C Section Prep / Aftercare

[AimeeLou84]

Hi All. I have a c section booked in for 39 weeks (2 weeks time). It’s my first baby but as I have GD, Poly and baby is measuring big I’ve opted for c section over induction. Is there anything you’d recommend I buy prior to going in to help my recovery. I’ve googled and so many things come up like a c section belt, silicone gel pads etc. Any advice if you’ve had a c section would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Pants that won't rub on your scar so big ones over scar, or low to avoid. Same with clothing but you may have stuff. No lifting. Pushing light stuff ok after a bit. No driving so do online shops. Stock up freezer. Good luck.

Really large pants few sizes bigger so there's no rubbing on the scar. Likewise loose high waisted trousers. I wore yoga/harem pants for the first few days/weeks. They'll likely give you lactulose for the first bowel movement which can be tricky as you won't want to strain for the first few times. Peppermint capsules/tea to help with trapped wind. Water bottle with a straw can be helpful when you want to drink laying down. Can be awkward to get up as you won't be able to your stomach muscles at first. But mostly ask for help and rest as much as possible with your feet up. Oh and most of all, keep up with regular pain relief medication, even if you feel better. You'll feel it once it really wears off. Take your own paracetamol/ibuprofen as sometimes they don't always come back in time with the meds. Good luck!

A really good nursing pillow. Even if you aren't planning to bf, having the baby up and away from the sitiches is ideal. I loved the cozyfix nursing pillow, which was more solid, rather than the soft pillows.

Had 2 c-sections and used it a massive amount during the first few months with both babies.

Peppermint tea for any post section trapped wind.

I also recommend a few dried prunes a day in advance of the section to make sure you aren't having to strain if constipated while you have a fresh scar, but unsure if you're able to have such sugary fruit with GD. If not, some dulcoease in the run up might be good too, as a stool softener.

Consider using Veet on your pubes the night before rather than let them shave you as it will be less itchy. Don't shave yourself though as it increases the risk of infection if done in advance.
Consider getting some silicon gel scar strips (any old brand off Amazon) as they help with itchiness and redness once the wound is healed at about 10 days.
Big pants and high waist leggings or joggers. Senna tablets. Take your own painkillers to hospital.

I managed 2 planned c-sections without any particular assisting products afterwards.

My main advice is don't (as I did first time) send partner out to phone everyone for an indefinite period while you're in the recovery room, as you'll be feeling rather woozy and you'll probably want them around, so by all means get them to ring close relatives but ensure they come back quickly.

Thank you all so much!! This is all really helpful! Does anyone know whether I’d need to stay in hospital the night?

Most women leave after 1-2 days in hospital, I would plan on stopping in for a couple of days and I'd be very surprised at anyone home the same day. Remember you have to be there early but your actual time slot can be any time during the day so baby might be born late afternoon in which case you'd still be numb that evening.

Big pants, enjoy still wearing your maternity clothes after the birth, if you’re offered the chance to pay for a private room for afterwards and can afford it it’s worth doing. Snacks for when you’re ready to eat afterwards. Comfy pillow that smells of home not hospital.

I had an emergency section at 7pm on a weds,they took the catheter out the following lunchtime-ish, I pooped by the evening 🙈😂, they were ready to let me go home on the Friday morning but had to wait for the pharmacist to issue paracetamol and ibuprofen and some injection things I had to do (baby pooped inside me while they were doing the C-section. We don’t have a problem pooping apparently 😂). Was home by 6pm Friday evening. We got chippy chips on the way home and my god I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed anything more 😂

Bottle or mixed feed. Honestly, hubby being able to do some of the night feeds so I could get a few solid hours sleep I think really helped. Sleep is so important so anything you can do to facilitate that is worth it.

I feel like I had a really easy recovery in all honesty, and barely needed the pain meds. Not bragging, but just trying to show they’re not always a hard recovery.

Good luck!

Keep topped up with painkillers, kiwi helps with the post op poop, big pants, I preferred supportive exercise leggings after, more pads than you think you’ll need. Hope all goes well! I had 2 sections and my second was an elective. Much more relaxed!

Big pants

Of course you need to stay the night in hospital 🫤 It’s major abdominal surgery, and you’ll have a catheter in for 7-24 hours after depending on various things.

Also, I had 1st around 7pm, would have been out mid afternoon the next day if I had wanted to be but I wanted some more breast feeding support so was home by 10pm that day instead.

