Your Vajayjay could swell up huge and turn purple! Well, your outer labia. No one told me this was a possibility before my C-Section and the first time I used the bathroom and saw it in the mirror I freaked and called the nurse. She just chuckled and said it was common and no big deal. I was like, could someone have TOLD ME beforehand?!

Apparently it's from all the fluids they pump into your IV.

Anonymous wrote:You can request skin-to-skin with a C. I had one at GW and when I requested it they told me it was automatic unless there was something wrong with the baby. I had meconium in my waters so they checked her out quickly before handing her over but I did skin-to-skin while they stitched me up.

GW has an entirely different culture! Things that are request-only at most hospitals (and they don't tell you you can request them!) are the norm at GW.

You can request skin-to-skin with a C. I had one at GW and when I requested it they told me it was automatic unless there was something wrong with the baby. I had meconium in my waters so they checked her out quickly before handing her over but I did skin-to-skin while they stitched me up.

They don't tell you that they can usually put the baby on your (bare) chest immediately after the birth - if you specifically ask, and you have no complications/side effects from the drugs, and your partner is there to assist.

In general no one really tells you how important skin to skin is for both of you - helps baby regulate their body temp, start initiate breastfeeding which should happen ASAP, and helps with bonding. Even if your baby goes to the NICU you can request to do skin to skin. There's lots of scientific evidence of its benefits. It's pretty amazing and you shouldn't miss out if possible! And if baby can't go on your chest, dad's bare chest is the next best thing for the baby.

https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/implementing-standards-resources/skin-to-skin-contact/
https://www.nationalpartnership.org/our-work/resources/health-care/maternity/early-skin-to-skin-contact.pdf

Nice you had no tape. With one of my c sections, they put it over my stitches and it made my skin blister.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must keep the gauze in place to avoid infection. Do not remove it until your doctor has given you the go-ahead.

I left the hospital with nothing over my scar. No tape, gauze. Nothing.

Me either, I had glue, it healed fine and is now (3 years later) barely visible. Still slightly numb though.

Anonymous wrote:The dry air in the hospital made me cough ... which made my stitches feel like they were ripping apart. Keep some hard candy or cough drops handy!

+1 and take chapstick and other moisturizer too. That air is sooo dry

There’s a lot of very good and accurate info here! Only thing I would add is that is very easy to have tubes tied at the same time for anyone having a c section who knows WELL BEFORE that this is their last child.

Anonymous wrote:

Congrats OP! I have a scheduled C-Section in 2 weeks and all of these tips are helpful. I would add that I just did the online C-Section video class through Inova Alexandria; it was pretty good and you may learn some new information. I've had a myomectomy in the past and that was painful so based on that experience this is what I'm doing to help with recovery:

- Gas X, that gas pain was intense!

-Stool Softeners, already on them now due to Iron supplements

-Bought Frida Mom C-Section disposable underwear for first few weeks + Granny panties

-Big Sanitary pads

-My mom bought me a bunch of caftans on her last India trip to wear at home but I did buy some loose nightgowns too on Amazon

-Packing my breast friend pillow to take to hospital

-Limiting stairs to only 1x a day and having a baby station set up on main floor so that I don't have to run up and down

-Finally, making a play list for the OR to help distract!

Good luck

Steps are a much bigger issue for those who had a vaginal delivery than a C-section.
DON'T VACUUM for a few weeks. Get someone else to do it for you.

I don't vacuum now

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the oxycodone. It will make it easier for you to get up and move around and heal faster. Don’t deny yourself one of the few simple pleasures available to you as a consolation prize for having a C section! Ask for oral zofran if it makes you nauseous. Seriously- don’t deny yourself

Ehh, this is a personal pain thing. I didn't take anything but ibuprofen after the IV drugs wore off and I wasn't uncomfortable at all--bonus, it was easier to get my digestive system back in functioning order afterwards. I'm very sensitive to drugs in general. And, not everyone has that much pain--so I'd say take the drugs if you have a lot of pain, but don't feel you have to just because they are offered.

Oh, see I meant the pleasant buzz was the consolation prize for needing a C section

Congrats OP! I have a scheduled C-Section in 2 weeks and all of these tips are helpful. I would add that I just did the online C-Section video class through Inova Alexandria; it was pretty good and you may learn some new information. I've had a myomectomy in the past and that was painful so based on that experience this is what I'm doing to help with recovery:

- Gas X, that gas pain was intense!

-Stool Softeners, already on them now due to Iron supplements

-Bought Frida Mom C-Section disposable underwear for first few weeks + Granny panties

-Big Sanitary pads

-My mom bought me a bunch of caftans on her last India trip to wear at home but I did buy some loose nightgowns too on Amazon

-Packing my breast friend pillow to take to hospital

-Limiting stairs to only 1x a day and having a baby station set up on main floor so that I don't have to run up and down

-Finally, making a play list for the OR to help distract!

Good luck

Steps are a much bigger issue for those who had a vaginal delivery than a C-section.
DON'T VACUUM for a few weeks. Get someone else to do it for you.

Anonymous wrote:Uniqlo maternity leggings and their over the bump
Underwear are great for the weeks after the c section because it doesn’t put any pressure on the scar area

Have ur partner do all baby care in the first weeks—it is such a special bonding time for them and it will help you heal faster and better.

I always have wondered about the underwear thing. I feel like everyone says this and I never understand what they are talking about. I own no pair of underwear, and have never seen a pair that I could buy, that would come down low enough to even remotely put pressure on my scar. If it were that low, the back would not cover my butt at all. 2 c-sections here. Maybe my incision was very low or my anatomy is weird, but I have never had this issue.

Congrats OP! I have a scheduled C-Section in 2 weeks and all of these tips are helpful. I would add that I just did the online C-Section video class through Inova Alexandria; it was pretty good and you may learn some new information. I've had a myomectomy in the past and that was painful so based on that experience this is what I'm doing to help with recovery:

- Gas X, that gas pain was intense!

-Stool Softeners, already on them now due to Iron supplements

-Bought Frida Mom C-Section disposable underwear for first few weeks + Granny panties

-Big Sanitary pads

-My mom bought me a bunch of caftans on her last India trip to wear at home but I did buy some loose nightgowns too on Amazon

-Packing my breast friend pillow to take to hospital

-Limiting stairs to only 1x a day and having a baby station set up on main floor so that I don't have to run up and down

-Finally, making a play list for the OR to help distract!

Good luck

I had 2 planned c sections, recovery was easy.

Shaving depends on where your incision is and your own anatomy.

You will be annoyed at how soon they want you to get up, but you will feel better once you do.

I'm not sure I would micromanage stitches or whatever. It was a nonissue. If you have a good doctor, you should leave them to it.

My OB let me eat after my second c section before I passed gas. I'm not sure what it was, but I never had a good appetite until a few days after both babies.

I had 2 due to breech placement. Both pretty easy, but OMG YES to the stool softeners. With the second (who is now 11) I went for a run at 4 weeks after being cleared by my doctor.