ELCS hospital bag essentials

[CharlieAndMoose]

I've spent my whole pregnancy planning for and expecting a vaginal birth, but due to complications, I'm now birthing via ELCS. My hospital bag is already packed but it's pretty full in prep for various scenarios that I figured may have arisen during labour. I'm now thinking I'll have little use for things like the sports drinks and high energy snacks? Or the peri bottles/spritz/cooling pads. But there may be some things I haven't considered.

Mums who've had CS births - please hit me with your recommendations for essential items to take on the day! TIA.

Windeze. The trapped wind I had after my C-section was like nothing I've ever experienced before!

I agree. It hit me on day 7. I was screaming the house down at 3am. I’d never felt pain like it and it was the worse part of my whole c section experience. Peppermint capsules OP and start taking them soon after. Thankfully a few doses of the peppermint and it went. Midwife said if id have started taking them straight after the section it wouldn’t have been so bad

Comfortable clothes that are high waisted, try to avoid anything that will sit on your incision.

Adult nappies, I decided to try them for my second C-section and have never looked back, use them even for normal periods now. So much more comfortable, never leaked, doesn't bunch up or move around and doesn't bulge out over clothing.

A water bottle with a straw.

Baby wipes, toothbrush and a hair brush just to freshen up.

Even if you're in for 4/5 days, you don't need more than that.

Not directly answering your question but I had an EMCS and regret not having a plan in place at home to help me get in / out of bed easily. I mean DH helped me a lot but something to lean on to get up (think no stomach muscles)

I'd probably still keep the snacks. I spent a week in hospital after my EMCS and having the snacks within easy reach was a god send.

I had the disposable period pants last time round but due another CS in July and have opted for frida CS pants instead because they've got higher waist bands, although you still need separate pads. Once I was home I coped fine with regular big pants and pads.

Take loose fitting high waist pyjamas as well so they're well out the way of your scar. You'll have your scar check regularly so want to ensure easy access.

Maybe also get an extra long cable for your phone charger. If you're sore after birth, it'll save you needing to get up and reach for the cable.

Echoing high waisted soft pjs. Soft, button up clothes for if feeding tops are too tricky to put on. Snacks. Bottles of water. Single use icepacks. Lots of maternity pads.

Healthy and easy ready meals at home if you usually are the cook.

And make sure you have a moses basket ready at home (if you're unlucky like me, your wound will be the height of the cot).

Good luck ❤️

Agree keep all the snacks and sports drinks etc, I ate everything in my bag trying to get strong enough to leave hospital. Hopefully you won't need the peri bottle, spray etc etc, but yes lots of bleeding so pads etc are important. Easy clothes to put on and off. I was okay after my cs to be fair, the second one I found tougher to recover

A belt to tie round the bottom of hospital bed - whilst you can sit up using the electric bed, I found having the belt to pull up with those last couple of inches priceless.

Food. Decent food and high quality snacks.
Firet time round was dire, 2nd time I was prepared!

Sports bottle is easier than straw imo.

Long cable charger
Own pillow

Ready.made formula just in case

I had a serephine c section night dress with poppers which perfect.

Pack your things in a SMALL bag - like the one that can go under an airline seat.
You will have problems digging through a big bag on the floor when you are cut in half.
Put inside:
PAINKILLERS (unless you have medical reason not to use you can mix paracetamol and ibuprofene to cover you whole day. My hospital was shit on getting painkillers out).

Your gown (don't do py as trousers are too much faf)

Some kind of thin robe (if you do not change from hospital gown first day so it will cover your bum. Ask me why I know this...)

Panties, like big ones you wore during pregnancy

Incontinence pads

Slippers and phone charger

Water bottle for drinking and getting baby cotton wipes wet

All for the baby bcs again - you will need it within arms reach: Baby nappies, cotton wipes and wet wippes, some kind of ready to feed formula with throw away tits - I used aptamil mini botttles (in case you have problems breastfeeding and your hospital cows refuse to feed the baby)

Clothes for the baby - long sleeves and overalls, some sort of blanket. Newborns do get cold quickly.

Comb and basic toletries so you can wash yourself. Towel

Something to go home in

If you want to pack multiple items and susspect longer stay break all in two bags so each got the same items and you can just ask partner or nurse to swap them.

Good luck, hope you amd bub are out the next day :)

If you don’t mind me asking how comes you were in hospital a week post your EMCS please? I only ask as i had an EMCS for dc1 and was out in 1 night but i am currently considering a planned CS for dc2 (but the thought of possibly being in a week after terrifies me as I’ve never had a night away from dc1 I would really struggle). Sorry to ask and no problem if you don’t wish to reply :)

Were they happy with you putting this on the hospital bed? Obviously they must have been. My night midwives were scary so pretty sure they’d have hated it 😂

Chewing gum, peppermint tea, high waisted everything, long charger, decent pillows.

Some really helpful suggestions here, thank you! I've packed a nightdress and light dressing gown rather than PJs - hoping this will be OK, if a bit fancy looking for a hospital stay 😂 I will keep the snacks. Been trying to find premixed formula as I know that our local hospital doesn't provide it, but I haven't found any anywhere yet.

Did anyone harvest colustrum prior to birth and take it to hospital with them? I have managed to get a couple of partially filled syringes which are currently in the freezer, not sure if I should take them with me.

Take the colostrum. Best thing you can do especially if baby sleepy from your CS drugs. Good work Mama!

I didn't harvest colostrum and take it with me but both times I hand expressed using the syringes in hospital and fed baby that way for the first day or two while I couldn't bf and it was so helpful, baby got colostrum and I got to figure out what I was doing

Amazing I never managed to collect any colostrum xxx

@Givemethesun no problem at all. It started because baby was struggling to latch so I stayed an extra day to get support with feeding but he then developed jaundice and needed light therapy in the neonatal unit so I stayed in with him. No C-section complications or anything like that, fortunately.

I took in colostrum, didn't use it and then had to throw it away so if I were you I'd keep it in the freezer at home and then just express at hospital.

If you’re on a general ward and not a private room possibly earplugs for the odd moment you and your baby sleep….you will both be woken up by the other babies!

Snacks….nobody fed me, didn’t even get breakfast!

Notepad and pen to write down what pain relief you’ve had. Nobody remembered what I’d had when. Truly neglectful.

If you take it, have it on ice. A lot of mine spoiled (the best ones ofc!) because OH couldn't find anyone on duty to bung it in the fridge!

Thank you. Ah ok that makes sense and helpful to know

@GivemethesunI had an EMCS and was in for 4 days. Same as @Timeforyetanothernamechangewith the latching issues initially plus had GA so was really groggy for a couple of days. No complications otherwise and most people I know who've had CS have been out within 2 days. Hope this helps too!

Looong charging cable for your phone. Your own painkillers. Someone to help you overnight! Hope it goes well and congrats!