2nd baby I had at 4pm (showered and catheter out by 11ish) and was ready to be let out by lunch time the next day. Make sure you drink lots as they’ll want to make sure you can pee a certain amount before you leave!

I think lots of hospitals work on a 24hr discharge plan now. They want you up and about asap. That obviously can change depending on how your section and recovery go.

Soft big pants 2 sizes bigger than your normal size, snacks, bottles of water (several 500ml sports cap ones easier than one big one), paracetamol for at home.
flip flops/ sliders, a light gown for the hospital, shortie pyjamas in case it’s hot on the ward.
I’d expect to be in hospital 1-2 nights but this can vary.
All the best! Xx

Get moving and walking around as soon as possible. Not fun but it massively helps. Avoid bending and twisting motions- don’t be tempted to get home and stick a load of laundry on. Stay on top of the pain and take the painkillers on a schedule. That’s it really, I didn’t need to buy any random stuff. I stayed 3 nights after my first, 2 after my second and I think 2 was about right. I couldn’t have gone home same day, the oramorph was in the hospital!!

I recently had an unplanned c section and I was so glad that I’d packed the Frida Mum disposable pants, when the nurses came to dress me after even they were saying how much they loved the pants and there’s a supplement that’s a mix of fibre and probiotic, I was fine going to the toilet after and I think that’s what helped.

Also some arnica. In the hospital I had my baby you could get peppermint oil tablets and peppermint tea but you had to ask

My DH was allowed to stay over night. A pillow and blanket for him, now thinking about it a foam mat as he had to sleep on the floor.

It was crucial that he did stay as the ward was so short staffed he had to do everything for us.

Was looking at those pants today I’ll get some! Thanks for all the tips! X

This is what I’m worried about, that they’ll leave me to it and my partner can’t stay and I’ll be screwed. I will have my sister at home waiting for me to help when I get out so that’s a bonus x

I'm on day 4 post elective c section, things I've found most helpful..

• veet the night before, no rubbing at all (so far anyway!)
• the Frida mom disposable pants
• some bf friendly loose dresses
• a handheld fan (for drying the scar after a shower as the incision is right in the crease under my bump and I didn't want to touch it or dab it dry and get it infected
• lots of ibuprofen and Paracetamol on hand just in case they're late getting to you
• a Peri bottle (to help clean myself before the first shower when I felt horrible but couldn't get to wipe properly, used it a couple of times since too when I've had a bigger amount of bleeding)
• a massive water bottle
• a cushion to help prop me up and/or use for breastfeeding
• a super long nightie with buttons down the front to allow for the catheter and boob access as well as air to the scar easily

I also asked to get sent home with a small amount of stronger pain relief as I had issues after my vaginal delivery, they allowed it so definitely ask!

Oh and LOTS of mints and peppermint tea for the wind. I didn't get any pain with it, just lits of burps and farts (so glamorous!) and was chewing mints/gum a LOT.

DH didn’t stay with me after DC2 due to covid and I only had to buzz the midwives for hot water to warm bottles. Everything else I was fine with. My advice would be get walking and get the catheter out asap and then it’ll be easier come overnight. Hopefully your DP will be able to stay but if he can’t, just some reassurance that it’s manageable!

Also, I’ve always been told it’s important to let the scar breathe so I’d do cotton pants not disposable ones. Also, they were just not needed. I know every woman is different but I was sort of expecting a bloodbath and actually the always normal sanitary pads more than covered it and I was really pleased to have packed them as the maternity pads were huge and not very comfortable. So I’d say take a mix of pads covering all bases but def go for cotton high waisted knickers!

Thanks so much all!!

Practice now, picking things up with your feet.
Sounds strange, but dropping something on the floor is almost devastating!
You will be not 100% again by the time your partner returns to work.
Also practice sitting forward, and leaning sideways without using your core - you'll restore that later - try not to put too much pressure on your back either, it's all so tricky so practice now :)
And, don't ever rush anything, especially getting out of bed.

Goodluck with the face itch too 🫣🫣

I’m really panicking about getting in and out of bed to feed baby. My partner won’t do the feeds or change her, I just know he wouldn’t. My mum has said she doesn’t mind staying for a week so I think I might need to take her up on that offer! I just don’t want to feel helpless and a burden 😩