After having an emergency c-section almost six months ago, I thought I would share 10 things I wish I had known and what I hadn’t expected. If you haven’t read Amelia’s birth story, then you probably won’t know that my induction ended in an emergency c-section due to a failed induction. I was absolutely terrified and I had no idea what to expect, so I hope you find this post useful.
So here are 10 things I wish I’d known before my c-section…
1. IT’S MAJOR SURGERY
I know it’s an obvious one, but I think it’s sometimes easy for people to forget that it is major abdominal surgery.
2. IT WASN’T AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
However following on from the last point, the c-section itself really wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. I was absolutely petrified about the whole thing beforehand – especially the spinal injection and the surgery itself. I even contemplated being put to sleep for it. However I didn’t (not for the c-section anyway). I found it was so calm and relaxed at the time and the whole team were lovely. There was obviously a screen in the way, so I didn’t see what was going on. I didn’t even know they had started, I felt some tugging after a while and before I knew it, our baby girl was born.
3. YOU WILL STILL BLEED AFTERWARDS
Even though you have just been through major surgery, you will still bleed, just as you would after a vaginal birth. So you will still need those maternity pads, after all!
4. RECOVERY TAKES TIME
Recovery time will vary for everyone, but try and rest as much as possible and try not to over-do it (especially no heavy lifting in the first six weeks!). Although the hospital will also encourage you to try and get mobile too. The first time getting out of bed after surgery certainly isn’t pleasant, however it does get easier the more you do it. In the first week especially, I found using lots of pillows in bed helped me get comfortable and using a pillow to put pressure on my c-section wound helped with the pain when I needed to cough or sneeze.
5. GRIPING PAIN
When I was recovering in hospital, I drank a lot of peppermint water as it helps with the griping/wind pain that you will most likely get afterwards. I found it quite painful and uncomfortable, so regular cups of peppermint water or peppermint tea throughout the day may help ease it for you too.
6. IT ISN’T GLAMOROUS
Make sure you stock up on big knickers, as they avoid rubbing or digging in on your c-section scar. Oh, and be prepared to wear a lovely pair of stockings too for up to six weeks, as it prevents blood clots developing in your legs.
7. DAILY INJECTIONS
Something I wasn’t prepared for, was the Fragmin injections – twice a day. Usually you will have to continue these at home for a further 10 days, however after a complicated birth, I was stuck with them for six weeks. I couldn’t face doing them myself, as I’m not a huge fan of needles, so my partner very kindly did them for me!
8. GOING TO THE TOILET
After having my catheter removed after five days, it took a few weeks at least for the sensation to return. I had to drink a lot of water before I felt the desperate urge to go. Everything soon went back to normal though.
9. NUMBNESS
I didn’t realise that I would still feel numb in certain areas around my c-section scar. Even now, almost six months later, it’s still numb and I’ve read that the feeling may never return.
10. BE KIND TO YOURSELF
No matter what happens, you have still been through a major operation, so accept help if it’s offered to you and try and take it easy so your body can recover. Not forgetting to keep on top of your painkillers too! I was and still am sad I didn’t get the natural birth I wanted, but an emergency c-section was necessary and it meant our baby was born safely – I just need to learn to accept it.
Have you had a c-section? Is there anything you wish you’d known beforehand?
Thank you for sharing! I think these are all important things for moms to know. I am due in a weeks time and I am only learning about some of these things now from your post. More definitely needs to be shared with moms about the ins and outs of c-sections. At my prenatal class we did not learn about any of these things.
This is so interesting and a few points I hadn’t even realised about c sections! Great post!
This is such an informative post. I've never had a section but this does really ease my worries for my second as it's the one thing I truly worry about.
Such an informative post and all so true. I had no idea I would bleed as much as I did. I wasn't expecting that at all x
Great post – I had a very easy time with my two c-sections but there are lots of things on your list that I was never told x x
It is true – I had no idea what it would be like, and you do kind of forget that it is major surgery! It wasn't as bad as I thought though and the doctors and surgeons were lovely x