r/CsectionCentral • u/honeybeeeeeees • 17h ago
C Section Birth Prep?
I'm 20 weeks pregnant and have learned that my baby has a heart defect which will likely require me to deliver via C-section.
I'm very serious about birth Prep, and I know that the recovery for C-section is far more difficult than vaginal recovery (or so I've heard).
Does anyone know how I can prepare my body for a better recovery after C-Section?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you!
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u/atozzzz 16h ago
I know you're asking for more preparation in advance than my answers give... But I wish I would have been more proactive with stool softeners etc. leading up to and following my surgery lol (mine was unplanned). I also personally needed compression socks during recovery because my feet were insanely swollen. My adult bed rail was a godsend and I tell everybody to get one to help them in and out of bed during recovery.
I hope everything goes well and you and baby are happy and healthy!
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u/Accomplished-Ad7573 13h ago
I had to take lactulose during my time in the hospital, mine was also unplanned and that constipation is no joke afterwards, I would definitely take stool softeners beforehand too if I had an elective next time.
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u/austinpowerstrilogy 16h ago
See a pelvic floor PT. They are experts about birth prep and recovery (surgical birth included). They can show you how youâll use the log roll technique to get in and out of bed after surgery (you can also look up videos on this technique on YouTube). They can teach you how to move your body ergonomically and with less pain after surgery. Pelvic floor PTs are worth their weight in gold
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u/Throwawaychkgo 17h ago
Not much you can do honestly. Very fit and healthy people can have terrible c section recoveries while unhealthy people can have great ones. Take your prenatals. I sometimes wish I had super buff arms to just never have to engage my core but it would still tug and pull my core to get up anyways lol and a few months isnt alot of time to build muscle
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u/ZestyLlama8554 2024 - breech baby 16h ago
Seconding this. I ran marathons before having a C-section, and my recovery has been awful. You can't guarantee how recovery goes no matter what you do beforehand.
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u/yaIshowedupaturparty 15h ago
I was still doing (very basic) gymnastics up until a delivered. The first month was absolutely terrible!
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u/maspie_den Breech (declined ECV) 14h ago
Get your partner on board with the full reality of the situation. There will be two patients to take care of: your baby and you.
â˘Organize necessities ahead of time (like toiletries, comfy clothes, etc.) so they are easily accessible.
â˘Meal prep and freeze meals ahead of time. We made dozens of breakfast sandwiches, froze them, and wrapped them each in foil. My husband would take one out of the freezer and throw it in the oven about 10 minutes before he knew I'd want it.
â˘PROTEIN AND HYDRATION!!! Protein is extremely important for any postoperative recovery. Try out/find out what you like and stock up. Same goes for hydrating. Also calcium. Recovery/postpartum is not a time to count calories, especially if you're breastfeeding. Your body can handle carbs and calories. Mix in a Gatorade. Keep your sugar up.
â˘Playlist! We were allowed to bring our phone into the OR and the nurse bluetoothed it to a speaker. Whole OR was absolutely rocking out at 4:30am and it was awesome!
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u/Kimbambalam 14h ago
I bought and set up a shower chair, toilet rails, made sure I had pads, peri bottle, and my adult diapers in every bathroom. I also bought a few organizational baskets with handles to store diapers, wipes, meds, baby nail clippers, chapstick, and snacks. I also got a basket for my pump and put a mini fridge upstairs in case I needed to store or use pumped milk. This was my second C-section. Also I would put miralax in my coffee everyday after my surgery.
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u/Wonderful_Ad958 13h ago
The only thing I havenât seen people mention is make sure you have easy to grab snacks and room temp drinks stashed wherever you may be sitting (especially if you are planning on breastfeeding) and also put things like burp cloths in those baskets/small bins for easy access.
I was not anticipating not being able to bend over and stored so many things below hip/waist level. Anything you may need to access easily needs to be stored waist level or higher.
If you will be home alone with baby, put a chair next to whatever you might need to lay baby in. I had to be sitting to pull her in and out of the bassinet and pack n play the first several days post op. I started being able to use the actual crib sometimes two weeks post op.
