When preparing for a C-Section (Cesarean) delivery, what you pack in your bag can be extremely helpful for the initial recovery. Here is what I found to be most helpful.
After having three C-Section deliveries and comparing my hospital stay and needs to those who have had vaginal deliveries, I was quickly drawn to how different my needs were than there’s.
With my first child, I had every intention to deliver her vaginally so my hospital bag was focused on that intention. After agreeing to an induction, we arrived to the hospital with the excitement and nervousness that comes with welcoming your first baby. Little did I know, however, that after 26 hours and a failed epidural, I would still be waiting to meet my little girl. All of that excitement started to turn into sheer exhaustion and after a conversation with my doctor, we agreed that an unplanned C-Section was the safest way at that point.
Although this had not even been a thought in my mind, surprisingly, it was relief that I felt when we decided to pivot to that way of delivery. After so long in labor, I was grateful to have my baby girl in my arms within 45 minutes of that decision.
What I was not grateful for, was how unprepared I was for a C-Section delivery and how it effected my recovery experience.
When you deliver vaginally, your typical hospital stay is 1-2 days. With a C-Section delivery, especially your first, you can expect to be in the hospital for 2-4 days. After my failed induction and C-Section recovery, my hospital stay ended up being five days! This was the beginning of my problems as I had not packed near enough things for a stay that long. It was also a problem that the little I did have packed, was not what I needed during my recovery journey.
After that experience and two scheduled C-Sections since, I have found the following things to be helpful for me.
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What to Pack for YOU
Clothing- One of the biggest things that I realized after packing for a vaginal delivery but ending up with a C-Section, was that the clothes I had packed were not incision friendly! Packing clothes that did not rub, put pressure on, or touch the incision were game changers! I highly recommend clothing such as high-waisted pants, gowns, robes, and baggy shirts. I treated myself to these pajamas for my last C-Section and I have lived in them since! They were the perfect high-waist and the shirt was easy to nurse in!
Phone Charger- The not so fun reality of a C-Section is the longer recovery time. This means that you will be spending much of your hospital stay in bed. Having a long phone charger is crucial. It will allow you to charge your phone without getting out of bed and if you are anything like me, the battery will go fast with all of the photo taking and family updates.
Socks- My hospital provides these, but during my last delivery, my sister gifted me a cute pair and it was just fun to have at the hospital instead of being in hospital attire the whole time. When choosing socks or slippers, go for the ones that have the gripped bottoms. They have you stand quite soon after delivery and the last thing you want to be doing is slipping and sliding on your walk to the bathroom.
Chapstick- This is one that I could not go without and I actually had my sister bring up to the hospital after my unplanned C-Section. You would think with all the fluids they are giving you that your lips would not get dry, but mine got extremely dry and hurt with every delivery. Chapstick was a must have!
Tooth Care Items- No matter how you deliver, you are going to want to clean your teeth, but its easy to forget these items when you are focused on everything else!
Hair Ties/Brush- Hair ties come in handy after any delivery, but also when nursing. Due to the recovery process, a shower was not an immediate luxury after my deliveries, so having hair ties to throw my dirty hair up was helpful. I also used the “hair tie on a wrist” trick when nursing to keep track of where my babies left off after each feeding.
Travel Shampoo/Conditioner- Depending on the hospital you are delivering at, they may or may not provide these for you. I have delivered at two different hospitals and one did and one did not. When you are finally able to shower, these are going to be your best friends! I am picky with what I use in my hair, so I visited the local grocery store and picked up two travel size ones to toss in my bag.
Deodorant- Everyone will thank you for this! Postpartum night sweats are no joke and the delay in shower does not help that situation any.
Pillow- This is again more preference, but the hospital pillows are often extremely flat. Having one with more substance can just help your comfort level and I also used mine to prop my back up when sitting during the day.
Lotion- After a C-Section, they will have you hooked up to leg compression cuffs that prevent blood clots. I have a strong dislike for these as they begin to irritate my legs. I have found that lotion helped this a little bit along with making deals with the nurses to walk more so they can be taken off! I would recommend that the lotion be unscented as you don’t know how your baby will react to any if they come in contact with your skin while wearing it.
Belly Band- If there is one thing that I cannot live without after a C-Section, it would be a belly band! I did not know these existed after my first one and now after having had one for the other two, I know it was a factor in my horrible first recovery. Many hospitals will provide you with one, so you can check prior to going, but I also recommend having a back up one in your bag or at home just for cleanliness reasons. There are several ones that are available online. I used this one and was pleased with it!
Nursing Bra- If you are planning on nursing, a nursing bra is a must! There are so many on the market and one of my biggest pet peeves is when the padding folds up or shifts when you are opening and closing the bra to nurse. I’m embarrassed to admit how many different styles and brands that I have tried. I finally came across this bra and have not looked back! So far this has been perfect for how much it is used.
