C-section suitcase!

[xmasevebundle]

I see my consultant next week and shes giving me the date of my c-section. Im 36 and shes doing it at 39w ish.

I have everything for a 'normal birth' suitcase. Nighties, pads, towels, wash bag etc.

Is there anything else i need to bring? I will be in there a few days as well, its first DC.

[Bessie123]

Are you going private? If not, you prob won't be in for a few days. They will kick you out after 24 hours. If you are going private you don't really need anything.

[xmasevebundle]

No, consultant said id be in for 2-3 days due to my age and first DC.

[Alwaysinlove]

Massive pants. Can't stress that enough. I had an EMCS and had to send my husband out to buy big granny pants. I also found I needed several pillows to feel comfortable. Take several nighties and lots of pads. Wishing you the best of luck!

[RancerDoo]

Yes, enormous pants. After dd1 my dh got me some random granny pants from m&s, the ones that sit on your natural waist. He got them sized 18, 20 and 22. i am normally a twelve. They were fine (great, actually).

Lipsalve. Magazines. It is boring in hospital for three days nd a newborn is not good company. Oh and earplugs.

[Panzee]

Flip flops. Much nicer in the shower and shoes with backs are impossible for a few days.

[rebeccacraig0001]

Big pants yes, and also something to go home in that doesn't touch your bikini area as even my maternity trousers were painful! Moist toilet tissue (sorry for tmi!). Oh, and a pocket mirror to see your scar because if you are like me, you'll want to see what everyone's talking about. Just take your time to recover properly and accept any help you get offered. I was nhs, first section, and I stayed in 4 days and they would have let me stay another night if I'd wanted. Good luck!

[noblegiraffe]

Breast pads. My milk came in while I was still in hospital and soaked through the few pads I'd brought in in no time. And more nighties, you get quite sweaty in hospital beds.

Definitely bring your own pillow or two too, to help prop yourself up. If you've got a v shaped pillow that will be useful to put the baby on to protect your scar if you're planning on breastfeeding.

Bottles of lucozade sport for energy and plenty of jelly babies. It's hard work in the early days!

Also, plan your clothes carefully. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to wear jeans home, they will cut across your scar. Jogging bottoms or loose leggings only.

[BikeRunSki]

Massive pants
Yoga pants, with the big thick high waist (I got mine from Hush)
Sports Water bottle, so you can drink lying fown
Shower gel/shampoo on a hook (Radox do it).
Dried fruit to snack on to ease things for the first poo!

[BikeRunSki]

Nothing "under bump". Under bump = on the scar.

And slipon shoes/slippers

I was kept in for 4 days with both emcs, was 37 years old first time, 40 the second.

[xmasevebundle]

I did get some 20/22 granny knickers but only 3 pairs, i mostly got disposable ones but thinking they might go abit yukky due to the scar and bleeding?

I only have 4 nighties, i did pack jeans for coming home though will over the bump leggings go okay? They go up to my belly button...

Thanks for the reply i made a little list for buy all of the stuff next week, first being flip flops!

[BikeRunSki]

I'd get a lot more granny knickers - maybe 6 or 7 pairs - in a size or 2 bigger than normal. I found Primark/supermarket pants to be cheaper than disposable anyway.

You'll be sore on the tummy for a good 3 weeks, be mentally prepared that you may need some "in between and off the tummy" wear, before you are back.in jeans, maternity or otherwise.

[QTPie]

Lots of nighties/PJs - I had THE most horrible sweating! Still I did loose 2 stone in two weeks (think that I sweated it all out ).

If you intend to try breastfeeding, then a feeding pillow and a tube of Lansinoh (apply after each feed - I did and had no cracking, bleeding or pain).

Straws for drinks

Arnica tablets to help healing

Peppermint capsules/water/tea bags to help disperse trapped wind (I used them and had none). Don't take arnica at the same time as the peppermint (or brushing your teeth): the mint neutralises the arnica.

Shower gel with a hook - so you don't need to bend down.

Snacks (for time on the ward or in your room). If you are in NHS hospital, have a plan for DH to get to some good food (from home or a local restaurant). Any birth - but particularly a C Section - requires good nutrition to recover.

If they give you iron tablets (for blood loss), get some Lactulose - otherwise you can do yourself some damage when having a poo :(

[noblegiraffe]

I don't think I ditched the granny pants for a good few months post birth because every time I tried to go back to normal knickers the elastic ended up rubbing against my scar (which healed quickly and well) and making it sore. I was back in jeans sooner, but it was still quite some time. I remember spending the first few weeks in the same pair of leggings and joggers on rotation because I didn't have any other clothes I could wear (needed maternity sizes, you still look pregnant after giving birth which was a bit of a surprise) and couldn't face hobbling to the shops and trying stuff on.

