Birth and Recovery
- Lior O.
- Aug 16, 2024
- 4 min read
Natural Birth
I had a C-section and feel it would be a bit inauthentic for me to write much about vaginal birth. Instead I will just mention a few bullet points of things my friends have mentioned or said:
Look into having a Doula with you. Sometimes you just need an advocate in someone that is knows how these things work. Doctors and nurses can some times be scary and an advocate helps stand strong on things you want.
Look into hypnobirthing classes beforehand.
Pitocin has risks and benefits. Before you allow a doctor push you into this ask if it is your only option. Can you wait any longer? Are there any other options first?
You will be a mess down there, bleeding and all, take the free gigantic pads they have or bring your own!
C-Section
My Birthing story.
The entire process of the surgery is a bit surreal. When I finally got into the room (fully awake) by myself (no husband allowed for this part), they start off by giving me the epidural and then tied my arms to the Jesus looking table (arms spread open). A friend of a friend who is also an anesthesiologist warned me that doctors don't prepare you enough for possible nausea and to speak up. He warned me to speak up right away if I felt nauseous, because a lot of times women wait too long and it's too late. Much more common than you think. So, I am glad I spoke up when I did so they were able to handle it right away.
Only once I was cut open was my husband allowed in. It was definitely a surreal experience for him. Already filled with nerves, he comes in to see Lior's insides open. Honestly, kind of jealous and already said for next time I want a picture to see later. I mean how cool to see your insides. Since the baby was breached, the doctor was pulling him out grabbing his feet in the air, tugging and tugging to get his head out.
Once the baby came out, the doctor brought him to my face against the plastic partition.
The "after" from the C-section is the actual frustrating part. My husband left with the baby and I was alone for the remainder of the surgery while they closed me up. And then they wheel me into recovery where the goal there is to WIGGLE YOUR BIG TOE!
Sorry, a little Kill Bill humor. But also, thats the actual goal. While baby was in nursery,
I was in recovery waiting for the okay to leave, which was moving my toes. It felt like forever for the epidural to wear off. I spent the entire time obsessing ok now I feel my thighs, ok now I feel my knees, until I finally felt my feet!
Then embarked the next two days in the hospital. All the memes and funny TikToks are true. It's a restless night of nurses coming in every hour to check on things. You are trying to sleep with an IV, the nerves of the baby staying alive, and general pain. My worst pain came from the trapped gas pain (you feel it around your collarbone). It kept me from moving much or sleeping much.
OK, so I am hearing more and more ladies having the same allergy as me and I want to talk about it. I found out I was allergic to Mastisol Surgical Tape and it was WAYYY worse than the C-section recovery itself. I broke out in full-out hives and I couldn't sleep due to how itchy the rash was. I ended up needing to take Benadryl to help it, which reduced my breastmilk supply. If you can find out ahead of time if you allergic to this I highly recommend it!
Advice on the hospital stay after a C-section:
Ask for a laxative after delivery/when your nurse will give it to you, most of the pain I had after delivery was trapped gas and it was beyond painful so 10/10 recommend this.
Once you’re cleared WALK THE FUCK AROUND on the hospital floor. Ask the nurse to watch your baby and go on a short little walk. The more you move the faster your recovery will be.
If your hospital offers a nursery TAKE THEM UP ON IT! You are about to have plenty of sleepless nights with your baby.
Ask the hospital what resources they have that come see you. For example, I asked for a lactation consultant to come form free.
If you can, have your husband trade for a day or night with a family member so he can rest. Again, you are BOTH about to have plenty of sleepless nights with your baby.
Take everything you can and want. They give you giant boy-short underwear, take it! The baby muslin blankets, take it! The free, postpartum pads, take them!
C-Section Buying Guide:
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