Marslady that's really lovely list! I totally agree with it all.
I would also add that if you want to see your little baby being born, ask them to lower the screen so you can see your baby as s/he is coming out of your belly and being born!!! So excited for you
before you go into theatre,ask your surgeon:
whether they are going to use a cauterising blade, as it reduces bleeding from the wound.
how long your scar will be. Sometimes they do even big bikini ones and that can be a shock.
Ask them what you can take other than morphine afterwards for pain management - women cannot tolerate morphine as well as men. I know I couldn't at all and hallucinated!
Have a wax or veet your bits. Some surgeons look at your garden and cut accordingly - if you're very hairy they might think you don't mind having a long scar.
Get a lovely bottle of hypercium tincture to bathe the wound in so it will heal the nerves that will have been cut. Leave the bottle in the fridge so that the tincture is nice and cold. Arnica 200c is good and belles perennis 200c is great if arnica doesn't hit the spot. gelsemium if you are nervous before hand. Phosphorus 200c powder will help you get over the anasthetic.
Ask them if they are going to cut your muscles or push them aside and just cut your womb.
Ask them to be careful and to try not to cut too many nerves, or blood vessels (speaking from experience here ).
if you scar really easily ask them to put in non-sticker strips - they stop all the muscles sticking together. I can't remember the name of these at the mo, sorry.
If you are latex allergic tell them before hand and ask them and everyone who touches you to wear non latex gloves. Also watch out for latex in the macintosh they use on your bed afterwards.
Ask them if they are going to cut the peritoneum - the connective tissue that holds all the organs in place. if the cut through this without repairing it, you will end up with painful adhesions (like me).
Ask them if they are going to sew up your womb in two layers or one. Two layers reduces the risk of rupture if /when you get preggo again.
Ask them if you can have your head propped up by anything. Lying there on the table looking up at the ceiling is so uncomfortable and unnecessary. get a blanket over your feet - or socks - leg warmers - it gets cold and sometimes the adrenalin in the anesthetic makes you shake with cold and shock. It's nice to have a nice thick pair of socks on.
Ask if you can actually lie on some sterile sheets / gowns under your back - tables are cold.
Ask them to coat your baby's face from a vaginal swab - WHAT? you say??? yes, it's to introduce normal bacteria and fungus etc that your baby would normally get if born vaginally - much better against asthma if baby had some of these to colonise mouth nose and throat.
Ask them if you can have skin skin contact immediately, and also breastfeed asap - don't worry about having to sit up - baby will plop on and root. Your baby will weigh the same in an hour, Ask them to hold off on whipping her away for their measurements and records.
Take the drugs for pain relief, even if you're feeling fine, as they won't kick in in time when you have to move. Ask them for a few before you leave the hospital - saves you having to go to the chemist with a script for a few days anyway.
Try and get up as soon as possible after the op, Hold your tummy in with a pillow, and ask the nurse to help you when you're moving first.
Ask them for a peppermint drink to help with trapped wind.
The day before your operation, have a lot of water to drink, and if your bowel is sluggish have something like fybrogel. the last thing you want to be is constipated afterwards - you may find that your muscles don't work to push straight away.
last of all enjoy the birth of your little baby. and remember you are birthing your baby, you nurtured him / her in your womb and now you're giving birth to him - it's not easier to have surgery than just push. Some people may say to you that you didn't do 'it' properly, but you'll have a smiley scar on your tummy to prove you have great courage, and that you are a great mummy. After all they wouldn't let you adopt a baby on a day you had major abdominal surgery.
aand really last of all, rest after the baby is born - ask the m/w /lactation consultant to teach you how to feed your babe lying down. try not to get up for a month!! really rest and feed / cuddle and sleep when you can.
After a week or so, massage your scar with oil vit e / jojoba is good, and pull with your fingers, to loosen any adhesions that may have formed between the skin and underlying tissue. Have a look at this site maternal fitness here especially if your abdominal muscles don't come back together.
Good luck HTH