Important things to pack for C-Section...

[Blondie]

If this question has been asked before please forgive me!

I know I am getting in early but I am feeling like I need to start a list of what I need to be taking into Hospital.

The brochure given to me by MMH says I will be there for around 96 hours (4 days?) maybe less depending on recovery.

What are the must have's for the Hospital Bag?

[surprised]

Grandma undies! You'll need some that don't sit on where the cut will be. And trackies the same.

[Nai]

Maternity pads - for the post partum bleeding but also to put across the scar
Granny undies
Pear juice & prunes (morphine constipates you!)
V-shaped pillow
PJ's with front buttons for feeding
Comfy high waist tracksuit pants
Your physio may give you some but some tubigrip to wear around your middle to support your tummy is awesome

[AlligatorsMum]

i second the big undies! or even the seam free ones, they have amazing stretch and dont dig in at all.

i dont know if there was anything else that would have been more helpful for post C/S than post Vaginal delivery?

[Phteven]

I had a surprise c-section and I didn't need anything extra or different.
Comfy undies are a must regardless of how your baby arrives.

[Indadhanu]

I was the same as Onyx, surprise c/s (love that BTW), and I didn't need anything different. I took comfy undies, although not loose undies, you still need well-fitting undies, but some that sit slightly higher so they hold the pad in place and don't rub (although to be honest if you use a pad over the wound, which is a good idea, then really high undies aren't terribley necessary). And just be mindful of the clothes you take, and don't take anything that sits too tight or too irritates your belly.
One word of advice though, if you're going to use pads over the wound, cheap no-name brand ones are fine for that. They actually suited me better because they tend to just be flat and bulky and soft (basically like encased cotton wool lol), whereas expensive ones are contoured and quite thin and have features like anti-leak grooves and things that are totally unnecessary over the wound. Have a pack of good ones for PP bleeding and a pack of cheapies for the wound

[Peekaboo]

I definitely second (or third??) the no name/home brand pads to put over your wound! I have a bit of a tummy overhang, and I found my normal undies that sit below my tummy to be okay, I tucked the bottom part of the pad into my undies and sort of sandwiched (for lack of a better word!) the pad between the wound and tum overhang It helps stop your undies rubbing, and also helps with any excess moisture.

Everything else that you pack would be much the same as if you were having a VB, just you will need enough changes of clothes/snacks etc for the extended stay

[Blondie]

Thanks lovelies Sorry to go MIA. Have had a sick toddler!

All really good suggestions. I think I will be going for comfort and purchasing some granny undies...I need some more anyway as mine are a little snug at the moment

So with the pad covering the wound is this in addition to the one that they will put on? So like an additional barrier? Sounds like a plan. The cheaper ones are like big soft surfboards so might pack some of those too.

[Peekaboo]

I guess it depends on your hospital and/or midwife on duty as to whether they will give you a pad-type dressing. From memory they put tape over the wound after the surgery, but that came off the next day, and they only supplied 1 dressing type pad after that.

[Blondie]

That makes sense. I think i'll take some pads along with me for extra comfort So, are the stitches invisible or do they need to be removed or do they staple? Does it depend?

[Peekaboo]

It all depends on the surgeon. For my two c-sections I had internal stitches (dissolvable), and staples on the outside. The staples come out on day 5. For my first I was still in hospital on day 5 so they did them there, with my second I went home on day 4 - they have a home call nurse who will come to your house to take them out on day 5 if you're already at home.

Having the staples out was a huge relief for me, they tend to pull on the wound when you move certain ways. It didn't hurt too badly having them taken out either, slight pulling and poking in an area that's already sensitive, but nothing too bad.

[Mother Goose]

How they close the wound depends on the surgeon. Many are moving away from staples an towards glue or dissolvable stitches these days.

[Blondie]

That might have to be on my questions list for the Midwife at next visit. Or I might have to wait for OB appointment at 36 weeks. The thought of having staples makes me shudder but I have chosen this path and am still happy with my decision

[KitFaerie]

I had staples. They were fine The ob told me they were actually better cosmetically? Granny undies rock. Grab as many pillows as you can.

Good luck!

[forshelby]

Grandma undies are a must. Trackies also a must.

I found that tubigrip stuff really great, except for trying to take it off..... kinda ouchy and scary that I might hurt my incision. I ended up buying an abdominal support from the chemist. It was about $60, but worth every cent. It was like a big firm elastic band which had a soft panel at the front and fastened with velcro. It made my recovery a LOT faster. I was able to walk around the shops for up to 5hrs at a time with my mum at 2 weeks pp. And of course, because that's what you do to help a new mum recovering from a c/s and horrible horrible experience with complictions..... you go shopping. Guess who won't be invited when this bub arrives?!

[Blondie]

I went and bought some granny undies...gorgeous things that they are! I'm sorry you had a bad experience forshelby this is my first c-section. I too had a bad experience but mine was during my VB.

[Indadhanu]

My stitches were all internal and dissolvable, so my wound looked kind of freaky with the two bits of skin just sitting up against one another and I was really unsure how it would heal but it did. I have a tear from my VBAC and they did the stitches the same - internal and dissolvable - and I still wonder how it is going to heal as it seriously just looks like two bits of skin sitting side by side, although I'm sure it will heal properly with time.

[Blondie]

My stitches were all internal and dissolvable, so my wound looked kind of freaky with the two bits of skin just sitting up against one another and I was really unsure how it would heal but it did. I have a tear from my VBAC and they did the stitches the same - internal and dissolvable - and I still wonder how it is going to heal as it seriously just looks like two bits of skin sitting side by side, although I'm sure it will heal properly with time.

I had a 3C tear with disolvable stitching and it looked the same (like 2 bits of skin sitting side by side)....from what DH could see around the swelling and bruising. It took a little while to heal properly due to the location but it did heal