C-Sections: What to Expect

In honor of April being cesarean awareness month, I wanted to share a little about my personal experience, and some things to know about cesareans. My first baby was breech and had low fluid at our 38wk ultrasound, so I was sent in for a non-emergency c-section. Due to the low fluid, it was too risky to try to flip her and induce labor. Overall, I had a great experience, and a fairly easy recovery, considering a cesarean is a major abdominal surgery. Despite the “easy” recovery, taking care of a newborn while recovering from major surgery was definitely more painful and difficult than my recovery from my VBAC experience 1.5 years later. (I’m working on a VBAC post soon, so stay tuned if you’re interested in that topic!)

C-section basics

A cesarean, commonly referred to as a c-section, is a surgery that delivers a baby from the mother’s abdomen by cutting through your abdomen and uterus. The incision is typically pretty low, right around the bikini line. According to the American Pregnancy Association, almost 30% of births in the U.S. are via cesarean. This rate has increased significantly over the last few decades.

There are several reasons women have c-sections. Some are emergencies that occur after labor has started. Some are like mine, non-emergent, but not planned due to something like baby being breach. And some women choose to have an elective c-section. Usually these women have had a previous c-section and either aren’t a good candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or they aren’t interested in trying. Some first-time moms even say from the beginning that they want a c-section. But, most doctors nowadays (in the U.S. at least) will not allow you to have an elective c-section unless there is a reason, such as having multiples or certain health issues.

Elective c-sections

Some people know in advance that they have to have a c-section. For example, if your baby is breech, you have placenta previa, or you’ve had a previous c-section for certain reasons that make a VBAC unlikely. There are definitely some short-term pros to having an elective c-section. But in the long run, it’s a more difficult experience than the alternative. As someone who tries to plan everything in advance, the unknown of labor and childbirth is a scary thought. Having an elective c-section gives you a solid date for when you’ll meet your little one (assuming they don’t come before then, of course). This is great if you have other children and need to plan around childcare or other life events.

However, a c-section is still a major abdominal surgery and includes all the risks that come with major surgeries. Not to mention, a longer recovery than a typical vaginal birth. Not only are they cutting through your abdomen, they are also cutting open your uterus to get your baby out. This is after you’ve been growing a human life inside of you for 9 months, gaining weight, suffering from insomnia and who knows what else. So, surgery like this could be quite the shock to an already stretched and exhausted body. The recovery from surgery is also longer than most vaginal births.

Emergency c-sections

Now, some c-sections aren’t elective and are considered an emergency. These are the scary ones, in my opinion. Emergency c-sections usually happen due to fetal or maternal distress, but there are several other reasons one may occur. Due to it being an emergency, the whole process may be rushed, and there’s more room for error. Emergency c-sections may also require the mom to be put under anesthesia if there’s not enough time to do a spinal and get baby out safely.

I think most people would agree that an emergency c-section under anesthesia is the least preferred way to give birth because you don’t get to see your baby right away. You’re groggy from the anesthesia when you do meet them, and your spouse probably won’t be allowed in the room while your baby is born.

A lot of c-section horror stories I’ve seen usually involve emergency surgeries. However, I am sure there are more positive stories than negative.

Common misconceptions about c-sections

“Having a c-section isn’t a “real” birth experience”

No matter what way your baby comes out of your body, you gave birth to them. Giving birth is not a competition for who can “do it best” or the “most natural”. Every body is different, every baby is different, and every birth experience is different. Whatever is safest for baby and mom, is the RIGHT way, and is most definitely a “real birth.”

“Having a c-section is the easy way out”

Right, because being strapped to a table and cut open for your baby to be safely delivered is so “easy”. Then, only getting to spend a minute with your newborn baby (which is awkward when you’re laying flat) before they are whisked away with your spouse to get checked out, while you get sewn up and then wheeled to a recovery area where you can finally spend some time with your baby, but still can’t feel from your chest down. Major surgery is never “an easy way out”.

“Aren’t you sad you didn’t get a natural birth experience”

Women used to die from “natural” childbirth all the time, as well as babies. Having a c-section, regardless of how “natural” some people consider it, is the safest option for some people to have a baby, and it’s nothing to be sad or ashamed of. Just because you didn’t get a “natural” birth experience this time, doesn’t mean you can’t go on to have a VBAC in the future. And if you don’t, that’s okay too, because you’re doing what’s best for your baby and yourself, and that’s something to be incredibly proud of.

