I want to get a helpful tips Sticky up here. If you have something you did that helped you heal or deal with your cesarean section then please post it here. I will make this a sticky.

I'll start.

I slept in my recliner for the first 4-5days because it was easier to get out of the recliner then to get in and out of bed.

A couple of hospital sheets folded into a pillow like thing to hold on your incision when you roll or cough!

I used those big pads they give you in the hospital and folded them in half so they stuck together and then placed it over my incison so I could keep it dry, it helped a lot.

Instead of using the pads, my doctor had me hang a washcloth over my underwear band to keep the scar dry and clean. It heals so much better when you keep it dry!

Drink lots and lots of water. Those first BM's after a section can be rough.

Even if you don't "feel" like you need the pain meds, you should take them as prescribed for the first 48hrs. This allows you better mobility to care for baby while the tender stuff heals

Wearing a maternity belt can help alot, just make sure you put cloth over your scar first for the first few days.

I kept a wicker basket under my coffee table in the main living space with all my baby needs so I wouldn't have to keep running to get things and change diapers. Everything was in arms reach. This helped my especially the second time because I needed to be where my toddler was/is.

If you can, have someone come during the day to help with your older children if your DH has to go back to work.

For the hospital .....

After your surgery when you are allowed to have fluids..... DO NOT drink from a straw.... DO NOT drink really cold drinks..... DO NOT drink sodas. All these things will cause TERRIBLE gas pains that sometimes are worse than labor pains.

If you are planning on nursing.. Take your boppy to the hospital with you. It helps keep the baby from laying on your incision. If you haven't taken it please ask for lots of pillows. I had pillows for under my arms..... behind my back... they helped a lot AND I had my boppy too.

At home.....

I can't say it enough..... ASK for help! With surgery you are prone to have post surgical blues and feel so helpless. Combine this with post partum blues it can be so overwhelming and have to added stress of taking care of a new little one...... you can get in real trouble, really fast. You need help and support.

Don't forget that with most insurance plans, you can get a hospital grade pump to go home with you...don't forget it (I have forgotten that three times)

The hospital bed doesn't sit up to a right angle. It was hard for me to get in and out of bed. Tie a sheet or old pair of tube socks to the end of the bed. That way you can pull yourself the rest of the way up with arm strength rather than abdominal strength.

it was VERY hard for me to get in and out of bed at the hospital, but got the hang of it after a while

the first few trips to the bathroom, i held a pillow to my stomach

and yes, take your medication, do not turn it down!!! I had hubby write down the times i took doses and i was calling for the next dose exactly when i could....one time they were late coming in with it, and my pain level went to an 8! (scale of 1-10)

once i got home, i was able to ween off and manage the pain, use the medication...it's there for a reason :)

Hi Ladies.. I'm new here.. lol.. I used baby wipes to clean the incision site. Also when I got out of the shower I would use a hair dryer to dry it on low heat and kept it about 4 inches or so away. I also put gauze at the site to keep it nice and dry.I used A&D ointment to keep it from getting infected. Yes take the pain meds on time. It will keep you from being as sore. I also slept in my recliner coz it was easier to get out of and I didn't have to use my tummy muscles. I hope this will help anyone who is about to have a c-section!!!!!

I did this as well. Only with my last c-section though...for some reason I couldnt lye flat!

I also took the giant pads they give us and tucked it against my incision for any traveling or a lot of coughing or walking that I needed to do for the 1st few weeks....That helped TONS!!!!

granny panties!!!! but supportive ones to hold pads or whatever you have over your incision. I also recommend help from fam....if you have someone who can get up at night with the baby.....less tripping in the dark

My biggest suggestion is GET UP OUT OF THAT BED ASAP AND WALK, WALK, WALK, WALK, WALK (even if it's slow!!). It will definitely help you recover faster, just don't over do it If you feel you need a break, take a break! Don't be scared to get up, don't lay in the hospital bed the whole time.

I wore and am still wearing thick banned sweatpants and maternity low rise pants... the band covers exactly at the incision site which feels like a good pressure and avoids having normal pants or pajamas roll down and rest on the incision when you sit.

Yes - totally agree. I felt so much better once I got up and got moving around.

I also agree about taking the pain med at the scheduled time. It's better to stay on top of it, than get hit with the pain because the meds have wore off.

Also don't be afraid to send the baby to the nursery. I finally figured this out with my third I was trying to be supermom, but failed to realize I still needed to rest and recover from major surgery.

Hi Was nice to read these since it's been 5 years since my last child and Csection and will be having another one.

I agree with the Mom (sorry name slipped my mind) that said to walk. I was able to get up and walk a couple hours after I had my son. That was the best thing to do was walking that hallway. It made getting up a lot easier too and the healing seemed to go quicker then compared to my 1st son and Csection. Also drinking lots of water didn't make you feel drained and more energy.

Nursery deffinately I will use that more for the next one. I just wanted to be with my son but didn't realize how much I REALLY needed the rest. I was completely crazy after a few days of being home and no sleep. Don't have to many visitors on the first day. I so wanted to stay awake and visit with family and friends. I really needed the sleep but am stubborn. The next one we won't have visitors on the first day. Only our parents. Plus on the last day or two I was super bored cause we didn't have many visitors. My favorite was the mens sweats from walmart with the elastic bottoms. I wore them for months after. Don't feel bad if you have to wear your maternity pants for a while after. Do what feels better to you. I just barely got into regular jeans at about 4 or 5 months. Like every one else get up and get moving. Take your pain meds. Some of my nurses made me request it and wouldn't just bring it in. Even if I told them to bring it in at the next due time. I will be getting one of those belly supports after my next one. They seemed like they would work well. Sorry this is so long. These are all just things I wish I would have known.

I wore my bella band for a while for extra support to my tummy and found that it helped a lot. I grabbed onto the headboard to help myself up out of bed instead of using my stomach. My mom stayed with me for a while to help out once DH had to go back to work. Take pain meds!

I took the advice of several previous posters in this thread and it helped greatly. Thank you ladies!

I slept in a recliner for the first almost 2 weeks.

I made sure to blow dry my incision after every shower. Sometimes I would hit it with the blow dryer once or twice a day just to make sure it was dry if I felt any moisture.

Towards the end of two weeks and the beginning of the third week, I started going to the mall and trying to walk (albeit very slowly) about an hour a day. I believe this made a huge difference in my recovery. If I missed a day, I could really tell. I would be really sore and stiff.

I always took a pillow with me in the car to hold onto for bumps in the road. The roads around here are just so darn bumpy and pressing the pillow on my tummy (and having DH drive slowly) really helped.

I also asked for a couple of extra pair of those lovely fishnet underwear from the hospital to bring home with me. I know that sounds crazy, but they were actually comfy and I believe also greatly contributed to my incision healing very well. I sat around the house in a t-shirt and those undies for the first two weeks so my incision could stay aired out. If company came over, I just threw a blanket over me and nobody was any wiser. I only had three pair, so I had DH throw them in a lingerie laundry bag and throw them in the washing machine on the gentle cycle. They actually washed really well and didn't get torn up.

My feet swelled up really bad after I got home, while I was sleeping i had my feet raised. here we are 10 days later and my swelling is gone!!! I also recommend drinking a ton of water, if your feet swell like mine did the water will help you get rid of it.