An Unconventional Mom: I had a C-Section and I LOVED IT!

I just watched a clip about a 19 lb baby born in Indonesia. The baby was delivered by c-section- I'm sure that was a must- and it reminded me that I've been meaning to post about c-sections. I have put it off mostly because there seems to be a lot of politics behind c-sections. I will try to handle the subject delicately ;)

My mom had all her babies by c-section, so I kind of grew up with the idea my whole life. I never once assumed that what happened to my mom was a wrong doing, or that the doctors had just sent her in for a c-section because they didn't want to deal with a long labor. But then I got older I discovered c-sections were high on the controversial pregnancy list.

Here's my mom's story-

With her first baby she went into labor. I don't know how long she was in labor, but the baby wasn't descending and I believe that he was under stress. So they took her in for a c-section.

For her second pregnancy her doctor said that she could try to go naturally, but that he didn't think her hips were wide enough to get a baby out. It would be like trying to put a square peg through a round whole. She said she'd just rather schedule a c-section, and she did the same with me.

She later told me that some women gave her some heat for making this decision. They told her she should have tried to go vaginally with her other babies.

***

As I got closer to marrying and baby baring age I started to realize that my gene pool might require me to have my babies by c-section as well. So I just got used to the idea.

Here's my story-

I wasn't sure how my labor and delivery would go, but I was assuming that a c-section might be in the picture. I went to the doctor and he said that my pelvis was great for delivering babies. But I still had this feeling that a c-section might take place. And I also had to take into consideration that there was a chance that, since I was having twins, I would end up with both a vaginal delivery and a c-section. I decided to ask around.

I asked people who had only delivered by c-section. They all told me that it wasn't that bad at all.

I asked people who had delivered vaginally and by c-section. I heard both "Don't get a c-section," and "Definitely go for the c-section."

I asked a friend who had gone into labor naturally, been induced and just had a scheduled c-section. She said she didn't really know which she preferred and all had their pros and cons. She said neither way seemed better then the other.

I discussed the idea with my doctor, and he told me that I could have a c-section since I was pregnant with twins, but he really wanted me to try and deliver them vaginally.

Well on the day I was induced I wouldn't dilate, and the babies were stressed, so I went in for a c-section. I feel I have to make one thing clear here, my doctor is not one to just hand out c-sections. The nurses told me he was the most patient doctor they knew. He once waited 3 days for a girl to deliver vaginally. So when he wanted to take me in for a c-section I figured it really was the best option. And to tell you the truth, I really wasn't that disappointed.

The Recovery-

My recovery went very smoothly. I often times forgot to take my pain pills- I could have one every 4 hours, and I think I took one about every 6-8 hours. By the time I felt ready to take a pain pill the pain felt compared to the pain of a tired sore muscle.

The first day was really hard. I had to get out of bed at least once, and it did hurt. But the next day I felt even better. I could walk if I took baby steps. By the third day I was walking normal. It was still hard to sit up. It took about a week, maybe two, until I could sit up normally. The hospital beds helped wonderfully for this stage, and when I got home, I propped myself up with a lot of pillows.

The Scar-

My doctor did an amazing job sewing me up. You can't even tell there's a scar. Whatever scar is left is camouflaged by all the stretch marks.

That's another reason a c-section didn't bother me. My stomach was already destroyed from pregnancy.

***

I know that a lot of people feel that c-sections are just handed out because doctors are lazy. But that would make lazy doctors the problem wouldn't it?

My grandma told me that while she was in labor with her first she heard the doctor say to the nurse, "Give that woman something so that she doesn't deliver tonight. I want to go home." So they gave my grandma something to slow her labor and she didn't deliver until the next morning. She didn't end up with a c-section, but her doctor didn't have her best interests in mind. Bad and lazy doctors are always going to be bad and lazy whether they are handing out c-sections or not.

OK, this post is probably getting a little heated. So I'll try to wrap it up.

My intent is not to try and encourage woman to have c-sections over delivering vaginally. The chose is yours. For some people a c-section wouldn't be the best option. And I know that women have had c-sections and hated them. I mostly wanted to write this post so that woman who have to have a c-section, or are afraid they might end up with a c-section, know that it's not something to be afraid of.

My c-section was great. In fact I feel like I got off easy. I didn't have to push, or do anything. The doctor did all the work. My recovery went great. I don't know if my recovery was normal, or if I was really lucky to have such a good recovery. I do tend to recover well from certain things. The only other major surgery I've had was getting my wisdom teeth pulled, but I did recover very well from that. I didn't swell up and I was eating pasta the next day.

Anyway. . .back to the subject at hand. I loved my c-section. I know all women don't, but I did ;)