Since my ECV failed today, I now have a scheduled c-section coming up in 10 days. I don't have a lot of friends or family who have experienced a c-section so I'm hoping some of you great ladies can tell me what I probably should do to prepare (differently than for what I may have done thinking I'd have a vaginal delivery). For instance, any special needs for recovery, any special items to bring to the hospital, etc.? And if you have just any words of wisdom or tips regarding a c-section, I'd love to hear those too!
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I'll have to have a c-section for my next (which will be a while because E is only 3 months!) but I will:
1. Make sure I take colace and/or miralax leading up to birth and thereafter. (I did that last time and I never had a problem.)
2. Bring a couple pillows in brightly colored pillowcases to be more comfortable.
3. Bring my own comfortable clothes for the day or two after, including nursing tanks. So much easier than yanking your shirt up.
4. Bring my pump and start pumping right away if the baby is sleeping, even if it is only a couple times a day.
5. Bring snacks for my husband (poor guy was starving!)Get up and move around as soon as you feel able. I think that contributed a *ton* to my easy breezy recovery. Learn how to get up from a lying down position (the only hard part, as far as I'm concerned).
The nurses did a great job of getting E latched on as soon as I was in recovery. Make sure the LCs come and give you a visit while in the hospital as well!Good luck, you'll meet your baby soon!!
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I had a planned C-section because Chloe was breech.
Here's what I packed in my hospital bag:
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/04/17/in-my-hospital-bag/And here's how my c-section went:
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/04/13/chloes-birth-story-part-1/Good luck!
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There was a thread on c sections a few weeks ago where lots of people chimed in (including me) so i would start there. If you have more questions, feel free to wall me! I had a scheduled c section for a breech baby in December!
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/questions-about-cesarean-section
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I had a csection, I cant think of anything you should do to prepare for the actual surgery itself. At home try to set everything up so you dont have to walk too much especially up and down the stairs. Goodluck with everything
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Here goes:
Do some research and find out if you want anything particular for your surgery. You have some time to plan, and that is wonderful. With both of mine they were unexpected, so I wasn't able to make a "birth plan" for that sort of birth. Be aware of your wants and expectations.I would look into getting a support belt. I had an irrational fear of the incision opening, and that helped. I found that my tummy was a little... floppy for a while after. The extra support helped alleviate the strain and discomfort from extra skin moving around during regular activities. I didn't use one with my first, but did the second time and it was great.
Think about pooping. Seriously. Do what you can (prunes, fiber, colace) to make sure that your first experience is as comfortable as possible. My first BM after my first c-section was ultra traumatic. The second time I was prepared and it went much more, well, smoothly.
Start moving as soon as possible. For me, it hurt like a mother, but was oh, so worth it. The more you move around, the sooner you will start feeling more back to normal.
Think ahead about how you will handle night wakings. I had a hard time getting up and out of bed. Second time around we solved that by bedsharing and Mr. T being my nighttime assistant until I was able to handle it on my own. If you prefer not to bedshare, you could have your SO bring baby to you and handle the nighttime diaper changes or anything else that involves being up and about. Or, if you are using formula, you could do the same, or alternate feedings, or whatever works best for you. Not all women find it to be hard getting out of bed, but it's a possibility for sure.
Be prepared to not drive for a little while. I would recommend not martyring yourself and taking the pain medication that is prescribed and/or recommended-- for me it helped with my recovery (first time I elected not to take much, and was so uncomfortable that I didn't get as active as soon), but your doctor might place some restrictions on driving while you are in the initial recovery period. Think of how you will handle things like grocery shopping, etc.
If you think of anything else you have questions about, just let me know! You'll do great.
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Do you wear contacts? I didn't have a c-section but my best friend did, and they wouldn't let her wear her contacts. So you should bring your glasses just in case if you do normally wear contacts.
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Not sure if this will be of much help, but here are a few things I thought of:
1) be prepared for a long wait when you get there. I'm not sure if it will be the same situation for you, but since my c-section was planned, I kept getting bumped for emergency c-sections. Basically if anyone was pushing, they would hold off in case they had to bring them in for an emergency c-section. Definitely not a big deal, and I was glad that they were making sure all the other mamas were getting through their labours safely, but I was definitely surprised that I was stuck lying in bed with an IV for hours before they finally took me in.
2) Once again, not sure what your hospital situation is, but I was sooo happy that DH was able to stay with me the entire time (we were in a semi-private room the first 2 nights and he actually had to sleep in the hospital bed with me since there was no where else). I don't know what I would have done if he wasn't there since I couldn't get out of bed to get the baby if she was crying. We were in heaven when we finally moved to our private room for the last night!
