The Unseen Battle: Coping with C-Section Stigma in the Modern Age
Every Way of Giving Birth is Tough
Childbirth, regardless of the method, is a demanding and challenging process. It is also a miraculous, life-changing, and rewarding experience. Instead of tearing others down for their birth method, let’s lift up all people giving birth, no matter the circumstances. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that both baby and mother are healthy.
What is C-Section Shaming?
C-section shaming occurs when women are judged or criticized for having a cesarean section. Some view C-sections as the “easy way out” or “not a natural birth,” leading to judgment towards those who have them. A simple search online will reveal countless stories of women who have faced C-section shaming. This judgment is absolutely unwarranted. As women, we should support one another and lift each other up during the prenatal, pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood experiences. Both vaginal and C-section moms are brave; you never know the struggles and pain they went through.
My Experience
I had a C-section after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and finding out my baby was breech. The doctor recommended a C-section for the safety of both me and my baby. However, when I informed my family and in-laws, they began to judge me. They suggested I was lazy and indulged in too many sweets and carbs, leading to my need for a C-section. They reminisced about their own pregnancies, filled with activity and free from complications, making me feel guilty as if I had done something wrong.
No one can imagine the trauma I experienced during the C-section. The local anesthesiologist struggled to find the right spot for the spinal anesthesia, which felt like a knife stabbing in my back. Post-surgery, the pain was unbearable. The first walk was excruciating, and I couldn’t even pick up my baby, leading to postpartum depression and anxiety. Yet, people dismissed my experience as the “easy way out,” piling on the judgments.
Understanding the Reality of C-Sections
New mothers already have plenty to worry about, and feeling guilty for having a C-section shouldn’t be one of them. There is no evidence that C-sections cause long-term harm to babies; in fact, they save countless newborn lives. More than one-third of babies today are born via C-section, yet mothers often face a unique emotional trauma known as ‘Caesarean guilt.’
Contrary to the perception that cesarean moms are lazy or too scared to deliver naturally, many of us face this situation due to medical reasons, not out of choice. Here’s why a C-section is far from the easy way out:
Needle Insertion:
Having a needle inserted into your spine for anesthesia is extremely uncomfortable.
• Pins and Needles Sensation:
As anesthesia takes effect, the horrible sensation of pins and needles spreads over your lower body before you lose feeling entirely.
• Urinary Catheter:
The insertion and removal of the urinary catheter can be painful.
• Breastfeeding Challenges:
Breastfeeding post-C-section is difficult. You can’t turn to your side, and sitting up sends shooting pains through your incision.
• Walking:
Walking feels like your gut will spill out of your incision, and even coughing or sneezing causes painful pressure on your stitches.
• Longer Recovery:
Recovery from a C-section takes longer than from a vaginal delivery, with a higher risk of site infection.
• Subsequent Pregnancies:
Future pregnancies and labor can become more dangerous and complicated after a C-section.
No Birth is Superior or Inferior
No birth method is superior or inferior to another. The struggles and challenges faced in any birth scenario are significant and deserve respect and support. Instead of judgment, let’s foster a community of support and understanding for all mothers.
Support all birthing experiences, and remember that the ultimate goal is a healthy mother and baby.
Let’s stop judging and start supporting.
