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returnhomegnome
member
Advice for c-section? My first is scheduled for Wednesday!
returnhomegnome
member
I'm 39 weeks and scheduled for a c-section for wednesday because my baby is breech.
Any words of advice about c-sections?
Should I bring my small laptop to email friends? Do I need to buy granny-panties in advance (I don't have any)? Will I get bored, or will I be to busy healing and resting and feeding (yes, I am planning to BF)? What about my DH, will he need anything? (my parents will be here so they will be a super big help)
Anything at all: what to pack, things to request while there, what to expect, "if I could do anything different"... anything at all. TIA!!
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Re: Advice for c-section? My first is scheduled for Wednesday!
Granny panties will be your best friend, the are high up and will stay off of your incision.
Take your meds as scheduled, even if you're not in pain
If you cough, sneeze, or laugh..hold a pillow tightly over your incision. This will keep it front hurting.
Congrats and good luck!
High waisted underwear and pants (or a dress). I could not wear my underwear or yoga pants because they rubbed on my incision.
A squishy pillow to put between your incision and the seatbelt.
I didn't like the boppy at all, but I love the Brestfriend pillow.
If you are going to BF- Figure out how to nurse laying on your side as soon as you can. It's so much easier than struggling into a sitting position every two hours in the middle of the night.
I will say the best advice that was given to me that helped was take your medicine, relax as much as you can, accept help as much as you feel the need.
Other than that I will say make sure you take comfortable clothes that won't rub your incision...
I really wanted DS with us all the time but we did have him put in the nursery for a few hours in the evening so we both could get some uninterrupted sleep. It did help especially when you have guest come see the baby.
Baby #2 MC June 2008
Baby #3 Born April 2009
Baby #4 due date February 2015
Try to relax. It's not bad at all, especially if you're scheduled for one instead of an emergency. Afterward, stay on top of your pain medicines. Do the breathing exercises they tell you to do. Ask for gas medicine if you need it. For me, the gas pain was worse than the incision pain. Don't drink anything carbonated, and don't use a straw.
Get up and walking as soon as they let you. For the first couple weeks, don't lift anything, even the baby if you can manage it. Make DH or family or friends hand the baby to you.
I had an emergency c/s. I was way over-prepared at the hospital, but I would definitely recommend taking your own shampoo/conditioner/body wash/towels (the towels they had at the hospital sucked) - your first PP shower is the best one you will ever have. I didn't wear my own clothes until the day we left, but make sure you take something that won't be too tight fitting over your incision. Ask for pain killers if you need them - they didn't offer them to me at all, I had to ask! Get up and walk as soon as they'll let you - it's hard and it hurts, but it'll help you heal faster. When you get home, take it easy and let people do whatever they will for you - if you overdo it, you'll regret it!
GL!
Have someone bring you your meals for the first week or two. It was tough enough just getting up and walking, but add a baby and no sleep, food was not happening. You will need some help.
I was very hot after my cesarian birth, so have something cool to wear.
~*DUE MARCH 5th 2014*~
Ditto!!
Just be sure to keep on top of the pain pills. When the nurses come in with them take them. Extra pillows help when you are trying to feed your LO the first couple of days.
I wish my surgery would have been scheduled later in the afternoon. I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning, my surgery was scheduled for 7:30. They wanted me there two hours early to prep and monitor things.
I packed towels from home but did not end up using them. I did not want to drag wet towels home with me.
The biggest, loosest pants you can find!!! You don't want anything remotely tight on your incision. I wore the hospital gown until the day I was discharged, and wished I had looser pants (even though I brought the biggest ones I owned)...and granny panties to hold the SUPER HUGE pads...b/c you will bleed heavy for at least a week.
Bring your own pillows and towels since hospital ones SUCK!!! Their towels are super small...I wanted a big soft towel.
Also...make sure you get up and walk around a little bit as soon as possible. It will hurt really bad at first, but will help you heal quicker overall. And use the nursery at night...they will bring baby to you when he/she needs to nurse (if BFing)...but you need to rest as much as possible while in the hospital ...b/c nobody is there to help once you're at home. Good luck!!! You'll be fine!
1. Buy high wasted panties now (about 1-2 sizes too big).
2. If you are taking your own clothing, take a black nursing gown (it won't rub the incision)
3. Get up and start moving as soon as possible (with Dr's ok). The sooner you get up and take a shower, and get moving, the better.
