Bringing Baby the LONG Trip Home, After a C-section-Tips?

I have several tips, not all of them are directly related, but I had a c-section and would have loved to know these beforehand...
*Removing the staples didn't hurt at all, but removing the tape on there the next morning was painful. I would have asked for a pain pill if I had known when the doc was going to do that one! And I have a high pain tollerance!
*Ask for or take the supository after the operation. It gets rid of all the air left inside you and makes you feel a lot better.
*When you take your first shower, make sure someone is there for you. You will be weak and will need the assistance.
*Definitely feed right before the trip home. If you are lucky, you won't have to stop.
*I would take one of the pain pills as soon as you get them filled. You are going to want one anyway.
*Gold Bond powder or the generic version on the incision site will PREVENT you from getting and cure yeast infections. My dd is 20 months and I still have to do this after showers.

Hope these help...if you want to ask me any questions, feel free to message me. I am glad to share my experience and anything that can help others.
K.

I would feed the baby right before you leave, and maybe it would be better for you to sit in the front so you can lean the seat back if you need to (unless your back seats can lean back).

I agree with the other moms...sit up front so you can feel better. There really isn't any reason to sit in the back with the baby (chances are he will sleep most of the way anyway).

Is there a place along the route that you could stay at if you got exhausted or were in too much pain (it will be a VERY long ride for you)? I know with my c-section being in a car for 3 hours straight would have been unbearable (not trying to scare you, just being honest). Is there a hotel/motel that you could stop at mid-day to sleep/rest? It may not be ideal, but I honestly don't think I could have made it.

As for stopping, to be honest again, you probably won't want to unless you have to pee. Getting in and out of your car is going to be painful, and it will be hard to walk, so you won't feel like walking around somewhere.

I hope this helps, and good luck! (Again, I hope I didn't scare you, but a c-section isn't a walk in the park.)

Bring a pillow for yourself, I remember driving home after my c section and it took all my strength to get home. I felt every little bump in the road and when finally home I was in a lot of pain. Good luck !!

I had a c-section 5 weeks ago and sitting straight up was pretty difficult for about 1st week. So, if you can work it so you can recline somewhat, that would probably be best. If your mom is with you to help tend to baby, if needed, you might actually be more comfortable in passenger seat. It was my 3rd child, first c-section and ended up being the first time I did not ride in back with baby on way home because of that. Also, I would suggest staying in hospital as long as possible (although I am sure you will be itching to go home). I ended up having to stay for about 6 days due to other complications and I felt like most of the major pain was at least gone by that time. You probably want to make sure to fill your pain medication prescription at the hosptial before you leave too. Most likely the baby will just sleep most of the way (if not all of the way) home and hopefully you can too!

Ok. I have had 2 C-sections and I can tell you to wear snug pants or a belly belt if you have one. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but it will keep the incision bound and not rub as much against loose clothing or jiggle on the road.
As far as the baby is concerned just prepare to take it slow and make as many stops as you need to. Depending on the baby he may want to eat every 2 hours or every 3+. I agree with the other post that you should feed him right before you leave....maybe even in the parking lot before you leave. It may be your first time but trust it won't be your last!
Good Luck!
Suzy & her men (4.5 & 2)

Hi Kiki,
When you check out of the hospital, they will give you a prescription for pain meds. Go directly to a local pharmacy, and get that prescription filled right away so you have something to take, if needed, on the way home.

t

belly support to help with the jaring. They gave me one in the hospital.
syringe feed baby a little formula or expressed breast milk before getting in the car to get her/him to go as long as possible between feedings (unless your milk is really in). (have the lactation consultant help you with this). A car with good shocks. Sit up front if your back seat is hard and have someone else be with baby in the back.

My advice is not related to the drive, though I also suggest snug clothes, feeding your new baby right before you leave, and making sure you have your pain meds handy.
STAY AT THE HOSPITAL AS LONG AS YOU NEED. Don't rush to get home, let the nurses help with your son and take care of yourself for as long as your health insurance will allow. You will likely be itching to get home, but resist the urge to leave early and rest while you can. I felt great post C-section in the hospital, but it was harder once I got home.
Best of luck with your new little guy!