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Pack enough clothing (pjs, socks, nursing tanks, underwear, sweats, etc for at least 4 days). Also pack enough for your husband. My c section was unplanned and I didn't pack enough for my husband
Pack slippers bc you'll want to get around and walk around as much as possible to help the air move out of your abdomen following surgery.
Take flip flops for the shower
Take extra pillows for yourself and a boppy or other nursing pillow
Take your pump to help your milk come in ASAP. Most csection mamas (including myself) have a little trouble with milk coming in fast enough
Bring mothers milk tea so you can start taking it right away. They say warm fluids also help with moving the air out of your body following surgery
Best of luck!
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All of you ladies are amazing and so much help!
@espion: Why did you start pumping right away? Our insurance doesn't allow us to get our free pump until right after delivery, so I likely won't have mine until I get home.
@mrs. jump rope: Your story made me feel so much better! I can't tell you how much I appreciate hearing it. I have one nightgown I had bought for delivery and another that is a pair of pants and a nursing top. Do you think I should opt for more nightgowns so as to not bother the incision?
@tinyperson: Thanks for that reminder. I saw that post but had forgotten about it.
@mrsbells: I'm trying to figure this out right now, whether to set everything up upstairs or downstairs. Which would you suggest?
@mrs. twine: I wouldn't have thought about planning for things like grocery shopping and driving to doctor visits. I'm going to have to really rely on friends and family to help me out.
@lawbee11: I don't wear contacts, but I would've never thought of that if I had. Thanks!
@cookie_dough: I was the one delaying a planned c-section today since an ECV requires holding on to the OR just in case, so you're right, I should plan for that to happen to me too. I'm ok with waiting. DH can stay in the room with me the whole time on a daybed, but my mom also offered for him and my stepdaughter to get to stay at their house (about 7 miles away) throughout, which will be a big help. We live about an hour away.
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Also, for what it's worth, my csection was a breeze and recovery was a breeze. The hardest part trying to get my milk to come in and also the gas/air trying to move it's way out of your body about a week after...it almost felt like labor again...but it didn't last long.
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@marionberry: I think most csection mamas have a harder time with their milk coming in (mine took over a week and a half rather than a few days) bc out bodies take longer to process that the baby came out and also bc of the drugs/trauma of surgery.
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@sandy: I'm definitely going to have to pack for my husband. He'll never pack enough. Since my insurance doesn't allow for a pump before delivery would you recommend I purchase a manual pump for those first few days or see if I can rent a pump from the hospital while I'm there? Where do you get mothers milk tea?
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Everything that was said above.
If you're going to breast feed ask the hospital for a pump early (our provided one for me) by my 3rd day all the pumps were gone so I was glad I asked for one when I was admitted to my room.
I ate raisin bran when I was able to eat. (you have to pass gas or poo before they let you eat solids). It totally helped me go.
You're going to want to walk around and getting up was the hardest. Ask the nurse how should you get up.
bring granny panties so your underwear doesn't touch your incision.
When you get home, you're going to be EXHAUSTED. you might not be able to do stairs so if you have two floors you might want to set yourself up on the first floor and make sure all your baby and person things are within reach so you dont struggle to get things.
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@marionberry: my hospital had pumps you could use while staying there. They gave you new parts such as the tubing, valves, membranes and collection cups. I didn't have a csection but my baby wouldn't latch and pumping definitely helped!
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No advice but I just wanted to say OMG you're having a baby in 10 days! My friend [your old user name] is about to have her precious, long awaited baby. So happy for you and your DH
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@bunnylove08: Would you still recommend setting everything up on the first floor if there's no shower/bath there? How high was your incision? I'm trying to think of if my current "granny panties" will work or if I should get something even bigger?
@yellowbird: I think my hospital does too. I need to confirm this. I'll email them to make sure.
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@Cherrybee: Thank you!!! I'm so excited to join the club you got to before me. Can you believe how far we've come?!
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My best advice is get up and move around right away, it sucks it hurts but I think this is the reason my recovery was easy. My sister (also had a c-section) made me get up and walk (wtih a walker or behind a wheel chair) as soon as my epideral was out and I took a shower leaning on her to get used to it.
Also, wear a binder, that thing was amazing!
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@marionberry: Is it too late to tell you motherhood sucks?! Only kidding, its getting better as she gets older.... Can you ask them to do your section under general anesthetic and wake you up when he is 3 months?! Cackle! No, in all seriousness, it really is the most amazing thing in the world being a mummy. Soon, we will all have LOs (including Chibee, I really believe that).
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@marionberry: it was right at the bikini line. my doctor and other c-section mommies said to get big ol'granny panties because they might roll down so you want them to come up super high. I had to have DH run and get some from target for me LOL
My father's house does not have a shower on the first floor so I took the stairs nice and easy when I had to shower. I still stayed on the first floor since the kitchen was there and I was able to hangout with the family when they were home.
