C-Section Birth and Recovery

5 Things the Doctor Won’t Tell You

I wasn’t sure what to expect when the doctor said my baby’s heart rate was dropping and we would have to have an emergency C-section. Multiple thoughts raced through my head.

I just went in for a simple induction and ended with a scar across my belly. Though I had did a lot of research about having a C-section there were still things that nobody told me would happen! So I felt the need to spread the love and give you a reality check on what to expect when you have a C-section.

1. Be Ready for an Emergency C-section

I had gestational diabetes with my son. Somewhere around 36 weeks they told me I would have to be induced at 39 weeks to make sure the baby didn’t get too big.

When I got there I was scared out of my mind because I didn’t know what to expect from the induction process and let’s just say it wasn’t the best experience of my life, but I’ll leave that story for another post.

Long story short, the babies heart rate continued to drop putting the baby in distress resulting in an emergency C-section. My doctor said I may not have a vaginal birth, but I didn’t realize it was a real possibility until I was laying in the hospital bed.

There are other ways you can have a C-section like if you’ve already had a C-section for a previous pregnancy or there is a complication with your pregnancy such as preeclampsia. The point is, be prepared! When making a birth plan make sure you are well versed on what comes with having a Cesarean even if you think your going to have a vaginal delivery.

2. A C-section is a Full Blown Surgery

Just like any other surgery you may have had; a C-section is an actual going under the knife, anesthesiologist, hour procedure, and recovery process! I think I was naïve to how serious the C-section was. Before you go in the operating room they make you sign your life away (literally).

They give you a disclaimer that if something was to happen, you are their patient and they will try to save your life first. That’s when things got real. If you don’t already have an epidural this is when they will administer one.

The procedure itself is about an hour or longer depending on the meds, the shortest part is getting the baby out, you think its finally over then you have over 30 minutes left as well as an hour of recovery time. It seems like forever before you can see your baby again. My advice: Try to find a way to get in your happy place and pass the time.

3. The Epidural Takes Forever

I took a parenting class before I had my baby so I knew what an epidural was and I was able to touch the needle and everything. However, I didn’t know it could take over 15 minutes for the whole process to be over; all while your having contractions.

If your contractions are close together, it can take even longer! You have to be very still while they put the needle in and then the numbing medicine. Since it’s nearly impossible to stay still while your stomach is contracting they have to stop every time you have a contraction which can be multiple times until they are done. So don’t expect a quick needle, medicine, and done because that is not how it works.

4. You May Have Side Effects From Medicine

When you talk to most moms they will tell you that an epidural is the best thing that ever happened to them. They wouldn’t be caught dead giving birth without one. As a new mom when I heard these stories I thought I could do no wrong getting an epidural and I would have the same wonderful experience. Of course they couldn’t let me off that easy.

I had terrible side effects with the epidural, including shakes the entire C-section procedure. I was lying on the table with the worst chills and couldn’t stop my body from shaking uncontrollably; I thought I was dying! Though it is rare, I’m telling you this so you know there is a possibility that it can happen to you. I was completely taken off guard. I didn’t have the relief I longed for and that was praised by seasoned moms.

5. Cesarean Recovery

Similar to the side effects, there were a few after effects of recovery that nobody told me about. Most woman get headaches and back aches following a C-section. I was prepared for that; what I wasn’t prepared for was lack of feeling in the bottom half of my stomach.

Once all the medication wore off, I thought all of my nerve endings would start to come back but my stomach around where they made the incision ceased to have feeling and till this day still doesn’t. According to Steady Health, this is due to the nerve damage around the incision area.

You may think, oh thats not that big of a deal, but it is when your not expecting it. It is a question many new moms have when all of the medication wares off and they realize it can be years before they feel their stomach again.

So there you have it! 5 things the doctors didn’t tell me about a C-section. A Cesarean is a very serious procedure that puts you and your baby at risk. When you go in for an induction be prepared for an emergency C-section, but don’t be alarmed. I have equipped you with all possible side effects and recovery aspects that you might not hear about. No matter what the case, mothers are the strongest beings on the planet and you will do great!

Editors Note: This is my experience and does not reflect the experience of all women giving birth.

Is there anything I missed? Do you have a C-section experience you would like to share? Leave it in the comments below!

If you liked this you’ll love Expectation Vs. Reality of Breastfeeding