Post C-section Must Haves

Even though Kyla was breech for all of my third trimester, it wasn’t until the night before my C-section that I actually allowed myself to fully believe that I wouldn’t be able to deliver her naturally the way we had planned. So needless to say, we had not “prepared” ourselves until the last minute. 

Looking back on it now, I wanted to share a few things that were REALLY helpful and necessary for having a C-section. You can also see what I packed in my too in this blog post: Hospital Bag with Printable Checklist HERE.

I have experienced both a vaginal birth and a C-section and can say they were completely different experiences, as was what I needed afterward. 

First, I highly recommend that you HAVE A BIRTH PLAN WORKED OUT for both a vaginal birth and C-section. I hadn’t given thought to this, but the night before I was scheduled for my C-section I put one together.

MY C-SECTION BIRTH PLAN: 

• To the maximum extent possible, I directed delayed cord clamping (they were able to do one full minute and still have enough to bank the remainder)
• Cord Blood Banking (using the kit I brought from CBR). We went with the same company that we used to bank MacKenna’s (our 1st born) cord blood
• Placenta Encapsulation. I wanted to keep my placenta with me directly out of the OR (I made it expressly known that I didn’t want my placenta taken for biopsy. Often with c-sections, they will want to take it to pathology. I directed that the hospital take only a sample of it to pathology and leave it in its entirety with me so that I could turn it over to my doula).
• Have a reduced sterile field to the extent possible, to allow for skin-to-skin contact and seeing my baby. Basically, bring down the sheet that shields the mother from seeing the surgery.
• Skin-to-skin contact as soon as, and as much as possible. (an extra nurse is needed to make post-C-section skin-to-skin possible, so be sure you verbalize this to your nurses beforehand).
• Music during your C-section. You can request to have a certain type of music playing during your procedure.
• My hubby and birth photographer present. My hubby was a given, but special permissions had to be obtained, in order to allow our birth photographer in the OR. I recommend you check your hospital’s policy regarding allowing an additional person/photographer in the OR.

The following list is all of the items I found extremely helpful to have on hand after my C-section. I’ve included links on where to find what I used,  and you’re always welcome to connect with me if you have additional questions. I also have a pre and postnatal support health & wellness group called “Rocking Your Bump” that you’re welcome to partake in, where I share more information. For info on Rocking Your Bump take your free pregnancy health assessment here.

The number one thing that was most helpful was my dear hubby and family and friends. YOU WILL NEED HELP! And you need to be okay receiving help. Not something I’m always the best at. My first 24 hours after C-section I was EXTREMELY nauseated from the spinal and have since been battling pain and a lung infection, so having my hubby has been an incredible and necessary support.

Also since our oldest wasn’t allowed to be in the OR or Recovery area, having close friends/family who were willing to be with her was an invaluable comfort to both Mike and I. So have your go-to support system on standby when you go in for your C-section, you’ll be so thankful for the help.

Here is my List of Post-C-Section Must Haves: 

• Sunflower Lecithin Softgels – These have been shown to help with breast engorgement and clogged milk ducts.
• Bamboobies  – reusable/washable nursing pads. These are super soft and absorbent, a lifesaver especially as your milk is coming in and starting out nursing.
• Bao Bao Maternity Belly Band  (use discount code FITYOGI10 to save 10%) This is like a sports bra for your belly. I LOVED mine for support during pregnancy, and in the immediate stages after my C-section, it provided just the right amount of support for my healing and very swollen and tender belly. 
• Bella Fit Girdle – works by drawing in stretched abdominal muscles providing a 360° support structure around the torso, that reduces strain on ligaments and joints in the lower back, pelvis, and buttocks. Reducing stress in these areas enhances your body’s ability to return to its pre-pregnancy alignment, shape and lose the post-baby tummy.
• Back Support Pillow – During my stay in the hospital and especially at home, having a supportive pillow to help me sleep at an incline helped not only relieve tension on my belly but also helps with nursing.
• Nursing Pillow – Provides a much needed support to nurse your babe and also can be used to press up against stomach should you need to cough after surgery. 

