No shame in a c-section

[Mommyagain]

I just wanted to say I am NOT ashamed or saddened because my son's birth resulted in me having to have a C-section. I have been seeing so many articles posted lately on facebook that talk about how sometimes women feel shamed because of their birth experience and I am simply here to say I don't. I am just thankful this is a procedure that was available to help my little guy get here safely. I joke he was holding onto my ribs because he didn't want to leave his Mama. And before him helped my Mom have me...my Mother and I would've both died in childbirth if C-section had not been an option because her pelvic area was just to small and I wouldn't fit. So no, it is not what every women will need or right for everyone but if it is needed...don't feel down on yourself. You are still awesome for bringing new life into this world! I am finally pregnant after 3+ years ttc with another little boy and I am so excited to be welcoming him by C-section in July! I can't wait to see his little face. But I think I am most excited to see my two boys together.

 

[the why bird]

I was a bit disappointed about it, especially since mine was not an inevitable thing which means I always wonder if I could've had a natural birth if things were handled differently.... but I digress.

What put things into perspective for me was learning that my 86 year old grandfather was delivered by c section. Imagine how different things were back in the 1920s, how much more risk she faced, how different the recovery. She was never able to have any more children as a result. But she lived into old age, as did her baby. Suddenly I stopped seeing the C section as the easy way out or somehow failing my child. Sure, she missed out on some of the benefits of a regular birth - no instant skin to skin for us, no colonising of the mother's bacteria and whatever other things they praise about vaginal birth - but she got out safely, and she got a healthy, living mama to care for her.

And had it been 1920, with the risk of haemorrhage much higher, and infertility the likely result, I would have still taken that risk to get her out alive. Thank goodness that we had that option.

 

[jenmcn1]

I agree, it been a process for me to accept this though. Unfortunately with he TYPE of csection I had with my 2nd baby I'm not allowed to even attempt a vbac.however I am very thankful like you said, for this medical intervention.

 

[Mommyagain]

With my first pregnancy I went in fully expecting to deliver vaginally but I never dilated past 1cm and then after about 15/16 hours of unmediated labor I was given morphine to take the edge off the pain...well turns out I am allergic. I ended up with a spinal and a C-section. My body just wasn't cooperating with what it should've been doing. One thing that I do wish had happened even though it was a C-section is that I would've been able to see the baby better right after he was born...like before they wrapped him up in the blanket. But I am going to request to just get a glimpse before they clean him up this time around and I am thinking they wont have a problem with it. I didn't feel like a C-section was an easy way out. Birthing a baby is hard and painful wherever it comes out of your body. Lol...as you know. I would love to experience the skin to skin contact right after birth but since I know that wont happen for me I am going to do it as soon as I can which if I go by the time line last time should be about an hour or two after birth. I am so stinkin' excited to meet my new little guy! I can feel him squirming in there as I type this!!! Love it!!!

That does seem so scary, having a baby via C-section in the 20's! So amazing she was able to have him and they both survived. When I think of surgery back then I tend to cringe a little. That is so sad she was never able to conceive another child because of the surgery. Scar tissue from having C-sections does worry me some because of my long battle with infertility. But I am SO thankful I have my DS and another on the way.

Jen: You must have an up and down scar on your uterus? I have heard they are more likely to burst with labor than the side to side. A huge congratulations on your new little baby coming in May!!!!!

 

[miraclebaba]

it is sad that some women feel shame that they had a c section. i opted for a caesarian birth, even when i was not pregnant, i always knew i wanted a caesarian birth. it is not the easy way out as it is a major operation. what matters to me is my son will be born healthy. i thank God that we have options on how we want to birth and i feel comfortable with a c section. it is also a birth type. no need to be ashamed.

 

[PandaMao]

I am not ashamed at having had my daughter by caesarian, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. My circumstances are a little different than most of yours in that I have a preemie. I never went into labor and I saw her for about 5 seconds before they rushed her to the nicu. I then didn't get to see or hold her for a day and a half after she was born because of a medication they had me on. I'm definitely not ashamed as it was very necessary since she was breech (even though she was only 30 weeks they would have let me try vaginally if she had been head down), but I do feel kind of robbed of the whole birthing process. I also feel robbed of the last few months of pregnancy, but that's for another thread. Even though I'm not happy with the way she had to be born, I'm very happy that the procedure exists and was able to be used to get my daughter her safely.

 

[DollPosse]

I wasn't happy with my first section due to multiple reasons, but I actually enjoyed my second section. I just wanted to see my baby being born and and hold it right away. I didn't have that experience with my first child. I'll be having my third section this Summer and while I don't look forward to the recovery I still see the birth is an exciting and positive experience.

 

[Loui1001]

No shame here either. My DS was born by emcs and I was told after that he never would have delivered naturally, due to his position and my shape. Hearing that just made me so thankful that he was here safely, I had a really straightforward recovery which also helped. With my DD we had agreed a trial of labour if I went into labour naturally, with an elective csection if I hadn't gone into labour by my due date. She was another csection and while it was a harder recovery I was so relieved to have her here and safe that it was the right decision for me. I absolutely hate it when people talk about sections as being an 'easy ' option, it's major surgery and anything but easy.

 

[zanDark]

I loved my section I keep telling LO that she didn't like the door so the doctors had to open up a window she came out the same way she went in...with a bit of extra help

I love my scar as well as it's a symbol of my LO arriving safely after being stuck wrapped with her cord! No one should feel ashamed for having a section...it's a procedure that's helped save MANY lives and doesn't make anyone less of a mother