C-Section Survival Kit: What You Need

Today, I'm excited to talk to you all about what you should have at home as a C-section mom. To prepare for postpartum recovery, it is so important to consider that you might have a cesarean birthday.

Whether your C-section is planned or unplanned, there are some things you need to have at home.

I'm a two-time C-section mom. I know what's important, what doesn't work, what works, and what's often overlooked. Let me share some of my favorites with you today.

Before we dive in, let me just say every postpartum recovery experience is different, and it's essential to know before going into recovery, or as you're maybe navigating C-section recovery, that there is no standardized care plan through the US healthcare system to support the recovery after a cesarean birth.

This means there's often no insurance-covered physical therapy unless you get a referral from your OB-GYN, and it’s typically not offered to you unless you ask.

There are a few checkups with your doctor. You'll maybe have a two-week incision appointment and, most likely, a six-week one. But keep in mind, if you are experiencing any pain, discomfort, discharge from your incision site, or any major red flags, you need to seek help from your care provider.

If you continue having pain with sex, incontinence, or urinary issues, it's essential to seek help from a pelvic floor physical therapist. It's important also to note that 1 in 3 births are a cesarean birth. 

So, whether yours is planned or unplanned, I encourage you to prepare for what a C-section recovery could look like because there is a chance that your birth may end in one, too. And it's better to be prepared at least a little bit.

I recommend checking out our C-section Recovery Guide if you haven't already. This expert-written guide will walk you through everything you need to know about cesarean delivery and recovery. Understanding what's happening in your body is essential; this eBook covers everything.

Let's chat about some other things you should have at home after your C-section to feel prepared and comfortable.

Recovery from a C-section is intense. You still will bleed vaginally as your placenta has left a dinner plate-sized wound on your uterus. So it's essential to honor this time with rest and have some of these essentials at home to feel prepared and supported in your recovery.

You will be using these pillows to prop yourself up and prop your baby up while feeding. Trust me, there's nothing more uncomfortable than trying to feed a baby on a fresh incision site. Pillows can help if you're breastfeeding. 

Also, try the football hold. That's where you tuck the baby to the side up on some pillows; they latch this way, unlike laying a cross cradle across your abdomen.

You can always work with a lactation consultant if you have questions.

Ensure you are taking your pain medications as prescribed by your care provider. Keep those handy and stay ahead of your pain as much as possible. That means don't wait until the pain is unbearable to take your medications. Take your medications on time regularly before the pain is too much.

Also, getting up and walking as soon as possible is essential once your care provider says it's okay. But also, don't walk too much, avoid stairs, or at least limit them to once a day, depending on what your specific care provider says.

While recovering from my C-section, I loved having nutrient-dense snacks on my nightstand, a giant water bottle filled with electrolytes and ice.

Snacks could look like protein bars, beef jerky, trail mix, cheese and apples, crackers, or anything easy to grab with one hand and possibly store near your recovery area.

You should also have super loose, comfy, stretchy, high-waisted clothes to cover your incision. Ideally, they have a nice, thick waistband to cover your incision and lessen the risk of rubbing fully.

Along with that, some supportive undies. These are the Mia Postpartum Boxer Shorts by Davin and Adley. These are great for C-section recovery. They're high-waisted enough to cover your incision. They're stretchy but also gently supportive too. 

They offer gentle upward pressure versus inward pressure, which can create downward pressure on your pelvic floor. These can be used instead of your traditional postpartum mesh undies.

As we're talking about C-section care items, let's also talk about this peri bottle. Our YouTube channel has an entire video on how to use a peri bottle. They are very interesting looking if you've never seen them, but they are so helpful, especially for C-section moms.

What you'll do when you're finished going to the bathroom you'll fill this up with warm water. Fill it up before sitting on the toilet with warm or cool water. You will gently use this to rinse off after you use the bathroom so you're not bending over and wiping and irritating that incision site.

Something else I highly recommend having at home for the early postpartum days would be our C-Heaties. These are instant abdominal heat packs that you can place on your clothes. The sticky side goes on your clothes, and this gentle heat will relieve your abdomen and incision site. They are fantastic and offer hours of relief. They help to improve blood flow, which, of course, can aid in healing faster.

Along with those early postpartum days, I highly recommend an Iron-Boosting Tea. Typically, more blood is lost during a cesarean birth than a vaginal delivery, so it's essential to replete those iron stores. And this iron-boosting tea is a great way to do that. 

These C-Section Mama Silicone Strips are super thin, flexible, and durable, and they will help smooth your scar, soften it, and create a more even texture. It also helps with the elasticity and breaking down of that scar tissue, helping your scar feel more comfortable with time; giving it some love is essential. 

Speaking of scar love, the same company making the silicone strips makes a C-Section Rock and Roller. It looks like a fancy skincare tool, but it's actually for your incision site.

This two-sided tool offers gentle pressure and sensation in your scar area because you'll find it's numb. You might even feel disconnected from that area of your body. You can use this to wake up those nerve endings on your incision and reduce overall sensitivity.

I love that this has a smooth amethyst end. So you could pop this in the freezer and use this cooling side to help calm inflammation around your incision site. It's such a great tool and often something so overlooked in postpartum C-section recovery. 

And last but not least, make sure to have a scar balm on hand. We sell an Organic Scar Balm by Mummy’s Organics on our website, and it’s one of our top-selling products.

This is used to gently massage your scar area to encourage circulation and decrease inflammation. It is made with certified organic ingredients made by midwives. It also helps break down scar tissue and improve the elasticity of your scar. Sometimes, that scar tissue can adhere to different parts of us inside. So, breaking down that scar tissue is essential for our mobility and overall comfort and keeping our scar as healthy as possible after birth.

There you have it. If I were going to have a C-section tomorrow, this is what I would have at home as well as lots of pillows, pain medication, easy-to-eat food, and lots and lots and lots of water.

Another option you could consider is getting a breakfast tray, too. I love the idea that you could bring that into bed. Someone could bring it to you. You can have an easy spot to eat your meals and snacks while you recover from birth.

I want you to remember that, ultimately, a C-section is birth, and it is also a major surgery with no standardized recovery plan. So it's so crucial that you listen to your body. Grab our C-Section Recovery Guide so you can have an idea of what's going on in your body after birth.

Wishing you the best postpartum recovery possible. Please remember that your recovery matters, and you deserve support.