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@LuLu Mom: lawbee11 sold me her belly bandit, so I'm hoping it will help with belly support.
@cherrybee: Oh I agree about chibee! I know that parenthood will not be easy and at some points I may want to kill myself, but that it will be so worth it! I've always wanted to be a mama and I begged God for 10 months for this little stubborn boy.
@bunnylove08: I may have to wait and see if the granny panties I bought are high enough. It's so hard to tell with my giant belly in the way, how my granny panties will adjust when there's not as much belly in the way. It sounds like stairs are going to be the bane of my existence!
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@marionberry: I would probably talk to your hospital about arranging for pump to be available right after your csection. You may be able to arrange it through your OB or through your baby's pediatrician as well.
I ordered my Mother's Milk Tea from amazon, but I know that a lot of local stores carry it too. Marlene's Grocery (like Whole Foods), Super Supplements, and even our grocery store (Fred Meyer) carries it in their herbal/organic section.
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@marionberry: for what it's worth, I was worried about stairs, but had no problem at all with them! You might be the same
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@sandy: We have a Fred Meyer. I will check there. Thanks!
@tinyperson: I sure hope so!
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Take the pain meds, even if you are not in horrible pain, pain is stressful on your body and you don't need the extra stress! Get up and move as soon as you can; it will help with recovery. Wear a support belt/band - my hospital gave me one, but you can also find them at Babies R' Us and other places. Helps to keep things from moving around, which will help with the pain, too.
Remember too that a c-section is a no less valid way of beginning a mother
ETA: Stairs were no problem for me after the c-section, and the only restriction on driving I had was not to drive as long as I was still taking narcotics (it wasn't that I couldn't physically drive, they just need to cover their bases and tell you as long as you are taking drugs, don't drive!). I drove 2 weeks after and was fine.
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@yoursilverlining: Oh that's a good clarification about driving. I plan to take all the meds I need, but good to know that as soon as I'm off of them I'm probably ok to drive. I had bought a belly bandit to shrink my uterus, but do you think I should get something more light and stretchy as well for the point of holding everything together? Finally, thanks for the "no less valid" comment. I'm having a hard time with not feeling like I'm getting the normal birth experience and maybe not even going to have a real contraction. But my DH keeps trying to help me realize this as well.
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Some of these have already said but bear repeating:
I would not even bring the pants - nightgowns and maxi dresses are your friend because you will not want anything
Definitely set yourself up on the first floor of the house as much as possible, I remember that for the first week (until I got the staples removed) I would hunch over a lot and stairs would've been difficult. I know not everyone has issues with them, but just in case
DO NOT forget to take your stool softener. I was having zero bathroom issues, then I forgot a dose and OMG. It was so painful, I was in the bathroom for hours and ended up with hemorrhoids. I think I almost broke our sink from grabbing it so hard.
I was absolutely terrified to have a C-section. I burst into hysterical tears when they said it was needed and took 20 minutes to convince, they even had to break the rules about only one person in the OR and have my mom come in and talk to me because I had a gigantic meltdown out of pure fear. But it was nothing like what I'd feared, and in fact given the choice I very well may choose to have another with my second. Just you move around when possible, do what you can, and have your husband there to help out those first few crucial days when it's difficult to move around, especially when the baby is crying and you're trying to be quick, you'll be absolutely fine!
And congrats on getting to meet your baby in 10 days! That is super exciting
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I agree with everyone about getting up ASAP. I had a c-section at 9pm and the following morning my nurse had me get up and walk a little. each day I walked a loop and I really think that helped. Also taking a shower as soon as the catheter is out, it made me feel so much better. Drinks tons of water!
In terms of clothes, I preferred nursing tanks and loose yoga pants that I could wear below the incision. You'll wear the hospital underwear and it doesn't irritate the incision. You can also use the big ice packs on your stomach (they are meant for vaginal births but they are great for the soreness in your stomach. Also bring your own pillows, it was great to have some extra ones in bed and not just the hospital ones.
you'll be great and it is no less a birth experience!. Contractions are over rated anyway!
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@wonderstruck: @brady80: Thank you ladies for the advice. I really appreciate it! I'm reviewing all of this with my DH now so that we can be on the same page.
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Agree with setting yourself up on the 1st floor! I did this and it made things much easier.
I was in the hospital for 5 days after.....make sure you pack enough.
Eat a big meal before your cut off time for eating. Like someone said, you can't eat until you poop. For me that was 3 days! I was sooooo hungry.I bought a size up, super granny panties. I'm glad I did.
Also a robe is handy....people kept visiting and I wasnt ready to change into my clothes, but I wanted to cover up the gown.
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@wheres_c: Good point about the food! Do you mean one size higher than what you wear at 9 months?
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