Advice for impending caesarean?

Savvy_Sue

Work out if there are people you'd rather have come and see you in hospital than at home, and vice versa. You don't want too many visitors in hospital, because it can be exhausting, but anyone who'll be more trouble than they're worth if they come and see you at home could be 'got over and done with' as it were ...

margaretclare

Hi

Not wishing to scare you, but be extremely careful of 'hospital-acquired infections'. Have a look at this website: http://www.mrsasupport.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

One of the most important pieces of advice on that website is: never put your bare feet on the floor, always wear slippers. Wash hands always, and make sure your visitors do the same, also use the hand-gel that should be provided on every ward.

I'm going into hospital on 19th October for further hip surgery. And I am taking great care not to take in any antibiotics - that means not eating any factory-farmed or intensively-produced meat, poultry or eggs. In hospital I intend to stick to the vegetarian option. Nowadays I like to know where all my food comes from.

Good luck!

Aunty Margaret

katskorner

Best of luck with the birth of your baby - probably the most important event in your whole life!

I haven't had a CS as I was OK to have my son without needing one but have a friend who had to go elective due to her build and it is not the easy option for certain! Make sure you have enough good food in your freezer for after the birth as looking after a new baby is exhausting anyhow. Cook meals and freeze them now and you can just heat them when you need them as you won't feel like cooking anything. Loads of fresh fruit too - get your friends to get it for you and take it as easy as you can.

If you need help or anyone offers then shout and say 'Yes Please'!

Best of luck honey

tightgit_2

I have had two sections the first an emergency and the second planned both due to me having a small pelvis so no other option.
I must say that the planned was much better than the emergency. I could plan everything in advance.
I had an epidural both times which I prefered as I was able to hold my baby straight away.

I agree with having things like the changing mat waist level and put them in a cradle so again I didn't have to bed to low.

I also agree that breastfeeding can be harder, but it is just a matter of getting the position right.

My doctor advised me to keep the wound clean using damp cotton wool, which seems obvious but I was wary of touching it, but this worked fine. Make sure you dry it properly and let the air get to it as much as possible.

margaretclare

Just a further thought.

From my experience (a former midwife), the worst thing about giving birth by Caesarean section is this:

It is major abdominal surgery. Now, any comparable surgery and you are off work for 12 weeks, you have time to recover in your own time, you're warned about things like not driving for 6 weeks, not carrying anything that's heavier than a full kettle, having an afternoon rest on your bed, etc...

With a Caesarean section you are immediately handed a baby to take care of! And a baby is a full-time job in anyone's language. No 12 weeks off work, no afternoon rest, no night's sleep even!

So, take advantage of every little scrap of help that you're offered. Don't even wait for the offers - shamelessly ask for help. People should not visit you unless they bring something or they offer to do something. Once you get home, if you have visitors who come round to 'see the baby', don't feel you have to struggle to 'entertain' them, make them cups of tea etc. If they come when it's not convenient, either in hospital or back at home, tell them 'it's not convenient'. It's more important for you to have a couple of hours' rest than to sit chatting when you'd rather not.

Eat well, drink plenty of water, stay clear of smoky atmospheres and people who smoke.

Best wishes

Aunty Margaret

Gingham_Ribbon

How exciting for you! However your baby gets here it's going to be such a wonderful and exhausting time!

I had an emergency section after a planned home birth with a birthing pool in the dining room! I had an epidural which didn't take so I had a spinal block which also didn't take so ended up having a general anaesthetic. The spinal and epidural only didn't work because he was pressing on my spine. This doesn't sound likely in your case though!

From what I remember, preparing lots of easy meals before hand will be a godsend for you.

Lying down to feed if you're breastfeeding helped me, but so did a pillow on my lap to lie him on. Sitting on a reasonably high chair helped me get up and down. Big pants to avoid rubbing.

They used to put a sanitary-towel-like pad over my scar to keep it dry. I kept that up afterwards and it helped. Take care to dry it well when you bathe/shower.

Peppermint oil REALLY helped with the painful trapped wind. So did not giving a hoot if it found a way of escaping when I had visitors!!! :eek:

I was very grateful for the pain relief, so if you need it use it! I found the iron tablets (I had a lot of bleeding) made the constipation worse and got my iron count back up by eating iron rich foods but that's one to discuss with the doc.

Accept help! People genuinely want to feel useful so it's really in their best interests to let them!

Oh, I'm sure I'll think of more later, so I may add some. My friend had an elective section today and has a lovely little brother for her beautiful daughter, who was born by emergency section. Both ops went very smoothly.

xxx

Oh, yes! And a midwife on the ward commented a few days after my son was born that I looked so happy that I might as well be in a meadow not a hospital ward. So that's what I call having a section - meadow walking!

flikkerty

Oh you have been making me laugh, thanks everyone for your tips and tales.. they really do make sense as I can prepare the pants,pillows and stock that freezer right up! I am very grateful!
flikkerty

misty

I had an emergency section and would echo all the tips you've been given. I seperated from my ex before the birth so had to get on with it to a certain extent but if you can get people to do lifting and carrying then do so because it is major surgery. The midwife suggested putting the powder you put on the babies umbilical cord on the scar to help keep it dry and free from infection. I had a changing unit I found invaluable but anywhere that doesn't stretching up or bending down too far will do. Also, beware the beds in the hospital - at ours they had two buttons - one to go up and down in height, the other to move the back rest bit upright or flat - don't mistake the two because sitting up too quickly really aches - even if gives the nursing staff a laugh.

jellyhead

you can buy peppermint teabags from the supermarket if you can't get to anywhere else selling them. if you're on iron tablets and they make you constipated try spatone, i don't know if you can get it on prescription. i buy mine, £6.99 for a 30 day supply but they're usually on 3 for 2 at boots. it's iron in water, it's very gentle on the stomach. it tastes funny, i mix mine with ribena.

pdoff

thanks to everyone for these tips as i too have to have a ceasarian in november (1st birth really nasty & had op 18 months later to repair damage but if i try & do natural again will be 99% chance of emergency c section anyway & big mess down there!!) i also felt bad about an "elective" section so thanks to those who do not judge. hope all goes well for u flikkerty - tell us how u get on!!