This week we’re going to discuss that common emotions and feelings associated with a cesarean.
Physical Symptoms:
Numbness
Pain
Phantom sensations (feeling like something is touching you when it’s not).
Back pain
Pelvic pain
While pain is typically experienced for 3-6 months, it can occur upwards of 12 months.
As mentioned last week, the physical pain that comes with this procedure can be intense, but the emotions associated can become overwhelming.
In the interview, Anna Simpson, said that "There was an anaesthetist trying to put a cannula in my hand so I felt like it was being attacked, it felt very frightening, I was very scared.
"I was going through the birth over and over again, it was exhausting and really painful.
"It was physically draining, all that on top of having to look after a new baby was really difficult.”
When an emergent cesarean is called, the decision made can be very emotional and stressful for the parents involved. Medical staff and personnel are trained how to not respond during times of emergency. They are trained to detach and remain calm, while the public aren’t, so the situation is often described as traumatic.
The mom, who may have already been in the throughs of labor, can begin to feel powerless and uninformed about the happenings, adding to the trauma.
Common signs of birth trauma, experienced by C-section moms, include:
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (According to recent research, up to 45% of moms find childbirth traumatic, and PTSD post-childbirth develops in 4% of women (with this figure rising to 18% in high-risk groups).
Feelings of failure
Feelings of guilt
Anger at themselves and their body
Social isolation
Nightmares and difficulty sleeping
Intrusive thoughts, focusing on memories of childbirth
Postnatal PTSD, while relatively rare, can consume a new mother who is trying to recover from an operation, while caring for a newborn 24/7. The key to overcoming this hard season is getting support, whatever that looks like for your family. If you have questions about what support can be beneficial, feel free to email me: byhisgracechildbirthservices@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for Part Three next week!!
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