lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Okay, since my son is breech, I'm having a c section on Friday and I've had questions running through my head all weekend long...Please help!

1. Underwear - how high should they be? not sure if they should cover the incision or be very low rise so that it can breathe...

2. I've read previous posts of c sectioned moms who mentioned abdominal pads - what are they, should i buy them or wait for the hospital to give me some?

3. ointment? anything work really great for you or stick w/the hospital stuff?

4. most comfortable clothes (in your opinion) to bring w/me to the hospital now that I'll have an incision

5. how long did you stay in the hospital?

6. how many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth?

i think that's all right now...but im sure more ?s will pop up later.

THANK YOU in ADVANCE!!!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

I stayed in the hospital 4 nights with DD#1 and 3 nights with DD#2. You do not need any extra supplies/clothes for the baby--the hospital supplies all that. You may want to bring an extra pair of pjs or something...I did not though.

As far as the incision...you will not believe how low it is. You could probably wear the skimpiest underwear and you still would not see it! Anyway, that said, you should bring "granny" underwear no matter what. You'll be bleeding a good amount and they are so comfortable. Same with pants. I wore maternity yoga pants both times.

Ointment? I never used ointment nor was I advised to--I think you're probably supposed to keep it dry.

Good luck with your c-section!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

I had a C-section with my DS in August and I was so scared about the actual procedure and the recovery. Turned out, it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be! I was up and around the next day and was able to do stairs and light housework within a week.

1. Underwear - how high should they be? not sure if they should cover the incision or be very low rise so that it can breathe...

I wore the hospital underwear that they provide you. You will still bleed vaginally after the C-section and will probably not want to ruin your own underwear. Once the bleeding subsided, I wore both low rise underwear and "granny underwear." As long as the elastic was not directly on the incision, I felt OK.


I've read previous posts of c sectioned moms who mentioned abdominal pads - what are they, should i buy them or wait for the hospital to give me some?

They put a pad over the incision for a few days and also gave me a support belt to wear. The support belt helped a lot with movement at first.

. ointment? anything work really great for you or stick w/the hospital stuff?

I never put any ointment on my incision.

. most comfortable clothes (in your opinion) to bring w/me to the hospital now that I'll have an incision

I would say nightgowns, loose fitting yoga or sweatpants, basically anything that does not rub against the incision. I would stay away from jeans or any tight-fitting clothes.

5. how long did you stay in the hospital?

4 days

6. how many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth?

I kept my DS in the hospital-provided shirts until going home. Then I put him in his going home outfit.

I hope that helps. Good luck. You are going to be a mommy so soon!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

i had a csetio with dd due to her being breech as well. I found the csection to be quite easy and not really painful.

1. i wore my maternity underwear. it was high, they worked cause my incision is very low. binkie underwear would have hit right at my incision.

2.never used adominal pads.

3.not sure what you mean by ointment?? but i didnt bring anything like that from home. so i dont have an suggestions, sorry.

4.the most comfortable thing i suggest you wear is a dress. i wore my maternity dress with a tie in the back when i left the hospital. so comfty and didnt have to worry about pants hitting the incision.

5. i stayed in the hospital 3 nightst. your allowed 4, but i just wanted to get home, there were no problems and i was feeling great.

6. dc wore hospital shirts and diaper her whole stay there. in my hospital they were not allowed regular clothes until they leave. so i only needed one coming home outfit.

please email me if you need any answers to any other question, ive had two csections and would love to help. you will be great!!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

I has a section with DS and I found that higher the undies were, the better. It hurt like he!! to have anything run near that incision.
I had stitches for my incision and didnt need to put any ointment on. It healed itself. However, I was an idiot and felt as big as a cow so I started running on the treadmill at 4 weeks PP and reopened the incision-don't work out until the DR. gives you the green light.
And as far as clothes for you: I wore jumpsuit outfits for at least 6 weeks after. I found that my abdomen was so bloated and swolled. So these type clothes were so comfortable. And as far as DC, the only outfit you'll need is the one he/she will be coming home in. The hospital will provide onsies and blankets for the baby.
I was in the hospital from Thursday-Sunday.
Good luck!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Granny Panties!! They are the best.

I never had any sort of abdominal pad so to be honest I don't know what you are even talking about.

I didn't bring any extra clothes to the hospital for my DD only her coming home outfit. I didn't feel like do any extra laundry.

I had a scheduled c-section (she was breech) on Monday and we came home I believe on Friday.

Yoga pants are great!


Only other advice I have, if you are a not breast feeding then ask for a sleeping pill. The noise on my machines (that and I have never been over night in a hospital before) kept me awake my whole first night. It was exhausting. I really need to rest and I think I was more exhausted coming home from the hospital then I was after the first 3 weeks we came home.

