Looking for Cs tips or advise

[scooby]

Well finally after much deliberation i have decided to go with the "elective" (still love that term) CS. I would love any tips anyone has to offer, what got you through, what helped with recovery, best clothing to pack and any of those things you just wish you had known before hand. I would love any advise anyone has to offer. Thanks

[kirsty_lee]

hrmm... um, don't really have any tips for the actual surgery itself cause mine was horrible! Um, through recovery having good pelvic floor muscles helped ALOT so if you haven't started doing them now I highly suggest you do cause you will need them for EVERYTHING afterwards... um, I had actually packed alot more than what I actually needed while I was there. Cause I was in bed for 2 days before I was actually allowed to get up (due to catheder bags and what not) and only had to stay in hospital another day after that. that's all I can think of at the moment, but will keep watching this thread incase I can add anything more

[Beach Mama]

I would say take the drugs. Helps get you up and about much sooner and the sooner you get up and moving, as much as it hurts, the better you will feel. Hard to do that without pain relief! I just took what they had although I cut back on one morpheine one that made me feel ill. I also let the nurses take James for a few hours each night so I could sleep, it is hard to get good sleep during the day and as much as I wanted him to be with me, I needed rest far more - and knew that once I got home resting would be even tougher.
I found very loose fitting pjs were fine,and once at home I lived in Bonds trackies tat are loose. If you are a nightie wearer get one that buttons down the front - I have one from Sussan that was good but mainly wore pjs. I would just pull the top down or off my shoulder when feeding.
Support briefs are great once you get home to support the wound and will help your tummy get back to normal much quicker as well. Im still wearing them! Also a pad stuck on your undies over your wound can help support it plus absorb any sweat if it's hot.
General hospital stuff especially if you are sharing a room, ear plugs, eye mask to help you sleep while people are watching tv etc! Nice body wash - I spent ages for my first shower just sitting and washing all the "surgery" feel off me! You will be flat in bed for at least 24 hours afterwards so it's nice to get out and smell delicious! That's all I can think of for now!

[kirsty_lee]

Yeah drugs definately, but also a good point about the taking of the baby!!! In the first day I remember they would put ava so far away from the bloody bed and i'd have to try and reach the cradle and bring to beside the bed and just rock her until one of the nurses came to give her to me for a feed cause I couldnt' lift her... I sat there rocking with her screaming for an hour one of the days !!!! but they took her for 2 1/2 hours on the second night and it was really good to get some sleep even if it was only for 2 and a bit hours...

Just fwiw, after the op everyone's pain is different, mine was really really bad, I was so sore so if you need meds definately take them.

[Miss H]

Well, I found it difficult imagining what was being done during the surgery. I asked my husband to keep me busy with talking about anything else. If you are the same make sure that he asks you questions so that you can concentrate on what he is saying and not the fact that they are cutting you. Talk about what you are going to do with the baby maybe. Oh, you will feel everything they are doing just with no pain and the operating table with move alot. Afterwards you might get the shakes in recovery and they give you extra blankets and a heater. It's all normal. Take underwear with that will cover the wound (not bikini panties) and black is better so you don't see the blood stains. Also, you will want to throw away the first few pairs you wear so don't bring your best. I actually used disposable undies with my first caesar. Make sure you husband or someone you feel comfortable with is there for your first shower. You might need help getting in and out and just to lean on someone. You can be quite breathless when you first get up. No one told me either that my legs and feet would swell up after birth and that I would feel like an elephant. Apparently normal but scary if it is your first time.

The pain isn't that bad after. Take the meds and concentrate on baby. Just remember that if you cough or sneeze to hold your abdomen with your hand. It helps with the pain.

Hope that helps.

[*Belle*]

Hi there Ive had 2 CS, first one emergency CS, 2nd one nearly 5 months ago Elective CS.

I totally recommend during the CS
- talk to your anesthetist before the operation, mine called me 3 days prior to make sure of the procedure and if I wanted spinal block or epi and also because im allergic to morphine he confirmed he was using fentenyl instead of morphine.

