C-section Advice

[CBDreams]

Hi I'm a ftm and I'm having a c-section on the 26th. I am hoping you second time moms can give me some advice on what to expect. Also if you have any tips for recovery. Have any of you used a belly compression wrap and loved it? What should I bring to the hospital that I will definitely need?
I'm just super anxious and need a little reassurance!!
Thank you all.

[danielle0214]

I had a c section with my last child and was expecting it to be horrible but went great. I didn't feel it happen at all just a shaking feeling and afterwards I had no problems. Not painful much at all. Just a numb feeling.

[Angeline722]

Yup pretty much everything these ladies said... the only thing I would add was that I bought some bigger granny panties ahead of time that came up to my belly button.. I used the hospital ones at first but I really did prefer my own...

[jesshat]

Walk as soon as possible take the pain meds on time regardless of how you feel. the pain will sneek up on you. Hold ur gut if you have to poop fart sneeze cough laugh or anything like that.. It will hurt. Hospital gives everything needed don't pack a bunch this will be my 3rd and have learned you really don't need much at all. Have someone help you get up and down for a while it helped me a lot.

[susamor]

As far as recovery try to walk as much as you can. It helps you recover faster. Use stroller to help you support yourself when you're back home and go for a short daily walk. Expect lots of pain, get the medication you need while still in the hospital and make sure someone helps you at home for atleast 3 to 4 weeks. If you can right now, cook and freeze meals to make it easier for yourself, because you wont have time to cook in the beginning.
Remind yourself it gets better each day. And don't feel like you're a bad mom because you may not be able to take care of baby as you would have liked. I felt that way coming home after the hospital.
Personally i didnt want to wear anything tight like a wrap. I just wanted to be comfortable. After the surgery the nurse put a wrap on me provided by the hospital and it hurt when she did just bc its so tight and you just had surgery, but it really helped wearing it for the first weeks. But after that i didnt wear anything else like that. I lost the baby weight 30 lbs the first month and the other extra 30 lbs the next 9 months with eating healthy and walking. My tummy looked back to prepregnancy except softer of course..
Bring wide shoes, socks and large clothes because of swelling. My clothes and shoes barely fit me leaving hospital. Hospital underwear were what i used the first days. Ask them if you can take more home. I didnt want to stain my own. (Lots and lots of blood first weeks). Oh and whatever you do, don't try to bend down to pick something up. I had to call for help because I couldn't get back up. It took months for my legs to feel strong and back to normal again. I hope your experience is much easier though! (I had an unplanned csection after 19 hours of induced labor)

[JVerdugo]

I'm up for my third in a bit over a week.  The hospital always provided me with what i needed. Take the recovery slow and take help where you can.  A belly band is great after your Dr says. If you need to cough or sneeze or laugh,  try holding a pillow to your incision site. I personally think the spinal shot is the worst part! So in retrospect,  it's not that bad.  :) Good luck.

[nana070710]

I had my c section on the 12th last month... and what really helped me was getting up from bed next day and walking, and drinking lots of water... i brought with me lots of stuff and didnt need anything since everything was provided at the hospital, i bought with me the necessary for shower.. as far as recovery i do recommend getting underwear for after c section that helped me a lot ... i also did belly wrapped after 2 weeks and i lost almost all of my baby weight, but i am also breastfeeding... when they do the spinal just breath in and out stay calm hope everything goes well !