I was in no way prepared when I went into labor that I would soon be dealing with recovering from surgery, and I bet that most moms aren't. I don't know if anyone can really prepare you for what it will be like - not only is your body recovering from a surgery (mainly an internal and external incision) but also a long labor, as most cesareans follow. I was also recovering from the infection. Add all of that on top of your body being like "wait, there's not a baby here anymore?" and it's a lot to process. Like I said, we barely even had a hospital bag because we were prepared to go home a few hours after delivery at the birthing center, so in no way were we thinking about this process of a recovery. I like to think that it would have been helpful to have this list of items to order on Amazon or have Michael run out and get during those initial days of recovery in the hospital. I'm keeping this around in case we need it next time.
A co-sleeper
When you have an incision in your lower abdomen and your muscles are all jacked up from being pregnant anyways, it's nearly impossible to sit up, and you're not supposed to. But you ARE supposed to spend a week in bed. While caring for your baby. This was the one item on this list that we didn't get due to lack of space in our bedroom, but trust me I think Michael and I both would have benefitted from this. Because I couldn't get up out of bed Michael had to bring Atticus to me every time he needed to be fed - this was especially tedious during the night. Michael was seriously amazing and never complained about helping me this way, I think I hated it more than him. I honestly don't remember how long this stage of the recovery lasted but it would have been worth the money of the cosleeper. It would even still be a benefit now when he needs his binky put back in. I know there's a whole philosophy of cosleeping and whether or not you should do it, but trust me. This isn't about parenting styles, but about the survival of both parents.
Tall underwear
This is probably an item that's good for any type of postpartum recovery, so just go buy them now so that you don't have to send your husband out to get them (which mine graciously did. Twice.) Not only will you have that not yet shrunken tummy, but also your incision. And believe me, when you have an incision you do not want any risk of an elastic waistband coming in contact with it. Mine felt sensitive for the first 6 weeks, so again, worth the investment. (But seriously, why do granny panties have to be so expensive!?) Added bonus: you can test if that retro-style, high-waisted bikini you've been considering is actually a good look for you. ;)
Maternity leggings
Mainly for the same reasons listed above. You will welcome the fact that the waistband is at your bra line.
Mirilax
Okay guys, this is no joke. The pain meds they give you in recovery will wreck you without this stuff. A week after my c-section I actually ended up in the ER with chest pains due to... You guessed it. It was so bad that they initially thought it to be a blood clot in my lungs. And I was the 3rd post c-section patient they saw that week for this reason. I was even faithfully taking my prescribed softener, but just do yourself a favor before you need intervention and have this on hand.
Okay sorry if that was gross (but also, you're welcome). Moving on!
Goodbelly probiotic drink
I don't know if this is necessary for all c-sections but it probably wouldn't hurt. Since A and I were on antibiotics for the infection I tried to replenish us with some probiotics and this drink was pretty good. There's lots to know about probiotics, I don't know that much, but I can tell you that this tastes yummy.
Drivers
Your doctor will probably tell you not to drive for a certain number of weeks. Listen. You don't even know how much you use those lower abdominal muscles when driving, and they need lots of time to heal after the cesarean. BUT there are lots of fun follow up appointments for you and baby to attend, so let people drive you. Ask people to drive you. I was really blessed to have women from our church drive me to all of our appointments. You may feel helpless asking for this kind of help, but you are serving your baby by allowing yourself to heal. Always remember that.
Snap-n-go stroller
In addition to not driving, you absolutely should not attempt to lift your baby in the car seat. Ask your drivers to carry baby to the car and into appointments. After I was driving myself to appointments I got the snap-n-go stroller so I still didn't have to carry the car seat, especially through hospital parking garages. Our stroller is not compatible with our car seat, but even if it was it would have been too heavy to get in and out of the car. I imagine that strollers that are part of a car seat combo would also be too heavy, so do yourself a favor and get this. It's super light and folds flat.
Convenient healthy food
Yes you want to lose the baby weight but do not skimp on nourishing your body while it is healing AND providing nourishment for your baby. I didn't want to eat hardly at all the first 2 weeks just because of not feeling well and stress. I began to recognize how not eating well made my already existing baby blues even worse. When Michael realized I probably wasn't eating enough he really stepped in and made sure I was, and he knew this meant more than telling me to eat more, he would make me meals that weren't being brought to us, or heat up leftovers. If you aren't overeating by the end of your pregnancy, you should be increasing your caloric intake as you begin nursing.
Open calendar
As much as this is true for any new mom, it is especially true for cesarean mommas. As I said earlier, the best way you can serve your baby is by allowing yourself to heal. Don't take the 6 week recovery time as a suggestion, and if you are still not feeling 100% by then, lay low. Your body is recovering from two very traumatic events at once. Don't try to entertain. Do have people over but don't place expectations on yourself of hosting.
Okay, that's the list for now. :) I do want to add that while those weeks of recovering were HARD, I loved Atticus's birth, and it was no less special because it was a cesarean. Also, I have come to appreciate my scar. Whenever I catch it in the mirror I am amazed that that is where my baby came from, and I love that I can have that visual reminder of my precious boy and his delivery into this world.
Ps- you can read our birth story here: http://michaelandkatelynglaze.blogspot.com/2015/03/atticus-david-glaze-birth-story-and.html?m=1
