9 Real Things No One Tells You About Having a C-Section

If you're lucky, the final weeks of your pregnancy are spent asking fellow moms what you really need to know about childbirth. I asked all the down and dirty questions getting ready for the birth day. Most, if not all, of the moms I spoke with had delivered their children vaginally, so there was the requisite Sitz Bath discussion and the "honey, get the biggest maxipads you can find" comments. But no one prepared me for what I needed if I had a C-section. A C-section is, obviously, a whole different beast of childbirth, which I learned just over two years ago when I had my son. Sure, I was fully prepped with maxi pads and breast milk bags and the usual gear, but I was completely at a loss for what to do during and after the procedure. In an attempt to be the Friend Who Gives You Unsolicited But Useful Advice, here are some things you need to know if you have a C-section, courtesy of yours truly. DURING THE SURGERY 1. That "mild tugging sensation" line was clearly first said by a man. Mild is perhaps the understatement of the century. You feel like the wind is being taken out of you as your teeth chatter from the anesthesia. This is not a surgery for claustrophobes, as you're completely stuck on the table -- arms pinned down -- while the inability to breathe overwhelms you. IN THE HOSPITAL 2. The catheter keeps you company in the days following birth because you can't really walk to the bathroom without those trusty ab muscles helping you out (more on that below). And...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news