Ladies who had c-sections

[orangeglow]

My first and only baby will be born via a scheduled c-section.  I can find a ton of info on how to make things more comfortable post vaginal birth, but not a ton on c-sections.  

Did you get any of those special panties?  A belly wrap?  

I've had a breast reduction and I was recommended a specific bra to help healing.  Just wondering if it's the same thing or not.

Thank you!!

[hermione]

Granny Panties - the bigger the better.

The hospital gave me a support band. Ask if they don't offer.

Take all the Colace.

Stay ahead of the pain the first few days - take the pain meds before you need them.

Get up and walk ASAP. That night if they'll let you.

Bring a pillow from home. Holding a pillow over my stomach helped with laughing.

[orangeglow]

Oct 16, 2014 20:31:56 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

I'm not really sure what underwear you are referring to. I did wear old lady underwear that was silky and very high rise.

Motherhood has some, and Babies R Us has these things called C-panty.  IDK - I just didn't want to miss something vital!

Thanks ladies!  I'm going to start putting together my bag now (scheduled or not, babies are unpredictable).  

[arch01]

My c/s was unplanned. I already had a belly wrap from a friend, and that sucker was my BFF for 2 weeks. It helped with support in almost everything.

Granny panties for after the mesh panties run out.

The best tip anyone gave me was to have a pillow handy for coughing and to try to not laugh a ton-if you do, hold onto the pillow.

[arch01]

Yes-lots and lots of Colace.

Pain wise I was on nothing more than 800mg Motrin, but take what you need and stay on top of it.

[tealblue]

Just granny panties- you can put an extra pad on your incision and then pull your underwear up. It'll help protect your incision a little.

Ditto the pillow for coughing and laughing. I made DH turn the tv to something stupid because we watched something funny and it hurt so bad.

Yoga pants with a panel that you can pull up (Old Navy maternity ones had this).

Other than that, I didn't think it was too bad. I walked that night and next day. Didn't take any pain pills (besides ibuprofen) after my IV came out. I asked to go home a day early. But if you are in pain, ask for drugs. Stop and fill your prescription on the way home or make your husband do it.

[GotWine]

To go with the granny panties suggestion, I wore those awful mesh underwear the hospital gives you for days after leaving the hospital. They were the least constricting things I could find!

The belly binder was a life saver.

When I was in the recovery room the nurse went to town on my belly doing those uterine massages. I was still numb from the spinal so I couldn't feel a thing. According to the other nurses, it made a difference in how much they had to do it later. They still massaged my uterus every shift or however frequent it was, but I guess they did not have to do it as hard or long. Those massages were the worst part of the c-section for me!

[VillainV]

- The hospital provided a belly binder that I wore for maybe 7-10 days (not at night, daytime only). I also bought a Belly Bandit but didn't use it much.

- Maternity clothes with the soft waistband (or fold over yoga pants/skirts, etc) so your scar isn't aggravated.

- Colace! Take the colace!!!

- A boppy or some other kind of nursing pillow

- I wore my regular underwear and it was fine

- They will make you get out of bed within 12 hours of your C-section so you can pee. You will think they are crazy. But honestly, the best thing you can do is be up and about. Just take it really slowly at first. Don't try to stand from sitting with the baby in your arms. If you have stairs in your house, you will want someone else to carry the baby up and down the stairs for the first few days.

[barefootcontessa]

keep ice on your incision all the time. buzz the nurses every time you need fresh ice. I am a c-s veteran (5) and I did this the last three times and it greatly helped my recovery. lots of other good suggestions already mentioned.

[orangeglow]

When I had my reduction I ended up getting my period - they gave me the mesh panties.  I thought they were amazing then!  I'm kind of excited for them again, but not the crazy thick pads.

[AlpineSlide]

they gave me mesh underwear and i asked for more.

i didn't know anything about the binder until after the fact. i'll ask for one next time.

prepare yourself for swelling. I had no idea how much my ankles would swell, also the scar area was really puffy.

i had to sleep in our recliner the first week-ish. getting in and out of bed was difficult.

i didn't need any pain meds after the 3rd day but take them if you need them! Also take colace. I probably should have taken something for gas too. I was so farty it was crazy.

good luck!

[VillainV]

Oct 16, 2014 20:46:16 GMT -5 orangeglow said:

When I had my reduction I ended up getting my period - they gave me the mesh panties.  I thought they were amazing then!  I'm kind of excited for them again, but not the crazy thick pads.

I switched to the Infinity pads as soon as I got home, and they were fine.  I did keep the big hospital bad over my incision while I was in the hospital, but ditched that pretty quickly once I got home.

[pippa]

I'll repeat some suggestions. The mesh panties are awesome. Take all the colace and walk,walk, walk!

