My planned c-section is at 5 AM tomorrow morning! Are there any things you would recommend I do before hand? I'm not eating after 5 PM today, packing a robe, loose clothes, all my toiletries, a laptop, Boppy, breastpump (I want to use my own to get some practice in,) & have babies bag ready because my hospital dresses them in uncomfortable paper-towel like garments after birth, and I want her to be comfy too. I'm going to shave my tummy/southern region so I don't get the dry shave treatment *OUCH!* I still feel like I could be better prepared though. Any suggestions from the c-section veterans?
Just wanted to ask if your doc said not to eat after 5 pm?
My c/s was scheduled for 8 am and I was not to eat after midnight. But I ended up being pushed back 4 hours, and didn't have it till 12 pm. Just thinking you might be hungry and should double check on the "not eating after" time.
I never was shaved for either pregnancy, just an FYI.
He said not to eat after midnight like your OB. But I'm the first scheduled surgery of the day and they said I'll be the Operating room by no later than 6:30 AM. I read online that it's best not to eat 8-12 hours in advance, I just wanted to be on the safe side. But, I'll probably have to splurge and have a small dinner at 6 or 7 tonight!
He said not to eat after midnight like your OB. But I'm the first scheduled surgery of the day and they said I'll be the Operating room by no later than 6:30 AM. I read online that it's best not to eat 8-12 hours in advance, I just wanted to be on the safe side. But, I'll probably have to splurge and have a small dinner at 6 or 7 tonight!
Thanks ladies! Really appreciate it!!
Definitely eat something I was also the first scheduled c/s but was still pushed back 4 hours.
ETA: There was a girl rooming in with me while I was being prep'd, and she was scheduled after me and didn't get her c/s till 9 PM!!!
Oh my gosh, that is a scary thought! My OB only does surgeries in the early AM, because he has appointments at his office starting at 11 AM, so hopefully I will be in and out. He definitely did a good job reassuring me that it would be an "in and out" procedure, so I'm going to hope he wasn't just trying to comfort me! I would really hate to be there waiting, anticipating the surgery any longer than I have to!
Oh my gosh, that is a scary thought! My OB only does surgeries in the early AM, because he has appointments at his office starting at 11 AM, so hopefully I will be in and out. He definitely did a good job reassuring me that it would be an "in and out" procedure, so I'm going to hope he wasn't just trying to comfort me! I would really hate to be there waiting, anticipating the surgery any longer than I have to!
I hope you'll be in and out too. Let us know how it goes when you're up to it!
Don't worry about the c/s!!!! It's different than any other surgery because you get the GREATEST gift afterwards.
Not sure if you're interested, but here are my tips for a good c/s:
-expect it to be painful but don't let it overcome you or scare you from getting up and moving around
-getting up and moving around is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING to aid in a fast recovery
-take your pain meds as frequently as they will allow you, and as soon as possible EVEN IF you aren't feeling pain right after the c/s; you will probably have to request them
-take your stool softeners as frequently as they will allow you; it helps, trust me
-drink as much water as they will let you; I wasn't told this with my
first c/s, so I had the catheter in longer than I would have if I drank
more.
-same thing with after the catheter is out: drink lots; they will probably monitor your urine output, and it needs to be good
-utilize other people's help to do things (errands, cleaning, etc) but still make sure you are moving around
You can also have a c/s "birth plan" too, which I didn't know for my first c/s but I am so happy I had it.
Here was my "C/S birth plan":
---------- Anesthesia - Catheter inserted AFTER anesthesia.
During the Procedure - Prefer arms to not be strapped down. - If possible, I would like to HOLD the baby, not just be near him after he is born. - Would like someone to take a family photo of the three of us.
Newborn Procedures - Baby?s blood sugar checked ASAP. - Baby to be fed by Similac Alimentum formula ONLY. - Baby to be given pacifier supplied by mom or dad ONLY. - Would like husband to stay with new baby at all times.
Post-Op & Recovery - Request to be allowed to stand/walk as soon as possible, whenever it is safe.
- Request to be told what I can do to aid in recovery (example: drink
lots of water to urinate enough to be allowed to have catheter removed
ASAP). - Would like to have all allowed drugs (Tylenol, Advil,
Colace, etc) as often/frequently as allowed, without waiting for my
request. - Would like to have the IV removed ASAP. - Would like catheter removed ASAP.
THANK YOU! I think it really helped reading through your birth plan because I hadn't even thought about making one. I will definitely be using the majority of yours because I think it really makes sense. I definitely want LO to be with me ASAP in the recovery room because I'll be EBF and want to get her going on that as soon as they'll let me.
-expect it to be painful but don't let it overcome you or scare you from getting up and moving around
-getting up and moving around is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING to aid in a fast recovery
-take your pain meds as frequently as they will allow you, and as soon as possible EVEN IF you aren't feeling pain right after the c/s; you will probably have to request them
-take your stool softeners as frequently as they will allow you; it helps, trust me
-drink as much water as they will let you; I wasn't told this with my first c/s, so I had the catheter in longer than I would have if I drank more.
-same thing with after the catheter is out: drink lots; they will probably monitor your urine output, and it needs to be good
-utilize other people's help to do things (errands, cleaning, etc) but still make sure you are moving around
ALL of this, especially the pain meds. I hate taking pain meds because they make me me so groggy, but one of the nurses told me that I need to take the meds BEFORE I was in pain. After being in agony my first day, I took her advice and it really helped me to focus on bonding with DD. I also wish I had known that I wouldn't be able to drive for the first two weeks. Not that I was planning any major outings with a newborn, but I did need my MIL to drive DD and me to her Pedi appointments. Good luck! You'll do great!
