A Caesarean section or C-section is a major abdominal surgery used to remove a baby who cannot be delivered vaginally.
Some women plan C-sections in advance due to problems with their pregnancies, some plan them to avoid the pain of labour while many mothers are caught off guard when the vaginal birthing experience they anticipated turns into a Caesarean section. Most often, the recovery period for a C-section is even longer when compared to that of normal delivery.
There are people who like to talk about who has it harder: vaginal delivery mothers or C-section mothers. Some even suggest that women who give birth via C-sections are lazy mothers. In our opinion it doesn’t really matter how a baby is brought into the world, what ultimately matters is that both mother and baby are alive and well. What is also important to remember is that C-sections have saved the lives of thousands of mothers around the world.
Some people are of the notion that C-section mums cheated and did it the easy way when compared to natural delivery, which is wrong if you consider the fact that most women don’t want to have C-section and so they go through sometimes up to 32 hours of labour before the realise that they have no other option.
Some mums have the C-section because their baby has one deformity or the other. While both birthing experiences are different it is important that we stop comparing and making inappropriate comments to mothers who have their babies via C- section. If you are guilty of this, please take correction. In addition, here are some of the comments that would be deemed inappropriate. '
Oh, you are so lucky! I wish I could have a C-section!' 'I am so sorry for you!' 'Babies born by C-section have all sorts of issues later on. Like learning disabilities. And allergies.' 'Thank God I did not have a C-section and got to give birth like a real mother." 'It’s such a violent way for your child to come into the world.' It is important to know that every birthing process is unique and special.
Let us learn to stop the comparison and instead use words of encouragement and help in any way that we can to make the recovery process smoother and faster.
Mamalettes, tell us some of the good and bad comments you got when people found out about your C- section.