My C-Section Experience & Recovery Story (Part 1)
My “Unexpectedly Planned” C-Section
As a first-time mum, I gave birth to my son via a C-section (read my birth story here). It wasn’t planned in advance, so I was laughably unprepared for both the experience and recovery process. I ended up researching C-sections while in the hospital ward after my baby was born! Better late than never, I guess.
In this post, I’ll share what I learned from my “unexpectedly planned” C-section, what I’d do differently if there’s a next time, and - stick around till the end - my husband Lem will weigh in on the experience from a new dad’s perspective.
A quick disclaimer: This is based on my memory, which is a little fuzzy since my son was born two years ago. Also, any advice here is purely anecdotal and should not replace medical guidance. Always consult your doctor.
Saying “see you later” at that point made everything suddenly real. Oh my, this is major surgery I’m about to go through.
Pre-Surgery
My surgery was scheduled for 2pm, and I was instructed to fast the day before: no solid food 8 hours prior and no clear fluids (including water) 2 hours before.
We arrived at the hospital at 11am but a bed wasn’t available until 1pm. Once I was admitted, the nurse hurriedly changed me into a hospital gown. Next came an enema (let’s just say it wasn’t my favourite part of the day). Then came a flurry of consent forms before I was wheeled into the pre-op area.
Lem stayed with me for a while till he was sent off to change into his “scrub suit”. Saying “see you later” at that point made everything suddenly real. Oh my, this is major surgery I’m about to go through.
Lots of fears crept in:
I’ll be awake the whole surgery, feeling everything (minus the pain, supposedly). That’s terrifying.
The epidural! I heard horror stories about how painful this was going to be. That’s terrifying.
What if something went wrong? What if I, or my baby, didn’t make it out? That’s terrifying.
Last time leaving home as a wife, knowing I’ll come back as a mama.
All hooked up and nervous (can you tell?) before the surgery began.
I felt no pain, just a lot of pressure. When my gynae said I was having a big baby, she wasn’t kidding.
Surgery
Thankfully, my medical team was incredibly skilled and assuring, making the op experience a really smooth one. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, and I’m deeply grateful..
I felt no pain, just a lot of pressure. When my gynae said I was having a big baby, she wasn’t kidding. It took several hands on deck and a whole lot of hard pushing to get him out. Other than that, it was a fairly straightforward procedure.
Come to think of it, the most painful part of the entire process was probably the IV insertion in my hand!
Post-Surgery
Where was Lem the whole time? Cool as a cucumber. He even played tourist, snapping photos in the OR. As a result, the photos we have from that day are wild - some of which are definitely not for the fainthearted! One particularly memorable photo was of the doctor extracting J from my womb, holding our precious little guy in his very first moment out of the womb..
Next thing I could hear was the nurse and Lem counting ten fingers and ten toes. Then, the doctor asked Lem to cut the cord. The following moment was comical. The doctors casually held up my placenta in a bag and asked if I wanted to keep or discard it. Honestly, I can’t recall what I said. I was just eager to hold my baby.
Physically, I felt wrecked. Like I’d been run over by a container truck. My abdomen was sore inside and out.
Recovery
One thing about C-sections: After that short though magical moment of holding your baby, you’re whisked away to a recovery room while your baby goes to the nursery. Every hospital may do this differently, but I spent about an hour there as doctors monitored my vitals, bleeding and pain levels.
I didn’t have my phone with me, so I couldn’t contact Lem. He later told me he had been pacing the ward, worried sick about why I hadn’t returned. Eventually, I was brought back, baby J was reunited with us, and for the first time, we were a family of three.
Physically, I felt wrecked. Like I’d been run over by a container truck. My abdomen was sore inside and out. A catheter had been inserted during surgery, so that felt uncomfortable but not painful. The actual incision hurt a lot, but painkillers and an itchy hospital-issued binder helped. I was also nauseous from the meds, trying desperately not to puke (twisting and heaving? Absolute agony.)
Meanwhile, Lem was eyeing the hospital menu, which, to my disbelief, had a lobster dish. Meanwhile, I was stuck with soft foods. No lobster for me!
Pain Management
I needed the nurses’ help just to sit up, go to the bathroom, or even hold baby J for breastfeeding.
Days 1 and 2 post-op were brutal. My pain tolerance isn’t high to begin with, but the pain was so intense that I felt physically incapable of moving. I eventually asked for stronger painkillers, which the doctor gave me cautiously.
I needed the nurses’ help just to sit up, go to the bathroom, or even hold baby J for breastfeeding. I didn’t shower during my hospital stay because even the slightest movement sent sharp, shooting pains through my incision. Regret. I think showering might have helped me feel better.
Rest
Hospitals are not restful places at all! I barely got any sleep between baby J’s feedings, visits from paediatricians, lactation consultants, hospital admin (paperwork, birth registration etc), nurses and my gynae checking in.
Since I was recovering, we opted to have J stay in the nursery instead of rooming in with us. Another regret. I think it affected our initial bonding, and made breastfeeding harder. I have a small list of such regrets! I’ll save these for another post.
Learning Points
The Importance of Self-Advocacy
There were a couple of times post-op when I felt something was off physically.
These instances taught me that even in a medical setting, amongst professionals, I am still responsible for speaking up for my own well-being. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth voicing out.
For example, I noticed air bubbles in my IV line. I’m not medically trained, but I knew there was a risk (however small) of an air embolism. I phoned the nurse to come in and check, and she addressed it right away.
Another time, I asked for stronger painkillers. For a moment, I wondered if my pain tolerance was shamefully low, but then I reminded myself nobody needs me to prove toughness, especially not right now. I had just gone through major surgery! Advocating for pain relief was not a weakness, it was natural and necessary for recovery.
These instances taught me that even in a medical setting, amongst professionals, I am still responsible for speaking up for my own well-being. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s worth voicing out. Only you will know exactly what you’re going through.
Dealing With the Unexpected
I struggled with feeling like I missed out on the 'real' birth experience, even though I knew deep down that a C-section didn’t make me any less of a mother. While I didn’t go through the labour pains and pushing, I endured a whole lot of pain after delivery. C-section recovery comes with its own set of challenges, and many C-section mums can agree that it’s no walk in the park.
Ultimately, the birth method is not the key here. A healthy mum and a healthy baby are what makes a birth event miraculous and magical.
Have you had a c-section before? If you had more than one, what did you do differently after the first time? If you’re about to have a c-section, what are your concerns? Let’s chat in the comments!
Hey, if you feel moved to drop me a note to share a struggle that we can pray together, you can reach me at @thehearthmakers on Instagram, or email me at hellohearthmakers@gmail.com. I generally don’t take too long to reply :)
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