- during the spinal block/EPI focus on a spot or an object or look/smile at your partner and think about the baby going going to be born. The anethetist will be talking to you throughout the procedure asking you how you are feeling as the needle goes in. The 30mins I had to wait between the spinal block and being wheeled into the theatre operating table was the longest wait as I just couldnt wait to have our baby born! It was just DH and I in the room and honestly it was exciting to focus on the birth of our baby!
- Once they put you on the OP table it all happens really quick. The OB makes sure you are ok, the Anethetist is by your side the whole time as is your partner, focus on talking to your partner about the birth of your baby and how exciting it is that the baby will be born very shortly!
- When they prep you to make sure you cant feel anything, they top up the spinal block or epi last minute and you feel warmth of the anesthetic go up your body, if it feels weird ask for oxygen, they gave me some as my chest felt heavy, then they test your belly with ice and you talk to your OB and then they dont tell you when they start, I coudnt feel anything, but honestly it was only really less than 10mins before Tara was born! all I cared about was hearing her cry and seeing her! Once she was born I was so happy! and then she was put on my chest the whole time they stitched me up!
- I was only in recovery for 45mins then back at the ward with my hubby and baby Tara and BF straight away. Tip for first BF after CS dont lean too far forward it will hurt or twinge your stomach a bit, even though you are on painkillers. Have someone help prop you up as you wont be able to feel your legs for a while after.
- Take the painkiller meds they offer. I got offered PDA of Fentenyl cause I cant take Morphine it was great and wonderful, I was allowed to give myself a dose every 10mins it worked wonders. If they give you your own pain relief you press they have to give you oxygen apparently a rule I didnt know cause I wondered why I had oxygen also. The oxygen was actually fantastic.
- As soon as you can get up after the catheter is out try and walk a few steps, yes your ankles/feet will be swollen thats normal and you maybe shakey but try a few steps and get someone to help you. The sooner you walk the better your recovery will be.
- with my emergency c/s I was in heaps of pain due to labour and c/s and could hardly move for days, and on painkillers panadine forte for 3 weeks with elective c/s there was no as much stress on my body so by day 4 I was off all painkillers and had no issues walking around.
-Pads - the kotex brand was best for me others didnt last as long
- disposable toilet wipes, bring some best things and so handy or just some wipes for yourself incase it hurts down there
-make sure you eat cereal in the morning and fibre, very very important, no one tells you this, they make sure how long it takes for bowel movements and if you dont eat these it will be really difficult and they will offer dispositories or whatever they are called as they wont release you from hospy until they know everything is working ok

Good point! - place the baby in the cradle close to you so you can rock them if they cry, you wont be able to lift them, so make sure you buzz the midwifes about 5mins before you want to feed as they maybe busy/flat out and take ages to respond to your buzzer. Sometimes I had to wait for ages. Also tell them your BF or formula feeding plans, ie, demand feeding or 3 hourly feeding if they are good midwifes they will come in and ask how you are going and if you want to start now etc... mine did.

Hope this helps!

[squidipa]

i would and have stayed awake during op.
take full briefs so it doesn't rub on scar. before hospital make sure everything is easily at reach so no bending right down at home.
And lay flat in bed when you can even if you get that slight pulling sensation. With my first CS i didnt and i couldnt straighten out and walk for well over a week. by CS3 i learnt my lesson. And get up and walk withing 24 hours with assistance at hospital and take the drugs!!!!

[indie24]

I agree with what everyone has said here. As people have said take any pain killers and don't let the nurses guilt you about taking them (I had one nurse who did that). Don't be afraid to ask for help from nurses or family.

When laying in bed I found it helpful to put a pillow under my belly for support if I was laying on my side. Some people also advised me to have several pillows around you for support but I never tried that as I found the one pillow enough.

[*Belle*]

Oh I forgot - VISITORS - I found it best no visitors except family for the first day after the CS, its too hard to handle with the pain etc.