really helped me was the lansinoh post birth wash bottle, as I couldn't bend forward to wash myself very well or bend round to wipe after going to the loo so this was really handy and helped me feel fresher!
You will still bleed after a section and I really liked the lil-lets maternity pads for this.
Something DH did for me too was got an old bed sheet, tied knots in it and tied it to the foot of the bed. That way I could use this to pull myself up out of bed without having to use my stomach muscles.
I think what really helped my recovery was staying mobile as much as possible. While I was in the hospital overnight I would practice getting up out of bed and walk to the toilet throughout the night. Once I was home I would gently walk around the house as much as I could, but being careful to listen to my body and stop when I felt I'd had enough.

I would highly recommend taking ready made formula as they don't supply it at the hospital. I didn't have enough milk to feed my daughter and she was screaming, as soon as we gave her a bottle of the ready made formula she was content and went to sleep.

@ceruleansky I think when it comes to birthing your baby, you have to go with whatever option makes you feel most at ease with it all. It's a terrifying ordeal, especially being first timers (I am too). There was never a doubt in my mind what option I wanted and those that knew me completely accepted and agreed with my decision. I only ever found it was those that had done birth vaginally that had an opinion on it, as if it's looked down upon, but I really didn't care. I'd definitely try to speak to your dr/midwife as soon as possible if a c section is what you'd like, as they usually like you to see a consultant to discuss prior too. I told my midwife at my very first appointment, at 7 weeks, and she's booked me to see the consultant at my 20 week scan.

Yes due in December, 21st. I'm currently 12 weeks, and have my first scab on Friday! Super excited for that! I've been extremely lucky in regard to symptoms. No sickness, virtually no nausea, the only thing I've suffered from is tiredness, but not so much so I'm having to nap throughout the day, and that's starting to ease up a little now too! I've definitely started to get a little bump now! How's your pregnancy been? And congrats!

@xerneas that's the exact advice my midwife gave me, so I'm definitely going to do so! She also said they have limited supply in hospitals so if I have a formula preference to take what I'd like. So I'm going to do so!

Hi OP my i had a December c section my due date was also 21st December I was booked in on the 14th and went home with my baby on the 15th so hopefully you would be home well before Christmas. My tips are high wasted pants plenty of paracetamol i didn't really feel uncomfortable but just incase. Make sure they give you a prescription for lactulose I definitely needed this!! Plenty of comfy clothes. Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy 😊.

Ok but just be aware you are unlikely to end up BF in that case. Midwives are not all that well educated on BF. Babies often do cry for milk the first day or two even when you're right there feeding them, mine did, it's because their cries increase your milk supply and send the signal to your body to make more milk, it's a natural process and the more they suckle the quicker your milk will come in. Besides it's just colostrum the first few days and they only need a tiny bit. Most people who take formula into hospital do not succeed in BFing because your milk won't come in as quickly if baby is not at the breast and baby will likely refuse breast later if you give a bottle straight away. When my baby was crying at my breast the second night in hospital I would 100 percent have given a bottle of formula if I had it. I'm so glad I didn't; baby did so well EBF and is breastfed to this day 11 months later. Obviously they do get a really full tummy quicker with formula the first night or two and they're more content quicker, but it is ultimately a UPF and much worse for your baby's health; not to mention their immunity, for which the effects are even more powerful.

Sorry that comment reads strangely, I meant not all midwives are well educated in BF. Some are amazing!

If you can try to have a birth. I've a huge 10cm hernia. I'm in constant pain, I vomit and am very ill. A c-section isn't an easy option.

A c-section is 3 times more likely to be fatal than a birth.

My best friend is a midwife who has additional training in breastfeeding support and she would never advise you to take milk into hospital. Everyone should be giving their baby colostrum, and if baby can't latch then the hospital will have give in an emergency. If you want a safety net it would be much better to express colostrum before the birth and harvest this in rather than formula. Better for baby's long term health by far.

Omg sorry for all the typos honestly I don't know what's wrong with me! But hopefully you got the gist.

Not everyone can breastfeed!

Everyone can feed their baby colostrum. It would be vanishingly rare not to produce it.

At the end of the day fed is best - my baby girl was bottle fed from the day she was born and she is perfectly healthy now and eats amazingly well. Formula feeding is not bad for babies health at all, yes breastfeeding has its advantages but becoming a mum for the first time is a lot to take in and breastfeeding can be incredibly stressful for a lot of women.
Yes you can express colostrum which I do recommend, I gave mine to my daughter when she was born and she finished nearly half of what I had with me! She was on my breast and was feeding for a while but then I obviously had nothing left for her and she needed to have the ready made formula. If I'd have just left her there she would have been starving, so thank god we had the ready made formula with us!! I was not prepared to leave my daughter hungry while waiting for my milk supply to increase.
I'm sure OP will make her own mind up and will make the best decision for her and her baby.

@TiredMumE whilst I appreciate your comments, the decision is made in regard to my preferred method to birth my baby. It isn't a decision I've made blindly, I've done 10 months worth of research while we were trying to conceive and it was a decision I felt most comfortable with. This post wasn't asking for peoples opinions on my choice of birthing method, but for advice from women who've had one themselves regarding recovery etc.

In regard to breastfeeding @BurbageBrook, I know all about the importance of colostrum and I didn't say I was going to pack formula as an easy option out if I struggle to breastfeed.. I've chosen to breastfeed as my first option because I am fully aware of the benefits. However, I will be taking formula with me as a last restore should it come to that, which hopefully, it won't.

Haha that's so strange! Just last night I was working out based on 39 weeks when my expected scheduled section would be and got the 14th!
Thank you for the advice. I'll be sure to pack some massive undies! And loose clothing to travel home in, I've added some of the Frida pants to my Amazon wish list to purchase closer to the time as I've heard they're super comfy!
How did you find your c section experience? Was it your first? Xxxxx

Yeah these comments aren't helpful either. I've had no issues at all after my c section and I plan to do it again with my second!

@xerneas I also never mentioned a C-section being a easy option, if she'd of read my previous comments it'd be very apparent why I've made that decision. Xxx

Accept all offers of help

If you need more or stronger pain killers ask for them

Batch cook and freeze as many meals as you can squeeze in your freezer

Arnica surgical strength tablets to help with recovery from bruising inside and out.

Fed is best is such a bonkers phrase. Fed is the bare minimum!

If you’re determined to breastfeed and there’s no physical reason why you can’t, having formula as back up won’t make it unlikely that you’ll breastfeed.

I took formula with me both times. Even when the feeding specialist tried to persuade me to go to formula I refused and carried on expressing and feeding colostrum. I didn’t use the formula once in either case and successful breastfed / am still feeding both my children.

The formula is handy if you’re too ill to fed, too tired, etc. I know several people who also took formula and none of them used it either.

C section definitely isn't the "easy" option but you absolutely have to do whatever is best for you and the only person who knows what that is, is you!
Same goes with however YOU choose to feed YOUR baby, you will make the right decision for you both ☺️ xx