[jennh1230]

Prior to your c-section had you discussed c-section birth experiences with friends or family?  Did you have support from people close to you afterwards to talk to about your experience and recovery from a c-section?

Or did having a c-section leave you feeling isolated in your circle of friends and family, because most, if not all, had only experienced vaginal deliveries?

[jennh1230]

Prior to your c-section had you discussed c-section birth experiences with friends or family?  Did you have support from people close to you afterwards to talk to about your experience and recovery from a c-section?

Or did having a c-section leave you feeling isolated in your circle of friends and family, because most, if not all, had only experienced vaginal deliveries?

[jennh1230]

I did have several close friends that had only had c-section experiences. Three close friends, in particular, had each had 3 c-sections a piece. And I had several other friends who had had c-sections as well. So, there was a wealth of people around me to help give it to me straight about what their experiences were like and what I might could expect for myself too.

Oddly, no one in my family had experienced a c-section though. My mom had 4 kids, my sis had 5, my aunts, grandmothers (one who had 9 children), In Laws. None had yet experience a c-section.

I used this board as a reference for information as well. I read through many of the firsthand experiences shared here cause THAT was what I felt was going to give me the best sense of reality for what a c-section delivery would be like.

I was so glad to have my close friends, though, to ask questions to, cause sometimes I was too embarrassed to ask my doc about it, and I didn't think the answer would really give me a good feel for what really to expect anyway. (Like that whole pain vs. pressure thing we discussed on another thread! LOL)

[mandak78]

I took a Bradley class and planned a natural birth. My family was totally supportive as that is the norm for us. Most friends were skeptically and encouraged getting an epidiral. One friend actually told me to "just do it the easy way and get a c section." Anyway, I was unprepared for my section.

Afterwards, my mom was very sympathetic as she'd had 2 c sections and was supportive but I didn't feel comfortable really talking about my feelings for a long time, so she didn't know how I really felt (besides the physical pain). One mom from the birth class that I took also ended up with an emergency section, but moved away soon after, so we didn't really connect. I just really didn't talk to people about my recover for many months. It was hard to be honest about it when everybody around me said a healthy baby is all that mattered, thank God they were able to do the c section... those commments made me feel selfish for worrying about my own recovery and I didn't agree that the drs did something heroic because I felt that in a way, they had CAUSED the c section in the first place. I am still friends with some other moms from that class but they all got the births that they wanted. A couple are pregnant again, or in some stage of planning another baby. In that respect I do feel a little isolated because I wish I could feel excited to have another, but I'm too worried about another section, fighting for a vbac, the trauma afterwards, etc, to be excited about another baby.

[mandak78]

Jennifer, you are right about asking friends for their experiences. I love hearing from REAL people about their experiences, because, like the whole pain vs pressure thing, drs don't always give it to you straight. You also get to know what a wide range of normal there is. There are women who walk away from a c section feeling fine and others crawl away looking for a hole to die in! Its good to know what you might be able to expect though. That way you aren't left wondering "is this normal?"

[hollyelizabeth2007]

My mom had three c-sections. But my sister and my SIL had nary a one in all nine of their kids, total. I felt comfortable with the idea and, having already had abdominal surgery once, the recovery wasn't incredibly shocking to me.

Almost all of my friends at the time didn't have kids, so I couldn't compare to their experiences. I'd say maybe 1/4-1/3 of my new mom friends from my bf support group had had c-sections. So I definitely didn't feel alone in my experience.