bethers
Platinum
Posts: 1,204 Likes: 3,796 
|
Post by bethers on Oct 14, 2017 11:25:22 GMT -6
For the ladies who had c-sections - is there anything I should bring to the hospital? I think that I no longer need the "labor/induction bag" to be separate from the "recovery" bag, but am wondering if I should bring anything different or special because of the surgery.
Also, any positive stories welcome! I was induced with DS, so this is new territory for me.
|
|
mrspiatt
Platinum
Posts: 1,598 Likes: 3,680
|
Post by mrspiatt on Oct 14, 2017 13:29:19 GMT -6
I’ll add more later (at the movies waiting for the lights to go down). Make sure the hospital will supply you with a belly band. Most will, but I’m not sure that all do. That’s all I can think of at the moment. I’m still in denial that I’m having another in 4 weeks so thank you for posting this. lol
Side note- take all the hospital underwear (the mesh disposable ones) that you can... I found after my c-section those were even more useful than after a vaginal delivery.
|
|
catmom88
Platinum
Posts: 2,126 Likes: 8,228
|
Post by catmom88 on Oct 14, 2017 13:38:32 GMT -6
+1 to hospital undies. After those I lived in depends for a couple weeks. The high waist was comfortable and took care of any bleeding,etc.
Definitely a belly binder. Loose fitting gowns and or high waisted yoga pants. Stool softener is your friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by jules1614 on Oct 14, 2017 14:01:09 GMT -6
+2 to hospital undies and pants that don't have a seam/waist line near where the incision will be. I received a small pillow to hold over my incision when I moved/coughed/laughed etc- it helped a lot! If I need another csection I'll probably ask for a binder too. And yes to stool softeners- I only took them while in the hospital but I also didn't need heavy duty pain meds for long after I was discharged.
Make sure you get up and move as soon as you can (I had my csection around 8pm, numbness wore of around 3am?, and I was able to get up around 7am). You won't want to get out of bed but even sitting up in the chair instead of the bed is great for the healing process. But obviously don't push it! It is major abdominal surgery after all!
Not sure if you will be breastfeeding but I found the football hold the most comfortable the first few days so baby didn't rest over my stomach. I needed H to help me get him in a good position. But I also had forgotten my boppy so I improvised with pillows!
Whomever will be in the OR should be able to bring a camera to capture moments and there is a new push for "gentle csections" that allow skin to skin quickly after and some hospitals have a see-through drape that can be used when the baby is coming out if you want to see it, but not all- reminds me I have to ask if my hospital has this!
ETA- the positives: even though my csection wasn't planned (and I had a long med-free birth plan written) I am not at all traumatized by my csection and after I didn't have to worry about swollen labia and major tears!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by paperbagliz on Oct 14, 2017 14:03:06 GMT -6
Take all the stool softener offered!!
Yes to the mesh panties, and I packed a pair of maternity panties, too. Take all the pads but also have a stash for home. You'll still bleed for a while. The Always Infinity in the box, not package, have been great in the past.
Your incision will be sore, so a small pillow or rolled towel is good to put pressure on when you sneeze/cough/sit up.
High waisted yoga pants, loose top, just comfy things.
|
|
|
|
Post by paperbagliz on Oct 14, 2017 14:06:42 GMT -6
As for a positive story, I had an RCS with DS, and it was amazing. I had him on Friday night, home Sunday, and was off the heavy pain meds by Monday. Definitely stay hydrated and take Colace- that first poop took a while for me. That was the worst part. DH took two weeks off, and by the end, we were traipsing around town having lunch dates with DS tagging along.
I didn't drive for those two weeks but could have sooner I think.
|
|
pootsen
Sapphire
Posts: 3,889 Likes: 21,939
|
Post by pootsen on Oct 14, 2017 14:12:42 GMT -6
Definitely start taking stool softeners a few days before and continue them after. The combination of surgery + post-op narcotics + not moving around as much = major constipation. I didn’t start taking colace until after my CS and I didn’t poop for 3 days. When I finally did it was pretty awful.
But for a positive bodily function-related anecdote, you won’t bleed as much after a CS. They are able to clean out your uterus really well after delivering the babies. I only bled very lightly for like 4-5 days.
Also maybe bring some snacks like crackers to take with the pain meds (you might not need to though, usually they will have some on the unit). The Percocet I took made me pretty nauseous so it’s always best to eat a little something with it. I had a bag of goldfish crackers I would munch on with my pills.
+1 to comfy high waisted undies/pants and moving around as much as possible afterwards.
|
|
bethers
Platinum
Posts: 1,204 Likes: 3,796
|
Post by bethers on Oct 14, 2017 14:24:22 GMT -6
Thanks, ladies! Will definitely look into a belly binder/band - didn't have one with my first. And this is a good excuse to buy some new high waisted leggings for at home  I tore with DS who was only 6lb 15 oz. It looks like these two will be either a similar size or maybe even bigger, so in some ways, I'm relieved by the c-section. This is also a good reminder to ask a few additional questions about how the process will work at my hospital and with twins. |
|
cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,943 Likes: 101,106
|
Post by cnf on Oct 14, 2017 15:15:59 GMT -6
High waist underwear and pants like yoga pants. You'll want something soft over your incision. Kiss the idea of real pants goodbye for a while.
Ask for a belly binder, yes. They'll likely give you one free. And yes to still softener and something to press over your stomach when you laugh/cough/sneeze.
If the hospital bed has side rails too put them up. I needed something to grab to sit up from a laying position. Obviously using my an muscles wasn't the greatest and it's honestly when I had the most pain.
My csection was not planned, but I healed quick and easy enough. I don't feel bad about having one despite not scheduling an RCS.
|
|
cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,943 Likes: 101,106
|
Post by cnf on Oct 14, 2017 15:18:29 GMT -6
Oh, to help get your guts moving again afterwards, the nurses would bring me hot ginger ale. Sounds weird but it was actually pretty yummy and helped.
Definitely stay on top of you pain meds.
And +1 to less bleeding. I had what was basically a normal period for me for about 5-6 days then just intermittent spotting for a couple weeks.
|
|
|
|
Post by paperbagliz on Oct 14, 2017 17:42:46 GMT -6
Well now I'm mad that I bled for weeks! I'll have to speak to my medical team about that going into the OR!
|
|
mrspiatt
Platinum
Posts: 1,598 Likes: 3,680
|
Post by mrspiatt on Oct 14, 2017 20:37:12 GMT -6
Well now I'm mad that I bled for weeks! I'll have to speak to my medical team about that going into the OR! Right? I bled heavy for weeks! |
|
catmom88
Platinum
Posts: 2,126 Likes: 8,228
|
Post by catmom88 on Oct 14, 2017 21:15:34 GMT -6
Well now I'm mad that I bled for weeks! I'll have to speak to my medical team about that going into the OR! Right? I bled heavy for weeks! +2. I'm wondering if it's because I labored first but I bled for weeks. FX it's better for us this time. |
|
cnf
Ruby
Posts: 20,943 Likes: 101,106
|
Post by cnf on Oct 15, 2017 4:56:58 GMT -6
Right? I bled heavy for weeks! +2. I'm wondering if it's because I labored first but I bled for weeks. FX it's better for us this time. I went 33 hours between rupture and c-section and made it to 8cm. I'm going for a VBAC this time so if I'm success it'll be interesting to see if there's a difference. |
|
