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

[babyscotcher]

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.

Not as high control as spanx. I use the Tesco light or medium control pants and bought a size bigger due to still having a bit of a bump. They are granny style so don't rub on the wound but I found it helped hold everything in place.

Other things I thought of
-Don't be surprised if you cant feel parts of your stomach around the scar afterwards. Nearly 3 years on and I still have a patch of my scar which is numb.
-Ask for as much help as you need while still in hospital.
-Taking the dressing off hurts. Much easier to do this while in the shower but even then I had to ask my husband to come in with me as I couldn't bend down and also couldn't see well enough to get all the sticky stuff off.

 

[MrsLaw]

I wish somebody told me that having steroids injections are painful! Had my first dose today and almost broke DH's hand, you'd think i was in labour. Can't believe i've got to have a second dose. All worth it in the name of babies though x

 

[Orion]

I had an emergency c section and the thing I wish someone had told me might surprise you.

I wish I’d been told how emotional I’d feel afterwards. It’s so hard coping with that level of pain and a baby. Every movement I made felt like I was being stabbed and I felt quite low sometimes not being able to look after him myself for the first couple of weeks. My pain was so bad I couldn’t even hold him to breastfeed like I had wanted to (and my pain threshold is quite high). And I felt so guilty that my husband had to be involved in everything with no break...yes I can feed him, if you pass him to me and make the bottle...yes I can change his nappy if you carry him to the changing table and pick him up again afterwards...

The mental side of the recovery is hard and I wish I’d been warned, and been told how normal it was to feel that way.

So my advice would be to take it easy, take as much help as you’re offered, don’t push yourself physically or mentally, have lots of cuddles with your new baby (it’s good for both of you), feel the way you feel and know it’s ok and that it’s only temporary. It’ll pass. You’ll recover. Enjoy the good and you’ll forget about the bad quicker than you think.