“I’ve had two c-sections. The first was an emergency and it was extremely scary. A c-section was the last thing I thought would happen to me and I wasn’t prepared at all! So here are some things I think all expectant mothers should go into the hospital knowing, even if a c-section isn’t your birth plan.
Hayley’s c-section experience:
1. 𝗦𝗲𝘅 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹. It felt like a cactus 😂 But actually, it took months and months before we could have sex that wasn’t painful for me. My body didn’t even allow me to go into labour, so I honestly didn’t think it would hurt at all. But eventually it does feel normal again.
2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. A lot. The first time I stood up after my c-section, a ton of blood poured out of me. I freaked out but I was assured it was totally normal for blood to pool. But because I got sliced open, I really didn’t think I’d still bleed for weeks after birth!
3. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢.𝗥 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. You get dressed up and taken to the O.R but your birth partner must stop at the door and wait until you are given your spinal tap. I didn’t realize my husband couldn’t come with me at first and I absolutely lost it going into the O.R. (This depends on your hospital)
4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀. After the c-section is done and you’re waiting for your freezing to come out, you’ll shake uncontrollably. Like you have hypothermia. I was also extremely itchy all over my body. A few hours after the medication wore off, it stopped.
5. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱. It can be really scary to look at yourself when you get home. It’s a major surgery with a lot of pulling and tugging, and if you were the surgeon in my first c-section, you were on top of the O.R table tugging and tugging because my baby was stuck. You can be left with a lot of bruises and it can be really shocking to look at yourself in the mirror.
What was something you weren’t prepared for with your c-section OR with your vaginal delivery?! Drop ‘em in the comments 👇
Instagram: @motherhoodinanutshell
*Note – everyone has a different experience, talk to your doctor about c-sections for more information.
Leave a Reply