A bit of advice - Things you should know about C-Sections
I found this online before my first c-section and thought I'd share with you all...
#1 You get the shakes due to all of the drugs being given to you so quickly
#2 You get REALLY tight *down there* for ages afterwards (for some) making BDing uncomfortable
#3 Having a CS does NOT mean you will have problems bonding with your baby anymore/any less than a VB
#4 Having a CS does not mean you can't breast feed
#5 It's really not as bad as some would have you believe
# 6 take good care of your back afterwards as the chances are it received a bashing from the medical team before,during and after your birth
#7 The Doc is going to ask you afterwards if you are passing gas. It's not cause he smelt something; he's just checking that your bowels are working okay.
#8 You will probably get your AF back sooner than if you had had a VB.
#9 Don't watch America's Funniest Home Videos two days after your operation. We took a TV into the hospital and I had to tell DH to turn it off because I was in fits of laughter/agony from just listening to him laughing.
#10 the ITCH you can get while in surgery!!! still the worst part of mine i think!!! (from the morphine)
#11 I wasnt warned of what i call the EPISHOCK - the pain that shoots up my back with out warning every so often now!
#12 Always mentally prepare yourself for the possibility of a c/s because even though you may feel "robbed" of your birthing experience, it is not the worst thing that could ever happen to you.
#13 Make sure that you have a rope tied to the bed leg at the bottom of your bed that stretches to your pillow, because you have no stomach muscles to get out of bed to baby and will need something to help pull you up. Failing that have your DH push you up
#14 You can still have contractions after delivery.
#15 try really really hard not to vomit the night after you've had surgery as this hurts so badly
#16 Try and get up and moving as soon as you can (with the help of midwives/nurses in hospital), it will make you feel more 'normal' and help recovery
#17 Take some Arnica drops with you, I think these helped me alot. (and Rescue Remedy)
#18 Normal knickers dont feel good! Have some granny undies packed so your DH doesnt have to shopping for them
#19 All the extra maternity pads you purchased can be used to keep your scar dry (for the saggy belly girls like me that is), fold in half and shove fold part on scar and the saggy belly will hold the pad in place. Will help prevent infection
#20 If you do feel a bit let down or upset by the birth experience, talk to someone. There are people out there who can help you work through the issues you may face. Ask your midwife or doctor for a referal to maternal mental health. They specialise in that sort of thing.
#21 At antenatal class you'll be told that there could be 10 people in the theatre with you and how scary that will be, in reality you don't notice, there are only 3 important people in there - you, your partner and bubs!
#22 It really does feel like someone doing the dishes in your stomach (or rumaging in a handbag lol)
# 23 Don't bother bribing your DH or a friend to paint your toenails so you can feel halfway human. The nurse will make you take it off again.
#24 Take a doughnut pillow to sit/lie on for the first 24 hours. Seriously, my backside hurt worse than my c-section wound after 24 hours of sitting on a crease in the plastic mattress cover!
#25 Drink HEAPS while you still have the catheter in. It means you can make sure you are really well hydrated without having to totter into the bathroom.
#25 Getting baby into and out of the plastic fish bowls provided by the hospital is almost impossible for the first day and very painful for the next few days. So don't bother! Just keep bubs close to you in bed. They are used to being close to you anyway so it eases the transition into the big wide world.
#26 The sooner you get up and moving around the easier the recovery will be. Take it slow and easy and if you decide to walk round the corridors get someone a bit steadier to carry your baby!
#27 Hold a flat pillow tight against your tummy when you get out of bed.
#28 If you need to cough, imitate a cat with a hairball and 'huurrr huurrr' first to move the phlegm. Then sit with a pillow pressed against your tum and cough. You can also get dh to stand behind you and hold the pillow tight while you cough.
#29 Make a fuss if it hurts! Studies show that if pain is effectively dealt with in the initial period then it passes faster. You shouldn't be in pain as long as you have the morphine drip in. If you do then it isn't working. They can give you another booster shot. And keep taking your panadol, tramadol and voltaren for the full recommended period. You won't get dependent on the.
#30 Stay in you pj's once you get home. If you have a shower then get dressed into clean pj's. You are less likely to try and do too much or be expected to do more if you look like an invalid!