I also wore a support band for weeks. It was really helpful.

[Deleted]

Binder from the hospital, also get as many mesh panties as you can. DS was on the bottom floor in the NICU so I walked a ton those first days and I strongly believe that's what made my recovery so quick. Drink as much water as you can and wear a robe or something in front of visitors for a couple weeks after to remind people you just had major surgery!

[thecatinthehat]

Colace!

Get up and take at least a few steps as soon as they let you. It will hurt like a bitch but you have to do it!

Take it easy when you get home. Please don't do any housework whne your baby is asleep (I made this stupid mistake because I was bored). Haha!

[robinsbff]

i think everyone covered it pretty well but i echo the mesh panties, moving around (slowly but still get moving) and staying on top of the pain meds. also be aware of when your meds are about to run out. i got in the shower the second day right as both the motrin and percocet were wearing out at the same time. worst shower ever! take the colace, and keep taking it after the first poop. just keep taking it. i think my recovery was so easy because DH was awesome about helping me and basically the first two weeks at home all i did was feed the baby. he did the diapers, brought baby to me, helped with pillow arrangements, etc. i got up and moved about but all the little stuff DH did and i think it's why i felt so good so soon.

[stealthmom]

I wouldn't buy special undies. I love the mesh ones from the hospital.

I did not like the belly binder.

Take your meds.

Take it easy and don't push yourself too hard.

Don't wear jewelery to the surgery.

[hermione]

All these people saying they were only on pain meds for 14 seconds - I hope you have that experience. I did not. I was on meds for 14 days. Don't be a hero - if you need the meds, take them!

[Birdie]

I actually hated the mesh panties but I think I'm alone on that one. They just made me itch. But my regular pregnancy granny panties were fine post c/s. So were most of my pants. Just make sure you have at least one pair that doesn't hit you right at your lower waist. My maternity jeans bothered me at first but I mostly lived in my maternity capris at the time anyways, so it didn't matter.

I didn't have a binder (my hospital didn't like them) and I did fine. I'm not sure how much it would have helped me honestly. But I had been on pelvic rest for over 4 weeks by the time I gave birth so I was pretty determined to get up and walk around and the c/s pain wasn't going to stop me. You just have to go slow and take it easy. Listen to your body and don't overdo it.

[catsarecute]

I wore the support band the hospital gave me for about a month. It helped the pain a lot.

Maternity leggings and yoga pants are awesome.

Stay on top of your pain meds. Also stool softener.

Ask for help.

[Birdie]

I won't lie, my massive massive hemorrhoid was more painful to me post c/s than the actual surgery.

[halfpint]

Yes, your own pillow(s) in the hospital will be great!
I didn't have a binder, I kind of wish I had.
I ended up sleeping downstairs in a chair for a couple of weeks - our bed was so high. Once I decided it was time to move to the bed, I had a little step stool to help me get in.

Part of my problem was I had an effed up sciatic nerve from pregnancy/pushing, so I'm never sure how much of my pain was truly c/s related. I was really, really sore for weeks.

I just wore granny panties, and kept a clean maxi pad over my incision for a long time - I wanted a little protection to keep anything from rubbing on it. I was afraid to take off the steri-strips after she removed the staples, and probably let them linger a little too long. I actually felt like it was less painful/irritating once they came off, and definitely easier to keep it clean.

Get up and move as soon as they'll let you. Take it easy, but the more you walk around, the easier your recovery will be. I just lapped the hospital halls over and over, pushing B in his little nursery crib.

[bronxgirl]

My planned C-section wasn't that bad. my only advice is buy non-bikini underpants that don't hit where your scar will be

[thatgirl2478]

Oct 16, 2014 20:28:46 GMT -5 orangeglow said:

My first and only baby will be born via a scheduled c-section.  I can find a ton of info on how to make things more comfortable post vaginal birth, but not a ton on c-sections.  

Did you get any of those special panties?  A belly wrap?  

I've had a breast reduction and I was recommended a specific bra to help healing.  Just wondering if it's the same thing or not.

Thank you!!

I've had 2 now - first was because I was 2 wks overdue and pitocin wasn't working, second was scheduled.

Things you'll need to know:

You'll walk into the OR and get your spinal there, then they'll place the catheter and prep you, after surgery you'll be in the recovery room for about an hour and then moved to your room.  Most hospitals these days want to get you and baby together ASAP for breast feeding if you're planning to do that.  You'll probably need that catheter in for 24 hrs so they can monitor your output.  Once that's out, do your best to get up and walk.

