What do you wish someone would’ve told you about C-sections.....

[Hoody81]

Going on from the wonderful “what do you wish someone would’ve told you about labour/etc.” thread (which was an absolute JOY to read, do go and read it if you haven’t already!), I thought I’d ask the same but relating to C-sections.

Mine will be a planned c-section because I can’t give birth vaginally and I know that comes with all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff that I have no idea about!

So I’d love to know, from all you mums that have had one...what’s it like as an experience? What do you wish you knew before you had one and what surprises popped up that you weren’t expecting...

And if you’ve experienced both types of birth, what are the differences?

I don’t expect this to be half as brilliant as the other thread but I’d genuinely love to know! xx

 

[babyscotcher]

Random unexpected fact- the stiches you get usually depends on the surgeons preference. I had dissolvable stitches where as my friend in the same hospital 3 days before had a bead stitch

Tips- Control pants and maternity pads! I found that buying the control full briefs in one size bigger helped so much. It stopped my insides feeling like they were going to fall out and supported me for any bumps when a passenger in the car. Also if you have to go out while the wound id still healing (especially when hot in the summer) put a clean maternity pad with the sticky side on your underwear against your wound and it will keep it clean and dry.

Also remember to look after yourself! I had a baby in NICU so was rushing around and ended up with a small infection in my scar.

 

[Beauandhamish]

Yes definitely look after yourself, don't just assume you feel terrible coz you've had a section, I ended up back in hospital for 5 weeks with sepsis as I ignored warning signs x

 

[Tigeress]

This is a good post lol.

I wish someone had told me just how blady scary it is when your numb and paralized from the arms down and how vulnerable you feel. So vulnerable infact i cried cos i couldnt move anything other then my neck and arms.

The thing that surprised me was the catheter lol. It didnt even enter my head i would need one, and i didnt even realise i had one til later that night when a nurse came to take it off. I even said ''Wow, i didnt even realise it was there'
Was so mesmerized with baby lol xx

 

[cossie13]

As no one else has gone for it, I'll go with the TMI amnswer - when you have your first BM after a c-section it hurts almost as much as labour! Roll up a hand towel and press it against your scar as you go and it will ease the pain slightly.

Also, as everyone else has said and I feel it's the one thing that needs repeating as much as possible, look after yourself and don't do too much. I was told "rest up and don't lift anything heavier than the kettle to make a brew!". Did I listen? No. Did I suffer after I did anything? Yes. It's major abdominal surgery and you need to take care of yourself

 

[Tigeress]

As no one else has gone for it, I'll go with the TMI amnswer - when you have your first BM after a c-section it hurts almost as much as labour! Roll up a hand towel and press it against your scar as you go and it will ease the pain slightly.

Also, as everyone else has said and I feel it's the one thing that needs repeating as much as possible, look after yourself and don't do too much. I was told "rest up and don't lift anything heavier than the kettle to make a brew!". Did I listen? No. Did I suffer after I did anything? Yes. It's major abdominal surgery and you need to take care of yourself

Holy CRAP! I totally forgot about the first BM after!! Two days i was in pain for and trying to go tiolet! Wow.. That brought back memories then xx

 

[PeanutButter]

As no one else has gone for it, I'll go with the TMI amnswer - when you have your first BM after a c-section it hurts almost as much as labour! Roll up a hand towel and press it against your scar as you go and it will ease the pain slightly.

Also, as everyone else has said and I feel it's the one thing that needs repeating as much as possible, look after yourself and don't do too much. I was told "rest up and don't lift anything heavier than the kettle to make a brew!". Did I listen? No. Did I suffer after I did anything? Yes. It's major abdominal surgery and you need to take care of yourself

Holy CRAP! I totally forgot about the first BM after!! Two days i was in pain for and trying to go tiolet! Wow.. That brought back memories then xx

(I didn't have a section I just think the poop is horrible all around)
LMFAO. I refused to go to the toilet for a poop for about 5 days the Drs were telling me to take stuff to help. Nope nope and nope xD
My MIL had a section, she said it was worse than her vaginally delivery hope your recovery is fast x

 

[Emmajaine]

Gas pain is as bad as the pain from the wound itself!!

