Cesarean Awareness
Month
The month of April
brings an important topic to all mothers and future mothers, cesarean
awareness. Having a baby is always a miracle, but sometimes the process of
childbirth does not go as smoothly, causing a mother to have a cesarean
surgery. In this blog post, there will be discussion about myths that come with
cesareans. This is a subject that absolutely needs to be talked about! The
common myths that are frequently said are: how it’s the easy way out, no need
for a long recovery, and once cesarean, always cesarean. Any of these myths
ring a bell to you? Did you think they were correct? Keep reading to find out
why these myths are in facts, just myths.
Once cesarean, always
cesarean. Right?
Simple
answer, no. It’s okay if you’re shocked. Many people believe that a cesarean
surgery automatically leads to future childbirths to be done this way as well. The
reasoning behind this theory is the possibility of having a uterine rupture
during labor, especially if the mother has had a cesarean with a vertical
incision. When in fact, if the mother does not have history of Cephalopelvic
disproportion (CPD), chronic health conditions, or a vertical incision – they
have a high possibility to have vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). It’s
actually safer for a mother who has had multiple c-sections to have a VBAC because
of how hard the surgery is to the body. A cesarean is a major surgery, and a
mother should not have to go through it multiple times if they do not have to.
It’s shown that 60 – 80% of women who want a VBAC during child birth, are able
to do so. Even though uterine ruptures are a big reason as to why mothers with
past c-section surgeries are advised to keep getting them, they are actually
very rare and only affect 1% of women who attempted VBAC. Are you a mother
thinking about VBAC? Here are the links for more information.
“Cesarean sections
are the easy way out”. Are they though?
Having
a cesarean section allows for a mother to not be in labor near as long as
compared to a vaginal birth, but mothers who do have c-sections are required to
have a longer hospital stay and recovery time. A mother who has gone through a
cesarean instead of vaginal birth is also 2.3 times more likely to have to go
back to the hospital due to complications compared to having a vaginal birth.
Along with that, a c-section is a major surgery and can cause severe bleeding,
infections, scarring, pain that lasts longer, or a reaction to the anesthesia.
Yes, the mother may not be having a vaginal birth that is considered the normal
way to deliver a child, but having a c-section is not any simpler than natural
birth because of those potential complications. Another reason why it is not
the “easier way out” is because mothers who undergo the surgery are not able to
make immediate contact with their newborn for breastfeeding. That is hard for a
mother to go through, as they just want to hold their newborn. There is also
after effects on the baby after a cesarean. For example, babies who are born by
cesarean sections are more likely to have breathing problems like asthma, since
a vaginal birth allows fluid to be squeezed out of the newborn’s lungs. Babies
who are not delivered vaginally do not get receive the good bacteria that
boosts their immune systems and protects their intestinal tracts. In the end, a
cesarean section is not the "easier way out"e. Mother’s should
never be ashamed for having this major surgery.
Recovery after a
Cesarean Section. How long should a new mom take it easy?
A
cesarean section requires an incision through the abdominal wall to deliver the
baby. The key muscle that is being cut into is the transverse abdominis. This
muscle wraps around the midline of the abdomen to the spine making it help
lower back muscles, along with pelvic floor muscles. To say it simply, the
transverse abdominis is extremely important. Every movement we do, whether reaching
for a glass in the cupboard or taking a step, this muscle is activated. It
provides support, balance, and strength to the upper and lower extremities of
the body. From that, it is extremely important to provide the abdomen muscles
at least two weeks of recovery after a c-section so they can heal correctly
with no future complications. Here are some activities to avoid after a
cesarean surgery:
·
Take it slow. No running, doing errands, house
chores, or quick movements as it can set the recovery back farther.
·
As hard as it is, don’t pick up your older
children. Until strength has been regained, a mother should not pick up
anything heavier than her new born.
·
Try not to drive. Having to break quickly could
put stress on the recovering muscles.
After the abdomen
muscles are recovered and healed, it’s important to regain strength in the abdomen
because of how important a strong core is for our health. Here are some
exercises you can do after you have healed from a c-section and are now ready
become strong:
·
Belly breathing – works the Transverse Abdominis
o
Lie on your back on a comfortable bed or couch.
o
Place your hands on your belly and relax your
body.
o
Take a deep breath in through your nose, feeling
your abdomen expand into your hands.
o
Breathe out through your mouth. As you exhale,
pull your bellybutton in toward your spine, contracting your abdominal muscles.
Hold for 3 seconds.
o
Repeat 5 to 10 times, 3 times a day.
·
Wall Sit – works the Quads, Hamstrings, Pelvic
Floor, Core, and Lower Back
o
Stand with your feet 1 to 2 feet away from the
wall.
o
Slowly lean back toward the wall, lowering
yourself into a sitting position. Your hips and knees should be at 90-degrees
to one another.
o
Engage your core. Take a deep breath in and
while you exhale, feel as if you’re pulling your belly button into the wall.
o
For an added bonus, contract your pelvic floor
by doing a Kegel while holding this position.
o
Hold for as long as possible. Rest 1 minute,
then repeat 5 times.
·
Leg Slides – works the Transverse Abdominis
o
Lie on your back on the floor with your knees
bent and feet flat on the ground. Wear socks or put a towel under your feet to
allow your feet to slide easily on the floor.
o
Take a deep breath. As you exhale, contract your
abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button to your spine without changing
the curve of your lower back.
o
While maintaining this contraction, slowly extend
your foot away from your body until the leg is fully extended.
o
Slowly bring it back to the starting position.
o
Repeat 10 times on each side. Perform once per
day.
Cesarean recovery is crucial, and don’t let anyone tell you
otherwise!
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