Tips on getting up after a c section:

- Roll to the side and push yourself up with your arms
- plant your feet firmly and use your arms & your legs vs your abs to stand (practice now while you're hugely pregnant)
- if you need help have someone stand to the side and use a forearm grab to help you up (vs holding their hand, hold closer to their elbow)

If you aren't given a belly binder by the hospital get one on your own - it makes standing up and walking much more comfortable

Take colace to help with constipation

Drink plenty of water

Stay on top of your pain meds - that might even mean making sure your nurses are on top of them (it was a busy 3 days in the maternity ward when I was there and my nurses were often running behind)

From a nurse I had:  burning while standing or walking is usually the muscles repairing themselves, burning while sitting or laying down is usually nerve pain from the nerves repairing themselves.  Ice can help that pain.

Try to avoid twisting motions - particularly after a few days when you forget that you had major surgery (it'll happen - recovery is faster than expected IMO)

[Deleted]

Definitely yoga pants that you can wear up high. Heck, I'm 9 weeks PP and still prefer these for comfort of my incision area.

I wasn't able to wear my belly wrap because it hurt my incision too much then I forgot about it.

Be prepared to not be able to sit up on your own for a few days-week. That was hardest for me once I was home and didn't have the moving hospital bed to help me sit up.

GET UP AND WALK as soon as you can and as much as you can in the hospital. You will be sore but moving around actually helps so so much.


I had HORRIBLE referred gas pain in my shoulder, something I was not prepared for. You can look it up. It hurts a lot and mine lasted long. I ended up taking my pain pills more for that than for my incision.

Of course I'm thinking of all the negatives to tell you, really (even though I labored for 17 hours, pushed for 5 then had the C) recovery isn't too bad.

Congratulations!!!! Get some rest!

[thatgirl2478]

OH - I bought a package of high waist panties (fruit of the loom) - you don't want anything to rub on the incision.

Get comfy pants that are loose - again nothing binding

Get Always thin pads - you probably won't bleed much after your 2nd / 3rd day (more when you move too much) since they do a pretty good job of evacuating extra blood during the surgery - they are SO much more comfortable than the bulky hospital ones

When you're in the hospital it's more convenient to stay in the hospital gown for the first 2 days since the nurses will be changing and checking your pads for bleeding (particularly the first day when you're still numb and have the cath so you can't really get out of bed on your own). The other days you can wear your clothes if you're comfortable in them since incision checks & fundal massage can be done as easily in pants as in a gown.

[Blue Moon]

Get face wipes so you don't need to lean over the sink to wash your face. The first two pp poops hurt more than any pain I felt during surgery or recovery. Take the stool softener religiously and drink lots of water. I was feeling a lot better around 10 days pp and was well enough to care for my daughter alone then as my H had to return to work.

[thebreakfastclub]

I did  not have a binder or special underwear.   I just wore boy short underwear one size larger - helps accommodate the pad and it rises above the incision.  

A pad sideways into the underwear protects the incision when you are back into regular pants.   I did have a cami with spandex that helped support.

Beware the first poop.   It's rough.   Ditto others on colace, keeping up with fiber.   Iron pills constipate, as do pain pills, so there are things working against you.

Other than that, the first week is obviously tough, and then it gets better every day.   3 weeks was my turning point, and again at 6 weeks.

[bearbaby]

I was fortunate in that my recovery was pretty straight forward.

A couple additions all of the excellent pp advice:

In the OR the anesthesiologist will stay with you, by your head (if the set up is like mine) monitoring you during the section and close-up. Don't hesitate to tell him/her if you're having pain/anxiety/nausea - apparently it's not uncommon to feel some nausea - I told him towards the end I was feeling poorly and he was able to adjust my meds to help.

The underwear I got was actually normal soft cotton boy cut/hipster in a size above my normal size. Helped make me feel human again.

I was surprised with how much bleeding I had initially. I don't know why I wasn't mentally prepared for that - I guess I was like "well nothing came out of there, what is all this!?" It looked like a CSI scene when I first stood up. I switched to regular modern pads once home and was fine.

WALK WALK WALK. As soon as you're able. The number of slooow laps I did around the Mom/Baby unit became a joke with the nurses during my stay - it definitely made a difference.

The only terrible pain I had was from a full bladder - I woke with horrible abdominal pains (in the hospital) and paged the nurse in a panic. It's better once you're up to frequently empty your bladder.

Colace. For sure. I had no issue with PP poops - but I was very diligent about Colace. In fact, I started it the last month of pregnancy.

[jeaniebueller]

Oct 16, 2014 22:20:03 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

My planned C-section wasn't that bad. my only advice is buy non-bikini underpants that don't hit where your scar will be

Ditto. I never used a belly binder. Even 4 months out, my incision is still sensitive and high waisted panties feel better. Also, you will be so swollen when you leave the hospital. Pack flip flops. Good luck!