Whether it’s an emergency to elective process, the thought of having a C-section can be very scary.
Here are my tips for surviving a Section.
1. Don’t panic
I completely panicked when I was told I had to have an emergency C-section. I was so worried about being cut open and I got really scared that I’d be able to feel them cutting me.
The truth is, you will feel them tugging and moving, but you won’t feel the slightest bit of pain. In fact, it’s rather a weird sensation. If, like me, you are already in full blown labour a spinal block is the best thing ever. I remember clearly that as soon as they put mine in all the pain of labor stopped almost instantly.
2. Skin to skin
I didn’t even know this was an option until I had my 2nd C-section. You can ask your midwife to let you give baby a cuddle as soon as they are born, just like with a normal delivery. Not only is it great for bonding but skin to skin is great for taking your mind off your recovery, especially as you’ve got to be stitched up. Of course if you have an emergency section they may need to make sure baby is ok before you can give them a cuddle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for skin to skin as soon as possible. You can keep doing skin to skin for months after the birth as well so get cuddling!
3.Rest
A Caesarian is a major operation and it can takes a good 5 weeks to fully recover. Take things slow or you could do more harm than good. If you have other children at home, my best advice to you is stay in hospital as long as you can. You may think you want to get home as soon as possible, but while you are in the hospital you have midwives on hand day and night to help you. And let them help: the less you do the quicker you will recover.
4. Toilet visits
Your insides are going to get pretty messed up and going for a number 2 may be a bit painful. I didn’t go for about three days after my 2nd section. If you can get them then stool softeners make it just a little easier. However, if you’re intending to breastfeed just check that what you’re taking won’t interfere with your milk production. There are lots of different things you can take so it’s not difficult to find something that helps you without interfering with baby’s milk.
5. Help
Take all the help that you can get. My parents practically moved in with us for the first 2 weeks after both my C-sections. Mum would cook all the meals, take my daughter to nursery, clean the house, change nappies and as I was bottle feeding she even helped there too. It was a fantastic help and I would strongly advise you, if you do have to have a section, to take as much help as you possibly can.
