8 things I didn’t know about having a c-section

When I was pregnant and thinking about my birth plan, I decided I wanted to try giving birth without an epidural. I was told an epidural could lead to a higher chance of having an assisted birth, which can lead to having a caesarean. 

And one thing was for sure, I wasn’t going to have a caesarean. (Spoiler: I had a caesarean.)

During my last antenatal appointment, my ultrasound revealed there wasn’t any amniotic fluid. I was scheduled to be induced that afternoon. But when I turned up at the hospital and they placed the CTG monitor on my belly, the doctor said my baby wasn’t happy, and I would be meeting him in the next 30 minutes via a caesarean section.

Here’s what I didn’t know about having a c-section. 

1. I feel lucky 

While I was adamant I didn’t want a c-section, I’m so glad that I did. I don’t want to think about what could have happened if I didn’t have the option of surgery. I feel lucky that my baby arrived safely in my arms before it was too late. 

2. Birth is birth

Whether you give birth naturally or via a caesarean, it’s still birth! And it was beautiful. The nurses were fantastic and despite the urgency, they really did make it special. The moment the surgeon held my baby boy up over the sheet changed my life forever. 

3. A c-section is major surgery

There are lots of layers that a surgeon has to cut through to get to your little bundle of joy – it’s hardcore! While the first few days after birth were painful and hard to get around, I was surprised at how quickly I started to heal.

4. The first poop sucks

Not just for mums who give birth vaginally, that first poop after giving birth via c-section is just as bad. Make sure you pack a stool softener to help with the process. 

5. You can’t drive or lift anything heavier than your baby

Rest! Rest! Rest! Not resting in those weeks after c-section birth can slow down the healing process. Take it easy – you’ve had major abdominal surgery. All you need to do is focus on getting to know your little baby. Everything else can wait.

6. Most of your body will be numb

When the spinal block kicked in, I freaked out because I could still feel people touching me. But I couldn’t feel any pain. Post-surgery, it took a while for the feeling in my legs to return, but I had my baby with me the whole time, so it didn’t matter. 

7. You can feel your baby coming out

Before the procedure, a nurse told me it will feel like someone is doing the washing in my stomach – and she was right. Strangely, I could feel the rocking and tugging of my baby being pulled out, but I didn’t feel any pain!  

8. It was over before I knew it

I wasn’t aware of how long a c-section would take, but once the anaesthetic kicked in, everything went really fast. While most c-sections can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, my little guy was out in 20 minutes. They said it looked like he had pooped a few days earlier, so the clean-up took longer than expected. But bubs was placed in my partner’s arms and next to me. Once in recovery, I did skin-to-skin … and the rest is history!