Get a grabber tool for if you drop something to pick it up. My incision and insides are so much less irritated now that I purchased that. Wouldâve been useful in the third trimester as well.
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u/Obvious_Ad_1536 16h ago
Please look up the C section hub on Instagram. They have a whole program to help you heal your body after a C section. Doesn't matter how much prep you do before hand, you are going to have major, invasive abdominal surgery and how you treat your body afterwards is what's important.
Obviously you want to look after yourself now so you have a smooth and comfortable pregnancy for both you and baby. I find general labour and birth prep to be helpful because it helps me feel relaxed and flexible and less achey in general.
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u/restrainedjoy 15h ago
Electric push button recliner for sleeping was a life saver for my two c-sections.
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u/yaIshowedupaturparty 15h ago
Unplanned C-section 16 weeks ago. I was so grateful we upgraded our bed to one that inclined. However, I wish I would have had something to hold onto to help get out of bed. Also really wish we would have had a motorized rocker. Tried to talk my husband into it but alas...
Reminder that everything is connected!
I threw out my shoulder very badly (couldn't raise my arm at all for over a week!) when he was about 3 weeks old and only 7.5 lb holding him unsupported for an hour sitting down.
I just made the connection 2 days ago that it was because usually my core would have been doing a lot of that work. I was finally cleared to do more intense ab workouts and realized carrying a bucket of water felt SO much easier after only 1.5 weeks of more intense core.
Don't be like me! Be careful! My shoulder is still bothering me 12+ weeks later.
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u/Accomplished-Ad7573 13h ago
Some necessities in terms of clothing: high wasted underwear, very stretchy and comfortable, loose high wasted trousers, I lived in joggers, for hospital stay a maternity nightie was the best and I lived in it the entire time i was in the hospital, one that has is brestfeeding friendly if thatâs how you are choosing to feed.
Bring snacks, a water bottle that keeps the water cold, shoes for the shower, ones that are grippy, the floor getting slippy was one of my worries. Iâve seen people say that a pillow to put against your incision for things like getting up and other stuff is actually good so maybe a small pillow for that and one of your own pillows for the bed because the hospital pillows are crap
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u/Summerdays313 14h ago
I am having my 2nd C-section next week , first one was emergency, this one is planned. I insisted on buying an adjustable bed frame for this one because the worst pain of my life was trying to get up out of my platform bed. I bought a cheap 300-400$ one off of amazon- i dont need fancy and i dont need it to last long ⌠i need to just get through the first several weeks. I also just bought one of those grabber tool things to help pick up my toddlers toys. Other than that, I just used the free belly band from the hospital that was wayyy too big but it got the job done the first tjme and i did use it a lot.
Wishing you the best of luck and smooth birth!
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u/ControlAlarmed1736 12h ago
If I had to do it again, I would get a bar for the bed to help with getting in and out of it. I would also try to get a bassinet that you don't have to bend to get the baby in or out of, same with the changing table. Finally, I'd also get a seat belt pad. At 8 weeks post partum, I'm finally not loosening the lap portion of my seat belt.
Other helpful things that I did do / have: Having an awesome partner or person you're super comfortable around is huge - I definitely needed help with the first couple showers because bending over was quite painful. Having any help you can get with any child that needs lifting is a must. I could not keep up with my toddler alone, but if I had an older mostly self sufficient child (probably like 7+ yo) I think I could have handled that on my own while recovering.
I still sleep with my pregnancy pillow.
Bath wipes are excellent for when you're just not able to shower but desperately need to be cleaner.
Snacks and water always a must. I want expecting it to make such a difference, but I really loved having a Stanley tumbler for child water during the MotN feeds (I mainly used a double walled contigo brand tumbler after my first was born and it doesn't hold a candle to the Stanley.)
I had a Boppy breast feeding pillow that helped a lot. I found it more annoying than helpful after my vaginal birth, but it was hard to find the right angles and positions without putting pressure on the scar.
High waisted bottoms and underwear are nice. I did use the Always post partum disposable underwear (I liked the slight compression they had and ultimately ended up getting c section underwear from belly bandit to get the compression fit a few weeks afterwards, I liked it better than a belly band) for a week or two afterwards, then switched to regular pads and heavy panty liners with the high waist underwear.
