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 I was never asked about poop, they just wanted to know I was peeing ok after the catheter. I was asked a lot if I had any discomfort in my midwife follow up appointments and it was only then they asked about poo.

I was 39+5 for my section and that was actually brought forward from my initial date as I was hoping for a vaginal birth so I think it depends on your trust and your pregnancy when they’ll book you in.

My partner was in the operating room with me but couldn’t stay the night as there’s nowhere on the ward for him. He could be with us 8am-10pm though. When he wasn’t there I had a help button and someone would come and assist. I had my catheter in for the first night and couldn’t move from bed so the help was very needed then.

@SarahB88 oh that's great to know regarding the length in how long they can stay. I thought if they couldn't stay it'd be far more restrictive than that like most ward visiting hours ending at like 7pm. I hate hospitals so it's a comfort to know he'll be able to be with me for aslong as possible and hopefully (being the optimum word haha) I'll be able to sleep/rest when he isn't and before I know he'll be back again.
Was yours not a planned c section?
Also do they put the catheter in once your numbed and on the theatre table or is that done long before? I'm even nervous about that part. I have a serious hospital phobia. (Saw too much as a child with my dad) I've choosen an elective x section as for me, I felt more in control than a vaginal birth but I'm still a absolute wreak about it!

Haha sounds like me!
Found the one I took: Lactulose
Brand names: Duphalac, Lactugal.
But you need to drink at least 2l of water for them to work properly.

For partner question, I was in bog standard London hodpital in 2021 (still covid times) and my DH went into theatre, waited outside while I spent an hour in recovery room and then rest of the day and night with me.

During section in 2023 midwives were actually complaining bcs he left to see our toddler. They want partners there as it is significantly less work for them 😏

The catheter is put in once you’re numbed, you won’t feel it.

Double check your hospital for times for partner. My hospital my dh was allowed in with me at 6am for planned c section and had to leave by 9pm. My friends partner was only allowed to stay until 8pm where as my brother was able to stay all night. These were 3 different hospitals in the same city. We all had planned c sections so it will vary hospital to hospital.

@LondonFox that's great that you, I'll add that to my to buy list !! Is this advisable to take prior to the section, or after and once home??

And it seems it Varys from hospital to hospital regarding how long OHs can stay so I'll be sure to ask and I'll make my concerns and fears very clear in hopes they'll be a little more lenient with me. Unlikely but don't ask don't get I guess !

I'm so nervous and I've still got 6 months yet 😂 xxx

Oh that's a relief ! I guess you just feel them removing it?

And yeah it seems different hospitals have different rules so I'll definitely ask the question! Thank you! X

Another question as you ladies are being so great !

Epidural - petrified. Is it as bad as it sounds??

The thought of a huge needle going into your spine and then lying on it sounds outright horrendous!! (Needle phobia here, even have to lie down when having bloods taken, I'm a wimp!)

@Lunamoon23 my section was closed as planned because they booked me in the day before but I had reduced movements so baby had to come out quickly but it wasn’t a big emergency.

You shouldn’t feel pain or discomfort with the catheter coming out, it was super easy. I bled on the floor when it was being removed because I didn’t have a pad on obviously but it was all dealt with and didn’t hurt or make me too dizzy, so don’t be alarmed if that happens to you. It’s nothing to do with the catheter removal, just your regular bleeding.

I think it’s always a spinal they give you for section rather than epidural. I was given a local anaesthetic before the spinal was administered. I didn’t feel any pain but there was a lot of pushing so breathing techniques helped as you need to remain calm and in the correct position. Once it’s in you’ll feel a warm sensation which is normal, they should talk you through what to expect and I just held my partners hand whilst it was getting done. The cannula in my hand was the worst bit! But because I’d said I was worried about it they popped some numbing gel on my hand for me which took the edge off.

Hi OP, I'm 3 weeks post c section. A few tips I found helpful:

• tie a dressing gown cord to the foot of your bed at home so you can pull yourself from lying to sitting without putting all the strain on your abs.

• litter pickers/grabbers for picking things up off the floor without bending (gamechanger for tidying up toys etc if you have older children!)

