Tips for Transitioning Baby to Cloth Diapers After a C-Section

A mom on Facebook asked a cloth diapering group last week if they thought she could realistically expect to cloth diaper from birth after a c-section. She recently learned that a c-section would be necessary and the doctors advised her of a possible 5 to 6 day recovery in the hospital. With this in mind, she wondered how many diapers she would need to bring for her stay and how long they could stay in a wet bag.

Many gave helpful tips that could make this scenario possible, encouraging her enthusiasm for cloth and a “can-do” attitude. I thought back to my 4 day stay in the local hospital this October post c-section and cringed at the idea of worrying about cloth diapers while recovering. I couldn’t imagine adding cloth diaper care to an already challenging and exhausting time.

I understand that some families might vow to never have disposable diapers touch their baby, due to health or skin concerns. This is a legitimate choice, but if you are open to using disposable diapers during your c-section hospital recovery, I would definitely recommend it.

Here’s why I recommend holding off on cloth diapers immediately after a c-section:

1. Diapers are Free in the Hospital. Many of us choose cloth for the money savings and we love that our monthly budgets don’t need a column for diapers. While you’re in the hospital, the bassinet drawers will be stocked full of premium disposable diapers. This is a great resource to take advantage of during recovery and can provide a reprieve from diaper concerns for at least a short time.

2. Self Care is a Priority. After my c-section, just sitting up felt like work. Putting my legs over the side of the bed to stand up and simply shuffle to the bathroom proved excruciating. I had to make myself take short walks up and down the hallway to train my body to move again post-surgery. I had three older children visiting who wanted attention and cuddles. The last thing I needed to worry about was whether or not I had enough diapers or if they were being washed soon enough.

3. Caring for Baby Right Away is Challenging. The first night after my c-section, I could not lift my baby out of the bassinet on my own. When he was hungry, my husband brought him to me. When he needed a diaper change, my husband helped him. I became more mobile as the week progressed, but taking care of baby took all of my energy reserves. I personally wouldn’t want to add rinsing soiled diapers and keeping track of wet bags to this in addition to arranging for their transport home. Someone else, on the other hand, might appreciate the distraction.

4. Cloth Diapers Will Be Waiting When You Get Home. Perhaps using cloth diapers when you get home can be something to look forward to. Prep and organize your diapers ahead of time and put them in convenient locations. Make a plan to bring small loads to the laundry room, so you don’t over exert yourself. Plan for a few newborn cloth shots when you arrive home . 4 days isn’t very long and waiting does not undermine your commitment to cloth diapering.

5. You Don’t Have to be Super Woman. Many wise friends advised me of how essential the first 4 weeks of recovery are for healing after a c-section. Doing too much at first just prolongs the process and makes things more difficult. Cloth diapering doesn’t have to be all or nothing, nor does it need to be immediate. They style of diaper you use is not an indicator that you are a “good mom.” I know this sounds silly, but it can be difficult to let go of expectations we have of ourselves. If we expect to cloth diaper full time with that stash of newborn diapers, it can be difficult to consider using disposables, even for a short time.

Tips for Transitioning Baby to Cloth Diapers After a C-Section:

While we opted not to use cloth diapers in the hospital or the first week after my c-section, we gradually began using them during the day, then added them in at night. This came about when my husband asked if we should begin using cloth. With a washer and dryer down two flights of stairs in the basement, his commitment to helping rinse diapers and bring loads to and from the wash was essential.

No matter when you decide to incorporate cloth into your routine, here’s some recommendations for adding them in post c-section:

1. Be Flexible. Some newborn cloth diapers and many one-size diapers don’t fit well on brand new babies. The Bum Genius newborn starts at 6 lbs, but it definitely had room on my 9 lb 11 0z baby and his skinny legs. He drowned in One-Size diapers advertised to fit beginning at 8 lbs. You might come prepared to use cloth in the hospital and find the sizing isn’t perfect or you don’t have enough of the right fit to get you through 16 to 24 changes before washing. You might also want the help of busy nurses who are more likely to put your baby in disposables. Be prepared to be flexible about both and adjust your expectations. The last thing you need is to stress over cloth diapers while recovering!

2. Consider a Diaper Service at First. If you live in an area with a diaper service and you have a planned c-section, consider putting a month’s worth of service at the top of your baby shower list. This would be dreamy for any new mom, but especially helpful when you should not be lifting loads of laundry and don’t want to add disposable diapers to the landfills.

3. Make Cloth Diapers Convenient. Plan ahead by creating portable diaper changing stations.  Keep a basket with cloth diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, and a wet bag in the nursery, near your bed, and next to the couch. Make changing diapers as stress-free and convenient as possible, especially if your nursery is upstairs. When friends come by to ask how they can help, let them fold cloth diapers and refill your changing stations.

4. Prioritize Self Care. I remember reading the c-section recovery instructions and seeing that I should not lift anything heaver than 15 lbs for 4 weeks after leaving the  hospital. Examples included doing laundry, vacuuming, and picking up an older child. With this restriction, I couldn’t do cloth diaper laundry by myself and we already had clothing, towels, and bedding to launder for 6 people. I definitely needed my partner to be committed to cloth for us to add diapers to the mix and neither of us was ready to do so immediately. With four children 8 and under, we were just happy to have any clean clothes at all those first few weeks!

You, of course, know yourself and your situation best. Some friends have told me that they started using cloth diapers immediately after being discharged from the hospital post c-section. Their washer and dryer was in a convenient location and their family wash proved manageable. The key here is to not overdo it. You might even enjoy cloth diaper care during the newborn stage and that is terrific!

5. Build a Support System. No diaper is worth sabotaging your recovery for. If you choose to cloth diaper after a c-section, you will need a support system, even if that means asking for help with other tasks to make sure you don’t over-do it. As I mentioned earlier, we started with cloth when my husband suggested it after about a week home. We were old pros at cloth diapers and he knew I was prepared to cloth diaper baby from birth this time around. He took responsibility for all lifting most loads of laundry until about 4 weeks in, when I felt well enough to ease off of pain medication and to start carrying some things (this is the time you are ok’d to drive as well).

6. Consider Easing into Cloth. Don’t donate or return those baby shower disposable diaper gifts just yet. It’s difficult to predict how your recovery will go for you or your family. It’s okay to have disposables as a back up plan. It’s okay to ease into cloth and use it part time, recognizing that some days just making through the day when you are caring for a newborn and recovering from major surgery is an accomplishment.

You might be reading this and thinking, “Great advice, Mindy, but I still want to use cloth diapers ASAP.” To this I say, “Awesome!” If you are planning on bringing cloth to the hospital, find my 6 Tips for Bringing Cloth Diapers to the Hospital here.

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post.