So, you just had a c-section? Or you may even be planning to have one. I’m here to hopefully help a little bit with that!
After having a c-section you’ll have been given the basic advice; make sure you take your pain relief and don’t over do it but post c-section and having a newborn can at times be quite overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.
First of all, you’ve got a newborn. Make sure you relish in all those baby cuddles and that new baby smell, you’ll miss these days even if you are super tired.
Here are the things that massively helped in my post c-section recovery
My post c-section essentials
A feeding pillow (or 5)
I can’t tell you how many uses these have. The obvious being to help support you and your baby whilst your feeding them; no matter how you’re choosing to do so. The IKEA LEN the best one I found by far – super duper supportive and sturdier than any of the others we tried
The reason I feel like this is an essential post c section though is I used my to sleep on. I needed to be propped up to sleep as laying flat for the first few weeks is too uncomfortable and painful
It the perfect amount of support to slightly sit up for those night feeds too.
I’d highly recommend having a few around the house. It feels like the worst thing, getting all comfy on the sofa, only to discover that your feeding pillow is on your bed. UPSTAIRS. 🙄
Honestly so many uses, including helping the little ones have a cuddle.
And now we’re a few months in; we use to prop her up and she starts learning how to sit up by herself
Huge knickers and thick pads
When you think you have undies big enough, add a size or two again! I had bought a few packs of the primark ones in a couple of sizes up. Being made to put these on whilst I was in labour wasn’t fun, all they were digging in and making me angry 😂
I had to sent my Dad out (thanks Dad haha) to get some extra big high waisted ones. The primark ones WOULD NOT have cut it post c-section. In fact they would have cut into me and put me in even more pain. This isn’t to say the primark ones are bad. Just make sure you size up more than you think you’ll need
Hand in hand with undies are pads. My favourite were the Tesco’s own maternity pads. The midwife in the hospital put two in for me in theatre, length ways. So I reciprocated this when I got home and had absolutely no leakages 😁 highly recommend!
Pure orange juice and peppermint tea
Everyone (including two of my sisters, thanks for that) terrified me about how painful going to the toilet would be after I’d had Lily. They had also both has c sections so knew what I’d be in for
Even though my c section wasn’t planned, I sent my dad out (once again 😂) to get me some pure orange juice. Once I got out of hospital, I drank a litre of it in one sitting haha!
Absolutely no regrets. No pain, no effort and wasn’t sat on the toilet for hours like they had said would happen. TMI?
I had a glass everyday for around 2 weeks and didn’t have the trouble they or anyone else online said I would, can’t recommend this one enough
Peppermint tea is a post c-section life saver!
NOBODY told me how painful trapped wind could be or even that you got it after having a c section. I feel like these are the things they should teach you in anti-natal classes haha!
They did have it on the ward but I naively just presumed it was there incase you didn’t like normal tea or coffee haha!
Peppermint tea relieves any discomfort you might have after a c-section, my favourite is the teapigs peppermint one. Just to note, make sure you don’t drink too much if you are breastfeeding, as I believe peppermint has been linked to decreased milk supply
If you’re not keen on the tea, warm mint cordial is meant to help in the same way
A handheld fan for hospital
All the online lists for hospital bags suggest you take a fan. Guess who didn’t pack a fan? THIS GAL.
Don’t be a me, take one.
The wards are BOILING. Obviously fresh little babas are used to being all snug and warm so it’s understandable.
After theatre I was OUT. OF. IT. The c section and epidural meant I couldn’t really move, so couldn’t have fanned myself with something even id tried. I had to resort to Chris getting old school wet paper towels, writing them and putting them on my chest and back. Pack a handheld fan, thank me later.
Flight / Compression socks
After a c-section (maybe normal delivery too, I’m not sure) you’re super swollen and will more than likely have water retention
The hospital socks are okay but can be difficult to get on and off and are toeless haha, how 90’s. Although you’re allowed to take them off once you get home, I got myself some flight socks similar to these ones – c-section recovery socks – and wore them for a week. The same amount of time I had to use the aftercare blood clot injections.
I just felt a bit more comfortable being doubly protected against DVTs considering you can’t really move as much as you did pre c-section
A bonus c-section hack
Bed rail
I can’t rave about this enough. Some would say not essential, I’m not sure I could have managed without mine
It’s similar to the bed rails in hospital that you use to help you sit up, lay down, turn from side to side and generally just support you in more ways than you can even begin to imagine
Although on the pricier side, we are still using ours and will store it and use it in the future were we to need it again.
What were your post c-section essentials?