• snack packs of dried apricots/prunes for your hospital bag. I read a lot of people saying laxatives/stool softeners are a must but tbh you just need to eat a healthy diet with plenty of fibre. IME going to the loo for the first time post-c section is waaay better than after an episiotomy/forceps delivery!...

Defo after!
It takes like 15min to few h to work,you very much would not want that before the op. Be home and comfortable!

They should allow birth partners unless you are in theatre in total anesthesya or overnight in icu recovery (partners can still visit in icu!)

Ask about partner.
NICE guidance does mention partner a lot
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng235/chapter/Recommendations
If they are stubborn you can digg your heals and say you will refuse section if you do not have partner present and that they are putting two lives in danger by denying you a partner (in case you need section for medical reasons). Medical staff can quickly change tone if you push them 😏

The spinal is nothing to worry about. I was petrified too but I think they inject a local anaesthetic into the area in your back before putting the spinal block in.
Once you’re frozen up the catheter goes in (I had no idea they’d done one until after!)

My cannula in my hand went in on the ward before I was taken to theatre but I think sometimes that’s done last minute (ie once you’re in theatre).

It was all quite slick and the worst part was turning up at 7am (having been nil by mouth since the night before) to find out where I was in the list (3rd) only for me to end up 7th because of a few emergencies that overtook me.
I was done at 38+9 but only because my consultant made a mistake in counting the dates and I should have been the next day. They don’t like to section before 39 weeks unless there’s good reason (and if they do so they’ll give you an injection to strengthen the baby’s lungs.) the sweet spot seems to be in the week between 39 and 40 weeks (they don’t want you to go into labour!)

@SarahB88 oh okay, totally understandable then! Hope everything was okay with baby when delivered!!

I keep reading regarding the hand cannula being the worst part. Why is that?? I'll defo be asking for numbing gel then, as I hate needles. And as far as I'm concerned the less pain I have to feel throughout the better. One of the reasons I opted for a elective c section - feeling more in control and knowing what's to come (unless complications of course) make me feel a little less stressed about it but none the less terrified.
I think that'll be the biggest thing for me, staying calm and not hyperventilating. I have these horrible day dreams of me going into shock of fear and hyperventilating when they're putting the spinal in or doing the surgery!! Don't know how I'm going to manage to keep myself calm to be honest.

Can you recall how long in total you were in theatre? I'm not going to ask questions throughout, my wish will be for them to get on with it without my knowledge.

I packed loads of stuff, including most of what’s been mentioned. Didn’t use any of it!! I went into labour early and only had to wait a few hours until a slot was free. Epidural was a relief from the labour pains, didn’t feel a thing!

My husband stayed for an hour and then had to leave at 10pm. I was awake all night so I begged to leave the next morning and they released me! No real pain, I only bled for a few days after. Pretty much carried in as normal, my appendix removal was a lot worse!!

My only recommendations are a cool bag with your favourite cold drinks and food. They didn’t feed me until the morning so I would have been without food for 24hrs since I’d last eaten! Also get up as soon as you can.

@Cardboardeaux annoying I don't have a headboard that I can tie a dressing gown cord around - as I have read that advice elsewhere. I will have my partner off with me for a few weeks though as he gets two weeks off over Christmas and then he's adding paternity onto the end of that, so he'll be able to assist me more often than not.

Unfortunately I hate prunes and apricots haha ! But I'll look for some high fibre snacks. Thank you.

Pack some Piriton just in case. . I had insane itching which can be a side affect of one of the medications . It was a nightmare trying to get some once I was back on the ward .

@LondonFox hahaha noted. I'll make sure I'm home and home for the day before taking any then for sure. With everything else to contend with, shitting myself doesn't need to be one of them haha!

Unfortunately I'm not having a c section for medical reasons as such. It's a choice, I have tokophobja and a server phobia of hospitals and medical interventions. So for me, a elective c section was the better choice for my mental health, being able to know step by step what would be happening beforehand (of course hopeful nothing untoward happens) makes me feel a tiny bit better than the thought of a Vaginal birth which could end of forceps or suction or even emergency c section where I haven't had time to process it.
I'm the worst person to be having a baby to be honest 😂😂 I manage pain well. Just shit scared of everything!!

