C section advice.

I wish you had been my mother Katek

I had both of my now grown up children by EMCS and got precious little help.Granted it was different in those days as I was in hospital 14 days post birth both times. There was no paternity leave so just had to get on with it. I think you are wonderful doing this.

Tegan you are a wonderful person indeed as well.Send my good wishes to your DIL and hope she makes a good recovery, you are all doing well.This goes for all you grandmothers who have contributed to this thread.

My ex DIL had an EMCS for her third baby 18 years ago.DGD was a premature baby and had to stay in hospital for 6 weeks. DIL was in for a week, but she and DS2 were at the hospital every day seeing the baby so I helped by looking after the two older children for them.DS2 would leave DIL with the baby after an hour and would give me a hand before going back to collect DIL.By the time DGD was allowed home her mother was thoroughly back on her feet so no more daily help was needed.

I was pleased to be able to help them.My DGD is a beautiful girl now after a very shaky start to life.

I think as much help as you can manage or that she will accept! I had all mine by C section and in those days you got 8 days in hospital but I was wiped out and DH would come home to a tip with me crying because I couldn't cope! Fortunately my Health Visitor arranged a home help for me for a few hours once a week (those were the days) when I had DD2 as DD1 was a stroppy 2 year old giving a whole new dimension to the word "tantrum") and we were living in a first floor flat, miles from shops and no car even I had been allowed to drive.
A cleaner, an ironing service, shopping - anything

I've got a grabber thing that I could pass on. And my daughter had a v shaped pillow which she may have passed on to DIL.

A cleaner is a brilliant idea.

Could consider an ironing service for a few weeks.

Are C section mums still advised not to hoover ?
I was told not to push the pram or drive so would have been house bound if I hadn't ignored this advice after about 10 days as I knew no other drivers at the time.
I can't suggest anything to buy though.

DDIL had emergency caesarean, when we went up a week later I took a V pillow and pillowcases to help with feeding- you put it on your lap with the two 'arms' to each side and lay baby on it- just as good for bottle or breast feeding. DDIL said it was the best gift she had, so may be worth trying?
I went up and stayed for first couple of days DS went back to work, just to do cooking etc, which worked very well (also lots of cuddles of course!) and also we went for short walks.

A cleaner! What a brilliant idea, Katek. I wish I'd thought of that when DiL had an emergency C-section. I did quite a lot of ironing and other household jobs, but when she came home from hospital, DS turned quite domesticated and I came home. When she had her second - a normal delivery - she reported two women who were smoking with their heads out of the window and they were transferred - maybe to a penal ward!

Something like this?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en-GB&q=long+stick+grabber&gbv=2&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=AZfgVL35Eczmap3AgPgG&ved=0CEcQsAQ&tbm=isch

My Dil has just had c section as well and it's the lifting/bending which are off limits for 4/6 weeks. As others have said, help with housework, laundry and shopping are useful, as driving is also off limits for same length of time. Nice light pyjama bottoms in dark, plain colours are good - Dil wears these round the house to avoid any pressure on wound. We've treated them to a cleaner for 3 months as our gift. Takes huge pressure off both parents.

That's good to know. It wasn't, thankfully a last minute 'get baby out quickly' situation. But she doesn't seem to have had a great deal of advice from the hospital. Dad is off work for a couple of weeks anyway. I read that the NCT sell special knickers that cover and support the scar really well. What annoys me is new mothers going outside for a fag and bringing the smell in with them onto a ward where other mothers and newborn babies are who wouldn't dream of doing such a thing . Grrrr...

Can't think of anything you could buy Tegan , as Mishap says help with any lifting and doing house cleaning , loading washing machine and dishwasher etc , she shouldn't be doing that kind of stuff for a bit.. walking is supposed to aid with a quicker recovery.

My DD had a C-section but I am sorry but I cannot think of anything in particular. A bit of help lifting the baby about would probably be best! DD got over it very quickly, and went on to have two vaginal births with no problem.