Questions for C Section MoMs

CaliCarly77

I'm packing my bag this weekend, and wondering:

What did you wish you had brought with you to the hospital that you didn't?

Was there anything that you made someone bring you (other than food)?

What did you bring that you thought you would need but didn't use?

THANKS!! 

staceymack

Mine was unscheduled/urgent so initially I didn't have my bag. It was half packed at home. All I needed was my cellphone, its charger, toiletries, high waist bigger than my normal size underwear, clothes to wear home.

pinkmickey24

Honestly I didn't use half of what was in my bag. I used clothes to come home in, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and shampoo, and deodorant.

bumpuser924057

The things I unexpectedly used the most in the hospital were my nursing pillow and my velcro swaddle blankets. 

CaliCarly77

Amylou333 said:

(I don't know how to do the @ thing...)

Yes, I am having a c-section. My dr. doesn't recommend/do vag for twins, and after my research, I am fine with this plan. 

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful! 

carrotcake06

Mine was emergency and early, so I had no bag packed. Apparently I dictated a list to DH once I got out of surgery (I was put under), but I don't really remember.

Anyway, if you remember about 7-8years ago those gaucho style pants were really popular? Those are awesome post-c/s. I had him bring me those, nursing tanks, shower shoes/flip flops, my toiletries, glasses/contacts, phone charger.

LucyRicardo3

I had to send DH out to buy granny panties.

Id brought my pump from home, but my post partum nurses provided me with sterile supply kit for the hospital grade Medela pumps. The NICU also had pumps to borrow. So I didnt need mine. Definitely check before you go.

I hsd severe swelling with my csection that I did not have with vag deliveries of my older 2 singles. So I had to wear DHs tennis shoes home just to have something on my feet.

best wishes!

Brummy14

Mine was an emergency, as well, and I honestly just lived in the hospital gown and panties they gave me those first couple of days. I didn't want anything with any type of waist band whatsoever. I wore a blanket or sheet on my lap up to the NICU -- since I wasn't getting up or standing, anyway initially.  What I DID want were some good snacks. Especially in the MOTN when I was pumping every 2-3 hours (didn't need anything for that, either -- since they had a Medela Symphony in the room and supplied all of the parts).

raraavis28

What did you wish you had brought with you to the hospital that you didn't?

I wasn't expecting to be there as long as I was....I would have brought an extra set of PJs/comfy clothes

Was there anything that you made someone bring you (other than food)?

See above.....I had DH bring me an extra Tshirt and PJ pants.

What did you bring that you thought you would need but didn't use?

Didn't need pads....they also gave me underwear and socks. I was really glad that I brought my own towel from home, though.

Mrs. Alice

I had to have my mom go get smaller pads.  All they had were jumbo and huge ones at the hospital.  By day 3-4 by bleeding wasn't heavy at all.  A nursing bra is helpful too.  Otherwise everything else was just common sense stuff. Don't wear clothes or shoes that you mind getting blood on either.  Dark colors are typically better since they will hide stains.

dunnkat

I didn't even bother with nursing bras, it was easier to just go bra-less as often as I needed to feed them! I wish I brought more clothes, I wound up being there longer than I thought and it was a pain trying to describe what and where any clothes that fit me were to my husband. I don't know why I bothered with makeup or pads I just used there's, oh and bring huge underwear! Like way bigger than you think you need. I had to have DH run and get some because while pg I wore bikinis and after a c section I definitely needed some that went over the inscision.

tiffwedd

I packed a whole bag with all the things I thought I would need and honestly all I needed were the basic toiletries, socks, and clothes to wear home.  The hospital gave pads and the mesh undies, I thought I would want to get dressed (& wear a bra, Lol) but had no desire. 

SWA80

Mrs. Alice said:

I had to have my mom go get smaller pads.  All they had were jumbo and huge ones at the hospital.  By day 3-4 by bleeding wasn't heavy at all.  A nursing bra is helpful too.  Otherwise everything else was just common sense stuff.

This exactly. The huge pads made me feel like I had a diaper on.