“You can’t breastfeed if you’ve had a c-section”

I remember reading this before I had my first baby, and I’m not sure what facts it’s based on, but I didn’t have any issues breastfeeding or producing milk after my c-section. I guess it could make sense if your body doesn’t go into labor, maybe it’d have some issues getting the milk production going. But, I didn’t go into labor and my milk came in just fine and on time, so at least in my experience, this is definitely false.

Things to know if you end up having a c-section

Having a c-section does not make you any less of a mother than having a baby any other way. If anything, it proves the length you would go to safely bring your child into this world.
You will still bleed “down there” after having a c-section. It probably won’t last as long as if you had a vaginal birth. But you will still need the giant pads for a little while.
- Speaking of giant pads… I recommend taking some home from the hospital to have on hand. As well as the super attractive mesh underwear they have there. Some people don’t like the underwear, but they are crazy comfortable after having a c-section, and you will definitely appreciate having some at home.
It’s going to be hard to get around for a little while. Stairs are going to suck. And getting out of bed or sitting up in the middle of the night to feed the baby is going to be pretty uncomfortable. It took me a few weeks to start feeling normal again and to be able to do basic movements without feeling discomfort where my incision was. There’s a reason they recommend 8 weeks of time off for moms that have c-sections, as opposed to the 6 weeks for vaginal births.
There’s an organization called ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) that supports, educates and advocates for women who have had c-sections. I highly recommend finding your local chapter and joining their Facebook group. The Facebook groups I’ve been a part of are usually “ICAN of” and then the closest major city to you, but you can also check their website. Whether you had an easy or difficult experience, the women and leaders in these groups will understand what you’re going through and will be able to support you through recovering, future births, or help you find closure, if that’s what you need.
Having one c-section doesn’t mean you will have to have one every time you give birth. Depending on the reason you have to have a c-section, you may be a good candidate for a VBAC. If this is something you’re interested in, I recommend doing your research to find a good OBGYN or midwife that is not just VBAC-friendly, but VBAC-supportive. I talk more about the importance of finding a good doctor in my pregnancy post, here.
If you hire a doula for your birth and end up needing a c-section, they can still help you and possibly be with you in the operating room. After you’ve had your baby, they usually have the father accompany the baby out of the room while you get sewn up. This leaves mom alone on the operating table after a very major event just occurred, so having someone you know and trust with you can be very comforting.
Many hospitals offer the option to have a “gentle c-section” whenever possible, if that’s what the parents request. If it is not an emergency, they will try to make the experience calm and peaceful, and less like you’re laying on an operating table being cut open (even though that’s exactly what’s happening). Gentle c-sections typically include options like – a clear drape so mom and dad can watch baby come out, a say in drugs used on mom so she can be more present, dad gets to cut the cord, not strapping down mom’s arms (I think this should be a given for any c-section, as it’s very scary and unnatural to be strapped down while you’re awake), mom can hold baby and breastfeed while being sewn up. And there’s many other versions and options of a gentle (or “family centered”) c-section.
I know some people have truly traumatic experiences, and it’s very important that if you are one of those people that you talk to someone about it. But at the end of the day, try to remember that the most important this is that you and your baby are healthy. It really doesn’t matter how we are brought into this world, it only matters that we are safe and cared for. And your child will NEVER care which way they came out of your body. I believe your attitude will have a huge effect on the ease of recovery, so try to remain positive and count your blessings, despite how difficult the birth may have gone.
Just because your doctor says you need a c-section, doesn’t mean it’s true. You can always ask for a second opinion, and definitely should if you aren’t comfortable with the first doctor’s call. Now, this goes back to what I said in my pregnancy post about having a doctor that you trust and that is on the same page as you. But, that’s not always going to be an option. So, I highly recommend knowing your options beforehand, even if this is your first pregnancy. If you’re really concerned about this, hire a qualified doula. They will be knowledgable in all of your options if a curveball is thrown your way, and will be there to give you advice along the way.
- There are a lot of myths out there that aren’t true about childbirth that lead doctors to recommend c-sections. For example, your baby is too big and you might not be able to birth them vaginally. This is almost always a false statement. Women have birthed 13 pound babies before! (Terrifying thought, I know) And weight estimates via ultrasound can be off +/- 2lbs. From what I’ve heard, they’re usually overestimates, and baby ends up being smaller, but it is possible they underestimate and they are bigger. Either way, your body most likely will not grow a baby that is “too big for you”.

I could go on and on about c-sections, but I’ll stop here. If you have any questions or thoughts, you are welcome to reach out and I’d love to talk about it!

xx,

Kirsten