How I Recovered From My C-Section + GIVEAWAY

When I heard that February is Pregnancy Awareness Month, I immediately wanted to share more of my pregnancy journey with you. Now that I have my hands full with a toddler, it’s easy to forget to chat about pregnancy and everything that comes with it! But then I remembered that there was an important part of my pregnancy that I haven’t touched on – after pregnancy. And I realised that many women don’t really know what to expect after they’ve had a c-section. The thing is, things don’t always go to plan. You may be completely set on giving birth naturally and by all means, stick to your decision as best as you can. But sometimes the unexpected happens and you and your baby’s safety and health may depend on medical intervention. And just like with natural birth stories, there are both bad and good caesarian birth stories. Mine was fortunately a good one, so I wanted to share with you how I recovered from my caesarian, to help calm the nerves of a c-section mama.

I thankfully knew a few weeks before I had Kai that I was going to have a caesarian. I believe my doctor and I discussed it in my 34th-week appointment so it wasn’t a surprise. Knowing about it before definitely helped me read further and manage my expectations of Kai’s birth. If you read my birth story, you’d know that even though I had a c-section scheduled, Kai was impatient and decided to come four days earlier than planned. So I went into labour anyways, which was of course a huge surprise! For my full experience, have a read here. I was in the hospital for a total of three days afterwards and I would classify my recovery as really good. I was able to hold and breastfeed Kai straight away and was never unable to do either in the following weeks.

By the second day, I had to get up and walk around to get my blood circulating which is so important as it lessens the risk of blood clots. I made sure to take my time and of course, the nurse helped me get from my bed to the bathroom. The pain meds I was on were really strong, so I didn’t feel more than a dull ache a couple of times throughout the day, just before my next dose. My doctor also came to check in on me and my wound soon after and told me what I needed to look out for during my recovery to prevent any complications. The medical team was fantastic and made sure to bring my meds on time and be on call if I needed anything else. They also brought in a physiotherapist who instructed me what exercises I had to do to help my stomach muscles and also what movements to avoid while I was recovering. He also advised that the heaviest thing I can carry was my little boy.

Once I was home, I had to use Micropore tape on the incision, which is a sort of masking tape lookalike but for your skin. It holds the incision together to help it heal. I then applied and massaged Bio-Oil onto my incision over the tape twice a day, every day for a few weeks, changing the tape every couple of days. Bio-Oil is mostly recommended by doctors to help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Thankfully, I’m one of the lucky few who didn’t get stretch marks while pregnant but I used Bio-Oil to help with the appearance of my inevitable scar. I finished my painkillers about 10 days after returning from the hospital, and my wound was only a bit sore when I would get up from the sofa or bed by using my stomach muscles, which I shouldn’t have. I also continued doing the exercises the physiotherapist showed me to do until I was strong enough.

I’d definitely advise that you have a someone to help you around the house, to pick things up, and of course do housework as the less bending you do the better so you can rest and recover quicker. Walking was a bit slow initially, but I was back to my normal mobility about a week after birth. I carried on using Bio-Oil for just over two months. That, combined with my doctor’s precise surgery, I can barely see my scar anymore. When I look very closely in the mirror or run my fingers over it, it’s about 3.5 inches wide and just above my bikini line. It’s a very discreet reminder that I used to have a precious tenant in my womb 🙂

I know that many women feel like a failure if they end up having a c-section, but the way I see it, it’s not how you brought your child into the world that matters, it’s that you did. Don’t let the end of the journey dictate or nullify that you created, nurtured and carried this little human into being.

WIN a Bio-Oil hamper!

**Competition closed. Congratulations to Isabel Tsungie! Thanks to all who entered.**

I’ve partnered with Bio-Oil to give away a hamper of Bio-Oil goodies to a mama-to-be or new mama! Bio-Oil is the skincare brand doctors and medical professionals most recommend to help to heal stretch marks and now you know it can also be used for c-section scars. One lucky mama will win this adorable hamper for herself and her little one. I’m also giving away a hamper on my Instagram, so up your chances of winning by entering there too!

How to enter:

In the comments box below, tell me how you plan to use your Bio-Oil hamper.

The rules:

• The competition will close at 4pm on Wednesday 7th March, 2018
• This competition is open to South African residents only
• One (1) blog winner and one (1) Instagram winner will be chosen and announced on this post by Saturday 10th March
• Blog: best answer will win. Instagram: winner will be chosen randomly.
• Only answers submitted in the comments below and on Instagram will be valid.
• The winner will be contacted via e-mail so please be available to supply full contact and delivery details, if requested in the announcement. If the winner does not respond to the email within 48 hours of contact, another winner will be chosen.
• Each hamper will consist of 2 cotton dribble bibs, a soft grey storage pouch, a handy 25ml Bio–Oil and stretch mark guide.
• All prize delivery logistics will be handled by a Bio-Oil representative.

Good luck!

*Sponsored by Bio Oil

Shared on the parenting portal Baby Yum Yum