After those nine months, the long waiting period gets over and the most exciting transition from a mommy-to-be, to a mommy finally begins. But then, things are not always as smooth as we expect, especially if you undergo a C-section to deliver your baby. It is indeed an overwhelming experience to hold your little one in your arms but you need to understand that a C-section surgery is a major abdominal surgery and you need to take precautions to recover from the surgery. The recovery period for the C-section delivery is much higher than the recovery period for the normal delivery.

Let us look at some ways for speedy recovery from C-section delivery:

Relax: Taking proper rest will give your body the energy to recover from the surgery that you had undergone. Healing of the scar takes time and your post-partum body requires rest. But, taking proper rest is not as easy as it sounds when you have a new born baby to take care of, who needs a lot of attention and care. From feeding your baby at regular intervals to changing their nappies/diapers and making them sleep, all of it requires you to be on your toes. Make sure you always take some time out to rest and do not hesitate to take help from your spouse and family.
Don t put strain your body: Your body has just given birth to a baby and has undergone a major surgery; therefore, it is important that you give it time to heal. You should try not to get up too often, do not lift anything heavier than your baby, avoid sex until six weeks from the birth of your baby, hold your abdomen when you have to sneeze or cough to protect the incision site. Don t start working out without your doctors  green signal and don t drive and take stairs, which might put a strain on your body.
Take a good diet: Take plenty of healthy and nutritious food as your body still requires such a diet. Breastfeeding mothers need to understand that the sole source of nutrition for your baby is you. Include different vegetables and variety of healthy food to pass on nutrition to your little one. Take plenty of fluids, especially water as the fluid intake is necessary to increase breast milk supply. Including fibre rich diet will keep you away from issues, such as constipation, which is one of the most common issues that women face after having a baby.
Medicines: Your doctor may prescribe you the medicines that you can take to reduce the pain and recover faster. The medicines prescribed would vary if you are breastfeeding and if you are not breastfeeding your baby, so taking up such issues become even more important for you and your baby.
Take care of the Incision: Take proper care of the incision by keeping the wound clean and undisturbed for a faster recovery.
Don t compare your recovery to someone else s because the speed of recovery depends from person to person. Motherhood is an exciting phase of your life, so take care of yourself to have a speedy recovery and enjoy every moment of it.  Make memories and stay happy!

Had a C-Section - 5 Tips to Help You Recover from it

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and anxious phase in a woman s life. There is definitely an information overload from all sources i.e. family, friends, medical team, books, Internet, etc., that is dumped on the mother-to-be. The idea is to prepare her for the delivery. What needs to be borne in mind though is that each delivery is unique and there are no two women who have had the exact same experience.

However, it is good for the mother to know what to expect so that she is mentally prepared and not totally caught unawares when the actual scenes unfold. The following are the sequence of events that she should be aware of and watch out for:

With the due date nearing, she should keep a watch for the water breaking. This is passing of fluid surrounding the baby and is usually colorless and odorless. However, if it is green or brown, it is an indication that something might be wrong. Immediate medical help should be sought in that case.
Along with water breaking, contractions is the next thing to watch out for. This is due to the tightening and releasing of the uterus, indicating that the baby has begun to descend down towards the cervix. If these last for up to a minute, occur every five minutes, and persist for up to an hour, it is a clear indication that it is delivery time and you must head to the hospital.
Two sensations very prominent during delivery are pain and pressure. The pressure is from the baby passing down the birth canal. As the cervix and the vaginal canal expand to allow passage of the baby, there would be a great deal of pain and pressure. It is not just the mother, even the baby exerts significant pressure to come out of the womb during labor.
The process of the baby getting out of the womb is what is medically termed as labor and has three distinct stages to it:
The first stage has two parts to it i.e. an initial, gradual phase that may last for a few hours and a later, quicker phase. The rate of progress of delivery is steady.
The second stage usually lasts for about two hours, during which the cervix is minimally dilated and pushing begins. This stage lasts until the baby is out of the womb.
The third and the last stage is where the placenta is extracted and the umbilical cord is cut.
Some common problems you may expect include injury or tearing of the vagina or cervix, need for episiotomy, vomiting, passing of motion, anesthetic complications, etc. However, what would remain etched in the mother s memory would be the first sight of the baby.

