C-Section Must Haves

[OhPickle]

Booked for my second CS in a few weeks. Trying to make sure I’ve everything I need. Has anyone anything they would recommend to make recovery easier both at home and in hospital? I feel like I’m forgetting stuff 😅

In my hospital bag I have:
Shower Gel/Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorant
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Face wash/creams
Hairbrush/Bobbles/Hair Claw
Washcloth
Hair & Body towel
Flip Flops/slippers
Nightie
Short PJ’s
Light dressing gown
Nursing bras x2
5x pairs of high waisted pants
Windeze
Maternity pads

Night before I plan on packing:
Phone charger
Hair dryer
Going home clothes
Water bottle with straw
Snacks
Non-fizzy juice

I also was going to take a nursing pillow in as with my DS I used a couple of hospital pillows to prop him up on my arm - did anyone else do this or am I best leaving it at home? I’m lucky that my hospital only has individual rooms so I’m not restricted on what I can take in with me.

Any tips on making it easier to get out of bed when I am home? I think I found this hardest last time. DH was a superstar but he’ll also have to entertain our DS this time round so I don’t want to be completely reliant on him as much as I know he’d always help lol.

Sanitary towels

When I was in having DD1, the woman opposite had a camelbak water bag (the type you put into a rucksack with a tube to drink from) which she attached to the side of her bed so she could always reach her drink without needing the little hospital table or wedging a bottle in with her. Her partner couldn’t stay and I thought it was a really good idea!

stock up on ibuprofen and paracetamol to have at home!

Eeeee I took, all of the above and didnt use half of it. Planned sections are so easy going! You'll have you're beautiful baby to care about. Good luck!

i took WAY too much stuff thinking I’d be in for three days or so but was up and about the next morning and begged for an early discharge.

I couldn’t have done without:

• a handheld fan, it was roasting
• a big water bottle
• and extra pillow
• SNACKS (I’d missed ward dinner by the time I got there and the toast was sadly a myth
• Had my own paracetamol and ibuprofen
• a phone charger with a long long lead, the socket was miles from the bed

i definitely couldn’t have been arsed with a hairdryer but I did take nice shower gel, and flip flops as the hospital floor was manky.

At home I just kept up with the painkillers, and didn’t find it hard getting in and out of bed. Hardest and most uncomfortable thing was my first poo 😳

Same here!! Well I had Ds at 4.24 back onto the ward at 6pm and wasn’t offered a crumb to eat until 9am the next day. I hadn’t been able to eat since the night before the section. I was ravenous. Luckily I bought snacks although I puked them all back up and was then sick for 2 days straight after the section 😒 also agree it’s so hot. The midwife got me a fan though, probably because the heat wasn’t helping with being sick

Peppermint tea capsules. Start on them asap. The trapped gas pain in my ribs when I was 7 days pp was the worse thing of the whole process. I was screaming at 3am, never felt pain like it. Easily resolved with a few doses of the peppermint capsules though wish I had started taking them straight away to prevent it!

make sure your pp knickers are HUGE. I was so swollen after that the knickers I bought and tried on the week before I had him no longer fit once he was out as the swelling was so bad

Oh god that sounds horrible, I’m sorry you were so sick!

same, I ate at about 8pm the night before, last c sec of the day and on ward at 9pm. Covid times so DH only around for the main event, and they wouldn’t let him back up to the ward to deliver me a cheese and ham toastie 😭

A long lead charger or even better a powerbank.
Peppermint tea (at home)
Flip flops

Vaseline! My lips were so dry during the section ...

Some glycerine suppositories for the first post section shit.

@FanofLeaves no visitors or birth partner was allowed on the ward past 8pm at my hospital :( so by the time Ds was a few hours old and I could think of my gut he’d already had to leave so couldn’t give me anything😒although he did bring me FOUR bacon and cheese turnovers the next morning😂 the lunch was bolognese, not a delight to throw up I must say😆

• Long lead charger
• Big water bottle (they need to see that you've passed urine twice before they'll let you home so chug!)
• fan and charger!

You ideally want a small bag you can grab with essentials in that can be stored within arm reach and isn't too heavy.

Re. Getting out of bed. Roll onto your side, throw your legs towards the floor and push yourself up sideways with your arms. You look ridiculous but it's easier than a more traditional stand up!

We had mint tea bags in the little day room on the ward and they really helped with the horrible, painful gas. Hope it all goes well for you!

Ooh I remember I had a long dressing gown lead tied on the end of the bed that I used as a hoist to sit up.

Dates or dried apricots. Got to keep that gut moving and stool soft.

Also- have you got a belt or scarf you can tie to the bottom of the bed. If you can do this then you can pull yourself up, hand over hand to sit from flat whilst your muscles knit back together.

I used my dressing gown belt tied round the coffee table leg to help me get up from sleeping on the sofa during the first few weeks.

A friend used a baby toilet step to help her get out of bed after hers that she found helpful.

Good luck x

Everyone’s lists are so long!!!
I don’t think juice or snacks are good. I wasn’t allowed anything for the 16 hours before my c section (third one).

i packed -

2 nighties
3 pairs pants
maternity pads
1 bra
phone charger
nappies
baby outfit x 3
washbag (with toothbrush, face wash etc).

overpacked for my first two births…..!!

How long will you be in there?!

The snacks are for after, because you’ve been fasting, and there’s often no provisions offered.

If you can try and get some compression pants or period pants. Compression pants help the scar and period pants are a god send.
Extra long charging lead is a must.
A pillow in the car for the journey home as every bump and turn is going to be uncomfortable.
Are you prepared for the blood thinning injections as generally you have then for either 10 days or 6 weeks or if you are really lucky you can get away with them.

ah I see!!

I got food right away after mine so I guess I didn’t mind not having any snacks

Prune juice
Fresh fruit
Fybogel.

Prioritise the fibre or you may still be regretting it ten years later (she says bitterly).

Good luck! My planned section was a beautiful thing, I hope yours is as positive.

Re the underwear, I used the disposable c section pants from Fridamom both times, for the first few days, really highwasted and could just bin (not the most environmentally friendly option but sometimes needs must! I known some people have used tena lady for those first few days, no need for the maternity pads in addition when wearing them.

A large bottle of laxative drink for if you end up constipated after surgery.
Sanitary towels to place over your wound. They help keep it clean and dry and it's easy to monitor any potential signs of infection.
Plastic bags to sit on in the car or bed if needs be so that you can turn your body easily if you need to stand up or twist.
Iron supplements and vit c tablets.

I would highly recommend:

-Lucosade Sport (or any other flat isotonic drink). In case you’re kept waiting for longer than planned as you’re not allowed to eat for a while before the surgery and it’s horrible having this extended. Gives a bit of energy/sugar in it so you won’t feel so shaky.

-Stool softener (eg Dulcose Ease). You don’t want to be pushing in any way down there for a while as it can hurt to tense in that way.

-Breastfeeding pillow (for bottles or breastfeeding baby). It really helps as you can lean back and feed baby without the pressure of the baby near your stomach.

-Also, just a pre-warning to mentally prepare for the after birth contractions after (especially if breastfeeding). It can be quite painful on the scar, make sure you let your midwives know if you are struggling with the pain and don’t feel bad if you need anything extra to help you after.

-Another tip, have everything you need within easy reach and organised so you can get to it without having to move too much.