When you’re on Labor and Delivery you participate in a fair share of C-sections. There are many indications to C-sections, but they are all (usually) carried out the same way. I didn’t realize how much damage C-sections do to mothers! It’s quite the messy procedure. You get through all the layers of the abdominal wall and eventually cut the uterus. Amniotic fluid gets everywhere, and the physicians are searching for the baby in order to pull it out. If the baby is stuck, they apply some heavy pressure on the abdomen. When I was in my first C-section I was in awe at how rough the procedure was. Physicians were using brute force to separate layers; I was using the bladder retractor to prevent bladder injury. Once the baby is pulled out, the sense of urgency starts to calm down a bit while the OBs focus on repairing the mother. All of this is happening to the mother while she’s awake! Obviously, she’s under anesthesia but I found it interesting to observe that fact.
Part of the reason why I am writing this post is that I was a C-section baby myself! While I was participating in C-sections, I couldn’t help but think that my mother went through this exact procedure. Though the procedure is relatively short, it definitely requires large incisions and a decent amount of healing time. Though we hear a lot about the miracle of birth, especially spontaneous vaginal births, I couldn’t help but think that there is certainly a lot that can go wrong. I was in a C-section where the OB decided to make a vertical uterine incision because the patient’s uterus had enormous varices on either side–cutting those would risk massive bleeding!
Yes they may indeed be brutal, but as a two time vaginal birth and two time C-section birth mothrr, I have to tell you something. When you carry that new life within you, from the moment you realize that you are pregnant you and your whole life changes. With a new life within you, you realize what a magnificent I miracle it is. Your in a new, totally unexplored, world. All of your senses are heightened. You know the presence of the tiny ife for within. As it grows, you feel it more and more, moving, stretching, kicking. You feel the weight of it, as you struggle to get up and down or even walk. You know when you are “close” to it’s emergence. You are unbelievably happy, yet very very dad. You emotions have been out of control for so long, you just do not know what to thin and feel. You cry a lot ad cannot do anything about it. It is very frustrating. As time nears, your fears take over. What if…..? Everything that could happen goes through your ind. You are physically in need to have it overwith, but you long to keep the child a part of you, safe, all yours. But you want dearly longingly, to hod it in your arms. You resign yourself to the inevitable. Just as you are doing this, you begin thinking about how your ife will change, yet again. Fears of parenthood set in. Am I going to be a good mother, what if I make aistake? You are overcome with fear. What if something goes wrong? Suddenly your doctor informs you, your baby is in distress. An emergency C-section is needed. Oh, the guilt is overwhelming. What did I do wrong? They prep you for surgery. You will not be awake to see your child immediately, but you let that go. You fear is only for the baby. At that point you could not care less for your wellbeing. They can do whatever they need to do to your body, you willingly agree to it all, fearing only for your child. At that point you have such a will power. You are willing your body to submit and overcome whatever happes. Your ife is forget for your child’s life. All your willpower is transferred to your child’s survival. When you go to sleep, it is with that in mind. Finally, you awaken. First thing you ask is , “how is my baby?” Upon seeing or hearing that your child is alive, you finally half way relax and fall asleep. First time you hold your child, all pain, discomfort, all the hastle, even the stitches, loose their control on you. It all eansnothing. What, new life, you hold in your arms, is the most important thing in your universe. You actually forget your experience entirely, for several days. Then you realize you have made it. The future of your family lies before you. Carefuly you watch your child sleeping, it was all worth it all. Discomfort from the pregnancy and the C-section was such minute a price to pay for having this title bundle of joy I your iife. All is complete and all is well. This is why the experience of C-section is worth it This is why a C-section is not atrocious, it is a life saving technique that is beautiful#