SV917

I'm really glad I brought a nursing nightgown, nursing bras, a robe, flip flops and mascara (I always feel better with mascara). I wish I brought a second gown because my stay was so long. I liked the mess hipster undies they provided so I didn't use the underwear I packed. The pads are huge, so that's a good idea to bring your own. The only thing besides food that my husband brought was a coat (It was 50 degrees the morning I went in to the hospital, but in the 30s the night that I left) and cupcake hats for a newborn photo shoot (I had to cancel their newborn photo session because my daughter was (still is) in the NICU, but the hospital has a photographer that comes in so we had photos taken of my son).

CaliCarly77

This is so tremendously helpful! I am just now getting to shopping for things and will make sure to get all of the must haves. Especially the giant panties lol. 

Would my maternity yoga pants (with panel) make sense? I know they check you a lot so not sure those would work, but my legs get super cold! 

Stephanie2167

My c-section with DD was an emergency. Honestly I used their hospital gowns and mesh panties and pads until I got dressed to go home.

The only thing I didn't bring that I'm making sure I do this time is a nursing bra and nursing tanks. I wore the bra that I wore to the hospital and it was a PITA to nurse DD.

My hospital provides a boppy pillow and I'm hoping to use one of their pumps.

SWA80

@CaliCarly If you have a c section, they just check your incision so something like that that you can pull down works. You'd want a long shirt so your gigantic diaper pad doesn't show.

Mrs. Alice

CaliCarly77 said:

This is so tremendously helpful! I am just now getting to shopping for things and will make sure to get all of the must haves. Especially the giant panties lol. 

Would my maternity yoga pants (with panel) make sense? I know they check you a lot so not sure those would work, but my legs get super cold!

The first day you will probably be in a hospital gown but maternity yoga pants are great for after that.  It's really important that you walk around and get moving soon after surgery and I didn't feel all that comfortable going all around the hospital in a gown.  It's pretty easy to flip down elastic waist pants and they didn't bother my incision either.

Another thing: I wouldn't do any self tanner on your legs with a c/s.  You will have compression devices for on them for a little while and I've seen the tanner wear off on them and then look really strange!

LucyRicardo3

Mrs Alice, I'd totally forgotten about those leg compressions! Ugh!!!  lol,,,

I wore home some maternity pants that had the yoga-type waist band that were great. They kept everything from rubbing directly on my incision.

Oh, ALSO @Calicarly77 ,,,,I used a hair dryer on low/cold setting to dry out my incision after showers since you're don't want to rub a towel on it and you need it&the dressings fairly dry before getting dressed. A helpful tip I learned from the MoM's on this board!!

ougrad1

Unusual things that were helpful for me were my boppy and an extension cord so I could plug my computer in to charge and still have it on the rolling table thing and use it.

kgs0505

Because my girls were in NICU, I left my room a lot, and used my bathrobe way more than I thought I would.  I also didn't use my own night clothes, just used the hospital gowns.

shaunah816

I felt like my bag wound up being pretty sufficient. I developed a craving for trailmix while in the hospital, so I made my husband run out a couple times to pick some up. It was a great snack in-between hospital meal times, full of protein and fat, and it wouldn't get cold or go bad if the babies and I fell asleep while I had a container open in my lap so I'd recommend that!

As for what I didn't need, I packed my own granny panties, but found I really just wanted to use the mesh underwear the hospital gives you. I never wore my robe. I did use my twin breast feeding pillow, but I really didn't need it.

kellibelle0417

I also packed way more than I needed. I couldn't get out of bed until the day before I was released from the hospital. And, with how awful I felt there was no way a shower was in order for me. I showered at home the next day. I lived in the hospital gown and mesh underwear they provided. So much easier. Definitely pack: Flip flops Toothbrush and paste Hair ties Face wash and lotion Going home outfit (maternity yoga pants are perfect) Chapstick Snacks!! Cell and iPad chargers Camera I didn't use a nursing pillow. I didn't want my one from home in the hospital. Pillows worked fine at that point. Twins going home outfit and blankets