11 Things No One Tells You About C-Sections

I am the proud mama of two amazing children both born via c-section. Going into it the very first time I felt completely unprepared and scared.

There was so much I wish someone would have told me! If you are planning a c-section anytime soon, here are some things you may likely not have heard yet.

11 Things No One Tells You About C-Sections

The spinal tap isn’t as bad as it sounds.

Out of all the things I could be nervous for, in the weeks leading up to my c-section I was most nervous about this. I was surprised how little it hurt and even more surprised during my second c-section that it hurt even less. After it was done I kept telling everyone, “I didn’t even cry!”

Your husband can’t come in and hold your hand while they do it.

This part was no fun. I wanted my husband with me and he wasn’t allowed in the room. Luckily I at least had my doctor there with me for support.

Anesthesiologists are super human.

I mean, seriously. My first c-section was an emergency c-section I had no idea was going to happen that day and I had just ate two Quick Trip taquitos on the way!

If I said I’m nauseous, he picked up something, put it in my IV and I was better.

I started to have a little panic attack, he put something in my IV and I was chill. They are miracle workers… which was originally proven when the spinal didn’t hurt.

You don’t feel pain, no, but you do feel tons of pressure.

This was a concept my mind couldn’t wrap around. I wish someone had discussed with this with me prior because it was a source of anxiety during my procedure.

You will want your husband to talk so much he will drown out the voices.

I yelled at my husband the whole time to TALK TO ME! so I could stop hearing the surgeon say things like scalpel and suction. The room is quiet and I didn’t like it.

He won’t be able to cut the cord.

Maybe this isn’t the case 100% of the time, but my husband couldn’t cut the cord during either of my cesareans.

You absolutely need to get up as soon as you are allowed.

This is going to be hard, very hard, but getting up out of bed when you are cleared to do so makes an enormous difference in your recovery. This is the one tip I tell everyone.

I was up and in a wheelchair heading the the PCN to see my son 12 hours after my first c-section. With the second, I took things slower since she was with me and I paid for it.

The catheter won’t come out until you do.

You are going to want that catheter out as soon as possible and as long as you’re in bed, it stays in.

Getting to the shower for the first time will be difficult.

After a couple of days in bed you are ready to get clean but it’s not so easy. You’ll definitely need someone to help you wash and to get in and out.

You still bleed.

I assumed since I wasn’t having a vaginal delivery that the postpartum bleeding would be different and I wouldn’t be wearing diapers for a week. I was very wrong.

You will have weird numb spots on your scar.

There are a couple spots that are totally numb and occasionally even have a strange poking sensation. You’ll learn to live with it.

Don’t worry mama, you will make it through and it is so worth it at the end!

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