10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Having a C-Section

My birth story isn't too out of the ordinary. I was one of probably thousands of women that have given birth during this 2020 pandemic and it just so happened that mine ended in an unexpected c-section.

For those that might not know, a c-section, or a caesarian section, is the use of surgery to deliver babies. In some cases, it is safer for the baby to be delivered this way in the event of an emergency. In my case, Mila's heart rate was rising and there seemed to be an infection in the fluid, so a c-section was the safest solution.

Some mamas out there might already know they will need a c-section or have chosen a c-section in advance. If you were anything like me, then you probably haven't even thought twice about what happens if you need a c-section.

I never had a real "birth plan." I just knew that I preferred a vaginal birth because every birth class, doctor's appointment, and article I read revolved around that. I was never prepared for the possibility of a c-section and didn't know the first thing about what recovery would look like after.

Needless to say, that's why this list is so important for me to share with other mamas. There aren't enough resources out there for this so I want to provide some support to my c-section mamas.

Here are my 10 things I wish I knew before my c-section:

1. This is major surgery.

I never researched what would happen in the event of a c-section so I never knew how intense it was. Therefore, let me tell you this is MAJOR surgery.

Luckily, I had already had the epidural so the doctors could quickly and easily administer the medication to numb me for the procedure. However, you are completely awake for the surgery. I felt all the pressure as my body was pulled and pushed in every direction during the quick two minutes it took for Mila to enter the world. My husband told me that I looked like a rag doll on the table, however, I felt no pain.

It's important to know that you will feel all this pressure, as you do while getting work done on your teeth at the dentist, but you won't feel them cutting and sewing you up. With that being said, when the medication wears off, you will have a long road to recovery.

2. Start walking as soon as you can.

I truly believe that the key to a quick recovery is walking. As soon as you feel you can, start moving very slowly and carefully. My doctors told me to walk as much as I can and that always felt like I was running a marathon after just a couple steps to the bathroom. For me, this was a slow and painful trip to the toilet about three hours after the procedure. It's going to be painful and you will have to move extremely slow, but walk as much as you can.

3. Recovery takes forever.

Like I said, recovery is rough and it will seem like it takes forever. It is so important to take it easy and really listen to the advice of the doctors. Everything will be a challenge. Getting on and off the toilet is going to be the most painful task and you won't be able to shower by yourself for a while. Ask for help! Don't take any chances by overdoing it. Be easy on yourself. Recovery will take time!

4. Take your medication and use ice packs!

The next key to recovery is medicine. Whether you believe in taking pain medication or not, you will want to make an exception after this major surgery. When the numbness wears off, keep up on your medication so that you don't have to catch up in pain. The pain is fierce and making sure I had my Tylenol or ibuprofen every 6 hours was crucial.

Another hidden gem that I discovered on my own was ice packs. I never had anything to relieve the pain and itching of my incision in the hospital. When I got home I needed relief and ice was the only thing that got me through the nights. Have a few of these in the freezer in case you need them when you get home. From what I've heard they can be useful for vaginal birth recovery as well.

5. High waisted everything.

Since the incision is right below the bikini line, any kind of low waisted pants will be too painful to wear after a c-section. I lived in high waisted underwear, sweat pants, and leggings for the first couple of months after birth. Loose clothes, robes, or dresses are the most important items to have for recovery at home. Five months postpartum, I still find that wearing anything that rests near my incision to be uncomfortable. Remember that eventually, it will get better, but take it easy and adjust your wardrobe in order to be comfortable during this time.

6. Hold your incision when you cough, sneeze or laugh.

I never could have imagined the amount of pain a sneeze, cough, or laugh could cause. It felt like my incision was opening back up every time. The only solution for this is holding a pillow against your incision before you let out a cough, laugh or sneeze. It's going to save you a lot of pain!

7. You will have numbness near the incision for a long time.

Five months later, and I still don't have feeling back on or around my scar. This is okay! I panicked when I realized I had "recovered" but still didn't have feeling around the incision. I researched the hell out of this and discovered that it's completely normal. Again, this was major surgery, and recovery can take a long time. Numbness around any incision is normal so don't panic when you still can't feel it after a couple of months!

8. Accept help and take care of yourself.

I am guilty of overusing the phrase, "No, it's fine, I got it." Postpartum is the absolute best time to drop this from your vocabulary forever! Having my husband around was a blessing and I had no choice but to depend on him. THAT IS OKAY. You must be so careful not to lift heavy things and never overdo it. My husband had to shower me the first weeks and help me stand up, walk stairs, and basically complete any basic task. Accept the help. Period.

9. The scar isn't that bad.

I was a bit nervous about what my scar would look like when it healed. I thought that it would be visible in a bathing suit and noticeable forever. I was so wrong! My bathing suit bottoms cover my scar perfectly and in the end, it's really not that noticeable. The surgeon did such a wonderful job, but I also made sure to take care of it. The stitches fell out on their own and I made sure not to irritate the incision so it could heal on its own. The little tips they give you in the hospital to care for the incision are very important to follow in order to have a successful recovery. I love that I will have a forever reminder of how I brought my daughter into this world. It's my battle scar and I love it.

10. You are still a badass!

The most important thing I can tell any woman that will experience a c-section is that it is still a REAL birth. Don't ever let someone tell you differently. There was a split second while the doctor was explaining to me that I would need a c-section where my heart dropped and I felt like I had failed. I had labored for 12 hours, I was doing everything they told me to do and yet it still had to end like this? Luckily, that split second passed and the doctor immediately reassured me by saying, "You did a fantastic job." Knowing that this was the safest way to get my baby out was all I needed to feel at peace. When she arrived, nothing else mattered. How she got here was unimportant. I got her here. I am her mother. I birthed her. And I am still a badass.

Mamas,

Never forget that no matter how you bring your baby into this world, you are still an absolutely amazing mother. Birth is usually out of our control. In the end, our bodies will do what they need to and it's important to trust that. In the end, I am grateful for my c-section. I have a scar that will forever remind me of the most beautiful gift I have ever received.