BTDT- Recovery from birth

Whether you had a C-section or a vaginal birth- what medicines and other types of items were important in the first few days/weeks for recovery?

(For example: absorbent pads, tucks wipes, sitz bath, tylenol, etc...)

Please share what helped you and what you think is important.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

Its been 5 years and its true what they say...you really do forget lol... but I remember my dr. wrote me scripts for everything I was going to need and I hit CVS on the way home from the hospital (drive through). He recommended a sitz bath, but I never used it. Slowfe (iron pills) and stool softener to combat that. I def needed lots of pads, that peri/water bottle they give you for reg delivery. The spray that they give you in the hospital derma-something was a godsend, I bought a bottle of that. I also had Motrin the first few days home. I *think* that was all..

BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a vaginal birth and my doc advised me to take Motrin. He said if the pain was unbearable he would write me a script for sometime stronger but I said no.

He also recommended sitz baths, stool softener.
Not sure where you are delivering, but at North Shore Manhasset, they gave me everything. Sitz bath, Epson salts, pads, disposable underwear, and a nurse gave me a topical cream to put on the vaginal area since I had an episiotomy. I only had to buy Motrin. Ask the nurses for everything, don't be shy! One nurse even gave me 2 extra soothie pacifiers for my LO. Good luck !

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a csection but also pushed for 3 hours so i had pain in both areas. Most of the stuff that helped me the hospital provided. My favorite 'recovery items' were: mesh undies, the sanitary napkins that were also ice packs (LOVED these), hemorrhoid numbing spray and cream, and the pain pills they gave me.

BTDT- Recovery from birth

Vbirth here

# 1 most important pill to have on hand post birth = colase. I'm completely serious. Have it at home, maybe even take it before you go if you can, and ask for it in the hospital (unless you're paying out of pocket, then bring your own because they WAY overcharge).

I took motrin after. I'm allergic to the dermoplast spray because it has aloe in it, but tucks or even just witch hazel worked ok where I had stitches (tear and cut). I think you're having a c, but otherwise dermoplast is great too.

Always extra long overnight pads the first week or so, then the always infinity pads for a while.

The hospital gave me the disposable undies. I probably wore them for about a week after. Chucks pads (those are the blue on one side, white on the other sheets they have at the hospital) are great too. You can get them on ebay.

Also, the peri bottle was great for washing down there. I took two home from the hospital, but they're also super cheap on amazon. They gave me a sitz bath at the hospital but I never used it. I just used the regular bath. After a few weeks, my stitches weren't healing properly so I had to take baths with epsom salts. That helped a bit too.

If there's a nasal aspirator in the bassinet with the baby, take that home too. The best one we have and still use now at 18 m is the one from the hospital.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

csection -

senecot
gas-x
percocet
always infinity pads
that was about it

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a v-birth. I used Motrin for a few days after. Also - I liked the pads and mesh underwear they gave me in the hospital. I didn't really use the sitz bath...I think maybe I didn't need it because I didn't get hemeroids. Oh, and I liked the squirt bottles they give you in the hospital, too. I used those for like 2 weeks after birth.

ETA: I totally agree with Sandra - Colace!!!! I actually started taking it about a week before I even gave birth.

Message edited 7/22/2012 8:16:23 PM.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had c section and did not breasted feed. I used over night pads, non stick gauze for incision, ice packs re freezable for my breasts, pads for leaking especially at night for breasts, gass pills (lived on these after c section), stool softeners, advil and light pads when bleeding got less.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I've had only v-birhts.

Buy witch hazel. Pour it onto a pad and then freeze it. Absolute life saver!

Colace. You will need a stool softener after giving birth.

This last time I used an ace bandage and wrapped it around my stomach-the post-baby bloating went away after two days.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a c section and I needed nothing. Nothing more than regular Maxi pads for hte bleeding.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I agree 100% about the colace. I didn't take it last time and it was a nightmare. This time I already stocked up on it.

BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a vaginal birth. I used always infinite regular pads, the overnight were way overkill. I just took motrin and they gave me a script for that and stool softener. I went through a lot of tucks pads bc I lined my pads with 3 or 4 of them. Dermaplast spray is also helpful. I got all of this from the hospital but went through what I brought home plus more! If you plan to breastfeed I would have lanolin and breast pads, I like the lansinoh brand for both.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a v birth with forceps so sitting was a KILLER. I got the spray thing (sorry forgot what it was called) stool softener, iron supplements, the water sprayer thing, and some other meds which I didn't take. I'd say it was pretty bad for about 2 weeks after, but that was probably because I had a forceps delivery.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

i had a c section.
the first day after the birth i took Motrin one time. they offered me that or percoset. i didnt feel it did much and didnt want to take percoset so i didnt take anything after that. i didnt take any meds at home either. i just dealt with the pain.

you'll want pads at home, i took a bunch from the hospital and then i bought some of the thinner Always brand i believe. i bled for weeks after, nothing crazy but enough that i always needed a pad.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had v-birth and an episiotomy. The hospital gave me the numbing spray and some cream (for my stitches). That helped a TON.
Also, i had to take a stool softener for a few days after I got home.

Message edited 7/23/2012 12:37:13 PM.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

I had a vaginal delivery. I did not want pain meds other than Tylenol (they make me very loopy). The hospital gave me everything to take home. . .Tucks pads, sitz bath, litocain spray, pads, etc.
The only thing I had to buy was more comfy pads (always infinity!!!), iron supplements, and my RX for Lovenox.

Re: BTDT- Recovery from birth

Am I the only one who didn't take Colace? I am pretty sensitive to stuff like that so I declined it, and I had no problems going once I got home - I think 5 days after my c-section and 3 days after my vaginal birth (I had a VBAC).

I bled the same with both births. I used the pads and mesh underwear that the hospital provided there, and at home I used the giant overnight pads. Those actually made it more comfortable to sit, i was sore for about 3 weeks after my vaginal birth.

I used the numbing spray they gave me, dermaplast I think it's called? Plus the tucks ointment for swelling, I didn't have hemorrhoids but I was very swollen in the vag area.

I used the squirt bottle during and after peeing because it stung from the stitches. You'll get that in the hospital too.