After a c/section, it can take some time before you’re recovered enough to restart all your normal activities. While you’re healing, you’ll want to make life as easy and comfortable for yourself as possible. Here are some great items that will help you in the first days and weeks after you come home from the hospital.
Pillows
A good pillow can be used for propping yourself up, getting baby comfortable for a feed or placing between your legs when you sleep. Holding a small pillow against your c/section incision can also make sneezing and coughing easier.
C-Panty
These panties are designed to come up higher than the c/section incision line and also provide added support. This way you can avoid having elastic rubbing on the incision or other issues relating to movement of underwear.
Heated Blanket or heatpack
Using a heated blanket on the lowest setting for twenty minutes at a time can help provide some relief. You can also use it on your back to help with pain from an epidural or spinal block.
Ibuprofen
If you stop taking pain relief too early, you may feel more pain than you’re expecting. Ibuprofen is a pain relief option which also helps relieve infection and swelling.
Soft washcloths
Have spare washcloths handy which you can use to gently clean around your incision and pat dry as needed.
Stool softener
If your first fart is a big deal, your first bowel movement can be even more of a milestone. Stool softeners help you avoid straining and constipation.
Hemorrhoid remedies
Along with the difficulties of your first bowel movement, you may have hemorrhoids either from labor (if you had an emergency c/section) or from the hormones and constipation which can often accompany pregnancy and birth. Check out this list of ways to prevent them or relieve them.
A step stool
Depending on the height of the bed, you may find that a step stool helps you both get into and get out of bed with more ease, without having to stretch or jolt your belly.
A bednest or snuggle nest
These are a great option if you want your baby to be close by and within arm’s reach. A snuggle nest allows baby to sleep in your bed while a bednest attaches to the side of your bed so baby is right beside you.
Vitamin E oil
Vitamin E oil is great for your skin. It can help with both healing your scar and fading of any stretchmarks that appeared during pregnancy. It’s important to remember, however, that you should avoid any creams or sprays on the incision until it has started to heal, to avoid infection or bacteria entering the incision site
Susannah is a certified Birth Doula through Childbirth International and the founder of Trimester Talk. With a background in journalism and digital strategy, she combines evidence-based research with real-world knowledge to create accessible content about pregnancy and parenting. She’s a mother of two and stepmother of two more, all of them now teenagers.