The Top Things To Know About Delivering A Child!

When the delivery of a baby has to happen through a surgical process rather than normal child birth, the procedure is known as a Caesarean Section or a C-section. There are many reasons why one many need to go through this surgical procedure including complications during pregnancy and childbirth. One can also plan for a C-section beforehand by talking it through with a doctor who will recommend the same in case there are any complications and risks at play during the pregnancy. Read on to know more about the procedure.

Reasons: There are many reasons why a doctor may want to go in for a C-section. If the labour is not progressing properly, then a C-section may be required in order to extract the baby. This procedure may also be used in case the baby is not getting proper amount of oxygen which can put it in distress and lead to changes in the heartbeat. Also, if the baby is in an abnormal position like a breech position, then a C-section may be required. This procedure is also used when a woman is carrying twins or triplets. Other health concerns like high blood pressure and genital herpes or even HIV can lead to this procedure. Any mechanical obstruction like fibroids in the birth canal can also cause the doctor to resort to a C-section, while a patient who has delivered via C-section earlier may also be asked to do the same again.

Risks and complications: One has to remember that a C-section takes longer to recover from than normal childbirth and delivery would. Also, it does pose a few risks and complications that may arise during and after the procedure.

Breathing issues: The babies who are born via C-section are more susceptible to a condition known transient tachypnea which is a breathing problem characterised by an abnormally fast rate of breathing in and out. Also, other respiratory distress syndromes may take over subsequently.
Surgical injuries: The doctor may accidentally nick the baby s skin during the surgical process which involves the use of sharp instruments for making the incision.
Inflammation risk: The uterus may undergo inflammation which may also lead to endometriosis as well as infections of the membrane which can cause fever and foul smelling vaginal discharge. The wound may also get infected.
Bleeding: While some amount of bleeding is normal, this procedure can also lead to excessive bleeding in which case immediate medical intervention may be required. Also, the patient may suffer from blood clots inside the veins of the pelvic organs. These clots may also travel to the lungs and cause further complications.

C-Section - Are There Risks Associated With it?

According to a report by WHO, every hour about five women die in India during childbirth. Giving birth is one of the most challenging bodily functions that a woman has to perform in their life.

When it comes to the mode of delivery, there are a number of delivery options:

Normal or Vaginal Birth
C-Section or also known as Cesarean
Water Birth
Vacuum Extraction
Of the few mentioned above the most common delivery options are natural birth and C-section. The mode of delivery will be decided only after factoring in the woman s health condition, ability to endure pain etc.

Also, when it comes to deliveries, there is a lot of half-baked information floating around. The internet is one of the biggest contributor in this regard. Here are some of the most common myths -

Myths on Normal Delivery:

Myth 1: It s More Superior
Many women consider or think that being able to bring a life into the world without the aid of any painkillers or any other external interventions gives them a sense of empowerment.

Myth 2: It is Riskier
There is no definite statistic to prove that a natural birth is more risky than other delivery options.

Myth 3: A Process that comes naturally to a Woman
Another commonly held fallacy about normal delivery is that a woman s body knows exactly how to respond to a normal delivery. The common reason given is that women have been undergoing natural childbirth process since time immemorial without external interventions or assistance. Not only is a normal delivery fraught with misconceptions but so is a C-section surgery.

Myths on C-Section:

Myth 1: A C-Section is more convenient compared to a vaginal Birth
A C-Section is an invasive surgery method that comes with its own set of risks like any surgery. Doctors generally advise women to opt for a natural birth if possible.

