I am a product of a Cesarean (also spelled as Caesarean, Cesarian, Caesarian and written in a shortened version known as C-section) delivery, and my mother has the scar to prove it. Quite a scar actually, a vertical incision because during the time when I was born vertical incisions were more popular than transverse incisions ( a horizontal line right at the bikini line which is what I ended up having with my 1st labor and delivery of my son) which physically is more discreet. My mom always talked about how her 1st labor and delivery experience with my oldest brother was a long and tiresome 36 hrs. before the doctors told her she had to have a C-section because he was in respiratory distress. She was also informed that once she had a C-section, all of her future children would have to be delivered that way. She wasn’t given a thorough explanation why, she was just spoken to in a tone of “because I said so as your doctor who knows better”. I was confident that having a C-section would not be my plight.
There are two types of vertical incisions, one that is done above the belly button and the other one done from the belly button to the pubic bone, but both are a uterine incision in the upper area of the uterus. See the pics below which I copied from The Well-Rounded Mama http://wellroundedmama.blogspot.com ).
I remember being focused on exploring as many options as possible that would educate me and prepare me for vaginal delivery, a C-section was the last thing on my mind and I was determined to not even bring it up to the forefront of my mind. My husband and I took the 6 week Lamaze class, we watched the Ricki Lake documentary, “The Business of Being Born”, we read books, articles and of course spoke to our peers and loved ones who had “been there and done that” and became very encouraged to continue to focus on a vaginal delivery journey. So other than my mother’s repeated statement of 36 hrs. of labor before her first C-section, her permanent vertical scar that served as a reminder of birthing my 2 siblings and myself and a few far and in between friends who had to undergo the procedure, but did not seem traumatized by it, I did not know many details about having a C-section and I didn’t care to know because WE WERE HAVING A VAGINAL DELIVERY, NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS!
And then…
Everything did not go as planned from beginning to end. I didn’t expect it to, but I didn’t expect what was to come either. I must admit that I felt less of a woman because I didn’t have a vaginal delivery. However, now that I am wiser about my experience I am also stronger for it. It certainly was an unforgettable and unplanned experience, but out of it I was blessed with my beautiful and rambunctious son:)!
|Natural Momma Speaks| 