Almost every week, a new “study”, news article, or blog makes headlines claiming various dangers for babies born via C-section. From higher risks of chronic illness to claiming they are just for convenience, they are incredibly unhelpful for mothers who delivered their babies by C-section.
You cannot undo how you gave birth to your child, and C-sec mums already have to live with a barrage of deeply unhelpful assumptions about their babies and their births.
As Bec Sparrow previously wrote for Mamamia:
It was a headline too good to ignore. A lure, I couldn’t go past.
“The major caesarean problem nobody talks about!” whispered the article on my Facebook feed.
What? What problem? There’s a major problem nobody talks about?
I had to click.
I had to click which is err, RIDICULOUS. I say ridiculous because – are you ready for this? – I’ve had four.
Listen to Bec Judd and Holly Wainwright talk about finally giving birth on our podcast just for new parents, Hello Bump. (Post continues after audio.)
Yep. Four. Four caesareans. Four sunroofs. Four times I’ve had a baby airlifted out. When I’m not writing or trying to scrape dried weetbix off the wall, or Googling “Is Roger Corser married?”, I like to spend my time in an unflattering hospital gown having major stomach surgery. That’s how I roll.
Top Comments
Great article! I'm about to go in for my second, and interested to hear about the driving - I was told not to for 6 weeks last time, but I suppose that may have been related toto my specific circumstance. No issue breastfeeding at all (did so for 9 month's) but personally didn't get to get up until the next day (24 hrs in bed) . So I guess, like any other birth, it's different for everyone! You just never know what you're going to get, but it's not all doom and gloom :)
Yep, I'm exactly the same. First was emergency caesar, second was my stillborn daughter, Caitlin, then three more - total five. And I breastfed and drove and moved... all the things. I certainly wouldn't recommend it, and after my last I knew I wouldn't be having any more because it's not a particularly fun thing to do, but when it comes to a living baby or a dead baby, I'd choose living every time. Enough of these divisive headlines. Thanks for keeping it real, Bec.