Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:54     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
My planned c-section was super easy (compared to my prior emergency one).

My doctor said I should wash with Hibliclens the day before and morning of (reduce infection risk)

Get an ab binder

Make some meals to have on hand
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:49     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s the crunchy moms I’m around but I found the stories about c sections wrong especially in the case of a planned c section. I had a planned c section and I maybe took 1 opiate the first night and then was just Tylenol. I really did not have a hard time managing at all. I was in the hospital I think three nights and could have left after two (stayed for 3 because I was struggling with breastfeeding (ugh way worse than the c section) and insurance covered it.

I felt 100 percent better by week 2. I was able to do everything I wanted to by day 4. And I was 40. I was in good shape during the pregnancy, did a lot of prenatal yoga and stretching and walking. Didn’t gain much weight either as I had GD and had a restricted diet that was generally hard to over eat on.

My advice is just make sure you have dresses or other loose around the waist clothing.


Yes I was in a prenatal yoga class where everyone talked about C sections like some kind of tragedy or the worst outcome imaginable. I myself was born via C section so I obviously didn't think so! I've had two and honestly it's fine and looking back (my kids are in ES now) it's barely memorable. I posted earlier with some tips on the early days. Postpartum recovery is tough and variable regardless.


I was lucky, my prenatal yoga class had one woman who was going to be having a c section due to where her placenta was, so we actually had a lot or talk about core exercises and surgery recovery. So when I had a breech baby and a c section, I knew about it.

For me the worst part of it was the drugs. I've very consistently found surgical drugs make it hard for me to think clearly, going back to my first surgery as a teenager. It clears up in a couple days, but I do hate that feeling.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:45     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:Maybe it’s the crunchy moms I’m around but I found the stories about c sections wrong especially in the case of a planned c section. I had a planned c section and I maybe took 1 opiate the first night and then was just Tylenol. I really did not have a hard time managing at all. I was in the hospital I think three nights and could have left after two (stayed for 3 because I was struggling with breastfeeding (ugh way worse than the c section) and insurance covered it.

I felt 100 percent better by week 2. I was able to do everything I wanted to by day 4. And I was 40. I was in good shape during the pregnancy, did a lot of prenatal yoga and stretching and walking. Didn’t gain much weight either as I had GD and had a restricted diet that was generally hard to over eat on.

My advice is just make sure you have dresses or other loose around the waist clothing.


Yes I was in a prenatal yoga class where everyone talked about C sections like some kind of tragedy or the worst outcome imaginable. I myself was born via C section so I obviously didn't think so! I've had two and honestly it's fine and looking back (my kids are in ES now) it's barely memorable. I posted earlier with some tips on the early days. Postpartum recovery is tough and variable regardless.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:34     Subject: Re:How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:I found my planned c-section easier to recover from than my vag delivery. No sore nether regions. Bleeding cleaned up faster. My abs were in decent shape from the gym and I think that contributed.


This, exactly. I was walking carefully up and down stairs with doctors permission around 6 days (and I can only take Tylenol).
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:12     Subject: Re:How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:I found my planned c-section easier to recover from than my vag delivery. No sore nether regions. Bleeding cleaned up faster. My abs were in decent shape from the gym and I think that contributed.


Same!
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 06:43     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Maybe it’s the crunchy moms I’m around but I found the stories about c sections wrong especially in the case of a planned c section. I had a planned c section and I maybe took 1 opiate the first night and then was just Tylenol. I really did not have a hard time managing at all. I was in the hospital I think three nights and could have left after two (stayed for 3 because I was struggling with breastfeeding (ugh way worse than the c section) and insurance covered it.

I felt 100 percent better by week 2. I was able to do everything I wanted to by day 4. And I was 40. I was in good shape during the pregnancy, did a lot of prenatal yoga and stretching and walking. Didn’t gain much weight either as I had GD and had a restricted diet that was generally hard to over eat on.

My advice is just make sure you have dresses or other loose around the waist clothing.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 06:18     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:Some of these experiences are extreme. I had 2 C sections within 17 months and yes, there is discomfort, but I supposed tears or episiotomies have their discomfort too. The PP who couldn’t leave the 2nd is unusual. My advice is to take it easy. You will know when you have done too much. You will feel a tightening deep within the incision. Enjoy your baby.



Agree- people here are rather dramatic. Im a single mom (donor conceived child) with a planned c-section due to a previous gyn surgery and the recovery was fine. I was by myself after 3 nights in the hospital and 2 at home. I wore couple pair of big drawstring pants and my pregnancy leggings. I had a cover on my incision that had a battery pack so needed the waist band to put the battery pack on.

I wish I had taken a pumping bra to the hospital.

It was way easier than expected, many of my mom friends tried vaginal deliveries first and then ended up with a c-section anyway and that seems why more stressful and exhausting.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 04:45     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Some of these experiences are extreme. I had 2 C sections within 17 months and yes, there is discomfort, but I supposed tears or episiotomies have their discomfort too. The PP who couldn’t leave the 2nd is unusual. My advice is to take it easy. You will know when you have done too much. You will feel a tightening deep within the incision. Enjoy your baby.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 04:07     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
As a FTM, I too wanted a few weeks without visitors and my mom planned to visit 2 weeks after my due date. However, baby was 10 days late so my mom’s visit was just 2 days postpartum and I was so grateful to have her help. For #2, I had my mom and sister come immediately and having their support was so helpful those first few weeks. If you are close to your mother or a sister, I’d consider having them come earlier - outside help for many is incredibly helpful.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 03:30     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:Why will you most likely need a csection?


