All the best for your coming arrival. My apologies for the long post.
I will share with you what i know and hope some of it helps. I had an energency c-section at 29 weeks 6 days so unfortunately had no time to prepare.
At my hospital they will take a photo or two of the baby for you pretty quickly. I saw my baby photo's as soon as I came to from the anaesthetic an hour or two later.
When you are well enough from the c-section (i had a sleep for a few hours) you will get wheeled in to check on your precious darling. Depending on their health they will need Intensive Care or Special Care. NICU has more constant observations and more specially trained nurses. Sometimes they will have breathing apparatus to assist in breathing but that does not sound likely for your gestation.
It is a very scary thing the first sight of the machines so definately ask for a tour. I spoke to a mum-to-be on a tour and it helped her to see our baby and see what was happening.
They will not allow a special blanky or toy in the babies cot but i suggest YOU having a special blanky or toy. I slept with a little knitted toy and carried it when feeling really sad as my emotional rod. ESpecially on lonely nights expressing at 3am or something, have photo's of your baby around you as well.
The midwives in the ward will help you get started on expressing and it is important to do it every 3 hours during the day (or there abouts do not get so stressed like i did if it was not exact), and at least once over night. This increases your supply for when you commence breast feeding.
KANGAROO cuddles are GREAT. They place your little one on your chest inside your clothes. Really good for both of you.
They will go through breastfeeding with you but you start with breast contact and see if your little one has the suckling reflex yet. From 32 - 34 weeks from memory. Then you have the wonderful experience of learning to breast feed. I did contact one feed a day then when she was getting more interested, at every day feed. Depends on your baby as it is very tiring for them.
C-section - take it easy with bending. stepping into baths etc and move slowly for a while. Don't rush things physically.
Any more questions just ask as i realise i should stop this post is so long.
My baby is now a health 6 months old and she only had to be in hospital 6.5 weeks. We got home fullly bf.
Janie, i am sorry that i have no advice to offer you as i have never had a c/s myself so wouldn't know anything at all. I do want you to know though that i am thinking of you and wishing you all the very best for the impending birth of your little one and i hope things go as smoothly as they can for you.
Janie, first of all You've been given some great suggestions. Personally I had a c/s and have also had other major abdominal surgery. I suggest keeping up the pain killers, it enables you to move around and the sooner you get moving (within reason ) the quicker you'll heal and feel better.
Most NICU/SCN will give you a photo of your baby - this is important.
Don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you want. Get the phone number for the nursery, ring them, ask how your bubba is doing (until you're able to go down yourself).
Definately get the expressing going regularly (hand at first obviously). Most SCN will have breastpumps in there that you can use - it helps your milk supply if you're able to see your baby.
I was one of those people who felt so much more better and positive when I had got up showered and put real clothes on. Some mornings I would even blow dry my hair and put a bit of mineral powder make up on. I felt good, I would get out of bed do this and head down to SCN for her first feed.
Find out when the paed visits daily. I was always there for the weighing and pead visit. It made me feel more part of what was going on rather than hearing second hand off a nurse who'd heard it off the previous nurse lol.
Most of all, get rest! Don't be afraid to go back up to your bed put a sign on the door and get some sleep. Sleeping heals and you'll be better able to make your liquid gold for your precious baby.
Good luck Janie...I would suggest someone for you, in recovery and back on ward..I imagine you will want DH to be with baby as much as possible...you will be out of action for 24 hours approx, make sure you use those wisely and keep your pain meds up to date, as soon as all the drips cathertar come out..make sure you keep taking the oral pain relief, and don't do too much the last thing you wnat is to make your pain worse.. take care it will be a stressful time, look forward to your BA, hope all is good and your little one is healthy.
Janie, i have no experience (other than working there) of a bub in NICU, but c/secs I'm good at.
Take the pain relief that's offered. If you can't move because of pain, you can't do what you want.
Move your legs in bed as often as you can manage. Keep the blood moving.
Express as often as you can.
Use a rolled up towel (in eigths like a big pad) against your tummy when you want to move/cough/laugh. It braces those tender muscles a bit.
Use a thin mat pad between your wound and your knickers. It protects the wound a bit more.
ETA speak to the anaesthetist in depth before hand. Tell him what you expect to be able to do. I had a much better experience this time because of this - ie I wasn't so nauseas because I don't do well with morphine so asked for different drugs and lots of anti nausea drugs.
If you wear hipster undies get some higher ones! They sit right on the scar. Like Kim said, if you need to cough/laugh or something hold something against your scar like a pillow. Get up as soon as you're able to. To get out of bed roll onto your side first and use your arms to push yourself up, you can't use your tummy muscles to sit straight up.
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Janie. Hope it all goes well for you both. Will be thinking of you 
) the quicker you'll heal and feel better.
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