I've had two c-sections and I have to agree with a lot of what's been posted already. Take the pain meds on schedule while you're in the hospital - when they run out you will be in PAIN and it's better not to let them lapse. You've just had major surgery after all! As for the stool softeners... my hospital wouldn't let me discharge until I'd had a BM and we were trying everything to "get things moving"... lots of water, prune juice... lovely, eh? And be sure to get up and moving when you're allowed to. I took a lap or two around the mom and baby unit when I was bored or in between visitors. Just make sure you have someone with you the first couple of times you do it just in case.
He said not to eat after midnight like your OB. But I'm the first scheduled surgery of the day and they said I'll be the Operating room by no later than 6:30 AM. I read online that it's best not to eat 8-12 hours in advance, I just wanted to be on the safe side. But, I'll probably have to splurge and have a small dinner at 6 or 7 tonight!
Thanks ladies! Really appreciate it!!
I would still make sure you are drinking, a lot, up until midnight. Being dehydrated is what causes the vomitting from the meds or at least that is what I was told before mine. I started to dry heave after the surgery and it was not cool!
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Re: C-section tomorrow morning! To prepare?
Just wanted to ask if your doc said not to eat after 5 pm?
My c/s was scheduled for 8 am and I was not to eat after midnight. But I ended up being pushed back 4 hours, and didn't have it till 12 pm. Just thinking you might be hungry and should double check on the "not eating after" time.
I never was shaved for either pregnancy, just an FYI.
Good luck!
He said not to eat after midnight like your OB. But I'm the first scheduled surgery of the day and they said I'll be the Operating room by no later than 6:30 AM. I read online that it's best not to eat 8-12 hours in advance, I just wanted to be on the safe side. But, I'll probably have to splurge and have a small dinner at 6 or 7 tonight!
Thanks ladies! Really appreciate it!!
Definitely eat something I was also the first scheduled c/s but was still pushed back 4 hours.
ETA: There was a girl rooming in with me while I was being prep'd, and she was scheduled after me and didn't get her c/s till 9 PM!!!
I hope you'll be in and out too. Let us know how it goes when you're up to it!
Don't worry about the c/s!!!! It's different than any other surgery because you get the GREATEST gift afterwards.
Not sure if you're interested, but here are my tips for a good c/s:
-expect it to be painful but don't let it overcome you or scare you from getting up and moving around
-getting up and moving around is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING to aid in a fast recovery
-take your pain meds as frequently as they will allow you, and as soon as possible EVEN IF you aren't feeling pain right after the c/s; you will probably have to request them
-take your stool softeners as frequently as they will allow you; it helps, trust me
-drink as much water as they will let you; I wasn't told this with my first c/s, so I had the catheter in longer than I would have if I drank more.
-same thing with after the catheter is out: drink lots; they will probably monitor your urine output, and it needs to be good
-utilize other people's help to do things (errands, cleaning, etc) but still make sure you are moving around
You can also have a c/s "birth plan" too, which I didn't know for my first c/s but I am so happy I had it.
Here was my "C/S birth plan":
----------
Anesthesia
- Catheter inserted AFTER anesthesia.
During the Procedure
- Prefer arms to not be strapped down.
- If possible, I would like to HOLD the baby, not just be near him after he is born.
- Would like someone to take a family photo of the three of us.
Newborn Procedures
- Baby?s blood sugar checked ASAP.
- Baby to be fed by Similac Alimentum formula ONLY.
- Baby to be given pacifier supplied by mom or dad ONLY.
- Would like husband to stay with new baby at all times.
Post-Op & Recovery
- Request to be allowed to stand/walk as soon as possible, whenever it is safe.
- Request to be told what I can do to aid in recovery (example: drink lots of water to urinate enough to be allowed to have catheter removed ASAP).
- Would like to have all allowed drugs (Tylenol, Advil, Colace, etc) as often/frequently as allowed, without waiting for my request.
- Would like to have the IV removed ASAP.
- Would like catheter removed ASAP.
ALL of this, especially the pain meds. I hate taking pain meds because they make me me so groggy, but one of the nurses told me that I need to take the meds BEFORE I was in pain. After being in agony my first day, I took her advice and it really helped me to focus on bonding with DD. I also wish I had known that I wouldn't be able to drive for the first two weeks. Not that I was planning any major outings with a newborn, but I did need my MIL to drive DD and me to her Pedi appointments. Good luck! You'll do great!
Congratulations!!!!
I've had two c-sections and I have to agree with a lot of what's been posted already. Take the pain meds on schedule while you're in the hospital - when they run out you will be in PAIN and it's better not to let them lapse. You've just had major surgery after all! As for the stool softeners... my hospital wouldn't let me discharge until I'd had a BM and we were trying everything to "get things moving"... lots of water, prune juice... lovely, eh? And be sure to get up and moving when you're allowed to. I took a lap or two around the mom and baby unit when I was bored or in between visitors. Just make sure you have someone with you the first couple of times you do it just in case.
I would still make sure you are drinking, a lot, up until midnight. Being dehydrated is what causes the vomitting from the meds or at least that is what I was told before mine. I started to dry heave after the surgery and it was not cool!