C-Section Recovery, Health & Preparation

I can’t help but notice lately how many women are choosing to have a c-section instead of a vaginal birth.

When I was pregnant with my children, having a c-section never crossed my mind, yet today we are seeing more and more women actually choosing to have the procedure.   I’ve often asked myself, “Why would a woman choose having surgery over a vaginal birth”?

Many women today are looking for alternatives to the pain of childbirth and finding ways to stay on schedule with careers or other personal schedules.

While I’m not comfortable with  ‘choosing‘ to have a c-section over a vaginal birth for sake of convenience or fear of pain, after all a c-section is major abdominal surgery, I am learning to understand that there are women who feel they have a right to decide what is right for them.  I also strive to empathize with a woman’s fear of the pain.

Having said that, I still have my reservations on whether this is the best option.  Having had 2 c-sections myself and understanding what a woman goes through (so much so I wrote a book about helping women get through it ) it’s often difficult for me to feel good about someone opting for surgery.

If you need a c-section, you’re likely in good hands and will get through it just fine, however if you are deciding that you might want a c-section without medical reasons then I’ve found it helpful to get out a piece of paper and write down the pros and cons.  Read more »

Moms that deliver babies vaginally are presented with loads of advice for preparation. They’re offered pre-natal classes and help through books that they read.  The classes prepare them for relaxing and natural pain relief with various techniques such as breathing, hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and visualization techniques for the labor and for the birth.  

But, what about women that need to have emergency or planned c-sections instead?  They need TLC and relaxation help as well! 

The C-Section surgery is a big deal because you’re almost guaranteed to be wide awake during the procedure, and while that can be exciting, it can be very stressful at the same time.

Here are some tips to help you whether you’re having a planned caesarean or in case you find yourself in an emergency surgery scenario.   Read more »