Things you wish you knew before your c-section

jenniferurs · August 2014

Scheduled to go in next Thursday and just wondering if anyone has any good advice for before/during/after.

Thanks in advance, ladies!

marathonmommy82 · August 2014

Get set up somewhere in your house with everything you need -- water bottle, phone, charger, blankets, etc. You won't be able to move around a lot after the c.

Take it easy !!

msgde2shus · August 2014

Bring loose fitting yoga pants and shirts to the hospital - you will feel so much better after you have showered and can wear your own clothes the day after surgery. Get up and move as soon as they let you, but do not overdo it! Keep on top of your pain meds - one of my nurses was almost 2 hours late with my pain meds one day and I was crying I was hurting so much - it took two rounds (6 hours apart) of the meds to tackle the pain since they were not on top of them. Be prepared to not eat for about 36 hours - this shocks a lot of people, but they won't let you eat until you have passed gas, and even they they start you out on liquids only. Bring your own overnight pads - the hospital pads are HUGE and bulky - I preferred to wear my own underwear (granny panties!) and pads the day after surgery so I was more comfortable. Once you get home, make sure you have help for at least the first week and DO NOT overdo it. I am 7 days post c-section and I have been miserable the past 2 days because I was thinking I was feeling better and started acting like I was fine. The pain came back and the bleeding/clots became much heavier. Don'r be a hero - relax and just enjoy your baby!

Good luck - it is so worth it!

discohiker · August 2014

Agree with the others... pain meds = help going poo..... stay on it!

tracey007 · August 2014

I just had my 2nd csection. This one was much different because it was an emergency csection due to pre-e, the first was after a long labor. Here are a few things that I wish I had known:
1. With my first, the spinal made me feel like I couldn't breathe. I freaked and thought none was listening to me. It is normal though, and you can breathe!
2. This time we had our doula in the OR (I had planned on a vbac). She took pictures of ds while the pediatricians had him and brought them to me to see. Ds stayed in the or the whole time, but needed some oxygen for 9 minutes before he could be tight with me. It was great to have her show me the pics while I couldn't actually see him very well and something your so could do .
3. All of my underwear hit right in my incision. I took as many pairs from the hospital as I could and wear dh's boxer briefs sometimes. A little weird, but very comfy :-)
4. Totally agree with everything said about meds. One nurse wrote my med schedule on a white board so I could call for them if no one came. I write it down at home too, but it's really easy
to forget.
5. I was exhausted during my first surgery, so this time I didn't realize how much you can feel. No pain, but lots of movement and jostling. Dh had to reassure me a lot.
Good luck! Lots of places do things differently and my experiences at the same hospital 3 years apart were quite different so ask your OB lots of questions about what to expect.

abnelsen22 · August 2014

Hm, I had an emergency c. I agree with some of the above but also some is personal preference. I liked staying in the hospital gowns. I could be checked easily and no mess/fuss.

Ask the hospital for a belly band/support. They finally got me one on the second day and it made a ton of difference.

Definitely walk when able but just go slow and get assistance.

My first bm was not a big deal. They gave me stool softeners and milk of magnesia and I had no issues.

I also think I was lucky because I didn't have issues with gas.

I like @marathonmommy82‌ 's advice about getting home prepared before.

Also, I have the same problem as @tracey007 with all my underwear hitting right at the incision. The mesh underwear worked better for me that way.

I also was able to eat if I wanted to right away, but I was so dang exhausted from 24 hours of labor that I didn't want to.

And for me, coming off of the epidural/spinal was AWFUL. I shook like crazy for hours after. I just wish I would have known I'd have that reaction. I couldn't hold my baby and I just felt like dying. Oh, and I also felt like I couldn't breathe during the c. They actually had to keep reminding me.

Overall it wasn't the best experience, but it could be worse. I'm two weeks out now and I feel decent c-section wise.

cashews29 · August 2014

Keep them coming ladies. I'm going in next Thrusday!

jenniferurs · August 2014

cashews29 said:
Keep them coming ladies. I'm going in next Thrusday!

We're c-section date buddies!

mustangchick6504 · August 2014

Don't be afraid to deny visitors so you can get up and move. I stayed in bed the most of my stay because of visitors and it really set me back. Also, keep up on the pain meds. I had to ask for them - the nurses are often not allowed to assume and bring them to you. Also, be prepared to come home heavier than before you went in. They pumped me full of so many fluids I didn't even "lose" my baby's weight

Want a personalized experience?

Things you wish you knew before your c-section

Re: Things you wish you knew before your c-section

Choose Another Board

Search Boards