4. Ask for a perineum pack. (It's a long, cold pack that you can place over your incision to start help the swelling go down).
5. If DH wants to watch the operation, let him watch.
6. Take your pain meds even if you don't feel pain.
7. Don't overdo it when you get home. No cleaning, cooking, etc for a while. You may not feel it right then, but the next morning you will be bed ridden.
8. Please remember, when you look in the mirror and see everything swollen and maybe hanging, it won't be there for long. I cried when I saw my "new" body and now I'm back to normal. No big deal.
9. Accept help even if you don't want it. If your DH or Mom offers to change diapers, clothing, take a night shift, etc, take them up on it. If you do too much too soon, you won't be able to be there for LO.
This. They will be your best friend.
This. They will be your best friend.
Ditto all PPs. Mine was scheduled & I do agree it's easier that way.
Two things to add - make sure your high waisted panties don't have a thick waistband. I bought some Hanes that had a thicker waist band, & b/c I still had a bump, they would roll down & hit my incision.
Also, have DH spend the night w/ you in the hospital. I didn't want to send DS to the nursery (not like the nurses couldn't take care of him but I'm weird like that), & DH was a huge help at night. He basically did all diaper changes, etc. He would bring DS to me to nurse, cuddle, whatever - that way I could just stay in bed.
Get up & walk around ASAP. The first time you stand up is the hardest, but the sooner you get moving the better.
Also, try to have an LC come visit you within the first day since you're planning on BFing. It makes a world of difference. I had no colustrum, no nothing for 2 days after my c/s, & the LC made the difference between me BFing & not.
You are going to swell up like CRAZY afterwards. Bring some slippers or flip flops. Socks were a no-go because of the swelling.
Stay in your hospital gown for the first day or two....the first time you stand up, you're probably going to bleed all over the place (legs, floor, etc).
I got to the hospital at 6am, but didn't get into the OR until 1pm. I was very glad I had my laptop to keep me occupied. LO got sent to the NICU on the second day....and I was only allowed to see her when she woke up to be fed. Again, I was thankful for my laptop.
Milk of Magnesia is what finally got me pooping. But that was only after taking it everyday for over a week. You will have some nasty painful gas.
Same here. And I forgot about the laptop - can't hurt to bring it in case you get bored. Bring in some outside snacks for when you can eat, too. And I 100% agree w/ PP about seeing the LC as soon as you can & as often as you need to. I also had DH run home & get my nursing tank; I wore it under my hospital gown so I didn't feel so "out there."
this. I wasn't given one in the hospital and I didn't go for a week and the gas pains were HORRIBLE until I did
Make sure you have help, it's rough the first week
bring snacks for your dh ...
take a shower as soon as they clear you to, you will feel much better
good luck
That says it all!!
They will give you some in the hospital or at least they should. But have some colase at home waiting.
Also keep on top of your pain meds. Even if you feel good it's because the meds are working so stay on top of them.
Don't plan on doing too much after baby is born. You will be busy feeding baby, recovering and sleeping. We did not even turn the tv on in the hospital. I did use my laptop though.
I also agree that the brest friend is much better than the boppy. My baby was 7lbs at birth and he would fall into the gap between the boppy and me. The brest freind is seriously awesome
Relax and have video and pictures taken of your LO being born.
Ask if the staff can set up a mirror in OR so you can see your LO being born.
Take those pain killers.
Take those stool softeners and suppositories if need be.
If you plan on BFing, let the staff know ahead and make sure your LO latches well before a paci or a bottle.
Take as much help from the nurses and keep visitors OUT.
GL.
I agree with everyone here. Be on top of your pain pills, take them even if you don't feel pain. Have someone help you around for the first couple of weeks. Don't lift anything heavy. I use a belly wrap that help a lot when I was recovering, it help hold my tummy in when I sneezed, coughed or laughed. Lastly REST!!! Don't feel guiltly if you can't take care of LO right away you need to heal.
TEA & GRANNY PANTIES will be your best friends!
After the c-section only have hot liquids. Hot tea or hot water (I don't like tea) but you need to get the temperature inside your body back to normal so that you can pass gas and they will let you eat!
Buy those granny panties at least 2 sizes bigger than you think you need them. You want them to be as loose as possible.