Baby is breech. I have tried all recommendations but nothing has worked.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 02:39     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Why will you most likely need a csection?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 01:59     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The no visitors is not a great idea unless you and baby are immuno compromised. It's extremely exhausting and isolating feeding your baby every three hours.


We don’t want visitors because it’s a lot to have people in your home when you’re recovering. We want that time to bond with baby and get into the groove of parenting. Hosting a bunch of visitors sounds exhausting to me.

The idea is not for you to host, it is for you to have help.

I have had three C-sections, and much of what I would tell you has already been said. I will re-emphasize get alllllllll the mesh undies and giant pad/sheets they will let you take. Walk as soon as you're able, just a short stroll around the floor is fine, but do it as soon as you can. Do it as much as you can without feeling tired. Listen to your body. One thing that nobody warned me about was how profoundly weird it felt. I really had this sensation as if I would just open up and my organs would start falling out. I loved this pillow https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/sandmott-cushion-bright-green-dark-blue-70584602/ Having that to rest gently over the scar feels so comforting for some reason.

I will also second the My Brest Friend or something like it. I cannot imagine post-C nursing without it.

Have a conversation with your doctor about your limits and then really pay attention to how you plan and lay things out. For most people the pain is not that severe but they really aren't prepared for the limitations.

I preferred nightgowns and dresses as much as possible for at least a month.


My family won’t be helpful. His family will. We still don’t want people in our home.


Just make sure he understands that he's going to have to do everything. You are potentially going to be unable to do things like.laundry (can't lift rhe buckets) and dishes. Cooking with be tough.

My friend had a c section and I literally showed up at her apartment, brought food, and just cleaned dishes, carried laundry back and forth from their laundry room, and left. I didn't attempt to hold the baby or anything that would potentially expose the baby to germs (I did take the baby on later visits when she was colicky and they needed a break). This is a since childhood friend who is like a sister to me.

If you have close friends think about that.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 00:26     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The no visitors is not a great idea unless you and baby are immuno compromised. It's extremely exhausting and isolating feeding your baby every three hours.


We don’t want visitors because it’s a lot to have people in your home when you’re recovering. We want that time to bond with baby and get into the groove of parenting. Hosting a bunch of visitors sounds exhausting to me.

The idea is not for you to host, it is for you to have help.

I have had three C-sections, and much of what I would tell you has already been said. I will re-emphasize get alllllllll the mesh undies and giant pad/sheets they will let you take. Walk as soon as you're able, just a short stroll around the floor is fine, but do it as soon as you can. Do it as much as you can without feeling tired. Listen to your body. One thing that nobody warned me about was how profoundly weird it felt. I really had this sensation as if I would just open up and my organs would start falling out. I loved this pillow https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/sandmott-cushion-bright-green-dark-blue-70584602/ Having that to rest gently over the scar feels so comforting for some reason.

I will also second the My Brest Friend or something like it. I cannot imagine post-C nursing without it.

Have a conversation with your doctor about your limits and then really pay attention to how you plan and lay things out. For most people the pain is not that severe but they really aren't prepared for the limitations.

I preferred nightgowns and dresses as much as possible for at least a month.


My family won’t be helpful. His family will. We still don’t want people in our home.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 00:07     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The no visitors is not a great idea unless you and baby are immuno compromised. It's extremely exhausting and isolating feeding your baby every three hours.


We don’t want visitors because it’s a lot to have people in your home when you’re recovering. We want that time to bond with baby and get into the groove of parenting. Hosting a bunch of visitors sounds exhausting to me.

The idea is not for you to host, it is for you to have help.

I have had three C-sections, and much of what I would tell you has already been said. I will re-emphasize get alllllllll the mesh undies and giant pad/sheets they will let you take. Walk as soon as you're able, just a short stroll around the floor is fine, but do it as soon as you can. Do it as much as you can without feeling tired. Listen to your body. One thing that nobody warned me about was how profoundly weird it felt. I really had this sensation as if I would just open up and my organs would start falling out. I loved this pillow https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/sandmott-cushion-bright-green-dark-blue-70584602/ Having that to rest gently over the scar feels so comforting for some reason.

I will also second the My Brest Friend or something like it. I cannot imagine post-C nursing without it.

Have a conversation with your doctor about your limits and then really pay attention to how you plan and lay things out. For most people the pain is not that severe but they really aren't prepared for the limitations.

I preferred nightgowns and dresses as much as possible for at least a month.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 23:42     Subject: How to prepare for a c-section
Anonymous wrote:The no visitors is not a great idea unless you and baby are immuno compromised. It's extremely exhausting and isolating feeding your baby every three hours.


We don’t want visitors because it’s a lot to have people in your home when you’re recovering. We want that time to bond with baby and get into the groove of parenting. Hosting a bunch of visitors sounds exhausting to me.