Peppermint tea and prune juice are really good for after as they help with the gas pain and going for a poo.

Keep on top of your painkillers for the first week, don't try and push the time between them out, just take them!

Try and let the wound 'air' out daily (it's a great excuse to lie in bed for half an hour or so, lifting the 'overhang' and letting the air get to it)

Above all, give yourself time to heal, it's major surgery! (so easy to say, not.so easy to do.)

Em

 

[Lander]

I ate much too heavily after mine and my bowels did not like me for it. Keep it light and with plenty of fluids xxx

 

[Rubyredslipper]

Trapped wind, lots of it. And you can’t pass wind (sorry!)
how much it bloody hurts to laugh or cough.
Use the controls on the hospital bed to go from sitting to standing, I could barely swing my legs to go from lying to sitting yet alone sitting to standing!
My first BM didn’t hurt, it was just lots of goopy stuff ��
My baby was in nicu so I didn’t rest like I should have, when I was discharged I was in a flat so far away and the wheelchairs didn’t fit through the doors so I had to shuffle and ended up with some antibiotics.

 

[Shanivy]

This a great thread but oh my god I hope I never have to get a section. Now I know how the first time mums felt reading the birth thread haha. Hats off to you ladies seriously.

I had dissolvable stitches with my tear but dissolvable stitches would scare the crap out of me with a section. What on earth is the overhang?! X

 

[Tigeress]

This a great thread but oh my god I hope I never have to get a section. Now I know how the first time mums felt reading the birth thread haha. Hats off to you ladies seriously.

I had dissolvable stitches with my tear but dissolvable stitches would scare the crap out of me with a section. What on earth is the overhang?! X

The overhang is where your tummy hang over the scar.. Kinda wonky.. My cousin calls her an apron. Ive been lucky as mine has disappeared but for some ladies it doesnt xx

 

[KEW]

Remember your body has a great capacity to heal itself if given time. Yes all the things mentioned above do happen and it can feel pretty overwhelming at the time but honestly it will be over in a few weeks! Big pants are a must, trust me you don't want anything rubbing on the scar. Good luck xx

 

[Lander]

My overhang had started lifting but now I'm pregnant again it's messing with the comfort of my maternity jeans. Sits right where the waist bands are.

Once I've had this baby (hoping for vbac but we'll see) I'll be making more effort to deal with the overhang. DS was 11 month's old when we conceived again so there was only so much I'd done about it.

 

[Shanivy]

This a great thread but oh my god I hope I never have to get a section. Now I know how the first time mums felt reading the birth thread haha. Hats off to you ladies seriously.

I had dissolvable stitches with my tear but dissolvable stitches would scare the crap out of me with a section. What on earth is the overhang?! X

The overhang is where your tummy hang over the scar.. Kinda wonky.. My cousin calls her an apron. Ive been lucky as mine has disappeared but for some ladies it doesnt xx

Jeez the things women go through for these little humans xx

 

[Tigeress]

This a great thread but oh my god I hope I never have to get a section. Now I know how the first time mums felt reading the birth thread haha. Hats off to you ladies seriously.

I had dissolvable stitches with my tear but dissolvable stitches would scare the crap out of me with a section. What on earth is the overhang?! X

The overhang is where your tummy hang over the scar.. Kinda wonky.. My cousin calls her an apron. Ive been lucky as mine has disappeared but for some ladies it doesnt xx

Jeez the things women go through for these little humans xx

haha, yes i know right.. Its all worth it though xx

 

[Wednesday]

Bump.. would love some more tips ahead of my section next week!

 

[Dee83]

I’m having an elective in 5 weeks. Any recommendations for control pants? Do you mean like Spanx? Couldn’t imagine wearing anything as tight as that afterwards!. How soon after the section should you put them on? I had an emergency with my first so was completely unprepared with nothing planned for recovery etc, just had to get on with it but trying to be more prepared this time.

 

[Wednesday]

Dee Ive seen Carriwell hospital pants on amazon that the reviews seem excellent on. They are for after birth and the reviews state that they are particularly useful for after a section as they are gauze

 

[Dee83]

Thanks Wednesday, will have a look x