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Preparing your Hospital Bag for a C-Section
We sent this helpful email out today to all our pregnant customers. Hope you find it helpful
Planning for a caesarean
We all assume, especially first time around, that we will have a natural birth if your pregnancy is all going well. While this will hopefully be true for you, it’s worth doing some background reading around c-sections just in case you are one of the 25% of women who give birth this way.
Even if a caesarean is planned then you should still draw up a birth plan. There are certain factors you will have control over and by asserting control, you can be more involved in the birth of your baby.
Things to take to hospital
In addition to all the stuff that your new baby will need, take these things for yourself to make life a little easier in hospital after a c-section:
- Snacks - It is usual to be “Nil by Mouth” prior to an elective caesarean, (though an emergency caesarean can still be performed if you have eaten). Take snacks for when you’re back on the ward as it may be a few hours until the next hospital catered mealtime.
- Peppermint tea to help with the wind that always troubles people after abdominal surgery!
- Short sleeve nursing pyjamas – the wards are warm and you are likely to be attached to a drip for a while so need to feel comfortable and confident for feeding.
- Disposable pants or large “belly warming” pants are essential following a caesarean as their elastic line is well above the incision site. The incision may feel rather sensitive for a while and elastic will irritate it.
- Maternity sanitary towels, extra long to accommodate the fact that you will be lying down for longer periods of time. Blood loss after both caesarean and natural birth will be about the same.
- Face wipes, you wont get to a shower for at least the first day so they’re handy to freshen up.
- Nursing bras, Breast pads and the all important nipple cream. Using a cream such as Lansinoh from the first day is a good idea if you hope to avoid cracked nipples. The last thing you need is further pain and discomfort!
- Slippers without backs so that you can put them on without having to bend down
Read on to see our recommended items for your hospital bag, and more tips on preparing for a c-section.