Myth 2: You cannot undergo too many C-Sections
There is no limitation on the number of C-sections you can have in your lifetime. However, the risks of complications increase with every subsequent C-section.

It is advised that you plan the delivery option based on your health condition weeks before your due date. In some cases, C-section surgery is resorted to during the course of a vaginal birth when complications arise. 

Consult your doctor if you have queries regarding your choice.

Myths On Normal Delivery And C-Section Debunked!

Giving birth to a child is the most profound form of joy felt by a woman. After getting pregnant, one should discuss with her gynecologist what form of surgery they should go in for. Women have been delivering babies by normal childbirth without any complications since the old times. However, complications might arise if you don't take proper care of your body before the date of delivery. You should be careful and alert at all times so that there are no detrimental effects to you and your child.

Certain tips and guidelines should be followed so that you and your child are safe and secure during a normal delivery.

1. Diet: As soon as you know you are pregnant, you should take care of your diet. Avoid junk food and street food. Stick to a nutritious diet, which contains vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Iron and calcium rich food items should also be consumed for the healthy development of your fetus.

2. Active lifestyle: Try to exercise daily. Include light permissible yoga and also light walks during your pregnancy. You can also join a yoga fitness class for expecting mothers. This can make your body flexible and ready for a normal delivery.

3. Water: Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day to keep yourself hydrated during your pregnancy.

4. Stress: Pregnancy can be extremely stressful. This can take a toll on your body and also on your unborn child's health. Also too much stress can make labor a difficult experience, as the pelvic muscles might not expand for the baby to pass through.

5. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption: Tobacco is very harmful and might lead to birth defects in your child. Alcohol also acts as a poison. Intake of these substances should be avoided completely.

6. Prenatal class: Joining a prenatal class can be very helpful because you get to learn about giving birth and the things, which your body will be required to do during labor. This can come handy during the delivery.

7. Breathing exercise: During labor it is possible that you can experience shortness of breath. Practicing breathing exercises will help you prepare for a normal delivery.

These tips should be known by every expectant mother so that the strenuous process of a normal delivery is eased out.

Tips to Have a Normal Delivery

Many people across the world spend a considerable amount of time contemplating on which type of delivery is the most preferable. In earlier times, normal delivery was the only option but these days, there is an increase in the number of caesarean or C-sections. Today, 30% of children of children around the world have been born through the C-section. Since it is up to the woman to select which type of delivery she would prefer, it is imperative to comprehend the advantages as well as risks of both the options.

Advantages of vaginal delivery to the mother
From a psychological point of view, women who opt for normal delivery are believed to have a relatively positive birthing experience. Women who go through normal delivery often feel that it is empowering to be actively involved in the procedure of giving birth to their babies. Such mothers have a much shorter span of recovery time compared with those opting for C-sections. This procedure also lets the mother as well as the baby to come in contact with each other, which in turn speeds up the process of bonding.

Pros of normal delivery for the baby
It has been found that babies who are born via vaginal delivery are less prone to developing any kind of complications related to health. They can be fed, sooner and develop fewer allergies and respiratory issues. However, very few babies born through vaginal delivery can experience any injury while being born, though this is an extremely rare condition.

Benefits of Caesarean section for the mother
There are numerous women who opt for the C-section so that there is no need to go through extended hours of labour. Today, with the advancement in medical science, mothers are able to plan the birth of their child, and it allows more control over the birthing process along with more predictability. Women who go for a C-section do not suffer from any damage to the pelvic floor, which often leads to incontinence in the course of time.

Advantages of a C-section delivery for the child
In most cases, when there are twin babies, or a single baby is too large, opting for a C- section can prove to be the most viable option. Plus, if the mother is a carrier of certain diseases like HIV, then a C-section reduces the chances of passing it to the baby.

Thus, both the options have their own set of pros and cons, and it is best to speak with a qualified gynaecologist before deciding on anything.

C-Section Vs Normal Delivery - Which Is Better For You?

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