Anonymous wrote:Think about what you would do for your husband if he had a major abdominal surgery, and then do that.

- health aide for you in the first two weeks.
- housekeeper 1x week for the first six weeks and everything else waits.
- night nurse once your husband is back at work so you’re getting enough sleep.

These things are all unnecessary. Just take it easy. Be ok with your house being a little messier than usual for a few weeks (honestly, for years). Become a nap person if you're not already.

1. food you can eat with one bite that isn't messy. so not spaghetti but cork screw pasta. You will be eating with one hand a lot.

2. mumus are great - Walmart kind so you can toss after they are stained up for a few weeks.

3. scrunchies for hair; chapstick; etc things you use a lot but can misplace or have on a table on the other side of the room. when you are sitting nursing with a sleeping baby you won't be able to move and get up as easily so having those things at arm reach is a game changer

4. covered water bottles or drink containers. so many spills; so so so many spills.

I couldn't baby wear - I'm short and if I wore baby high he would peck at me for milk; wore to low upset my scar. My sister and my DH wore baby, I was so jealous.

I had three C-sections - the first was an emergency and the other two were planned. The third day is the worst, but every day after that gets better fast. The PPs with advice about stool softeners are spot on. I got so constipated from the pain killers and I didn't even that then for very long. I was close to going back to the hospital because it wasn't something I was thinking about and I let it go on too long.

Sneezing and shivering hurts the most, everything else you can work around.

Other than day three, recovery wasn't bad at all. A friend did develop an abscess and her recovery was very sore, so keep an eye out for that. Otherwise it should be something where everyday you're feeling better than the day before.

Anonymous wrote:Make sure your husband knows how to change diapers.

I had a c-section with my twins and he did all the diapers for the first few weeks.

Agreed. The postpartum nurses can teach him that and swaddling at the hospital.

Also make sure your DH plans to stay at the hospital the whole time with you (which shouldn't be a big deal if you don't have other kids at home). That way he can learn to take care of baby but ALSO take care of you. Getting you water, helping you out of bed to use the bathroom etc - it's nice not to have to wait for and rely on the nurses all the time and they are busy.

Think about what you would do for your husband if he had a major abdominal surgery, and then do that.

- health aide for you in the first two weeks.
- housekeeper 1x week for the first six weeks and everything else waits.
- night nurse once your husband is back at work so you’re getting enough sleep.

Anonymous wrote:Stay in hospital as long as they let you.

My advice is opposite. Leave as early as they let you. I left a day earlier and was so happy to be home, with my own bed, shower.

Stay in hospital as long as they let you.

Get Amazon Essentials surplice dresses in maxi or midi, so comfy and practical.

Anonymous wrote:I just got news that I will most likely need a c-section and will require 6-8 weeks of recovery. I am taking 14-16 weeks off and my husband gets 6 weeks off. Besides his help, what can we do to prepare and make this a much easier recovery? We would prefer to have no hired help or visitors for the first month. I plan to breastfeed.

Cook and freeze food you like. If you've a good network, get someone to start a homemade meal train. Buy $100 Ubereats giftcards from Costco for $75.

I will share a positive story. I had an unplanned C section when DD came early and was in breech position. I stayed in hospital one night and went home the following day. I was back driving within a week and could lift up my 2yo DS and get out and about within 1-1.5 weeks. I truly hope you are as lucky as I was.

Make sure your husband knows how to change diapers.

I had a c-section with my twins and he did all the diapers for the first few weeks.

I had 2 C-sections. The first was an emergency and the second was planned.

As others have said, make sure you have a stool softener and take it. Set alarms to remember to take your pain killers on time too.

A nurse should come teach you the proper way to roll out of bed and how to stand up from sitting without popping stitches. If someone doesn't, ask before you leave the hospital.

Make sure you have lots of throw pillows around the house, particularly in deep chairs. I sat with multiple pillows behind me to allow me to sit more shallowly in chairs, so I could stand up easier.

Don't try to do too much, especially bending and lifting things. My doctor told me to basically only lift my baby. But going on walks once you're up for it is good.

I had three and 2 were within 13 months of each other. You'll be fine.

Prep meals, so you come back to meals that can be easily reheated for the first couple of weeks at least.

Walk. Take small walks with your baby. It helped me so much to do daily walk (maybe started at 10 or 15 minutes) and then grew to 1-2 hours (baby slept and I got my exercise).

Take the painkillers.