Sometimes, your birth plan goes out the window, and you don’t plan for it. As you learned about me in An Incomplete Story of Infertility, Pregnancy Loss and Hope, I am a serial planner and crave control. On my journey to motherhood, I learned that plans mean nothing. The plan was simple: to have a natural medicated birth. I wasn’t detailed in my plan, but it was what I had hoped for. A c-section was not my birth plan but I am here to give you a little insight on preparing for a c-section after the fact. The first look after my unplanned c-section was emotional. There were so many unknowns about what was going to happen next. I wasn’t ready.
Taking Care of You
Many times when a c-section isn’t planned, it’s in an emergency situation, and it all moves at lightning speed. There is no chance to process. The health of your baby is your only thought. It’s ok to take some time to process what happened. Lean on your partner for help, especially in the first few hours and days after your c-section. It’s ok to ask for help in the coming days and weeks. You need to heal your body and even sometimes your heart after your birth plan goes out the window.
Nothing prepares you for the first time to get up and walk. Once you start walking, keep it up. Have your partner stay with the baby in your hospital room and take a lap around the floor. I can’t tell you how much this will help you start healing. It also gives you some time to just take a breath after a major surgery.
Must-Have Products for Healing After a C-Section
You’ve had the c-section, and now you’re sitting there in your hospital room thinking about what’s next. Some of the must-have products I ordered right away were:
The All-in Panty by Bodily is ultra high-waste, light compression, and buttery soft! I swear by them.
I was so grateful that the hospital sent me home with a belly band. If they don’t give you one, make sure to ask. Thanks to the belly band, I was able to get around slowly with support and compression. Here is a good option also by Bodily that is similar to the hospital-issued belly band.
If you have a high bed, I recommend a step stool to help you get on and off. Both times I had a C-section, I found it more comfortable to sleep in my reclining nursing chair, which was easier to get in and out of.
While creating that target order from your hospital bed, add a grabber that looks like a trash picker-upper. This will save you when you inevitably drop things, and no one is around!
You’ll need to protect your incision and keep it dry. My postpartum nurse taught me a trick: She used a hospital pad to cover and protect it. Ask for a bag before you get discharged.
Breastfeeding After a C-Section
I knew my choice was to breastfeed my babies. I was so nervous after the c-section that not having immediate skin-to-skin would ruin the opportunity. That was far from the truth. When you recover, you’ll have the opportunity to hold your baby immediately. That includes latching or attempting to at least. This is more difficult than I could have imagined. You’ll have no feeling up to your chest. I could not feel if the latch was correct or not, and my nipple was damaged. Here are some products and things I learned throughout this experience.
Must-Haves for Breastfeeding After a C-Section
Nipple cream: As soon as you can get yourself nipple cream, do it. If you have an experience like I did, it will save your breastfeeding experience. I recommend Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter. This product is available at Target and typically in stock.
Lactation nurse: I recommend asking for a lactation nurse while in recovery. If this is your first time, you’ll need support and guidance latching your baby. You’ll be in recovery for about two hours, so you want to use that time to start learning the ins and outs of breastfeeding after a C-section. They will show you different holds so that the baby won’t rest on your incision. Football hold was always my go-to while recovering.
My Brest Friend nursing pillow: I learned quickly my Boppy wasn’t going to work for me and was uncomfortable to lay on my c-section area. My lactation nurse recommended My Breast Friend nursing pillow. I used it with both my littles, and when I look back at early photos of my boys, it can be found in almost all their pictures!
It Will be OK
When the decision is made to have a c-section, it’s usually quick and in a whirlwind. Take the time to breathe and process what just happened. Don’t hesitate to ask for help; remember it will be okay. My hope is that some of these tips will help you prepare for a c-section after the fact and make things a little more bearable for your momma as you heal.
