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This Article Highlights the Absurdity of Labeling C-Sections as ‘The Easy Way Out’
Updated: Sep. 2, 2016
Originally Published: Aug. 22, 2016
A candid post by a mom about the challenges of undergoing and recovering from a c-section has gone viral.
Recovering from not one but two c-sections was one of the toughest experiences of my life. I seldom talk about it because I don’t want to frighten expectant mothers, but it was brutal. Just recalling the agony I endured in the days following each surgery sends chills down my spine. So, when I hear someone claim that c-sections are “the easy way out,” I can’t help but chuckle. Childbirth is hard, no matter how it happens. Whether a baby emerges through the birth canal or is surgically removed from our wombs, a human life has been brought into the world. That’s the bottom line.
Jessica Turner’s Experience
Jessica Turner knows all too well the challenges that come with a c-section, having recently undergone one herself. Her powerful words about the resilience of women who have experienced this procedure are resonating widely, and for good reason — we are warriors. “Being told at the start that I was making great progress and wouldn’t need a c-section… only to be prepped for major abdominal surgery was, uh, not surprising at all,” she writes with a hint of sarcasm. “And apparently, this surgery is a walk in the park to recover from.”
After being in labor for 38 hours and experiencing contractions that were “literally stopping my baby’s heart,” she adds, “This was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. I now belong to a fierce tribe of mothers with the scar to prove that I had a baby cut out of me and survived to share my story.”
Anyone who has undergone an emergency c-section knows the sheer terror that accompanies it. It’s worlds apart from a planned c-section, which is typically approached with a sense of calm. I can attest to that; I’ve experienced both. An emergency c-section is a different beast altogether. Being rushed into surgery because your baby’s life is at stake is nothing short of horrifying. The urgency makes every move the surgeon makes feel frantic and jarring. Recovering from such a harrowing experience is no small feat.
Jessica describes it as “a completely different ordeal than I had envisioned for my son’s birth.” She’s understandably frustrated by anyone who would dismiss the experience as an easy option. “When that first nurse asks you to get out of bed and the ripping pain of a body that’s been cut and stitched back together hits you, you realize the absurdity of anyone calling it the ‘easy way out.’ So, no thanks to you and your judgment on what I went through.”
Empathy in Childbirth
Childbirth is tough, no doubt about it. It shouldn’t be a competition. This post serves as a potent reminder of the many trials women endure, and we should be lifting each other up, not pitting our experiences against one another. “I am the strongest woman I know,” she concludes. “Not just for myself but for my beautiful son… and I would endure this every single day just to see his smiling face.”
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In summary, the narrative around childbirth and c-sections should be approached with empathy and understanding. Every woman’s experience is unique, and it’s essential to acknowledge the strength it takes to bring new life into the world, regardless of the method.