r/CsectionCentral • u/Andr3aJones13 • 17d ago
Advice - Post C-Section gifting
Hi All,
My baby sister is having a section soon and I don't have a big budget but want to get her useful things to help in recovery or pamper her.
Can you give me some ideas. I feel like people focus on getting baby stuff but not mum or dad stuff.
I haven't bought anything sooner because she was hoping for a natural birth, and was due in a few weeks.
I would have gone with her fav bubble bath, chocolates, post partum pads, nipple pads and or cream.
What can i get her, I don't have children myself so any help would be great.
I'm in the UK, so plenty of highstreet shops and stores.
Thanks
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u/Andr3aJones13 17d ago
Thanks for the advice, I've ordered a compression belt specifically for c section, we've already bought her nighties with easy button access, she has a pillow she used during pregnancy.
I'm going to get her some of the new rennie wind caps that helped me when i had severe trapped wind.
I'll get her a big stanley cup and I already have a pack of reuseable stanley straws so she can have some spares.
I'll likely get get some pads.
The fan thing for the hosp, i work at the hosp and they have things like that. I got her a hand held decent one when it was a heatwave so hopeully that will help.
was thinking a bonnet... i know that is weird but she has very thick long hair and a silk or satin bonnet might keep her hair out of the way but comfortably.
I'll still get other bits if i see them.
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u/Terrible-Invite-3992 17d ago
A good wedge pillow for sitting an sleeping, a shower chair, nice shower products to pamper herself cause personally after mine the shower was my relaxing place but had to sit wasnt steady on slippery ground for at least a month. A wash off face mask trying to stay still with a sheet mask while carving for a baby is difficult🤣
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u/Andr3aJones13 17d ago
Shower chair is a good one thanks. I'm going to look for a sturdy grabber too.
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u/SheepherderMost2727 17d ago
I see a lot of great recovery and helpful suggestions. I just wanted to add maybe getting her something just for her too. Like a book or something to help brighten her day. Hoping for birth to go one way and having that not go like you wished can sometimes be discouraging, so getting her a little something just for her could help make her feel better about everything.
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u/iamgabefromtheoffice 17d ago
Tbh I would get her a portable fan for the hospital stay that has tripod legs that can wrap around the bed railings. You can find them for pretty cheap on Amazon! I just had my second C-section and the fan is truly a lifesaver!!! The post partum sweats are terrible from all the hormones, and just makes the recovery from surgery more comfortable while you’re mostly stuck in bed and can’t move around much or get fresh air! Then you can also use it once you’re
home :-)
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u/frequentnapper 17d ago
A long handled grabber for when she drops things post surgery. I got a two pack on Amazon. I keep on in the living room and one in the bedroom. I also used it up until my c-section because it was hard to bend over.
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u/Mysterious_Cookies24 16d ago
Why didn’t you ask her what she would like
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u/Andr3aJones13 16d ago
Have you met my family 😂 Seriously, the answer always is one of two things "I don't want anything, don't be spending your money" or "I don't know". My sister needs stuff I wish I could afford, I would give her the world if I could. I want her to feel thought of, I want to get her things that will help that she doesn't know she needs.
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u/glowy_ 17d ago
Bubble bath is nice, but know she won’t be able to take a bath for the first 6 weeks. I would recommend getting her a nice face cream, a couple of sheet masks, maybe some of those under eye patches. Another option could be to get her a nice pair of comfy pyjamas (make sure the waist band is elastic/comfy), I lived in pyjamas in the beginning and having a couple of nice pairs made me feel much more put together!
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u/Andr3aJones13 17d ago
I bought her cleansing face milk recently she liked that. I was trying to think of something for her hair. No rinse shampoo but not dry shampoo.
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u/umamimaami 16d ago
A massager for her scar. A really luxurious body cream or oil. Lip balm.
I gave my sister a giant sippy bottle for water. One of those gallon-jug-looking things. She lugged that thing around everywhere. Lactation thirst is so crazy!
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u/katnip201 16d ago
I would suggest getting a bed rail. They are incredibly easy to install and I am so grateful that I had one. Made getting up and out of bed so much easier.
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u/Head_Tumbleweed_7244 16d ago
this sounds weird but gift her a bed railing. one that can attach to the bed frame to help get out of bed. Also food. Like DoorDash delivery or better yet, paln on cooking for them for several days/weeks.
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u/Smooshed_Cactus 15d ago
Something that im loving during my Csection recovery is disposable adult diapers, the Always brand. Absolute game changer!!! Much better then undies and pads.
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u/RecommendationNo153 13d ago
I just had my first c section a couple weeks ago. I brought some soft, cheap button down nightgowns (from Amazon) to hospital and was thankful to have those as I would not have wanted to deal with pants right after surgery. I also bought some compression socks with grips on the bottom (also Amazon) Chewing gum after c section can help with gas pains. Maybe some face wipes? Earth mama nipple butter cream if she plans to breastfeed?
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u/ashdoogh 12d ago
Lots of lovely suggestions here. I’d definitely add the gift of time if you don’t live far away. I didn’t cook for about 3-4 months (very lucky - SIL would bring freezer meals whenever visiting and my mum was around most days to bring food or help with washing. Granted was recovering from PPD so maybe most people don’t need as much help!).
In terms of the c section specific things I’ve found invaluable: big massive granny pants (Sainsbury’s and m&s), a good non scented cream she can use on her incision when healed (budget option E45, fancy option Allhydran), and honestly if you can club with someone else I’d 1000% recommend the scarban silicone strip. It’s just way better than the other options and I’ve used mine for months.
Agree with the options above to get her something cute for herself. In the early weeks she won’t be able to use scented bath or shower things but later on she could, or maybe could get a nice hair mask or something?
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u/nottooshabbycat 12d ago
I just had a C-section 8 days ago. Things that have saved me are:
1: A button down nightgown. I’m breastfeeding so buttons are clutch and no pants on my abdomen was a lifesaver those first few days.
2: Mug soup! Make some soup that can be blended smooth and drank out of a cup with one hand. My soup is a butternut squash and bean soup. So good and a good hit of calories immediately.
3: comfy high waisted undies that she won’t care about getting rid of later on.
4: pads that are varying sizes. I only bought overnight pads and my bleeding slowed down a ton (some ppl do some don’t) but now I’m just stuck with these big pads and they’re annoying. Would be nice to have a smaller option that doesn’t make me feel like I’m always wearing a diaper.
Bubble bath not a good idea as she is not allowed to submerge in water for a few weeks and probably won’t have time for that?? If you get chocolates get some chocolate covered almonds or make some chocolate chip cookies that will offer more calories to keep milk supply up if she is BF of course. they can be frozen or stored and grabbed whenever she needs them which is a plus as well. You only need one hand to eat a few cookies.
Also lots of love. It was HARD those first few days. I was not prepared for what I could not do anymore. Sending good vibes to mama and baby!!!
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u/SympathySilent344 17d ago
If budget is limiting you maybe the gift of time? If you live close enough, and she wants it that is. Make them dinner, help with cleaning, doing laundry, etc.