“This is the true appearance just hours after a c-section.”
For those who have undergone a c-section, certain truths are undeniable: there’s a significant incision, it hurts a lot, and the aftermath looks rough for days after the baby arrives. If you haven’t experienced this surgical birth, you may not fully grasp what it entails, but one mom’s brutally honest Instagram post aims to enlighten.
Parenting and lifestyle influencer Sarah Jenkins recently shared a striking selfie shortly after her baby’s delivery, capturing a moment that many c-section mothers wouldn’t dare to document for weeks. The photo showcases her freshly stitched c-section wound, complete with tape and a painful appearance. She humorously notes, “I know this might not be my best angle (or is it?) but who wouldn’t take selfies just hours post-birth to see the place where they sliced you open to retrieve a whole human?”
While I personally wouldn’t, there’s nothing wrong with a mother expressing her journey this way. In fact, it’s commendable. I remember feeling unprepared for my own c-section, and seeing this candid shot might have eased the shock when facing the reality of my new life.
Sarah writes, “This is the real face of a few hours post c-section. For anyone who thinks it’s the easy way out, try having a 6-inch gash in your abdomen like a shark that’s been gutted!” While that imagery is graphic, it’s certainly accurate. Some people believe that opting for a c-section is a simple choice, and those who’ve had the experience would likely laugh—if it weren’t for the risk of reopening their stitches.
She also describes that peculiar sensation of being “stitched back together with something like fishing wire while feeling like your organs are trying to escape!” There’s nothing quite like standing up for the first time after surgery and feeling your insides adjust back into place.
The concept of an “easy way out” couldn’t be further from the truth. Then there’s the pain. While medication provides some relief, it doesn’t last forever. “At first, everything seems like rainbows and lollipops until the spinal block wears off! After that, it feels like you’ve been hit by a bus, and then it backed over you to ensure it didn’t miss you the first time!”
The sensation she describes is what many experience if they fall behind on pain management, even for a moment. “If you don’t perfectly time your pain meds, you’ll definitely know you’re alive (while wishing you weren’t) and worst of all, you’ll feel as though you’ll spend the rest of your life wearing grandma underwear because the thought of anything resting in the valley left by the scar is nightmarish.”
Sarah humorously mentions her newfound affinity for shapewear, saying, “You just can’t escape the ditch left by the scar.” Despite the harsh truths she shares, she expresses no regrets.
“I wouldn’t change a thing! If it weren’t for the option to deliver my babies this way, they might not be here today. Besides, being cut from A to B sounds way worse!”
Both delivery methods present their own challenges, making mothers true superheroes.
For more insights on pregnancy and fertility, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy from the World Health Organization. If you’re interested in at-home insemination options, you can also visit this page that discusses the at-home insemination kit.
In summary, a mother’s candid portrayal of her c-section experience highlights the reality many face post-surgery, breaking down misconceptions about the procedure and emphasizing the strength of motherhood.