The pillow will help. Make sure if you have two ways to go home, you take the one with the least amount of curves and dirt roads. (I speak from experience). Your little one will probably sleep for the majority of the ride. SLEEP! While you have the chance! Fill your prescription of percaset before you leave the hospital and take one. Bring your ice-pack home from the hospital and wear it over your incision. HEAVEN! One more thing- very important! Lay off the comedies or America's Funniest Videos for at least 2 weeks. Ever hear the expression "laugh until your sides split?" yup. But everything seems SO much funnier when you're not supposed to laugh! So congrats and happy healing!

Make sure the seat you're in can recline at least a little. Sitting upright for long stretches after a c-section can be VERY uncomfortable. It might even work better for you to be in the front passenger seat, the carseat behind your hubby, so you can recline the seat back and give your tummy a break from sitting up.

The baby should be fine, just try to feed right before leaving the hospital so baby is full and sleepy for the drive. One thing I worried about with my boys was their little head flopping around in the carseat (it'll fall completely forward and look like they can't breathe), so you might want an infant neck pillow or just an extra blanket that can be padded around the head.

Just make yourself comfortable, and enjoy the ride - it'll probably be one of the last quiet (and easy, in hindsight) rides you'll take with your baby!

I second many of the others; be sure to take your pain meds, get a band for your abdomen (should give you one at the hospital, if not ASK), sit up front where you can ease the seat back, have your mom in back with the baby, take breaks whenever you need, and good luck!

I delivered my first son about 2hours from where we lived at the time. (also in the middle of nowhere) :o) Did not have a c-section...but here are my thoughts..

It was just me, Daddy, and baby. I rode in the back with the baby. Baby really slept most of the way. We stopped to nurse if he got fussy (1-2x probably).

Had diaper bag, change of clothes, diapers, wipes, and blankets for baby just in case.

I had motrin, pillow and water for me. Also got a sandwich on the way home.

That's about it! It went fairly quickly. It was just wonderful to watch the baby sleep. We were so infatuated with him! The ride seemed easy for him. :o)

Congrats and good luck!

Take your pain meds before your pain gets out of control, bring a very supportive pillow for you to hold in the car, comfy clothes but with good support--a belly band or wrap to support your tummy, slippers and feed your baby before you leave as well as take your pain meds before you go--best wishes!

m

Plan on lots of stops. You may be able to ride as long without a stop as before, but I would guess it would be not. Make sure that your route has good stopping places where you can stretch your legs for a few and use the rest room. Also, have your pillow in the car so you can lean back and snooze (I agree with the front seat idea).

I agree with most all of the advice so far. Stay in the hospital as long as you can to make sure you're ready for such a long drive, take pain meds, feed baby before you go, sit up front so you can recline, etc. You can do this!

I noticed nobody yet has addressed your question about what to have in the car/diaper bag. I've only had one child so far--he wasn't a C-section and we didn't live that far from the hospital, but I'm guessing you'll need similar things to what we had:
Diapers
Burp rags (not just for spitting up but any other spills)
Change of clothes (for both you and baby)
Blankets (not sure where you live, but our son was also born mid Dec in 2007 and it was COLD outside)

Also make sure you have a hat and other warm clothing for the baby. The baby will most likely sleep most of the way home, I would guess. Maybe you could even get some sleep, too! Best of luck to you, and congratulations!

I am sooo curious as to why you have a c-section scheduled so far in advance for your first baby?? I know that there can be reasons, but for a first baby, there's usually not too many reasons to schedule a c section.....I've actually only heard of it for people with serious medical situations, so maybe that's the situation you are in. Anyway, might be too personal of a question, so you don't have to answer. You really don't have to answer at all. It's just the first thing that I wondered. I'm always a little overly-protective of childbirth, being a doula. :) :) I wish you the best!
I probably don't have great advice since I've never had a c-section, but here are a few things I would take with me after having a newborn:
Diapers
Wipes
Burp Cloths
Change of clothes (for both)
Pillow
Blankets
Hand pump, in case you get engorged during the drive
Pads for bleeding
Pain Meds
Ice packs
Water bottle
Snacks
You can also roll up a small blanket and put it around baby's head so it doesn't flop to the sides.
They can also give you a wrap or a belt for c-section moms that will help support your incision... etc.
Good luck!