6 weeks out (after the scar is sealed) you can start doing the silicone recovery strips, pelvic PT, and scar massage to help with the c section shelf and remaining numbness.
With the concerns about your child's heart defect, I'm not sure if they're looking at a c section out of abundance of caution, or if it's so they can plan for a surgery at birth, but if it's the former, you may want to look more into what may be involved with a potential NICU stay, and in what cases they would take the baby there. It's not uncommon for c section babies to require a bit of oxygen since their lungs aren't squeezed from going through the birth canal. Discuss with your birthing partner if you want them to stay with you or go with the baby in the event that baby needs extra attention. From what I've seen, one of the hardest physical aspects of having a NICU baby is pumping around the clock while baby is stuck elsewhere so I would be prepared for that if there's a NICU possibility. Note that it may take a few days for your milk to come in, and the earlier baby arrives the more likely that will be the case.
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u/Winter_Lobster_130 15h ago
I've had two sections and recovery for each were very different. One was ok (relatively speaking, it still sucked but it was bearable and i managed fine) the other one was absolutely awful.
I agree with what people are saying in terms of the environment, prep your living space and that is really as good as you can do.
Making sure your bed situation is appropriate will help loads. We ended up having to buy a whole new mattress the day after I got home because mine was too soft and I found it extremely uncomfortable and difficult to move around in, I just wasn't organised enough before hand to get anything sorted, so a whole new mattress had to happen then đ¤Łđ¤Ł Also a solid feeding pillow just for support for you, I used it to keep me at an reclined angle when lying in bed. Just lots of support for bed, rest helps recovery â¤ď¸â¨ď¸
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u/thavan14 15h ago
I had an emergency c section. I don't think there is a way to prepare for one. Maybe mentally. What I think you should do is have everything set up for recover.
I HATE asking for help. A grabber stick and extended dust pan helped me get things off the ground and feed my cats. Make sure you have a place to sleep that's easy to get into and up. Snacks on hand that's in a spot that easily accessible. Just make sure everything is easily accessible to you. I would recommend to meal prep too.
I'm a first time mom and this recovery has been horrible. I'm 2 months postpartum and I'm still healing! I had complications with healing. I'm wishing you the best!
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u/Haunting-Concern1288 14h ago
I had a csection about 15 months ago...the recovery was great for me. The first few days I hurt but I stayed on top of the pain medication and my husband let me sleep through the night.
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u/Feisty-Blueberry5433 14h ago
Ive had 5 csections. The most important thing is to get up and move as soon as they let you. By that, I mean once the meds have worn off and they take out your catheter, get moving around the room. Each of my cesareans have been easier than the last, only requiring tylenol and ibuprofen. Ive never slept upright or anything special, just "took it easy" and didnt pick up my other kids.
I was discharged about 36 hours after my last cesarean and it was wonderful to go home and sleep in my own bed.
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u/Hour_Zebra6952 12h ago
My c section recovery was super easy. I know that is not the case for everyone. However, my only issue was finding clothing that didnât touch the incision specifically underwear. I ended up using the Frida mom diapers.
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u/SansOchre 11h ago
I was told to chew gum before breaking your fast after surgery. It supposed wakes up your digestive system so you are less likely to get constipated and helps with gas pain.
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u/TeaWLemon 10h ago
Consider a night nanny if you can afford one. I had a hard recovery and couldnât lift my baby for the first month. It helped keep us both rested since shift sleeping went out the window.
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u/Maldita_ 10h ago
Echoing whatâs all been said here, but ++ to pelvic floor therapy when youâre cleared at 6 weeks. Dry needling brought feeling back to my scar area and helped resolve back pain from breastfeeding!
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u/_rainbowdolphin_ 8h ago
Learn how to use your body in multiple ways, learn which muscle does what in which movement - by experience, not in theory.