• Essential Oils & Diffuser – Spinal blocks given in C-sections can often cause severe nausea after surgery. Diffusing a blend of peppermint and lavender in my room was key for helping me come back from my nausea and was very soothing. Also using a blend of  Geranium, Helichrysum, Myrrh, and Frankincense mixed with fractionated coconut oil or salve and applied to C-section incision can help heal and reduce scarring.
• Correct X Healing Salve – is a healing blend of essential oils premixed to apply to C-section incision to promote healing.
• Superfoods Smoothie Mix – Optimal nutrition is key to support healthy milk supply for nursing mamas as well as energy and promote healing after a c section. My go-to superfoods blend has been a God send to help me have more than enough milk to support my little one’s nutritional needs, superfoods to help me heal faster, and boost my energy, as well as satiate my sweet tooth for the hormonal swings. I share more about its benefits along with my recipe HERE if you want to learn more about which Superfood mix I use how I supercharge it and why.
• Power Greens – After surgery, your body goes through an inflammatory response. To heal more efficiently and effectively eating more alkalinizing foods helps reduce inflammation and promotes healing throughout the body. This greens mix is something I drink as a supplement DAILY and has helped me heal from the inside out.
• Placenta Caps – Benefits of encapsulating your placenta to use as a postpartum supplement are an increased release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to normal size and encourages bonding with the infant. Increase in CRH, a stress-reducing hormone. A decrease in post-partum depression levels. It’s also been shown to help increase energy and balance hormones. I prearranged my placenta to be encapsulated by my doula, and although I had to have a C-section I communicated to my doctor and the hospital nursing staff that as part of my birth plan I wanted my placenta released to me immediately. Some hospitals will request a biopsy first. When they did for mine I requested that they take a portion of my placenta to biopsy, but leave it in its entirety with me, ( which is completely in your right to do so) 
• Wild Bird Ring Sling  – I have some amazing baby carriers, however, the ring sling is the ONLY one that doesn’t hit my incision or ride around my waist, which at this point is very helpful as anything pressing against that area is painful. Plus my teenie babe is most happy in the ring sling and I love carrying her that way.

• Disposable Pads – Just like with a vaginal birth, you will have a heavy to moderate flow after your delivery. I brought my own Organic Heavy Flow pads with me to the hospital and had them on hand for home as well, although the hospital will provide you with some during your stay.
• Reusable Bamboo Feminine Pads – Once my flow began to lighten I switched to using washable bamboo pads to reduce/eliminate more waste.
• Bassinet  – Having a Moses bassinet downstairs in our home when I got home saved me trips upstairs as I’ve been recovering. Plus my little love is so cozy in her little bassinet at my side.
• Soft ice pack – This was crucial to help ease my incisional pain and discomfort of the surrounding area that was bruised and swollen for the first 72 hours after surgery. Plus during the post-op phase when I was coughing and using my Incentive Spirometer it helped me brace my incision site.
• Loose fitting pajama pants & underwear – bringing my own loose-fitting jammies to the hospital helped me feel more comfortable and at home being comfortable in my own clothes was key. I had a pair of pants that had no waistband and got undergarments in the next size up. I also had some strapless bandeau bras and few nursing bras by Bravado.
• Prepped Meals – If you’re fortunate enough to have friends or family help you out in the meal prep department, take them up on it because you will NOT want to be up cooking when you get home. Have either a few meals prepped and frozen ready to go or set up the delivery of a few meals from Sun Basket which is my preferred farm to table prepared meals delivery service or check to see what is local to you.
• HypoBirthing Audios for C Section–  I found some incredible hypnobirthing audios on iTunes from Melissa Spilsted that I used to prepare for labor but also downloaded her breech baby and C-section audios and they helped me so much get prepared and calm for my C-section and even deal with pain post op.
• Earth Mama Nipple Cream – This will be KEY as your breasts get used to nursing, and you and your babe learn the best way to latch.
• Zinc Lozenges – Even though you’ll be on an L&D unit, you’ll still be in a hospital, so to bolster your immune system (especially since you’ll be post-op and your body will be working hard to recover). Zinc lozenges are a great way to help fight against viral infections.
• Ginger Kombucha – I had my hubby pick up several ginger kombuchas to have on hand post-op to help me with my nausea. The spinal block left me EXTREMELY nauseated so having a ginger drink and my essential oils on hand helped immensely ease my nausea.