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

I was not expecting a C/S, but did plan for one just in case...


Underwear - I bought regular Hanes cotton undies - not the low cut - those did the trick...


Abdominal pads - I never even heard of these... so I guess I never used them!

Oiintment? NOTHING goes on your incision! No ointment - the next morning, you will be told to take a shower and let the soapy water just run over your incision

Most comfortable clothes - I brought leggings - not the ones with elastic bands - the ones with drawstrings, and yoga pants with me. they were great!

How long did you stay in the hospital - Cailen was born Wednesday night. I left sunday afternoon

how many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth? - well, he didnt wear anything until he went home. He just was put in those hospital undershirts and a diaper the entire time... does anyone dress their baby in regular clothing when they are in the hosptal? I never saw that... he was swaddled the whole time...

Message edited 10/28/2007 12:18:51 PM.

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

1. Underwear - how high should they be? not sure if they should cover the incision or be very low rise so that it can breathe...

I would say that wearing the underwear that you wore while you were about 7-8 months are the best. You will have lost some weight so they should fit fine. But remember you will have some bandages on the incision.

2. I've read previous posts of c sectioned moms who mentioned abdominal pads - what are they, should I buy them or wait for the hospital to give me some?


I never had any abdominal pads. Just take it easy. You will be fine.

3. Ointment? Anything work really great for you or stick w/the hospital stuff?
Ointment? I don't think I used any.

4. Most comfortable clothes (in your opinion) to bring w/me to the hospital now that I'll have an incision


Sweats, sweats, Sweats.

5. How long did you stay in the hospital?

4 days
6. How many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth?

Just a few.

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Message edited 10/28/2007 1:27:55 PM.

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!

I feel much better now. I need to fix my bag now, b/c i foolishly thought that i'd have to dress him in a different onesie each day in the hospital!

i wasn't sure about ointment but i agree that after the incision heals, i may have to invest in vitamin e - i've used it on other scars and it works well.

thank you again, u are life savers!!!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

1. For underwear I got the boyshorts, loved them and were very comfortable.

2. Didn't use those kind of pads, used what the hospital had.

3. Didn't put any ointment on my scar, dr told me not to, just wash it with soap and warm water.

4. I lived in the Gap drawstring yoga pants, so comfy.

5. 4 day stay in hospital

6. Just one take home outfit, the hospital puts the baby in a hospital tee-shirt and blanket.

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

1. Underwear - how high should they be? not sure if they should cover the incision or be very low rise so that it can breathe...

Buy Grandma underwear that go above your waist. The incision will be much lower than your think.

2. I've read previous posts of c sectioned moms who mentioned abdominal pads - what are they, should i buy them or wait for the hospital to give me some?

I use the pad they give you in the hospital. You just put it in the "long" way along the scar.

3. ointment? anything work really great for you or stick w/the hospital stuff?

No ointment

4. most comfortable clothes (in your opinion) to bring w/me to the hospital now that I'll have an incision

I found that the hospital gown was best. I had a hard time lifting my legs for a few days. I wore yoga pants when I left and for several weeks afterwards.

5. how long did you stay in the hospital?

5 days/4 nights

6. how many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth?

They don't wear any outfits. They have the onesies/blanket from the hospital. You only need 1 going home outfit (don't forget the blanket and hat).

GOOD LUCK!!!

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

Re: lots of ?s for C section mommies...

1. Underwear - how high should they be? not sure if they should cover the incision or be very low rise so that it can breathe...

I brought briefs with me and they were very comfy. After the surgery it felt like I had a diaper on. They filled one of those blue chucks with 4 maxi pads in it. I couldnt move so I didnt really care. the second day I wore disposable panties they provided and then after that I wore my own underwear.

2. I've read previous posts of c sectioned moms who mentioned abdominal pads - what are they, should i buy them or wait for the hospital to give me some?

Not sure what they are - I did not have any.

3. ointment? anything work really great for you or stick w/the hospital stuff?

The incision should stay dry - no ointment necessary

4. most comfortable clothes (in your opinion) to bring w/me to the hospital now that I'll have an incision.

Nightgowns/Nighshirts instead of PJ's with pants. I wore the hospital gown for the first day afterwards and then wore my nightgowns. It is hard to move to get pants on and they come and check your incision often so its just easier to lift your nightgown. I walked all around the floor in them. No one cares what you look like!

5. how long did you stay in the hospital?

5 nights.

6. how many outfits for dc now that we'll stay in the hospital longer than we would w/a vbirth?

Just the coming home outfit. The hospital dressed her in onsies everyday and swaddled her.