Being booked in for a c section how to prepare??

Debsfurn · March 2014

Hi ladies I'm being booked in for a c section. Any ideas how I can prepare for the opp and after?
Any opinions greatly appreciated
Thanks z

Justabean3 · March 2014

Start taking Colace a week before

jaysears · March 2014

What really helped me the 1st time.

1. Having a belly wrap, support belt. I pretty much slept in it.

2. My husband had at least 10 days off, this time 2 weeks. (I couldn't put on underwear or pants, or step out of shower without help)

3. My good friend arranged a meal drop off for dinner for the 1st 5 days. This was the best gift any of my friends did for me.

4. After I was released and sent home with oral meds I had to make sure I stayed on top of the meds sometimes overlapping them, so it didn't get out of hand.

5. Also picked up some prune juice, that 1st BM was very difficult.

apmom · March 2014

Make sure you have a boppy or some other kind of nursing pillow to help keep the little one off of the incision. Also, don't be afraid to use the nursery if your hospital has one so you can sleep a little... I found that my recovery was much easier without the labor part. (My eldest was an emergency c, the next two scheduled.)

mcgeeva · March 2014

Everything everyone else said.. I would definitely have comfy dresses on hand. I find it super uncomfortable to wear any pants. Even certain underwear hurts like a B if it hits the incision. If you do a band I would wait a little bit. I didn't do it with my emergency csection but this time around I will at 9 days which is when my doctor said I could start wearing it. I second stool softeners.. You can't push for a bm to save your life

maybebride · March 2014

After the numbing meds have been administered, don't be afraid to talk to the anesthesiologist about how you are feeling. I got very nauseous, so they were able to give me something for that.

Ask if your hospital allows for skin-to-skin (if this is something you were planning) immediately after baby is out. More and more hospitals allow that these days.

Get up and move around as soon as you want or they want. The sooner the better, the more the better. I believe I got up about 12 hours post-op and then as much as possible. Use a pillow to hold against your belly as you stand for as long as you need.

At least for the first week, take your meds on schedule, do not wait for the pain.

Colace colace colace. Say it with me, COLACE.

Everybody recovers differently. I have heard people who need help getting out of the bed and off the couch, who need to have people bring their babies to them. I didn't have any of that. I was up and dressed for family Thanksgiving when DS was 5 days old. Take recovery at your own speed.

boymomstrong · March 2014

maybebride said:
After the numbing meds have been administered, don't be afraid to talk to the anesthesiologist about how you are feeling. I got very nauseous, so they were able to give me something for that.

Ask if your hospital allows for skin-to-skin (if this is something you were planning) immediately after baby is out. More and more hospitals allow that these days.

Get up and move around as soon as you want or they want. The sooner the better, the more the better. I believe I got up about 12 hours post-op and then as much as possible. Use a pillow to hold against your belly as you stand for as long as you need.

At least for the first week, take your meds on schedule, do not wait for the pain.

Colace colace colace. Say it with me, COLACE.

Everybody recovers differently. I have heard people who need help getting out of the bed and off the couch, who need to have people bring their babies to them. I didn't have any of that. I was up and dressed for family Thanksgiving when DS was 5 days old. Take recovery at your own speed.

This was me exactly! Only my c was an emergency after labor so i could walk right away, i was up 2-3 hours later...

Also since its planned take advantage, be sure to get a massage your nails paintef and your hair done! I know thats all stuff i did not have energy for, for quite some time...

also its fun to be pretty in pictures not a sweaty mess! Lol

I am having a RCS this time and i will book all my appointments a week before!

good luck!

jtmomma13 · March 2014

Even though you are having a scheduled section- pack your bags ahead of time. My water broke and I ended up having an emergency section the night before my planned c section.

I really loved wearing a nice cotton bathrobe at the hospital. It helped to keep me cool during the sweats, didn't put any pressure on my incision and was easy access for nursing.

I always thought I would need my boppy but I didn't use it. I brought my own pillow and ended up using the pillows for support nursing. The boppy just seemed awkward and like too much cushion. I think it's a preference thing so I would bring it anyways!

Bring something to entertain your husband like an ipad- esp if you're going to nurse. 4 days in the hospital made for a restless husband.

I was really happy that I brought a compact with a good mirror (call me vein) but I had visitors the day I had my section (gave birth at 243AM and had visitors (family and a few close friends) in the afternoon. While I wasn't out of bed yet- I was glad I could fix myself a little bit.

I also agree on taking colace before. My pregnancy made me constipated and I was constantly taking stool softener but nothing could prepare me for that first PP poo. It was horrible.

I didn't find the pain to be bad at all after my c section. I didn't need the strong meds on time and I halved my dosage of them. I think everyone has their own pain management skills so don't be afraid to keep track of your meds and ask if you need them.

Disneygeek77 · March 2014

1. to reiterate, comfy clothes that won't bother your incision like skirts, gauchos or yoga pants. Also buy high waisted panties.

2. Bottled water because when you are sitting on the couch, you might not want to lean forward to grab a glass of water. Doing so might cause you some discomfort. So have bottled water you can have on the couch with you when you are nursing or just resting.

3. Disposable plates, cups and silverware to cut down on dirty dishes.

4. Colace and/or suppositories. Honestly, for me constipation is the worst part of my 3 c/s. The pain meds did a number on me and the Colace didn't work so the only relief I got was through suppositories. They worked though. I got relief within the hour. So if you have tried many methods and are too uncomfortable to wait hours or days for things to get moving, don't be afraid of using suppositories.

5. Tucks medicated pads for hemorrhoids.

jennifertewart · March 2014

Belly Bandit! Belly Bandit!

Popping in from N13... move as much as you can, I truly believe that is how I recovered quickly! (but don't push it)

Also since my DH was doing all the work the first few days it was nice to know he had extra clothes, toiletries, and snacks so he could feel comfortable too!

2010weddinggal · April 2014

Do not be surprised when the nurse comes in and washes you down there it feels really weird. Take the mesh undies for home you will love them, you still bleed like you gave birth vaginally.

zoeylove · April 2014

the number one thing that helped me was having my husband (or a support person) with me 24/7 for at least a week.

I couldn't get out of bed, in and out of chairs, or from sitting to standing positions by myself for the first few days. Responding to the baby quickly was a challenge also. Bending to pick things up was also not easy.

Take the stool softners daily & pain meds

Try and take the mesh undies from the hospital....they helped greatly because my regular undies fell where my incision was.

be patient ... get up and around but do not over do it

have comfy clothes that are high waisted or that you can wear up on your belly not below it.

good luck!

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