If you haven't got slippers and slip on shoes, get some. Also, socks that go on easily. Anything that reduces the amount of time that your hands need to be near your feet!

[noblegiraffe]

Oh, and make sure you've got paracetamol ready at home. If you're breastfeeding, you're still not allowed aspirin. The hospital will give you some good drugs, but you might need to keep taking paracetamol after they've run out. The hospital advised me to stop taking painkillers when I started to forget to take them - this took a couple of weeks in my case, although I'm particularly crap with pain.

[Gooseysgirl]

What everyone else said... And I cannot over emphasise the need for Big Pants. I'm normally a size 12 and got size 18 black cotton Lycra from M&S, needed them for six weeks afterwards. Lived in maternity leggings initially, it was a couple of months before I could wear jeans comfortably because of the scar (which healed beautifully!)

[dashoflime]

yy to big pants.
Hospitals are really warm so make sure nighties/dressing gowns are thin.
Flipflops not slippers.
Books and magazines.
Change to buy TV cards.
Lots of food and snacks. Hospital food is not great and portions are small.

[Oldladypillow]

Huge amounts of nice snacks - buy them now!
Yy to big pants and flip flops.
V shaped pillow total god send either to help with feeding or to lie on. You can but them in Dunhelm for £7.99 and they have a whole spectrum of coloured covers to choose from
Remember you will need quite a few nappies/muslins/baby clothes/cotton wool pads because you will be in there a few days.

You can refuse to iron tablets if you take spa tone already - much kinder on your guts

[xmasevebundle]

I am on already on iron tablets.. I dont think ill explain any futher but i dont like taking them already!

Even more the list thank you

What kind of snacks would you say?

I did buy some coco bars the ceral ones, i dont think they will go down to well now!

Thinking prunes due not going for a poo etc? I dont know what to take!

[rebeccacraig0001]

Possibly prunes, although be careful because you will have a catheter for the first day and won't be able to leave your bed. Then they'll remove the catheter and help you to stand, and then you'll have to get to the toilet yourself. My advice would to be don't take any laxative type things until you are comfortable getting to the loo yourself. It was a few days before I could really walk about comfortably.

[Gooseysgirl]

Meant to say mine was an EMCS but was still deemed well enough to be kicked out after a day and a half as they needed the bed! So you may be in for a shorter length of time than you think. To be honest all the crying babies were wrecking my head anyway and I hadn't slept in days... It was much easier to be back at home into own bed with only one crying baby to deal with

[Fairylea]

I didn't have problems going for a poo so hold off the laxatives etc unless you need them. You might just make yourself ill.

I wish I'd taken some squash in with me .. I was so sick of plain old water.

I was in 4 days after mine. I am 32 and I had chosen a elcs after a previous difficult birth 9 years before. The elcs was a much much better experience even though they discovered I had undiagnosed placenta previa....!

Things I wish I'd known are things like even though you feel very stiff and sore it's so much better when you're up and moving around... and it's not that painful if you keep up with your meds and ask if you are in pain.

[Potol]

Jojo Maman Bebe do these washable hospital knickers- 5 for 7 quid or something. I used them below my granny pants in the early days. Also a top ip is to place an extra pad over your scar (so horizontally) in the early days. Great support when sitting/pooping etc.

Demand your painkillers and take them round the clock for at least two weeks. Get lots of rest at home if you can. Try to pass on the nappy changes to your partner since it requires bending.

Don't be afraid of the catheter. It was a blessing as it saved me having to get up and wee constantly when I was sore. But do be careful of UTIs afterwards.

And enjoy the surgery. I really enjoyed being completely lucid and fully taking in and enjoying every moment of the birth rather than being in pain. Good luck!!

[Potol]

Oh yes, nothing over the scar at all.

I took a small toilet case with very nice smelling stuff, the first bath was very nice.

And if you are planning to breastfeed, insist on all the help you can get. I got DH to listen to the advice as I was a bit sleep deprived and he could relay it back to me later. I have breastfed after a CS for nearly 10 months without a problem.

Enjoy the squishy newborn cuddles. 10 months in my son sighs when Mummy does her kissing all over thing. I know it won't feel like it, but it all does pass quickly.

[poppy283]

Face wipes so you can have a 'wash' when you can't get up.

An easy to read and in no way upsetting book to read - I recommend David Sedaris.

And get as much help at home as you can for the first few weeks.

[lotsofcheese]

I wish I'd been told how to get out of bed after a c-section! There's a bit of a knack to it. Here goes:

• if you have an electric bed, align your waist with the upper part of the bed.
• roll over onto your side.

-raise the upper part of your bed.

• using your arms, push your upper body from the raised part of the bed. As you do this, swing your legs to the side of the bed.
• you should now be sitting up.

Hope that makes sense!