You join a special club of mamas when you have a C-section — women who've walked for the first time in the same postsurgery pain, who know how endless recovery can feel, and who understand exactly what your body has been through. Most women don't want to be in the club, but once you're in, you feel an immediate bond with the other members.
And it's not just the physical struggles that they can relate to; it's the emotional ones, too: the potential sadness of missing out on the birth you'd hoped for, the nerves of going through a major operation, the frustration of not being as present or able during recovery as you'd like. And sure, the stigma, while maybe less than it once was, is still there. So C-section moms have to stick together, share their stories, reveal their recovery secrets, and support each other — just like all mamas should during the exciting and intimidating transition that is bringing a human being into the world.
Moms need advice, guidance, and support every step of the way, and after having three C-section births myself, I've gotten my fair share of all that "wisdom." Some was learned the hard way, some was discovered after my second and even third surgeries, and some is just plain practical. Plus, there's nothing like being done having babies to give you a clearer perspective on the whole birthing process. Here's what I've learned.