Dates or raisins will do if you don't mind those!

Honestly my main tip is to have a well stocked freezer for meals. Makes a massive difference if DH can be there at your beck and call to bring things, change baby etc, without him having to be cooking etc in the first week or two.

My catheter fell out and I didn't even notice. So I can't imagine removal is very painful at all.

Don't take ready made formula honestly you'll just give it at a low ebb and it'll make EBF so much harder as baby won't be suckling to boost your supply. Your MILK doesn't come in straight away after any birth but your colostrum does. It's triggered by the removal of the placenta.

The first poo afterwards was fine. I didn’t take anything and there was no issue, no pain. if you are having problems do tell the midwives. They are there to help. Catheter out was no pain either.
Bending up and down was fine. I did get stuck in a couple of chairs though
please talk to your midwife about your anxiety though. If they don’t know they can’t help

Oh really? My midwife actually advised it? She said some mothers have problems breastfeeding for multiple reasons and the hospital will have limited choice on formula so if I have a preference take some pre made formula with me to have on hand if needed?

Yes, have discussed with my midwife regarding my anxiety, she understands and agreed with it being my choice to have a ELCS for those reasons but I will keep mentioning it throughout my pregnancy journey to ensure I'm taken seriously about it.

I'll maybe have some stuff for pooing incase I have difficulties but hopefully won't. But I always say it's better to be prepared for any eventuality especially as I won't want to be venturing out much in the first few days I expect. Xxxxx

Hi OP,

I was reluctant to have a CS, but had to have one as they wanted baby out by a certain point and he just wasn’t cooperating. I weighed up induction vs CS, booked the CS for the latest date medically they were happy for me to go, and hoped he would make a spontaneous entrance - but it wasn’t to be.

So very glad I had a CS and not an induction. Yes, there are positive induction stories. But I hadn’t heard any, and had concerns around how my hospital manages them. My CS however was such a positive experience. It was truly lovely. I can’t describe it any other way, despite it being major surgery. It was perfect.

My top tips -

Take the movicol or whatever they offer. The first poo for me was not a pleasant experience. I did not listen and take enough. Regretted it! Also, orange juice. The HCA’s were force feeding me it after 5 days.

Move around and shower. Get the sticky plaster residue off from the dressing and cannulas etc asap.

You are highly likely to have some residual numbness, including in areas you don’t expect. This may feel like cold patches, fizzy patches like pins and needles, or like when you get a dead leg. Tell your midwife. This could be bum cheek, lower back, thighs, not just around the scar. Tell them. It’s usually nothing to worry about, but no one warned me and I was very worried. Sometimes it goes away quickly, sometimes it doesn’t.

Make sure you get spare surgical stockings to wear afterwards, at least 2 pairs if not more.

I hope you have a positive experience, and that your little one has a peaceful entrance into the world :)

Good luck. Mine was booked two days before my due date. Just keep thinking of baby and holding them. My only extra comments - epidural really is ok, I’ve had two, both made me flinch a little when they went in but past that I didn’t feel them. I instead remember the music that was player (Last Christmas - Wham) and the jokes from the doctors. It works very quickly, I didn’t even think about laying on it. Knowing you’re meeting your baby very soon is the greatest distraction.
Gas in my shoulders and upper body was my worst side affect for a good week, more than the surgery wound! I didn’t know this, but have recently seen advice from a doctor about chewing gum post c-section as it helps. The midwife’s gave me a drink called hot fizz maybe? It was hot and mint and did help!
Take comfort from all the people who have experienced them and know we’re all there with you. The night before was worse for me than the actual day, just be prepared with calming techniques. Xx

I would have been booked at 40w for an elective. I ended up having to be booked at 39w for a breech baby, so not the same as PP.

See also this thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5093616-packing-for-a-c-section?reply=135912529

Go easy on the peppermint - it can affect milk production.