Advice on c-section, what helped you?

Question

I was informed at my 32 week appointment that if my medical condition is active I’ll have to have a c-section so it doesn’t cause more issues.
What helped you guys before and after your c-section to prepare or heal?

Answer

Get up and walk as soon af they let you.  Staying active really helped. Don't be embarrassed, take the stool softener and make sure you don't get behind on your pain meds.  Turn to the side when getting out of bed and have lots of pillows.  Hugging them if you need to sneeze or cough. Keep your incision as dry and possible. Definitely high waisted panties, so they don't rub on your incision.  Good luck, you will do great!

Answer

Honestly a planned c section is much better than an emergency one. I had 1 emergency after 15 hours labor and 2 pushing. My body was so worn out compared to the planned c sections. I think the best advice I have is the walking (don’t over do it though),  and keeping on top of your meds. Also my nurses recommended keeping in the cath for the first night so I could get as much sleep as possible.

Answer

Granny panties and nightgowns are the BEST! Panties are cheap and can be thrown away when you are done. I lived in my own nightgown the entire stay which was so nice and far more comfortable. The day I left I just threw on some maternity high wasted yoga pants and a long sleeve shirt and headed home! I liked having as much as my personal things as I could. My own pillow was a nice little perk because hospital pillows suck!

Answer

I had to have an emergency c section so I don’t know how you would prepare but what helped me feel better and most comfortable is big undies, I’m talking the biggest, most high rise undies I could find at Walmart. Since they cut right where normal underwear would sit having undies that go up to your belly button were a life saver. Also I started wearing night gowns, it’s nice for breastfeeding if you choose to and again with pants hitting your stitches. I realized the more people made me laugh the easier doing other things was even though it hurt the first two days. I also suggest getting lots of extra pillows. It’s so hard to lay flat for the first few days and your stomach muscles are sore so getting up from a flat position was next to impossible. I hope that helps some, good luck and congratulations on your little one!

Answer

I agree with the other advice and will add some as I too had a C Section. Thankfully my sister had one about two years before I did and she had lots of advice. Some things to consider:
1-yes to a belly wrap. My hospital gave me one but my sister also sent one off Amazon that she liked. It helps to feel supported when you do move around. 
2-getting our of bed will be hard at home. I missed the railings on the hospital bed as I used them to pull myself up so I could swing my legs off the side before standing. At home I rolled onto my side and used my arms to push myself up before swinging my legs off the bed. 
3-If you end up breastfeeding consider the “My breast friend” support pillow. It’s like a Boppy but goes all the way around your waist and has back support. It sits above your section incision and helped me a lot. I still use it at 2 months pp. I’m using it to feed as I type this response. 
4-Look up C Section underwear on Amazon. I got two varieties. One was on the expensive side and was almost like shapewear so it held my incision in but wasn’t as bulky as the wrap. The other was a pack of 5 pairs of cotton undies that were the same shape but felt like normal underwear.  
5-Move slowly and listen to your body. You can (and should!) still move around and take care of yourself and baby but you will need to do everything slowly and carefully for a few days. Each day for me things got significantly easier until one day you forget it even hurt once. 
Good luck!

Answer

I have had 2 now and what I have learned is. Maternity yoga pants are the bomb afterwards. Move as soon as they let you, you’ll feel stiffer and the gas will pool in your upper body and shoulder if you sit too much.  
Drink all the water. Shower everyday it makes you feel better, i my own bras, zip ups and pants to the hospital so I could feel normal and comfy. 
Take your husband, partner, friend a blanket and nice pillow, the couch mine had was so cold and uncomfortable. 
Binder is key, helps when you cough, sneeze, laugh. Hold a pillow over your incision before you do the above also, it helps with the pain. 
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! I let my nurses change the baby when they were checking him to allow me less bending. 
Personal preference for me; tell your nurse to NOT list you on the hospital visitor log. With my first people would just show up and ask what room I was in, I already felt miserable and now I had to worry about being half naked if people just walked in.  With number 2 I went unlisted, people that are close will call you and make sure it’s ok to come. Let yourself heal, they can see you and baby once you’re home. 
Also, get a really long phone cord Bc you’ll want to take a lot of pics and your phone will die and need charging and there are like 2 outlets in the whole room.

Answer

Give a list of things to your husband or partner to ask for as you will be sleepy, tired and excited all at the same time. What’s in the list? Ask nurses to put on belly band, colace with pain meds, reminder for consistent pain meds for first 48 hrs, ask him to help you turn and move side to side to help a with post op gas. Ask nurses to show you how to get up postpartum from the bed (probably most helpful for me as pulling myself up was painful, I used the technique even at home for couple of weeks). As soon as I got up, I walked in the room and hallway while leaning on the hospital bassinet with my baby in it, that gave me encouragement to focus on a baby and not discomfort. It was my “walker” so to speak. 
Also
Before 2nd c section, I ate oatmeal, yogurt and salads religiously last two days to keep my gut clean. I brought colace with me but didn’t use mine just asked dr for it with pain meds right away. Why? Bcz pain meds will back you up and after c section you won’t be allowed to eat solids just clear liquids until your body lets gas out. Why so much gas? that’s just what happens after surgery (at least that happened to me and few other moms that I know). I found hospital belly band to be most comfortable, stretchy but supportive. And yes drink a lot of water!!!
You will do great

Answer

Yes to the high waisted panties. I had a c section after being induced at 39w4d and after almost 18 hours of trying to labor on my own. It was exhausting trying to labor but that didn’t make me any less afraid of the c section. I was terrified that I would feel pain, but they definitely made sure I didn’t. I felt pressure but that was to be expected & ultimately all I cared about was a healthy baby at the end.
As far as preparing, just try to relax. When I went in, my heart rate was over 200 beats per minute because I was honestly so terrified. I had to have mental talks with myself throughout to make sure my husband didn’t freak out. It worked out well, even despite my heart rate.
For recovery, I had such a hard time. I was up and walking in the hospital the day after my surgery & the epidural wore off within hours of my surgery, which was great. I was active as much as possible but also made sure to keep up with my pain meds- VERY important. Also keeping up with pain meds once home is crucial. As for sleeping, our bed at home is low so I slept on the couch sitting up for probably the first week. It was hard to lay and get up so I had no choice. Maybe it will be easier for you if your bed is higher up than mine. I didn’t lift my son because thankfully i had my husband home with me but I would carry him every now and then; without overdoing it.
I hope this helps at least some. It isn’t as bad as most people think, I’m the biggest baby in the world. Good luck to you. 💕

Answer

Get a belly wrap!!!! For next baby I'm for sure bringing one.

Answer

I had an emergency c section so no time to prepare really but my best advice is to walk the day of your c section and have plenty of help at home because you won’t be able to do much by yourself. Best of luck with your c section and congratulations on your baby

Advice on c-section, what helped you?

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