How was your PP different? Am I still going to bleed & have tons of discharge like other mom's do with a vaginal delivery? What PP items did you love or wish you would have had?
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You will still bleed. Stock up on maxi pads!
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I was surprised at how much bleeding I had! I thought it would be minimal, but I bled off and on for weeks. Maybe close to 10 weeks? I noticed that if I exerted myself the bleeding would get heavier. Things like pushing a shopping cart, for instance, made it start up again.
Things I was glad to have at the hospital
- warm socks and my pillow from home
- my smart phone + charger
- our camera + charger
- toiletries. My first shower was pure bliss.
- a change of loose pants to wear on the ride homeI changes into regular clothes the morning after my section and bled through my pants. I spent the rest of my time there in a hospital gown!
Things I was glad to have at home:
- huge pads. Took some from the hospital but didn't grab enough. Always brand pads worked great, though
- my prescription pain pills.
- Netflix
- a comfortable couch: I slept on the couch for 12 weeks only because our bed is high and hard to climb into! -
yup you will bleed just like a vaginal birth. Maxi pads are awesome to stock up on and then panty liners when the bleeding calms down...
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You still bleed! Make sure you have pads and stool softeners. And start taking them in the hospital.
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I didn't actually bleed a tremendous amount, definitely have the maxi pads at the ready, but I think its not as bad as vaginal births in that sense.
My advice is to move around afterwards as much as you can (within reason of course!) and the best tip I got was when laughing, sneexing, coughing or anything afterwards, hold a pillow over your stomach - it makes the incision a little less painful! -
I am 8 weeks out and my bleeding stopped at 6 weeks but I now have gross, thick discharge so I'm waiting for that to go away. At the hospital I was so glad I took comfy, one size too big night gowns from target, maternity yoga pants, and high top one size to big undies. I ended up swelling horribly from drugs given during labor so I had to cut the sides of them to make them fit but they are still so comfortable. At home I slept on the couch the first 4 weeks because it was too hard to sit up in bed. Like PP said if I did too much my bleeding would pick up. At home I was so happy to have the little spray bottle they give you at the hospital even though I didn't have a vaginal delivery.
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Yes you will bleed and have a heavy flow/discharge just like with a vaginal delivery - the uterus is shedding from building up for the past 40 weeks. The difference is you won't have a sore or stitched up vagina to deal with at the same time. Instead you will have a sore and stitched up stomach (the area at or around where the top of your underwear sits).
I wore huge full coverage underwear with the huge overnight pads for a few weeks. I didn't like the mesh underwear or giant pads the hospital gave me....but I think those first few days the giant ones may be the only thing that works. I switched to the always brand ones when I got home and preferred those. And for me I didn't bleed that bad once I got home (I was in the hospital for 4 day following my csection). Other than that I don't remember anything special I needed. I had purchased Tucks pads and some kind of numbing spray I read about but didn't need those. The hospital gives you a peri-bottle so you can rinse yourself I think next time I will bring my own pads and some giant underwear that I don't care about tossing away
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I didn't bleed that much, but definitely needed pads. I regret buying the super heavy duties, because I never used them.
The hardest part about my c-section was getting up from lying down and twisting motions. I had an easy-peasy recovery, because I was *determined* for it to be easy. (It's not always enough, but believing it helped!) It helps if you have something to hold on to to get out of bed (the hospital beds will give you a false sense of confidence!)
Like @Mrs. Jump Rope: the shower was heaven. I brought all my own toiletries too, stopping just short of bringing my own towel.
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yes, you'll still bleed. Take the pads from the hospital and the mesh undies because you will probably wear them for the first week or so pp. The best advice I was given by one of the nurses was to walk. I got up 12 hours after my c-section and walked. But when you get home try to not go up stairs too much. I also used my pregnancy pillow in bed to sort of prop me up and this help in getting in and out. I wish I had the arms reach co-sleeper because that would have been helpful in the first few weeks with feedings in the middle of the night. Getting in and out of bed was when I was in the most pain.