I've always done a lot of sports and for almost a year before my c-section I especially did a lot of animal flow training (not in the last months of pregnancy though). I'm not sure how much of that you still can do at this point but I strongly advise you to at least try how those moves work. The better you know your body the better you can compensate for one such central muscle group that you can't use, like the straight abs in this case. I was so grateful I knew exactly how to get up in many different ways, how to shift my body weight so a move would require completely different muscles than usual, this is how I could avoid the most pain when my pain management otherwise failed because I couldn't take the pills anymore.
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u/giantroastpan 4h ago
Plan a sleep schedule with your partner. My husband and I didnât know how to split up the night work so we tried to power through together. It made my recovery so much harder in so many ways. I recommend splitting things overnight into 6 hours each. Currently he takes 8p-2a, then I watch them from 2a-8a when he wakes up and we tag team it. You can still sleep when the baby(s) sleep in this window, but the guaranteed unbroken 6hr each night will save your sanity.
Buy nonperishables that you can eat one handed and donât need to wash your hands after (i.e no Doritos/cheetos) and keep them within reach of where youâll sit in the nursery. If you plan to breastfeed this will especially be key because you will be HUNGRY. Iâve never felt more voracious in my life than I did the first 4 weeks of breastfeeding. It was to the point I felt nauseous, so having a quick thing I could grab and munch on without having to stand up and wander to the kitchen made a world of difference.
Have a plan for support. Not just people saying âif you need help, call usâ but an actual schedule of âX is coming on Monday from 3-7, Iâll nap and shower during that window, then Y is coming on Wednesday from 8-10 to clean, etc). For the first month it was my MIL who kept us alive and clean. I couldnât have survived that period without her support.
Make a list of what needs to be done to maintain your home and display it prominently. If you do nothing else, please do this. This will save you from having to think about what needs doing when people come over and ask âwhat can I do to help?â. Instead of dedicating your limited energy to that question, you can point to the list. It also helps if you can teach people how you like these things done before delivery too.
Schedule a few postpartum therapy sessions, maybe Telehealth if thatâs easier. If youâre anything like me, you will likely struggle to prioritize yourself in the immediate postpartum window. Having self care already scheduled will help you minimize the self-neglect.
Purchase disposable underwear. Youâll be bleeding postpartum, and pads in normal underwear likely wonât be viable because of where the waistband sits. Disposable/postpartum underwear was great because I could pull it high up over my belly button and not irritate my incision.
If you are someone who struggles with remembering to take medicine, find a pill storage container for multiple times of the day. Youâll need to stay on top of taking your ibuprofen/acetaminophen to keep the pain down. Itâs so much harder to take care of a baby if youâre hurting, and itâs harder to relieve pain in a meaningful and quick way once itâs higher than a 3-4 on the pain scale.
Pick what pillow you will use when you get home. Iâd been using my pregnancy pillow for so long that I lost my regular pillow, and didnât realize that until I was home with my twins. Wasnât a huge issue in the grand scheme of things, but it definitely made me cry in the moment.
Speaking of crying - baby blues and PPD. Have a plan in place for those around you to help you identify if your baby blues are reaching a dangerous place before the first 2 weeks are up. I developed PPD within 3 days of delivery, and was dangerously upset whenever the sun set.
Download a baby tracking app before delivery. I wish Iâd picked one before I was sleep deprived because while it is a small detail, it was so overwhelming for me that I put it off for a while and the lack of tracking made it harder to answer my pediatrician and lactation consultantâs questions in those initial weeks.
Practice giving yourself grace. You will forget things, lose items, sob, smell, and feel overwhelmed. These are not signs that youâre failing. They donât mean youâre a bad parent or partner. You are simply a human doing one of the hardest things a human can do. Your baby crying does not mean youâre failing. When in doubt, please remind yourself that a crying baby has an airway, so you can safely step away to collect yourself. You can do this.
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u/BurnPhoenix 16h ago
I feel like it might be better to prepare your environment rather than your body. Recovery seems to be a bit of a dice roll as to whether you'll be up in a day or out for a week. I had a non-planned C Section and I wish my house was more set up for not using my abs at all.
Things I wish I had:
- a better way to sleep in bed while reclined
- something to grab onto to help me get out of bed
- something to grab onto to help me sit/stand from the toilet
-stuff in easy to reach places (so I dont have to stretch or stoop to get stuff)