Your first 24 hours after a caesarean birth
I found this blog post on my phone recently and thought it was worth a share…hope it’s useful to you. It’s been a few years since I had my caesarean birth and I’m so glad I made notes because it’s all a bit of a blur now…
So six weeks ago I experienced my first belly birth with my third baby. Our sweet boy Jude, came into the world gently through my belly and it was a really positive experience.
I have many rockstar Mum friends who’ve had belly births and have told me the first few days is tough…and yes, tough was an understatement! I was actually shocked at how painful it was. I don’t say this to scare you but to hopefully prepare you so you don’t think something is terribly wrong when your pain levels are tested to the limit. And as painful as it was, thanks to my lovely friends, I knew it would get better pretty quickly and I held on to that.
The initial twelve hours was ok pain wise because I had lots of pain relief from the surgery, thank goodness but the restriction in movement, a catheter and being bed ridden with a new tiny baby was not easy at all.
There were a few key things that made it more manageable so I thought I would share them with you.
Keep your baby with you and build a nest
I kept Jude on me for the entire time, skin to skin mostly, until the next morning when my husband was allowed back. I was alone for about 16 hours and rather than worry about trying to put my baby in the plastic cot and buzz for help every time I needed to lift him out again, I kept him close. One because I wanted to and that felt right and two because there was no way I could have lifted him out on my own. In a busy maternity ward I knew it would take time for them to come to me and the thought of leaving my crying baby next to me because I couldn’t lift him would have been too upsetting. So he slept on me skin to skin all night and we cuddled and dozed together. I took a large pillow from home and my pregnancy v pillow and they were life savers because I had lots of support for me and for him so I could get comfy enough to relax while we snoozed. I had the table nearby filled with essentials and things I needed most often like my water bottle, in the bed. So everything was in reach including him. The only thing I had to rely on the midwives for was more water which I could ask for when they did regular obs or brought my meds. It cut out all the stress and we were on our own little love island. I completely understand this might not be a solution for everyone especially if you have concerns around co sleeping but it worked for us.
2. Consider a placenta smoothie
I had my placenta collected for encapsulation and also chose to have a smoothie made this time. Consuming your placenta post birth has many benefits but the one I noticed immediately was my milk supply which came in on day two, even though I had had a belly birth which can sometimes delay that communication in the body, my milk was abundant. There was something really nourishing about having this giant special smoothie brought in for me with the added bonus of seeing my doula friend who snuck in with it which was really lovely to receive a little bit of doula love among a sea of strangers.
3. Seek out a lovely member of staff
I saw a lot of support workers and midwives throughout my stay but a couple of them really stood out to me and were so warm and cooing over Jude and I just felt I could ask of them. So when I needed more placenta smoothie which was on the floor by my bed in a cooler I felt I could ask Elsa to help me with it. As we all know it’s not easy asking for things and feeling so vulnerable post birth, it was even harder but I found it really helped to ask the midwives who had shown extra kindness, I asked more of them so I could ask less of others.
4. Take the meds!
I’m usually a meds free kind of girl and choose the more holistic approach with most things but I took whatever I could to ease the pain and I’m really glad I did. I also made sure I took arnica regularly for the next couple of weeks to aid healing and every couple of hours over the first few days to calm the bruising and swelling. I didn’t want to add suffering and added pain to the already overwhelming postnatal period.
5. Warm foods
I was lucky enough to have some amazing postnatal food made for me just before we went in for the induction and this food kept me going through my induction and then post birth in hospital. Having a delicious fresh soup or broth which warms you up from the inside and is gentle on the stomach so your body can focus on healing is just wonderful. The freshness cuts through the hospital environment and creates a feeling of home. Get a loved one to drop in a thermos of something warming it made such a difference, it was like a big hug.
6. Stay hydrated
Something they usually insist on as part of the checklist for leaving hospital is do a wee, usually two. Staying hydrated will really help this along and make sure you can actually go. So many mums get stuck in for longer when they can’t go and this can be quite upsetting when you just want to get home. It will also help with your first poo which is equally scary whether you’ve had a c birth or a v birth, feeling that kind of pressure down there after you’ve had a baby can be quite overwhelming but topping up your water will also help ease the constipation from all the meds along with fibre rich foods, dried apricots are great to nibble post birth.
And a little extra warning…the next morning after my c birth I had these excruciating cramps, literally writhing around on the bed kind of pain, thinking what the hell is that?!...it turned out to be gas but not like the kind of trapped wind you might experience in pregnancy but the kind where air has got inside your body after being opened up and closed again. It was short lived and eased after I got out of bed and went for a wee but I really wanted to mention this because it was scary and if it happens to you, I want you to know it will pass. Obviously talk to the midwives about any pain you experience but thought this was important to include. Peppermint tea is meant to be great to ease this.
7. Speak up
Something I had to do in abundance after my birth with Jude was use my voice. Jude was born with down syndrome so I knew he would be having lots of additional tests post birth. I also knew I wouldn’t be able to move and I didn’t want to be separated from him at all so wherever I could I asked if the checks could be done by my bed which it turns out most of them could be, he even had a chest x ray with a portable machine on the ward. Where it wasn’t possible my husband went with him so whenever you have a request or a concern, always ask and hopefully they can help.
8. Trust your body
After a caearean birth, I think it’s really easy to question your body. Whatever the reason for the caesarean birth, whether it was medically needed, elective or an emergency, I think most women feel a loss, a grief in some way about the vaginal birth they might have had. Let yourself feel that and know that your body is still absolutely amazing! I really didn’t know the strength of women who had had caesarean births, until I had my own. It is absolutely hardcore! and it’s also absolutely giving birth…you were incredible, brave and so strong having a belly birth and you should be so proud of yourself for bringing your baby earthside. Your body did that and your body will heal too, trust it.
Doula love as always
Jenna
xxx
Sent from my iPhone
ReplyForward