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Ah yes, I agree with @brady80: about the mesh undies! They don't cut into the incision area like regular undies would
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You will still bleed and I actually bled longer than I did with my regular delivery. I changed into yoga pants and a nursing tank after my shower, which was amazing. I suggest having the big pads. My nurses changed mine until I was able to get up. Be prepared for people to be all in your business and cleaning you up, etc. I enjoyed sitting up in the bed and I had one of those log body pillows. That helped me and helped us when we were nursing. My DH wanted a sweatshirt because I kept the room cold due to how I was feeling. Once they take the epidural out, get up and walk. It really does help. Also, take the pain meds and stool softeners. You don't win any awards for being in pain. Take them and you will heal and feel better faster.
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The two things I'd recommend most are a) a step stool to get in and out of bed more comfortably and b) a belly bandit, shaper, or wrap to help hold your stomach together. I was in crazy amounts of pain until one day I tried wearing a tight shaper... It was like night and day. They may give you an abdominal support thing in the hospital, but if not, get one!
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I agree with @Bookish: about both the step stool and the belly wrap. My bed at home is on the taller side and I'm short, so it was helpful to not have to climb into bed when I was still super sore.
The second day in the hospital was the worst for pain for me. Stay on top of the pain meds and most importantly, get up and walk!! I made 3 laps around the hospital floor each day I was there and I really think it helped me heal faster.
I'm 3 weeks pp now and the only issues I have is 1) still bleeding slightly- it comes and goes. And 2) my incision is taking longer to heal because I have a vertical scar that they had to cut across to make the incision. The place where they meet got a bit infected, but it's almost healed now. That shouldn't be a concern for you though.
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I agree with @lilteacherbee: with walking as much as possible. Moving is the best thing you can do. For the first couple of days, stay on top on your pain meds. And as for bleeding, it isn't nearly as bad as a vaginal birth because they clean out your uterus when they're in there. I've been using regular pads since 3 days pp. Bring granny panties to avoid having underwear rubbing your incision.
I'll probably think of more to add!
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I didn't bleed much, but I ended up back in the ER the day I got released from my c-section due to an impacted bowel. The worst hell you can imagine. It made surgery seem like a breeze. So make sure you use the bathroom before you leave the hospital! And I completely agree with keeping on top of your pain meds for a few days. On my second day I thought I was feeling great and didn't need them and an hour later I was crying (the only time I cried) from pain. When they wear off, you will be happy to have already taken another dose! And the hospital gave me a constrictor for my belly, it felt great to have the tight band around the surgery site, it felt really held in, if that makes sense.
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Bring a pillow with you when you leave the hospital - it helps to hold it tightly against your stomach while driving.
A step stool is a must! I never thought our bed was high until after my c/s - the stool was awesome!
Abdominal binder!! My mom picked one up for me and it was a life saver! It makes you feel 100 times better! Def get one!!!!
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totally agree with @Bookish: these were the two best things i had. i made a nest of pillows in our bed and used a step stool to get in/out, and had no trouble sleeping there. the wrap thing was so clutch, they gave it to me in the hospital and i wore it around the house (over my clothes) for a couple weeks PP. it really helped!
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I bled for about six weeks PP. I actually hated the mesh panties. My incision was so low that I was able to wear regular panties after a few days because they came up higher than my incision.
The hospital will provide you with an abdominal binder after the surgery, if they don't, ask for one. This helps majorly, it'll feel like your insides are going to fall out when the babies are out. I remember turning left and my belly skin would go right, ha ha. You can also get a nicer/different binder for later on. I wore mine for at least a week.
Stay on top of your meds! I made sure the nurses knew to wake me up to give me each dose so I didn't miss them and my pain really stayed at a minimum.
Start moving as soon as possible - this helps reduce your overall recovery time. It will be difficult that first time you try to get out of bed, though. I had my c-section at 2 a.m. and by 7 p.m. that evening they had me stand up. It was tough, but I'm so glad I did it!
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As PP said you still bleed, but mine wasn't as heavy as I expected & stopped after a few days. Still wore pads as protection though.
Things you will appreciate:
Nice big water bottle
Netflix
Thick pads/cotton undiesbest Advice:
get up right away, it hurts, it sucks, but I bounced back quickly. day 10 I was pretty much recovered (although don't over do it, I did on the day of newborn pictures & was down for 2 days.) Stay up on meds in the beginning, your body will thank you, and accept help, you jsut had major surgery. My mom and MIL swtiched with staying with me and I appreciated it since htey helped with the houework/cooking while i cared for LO. Or they let me take a nice afternoon nap and would wake me up to pump. Accept it if it's available to you!
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