It never crossed my mind that a C-Section would be a possibility. My pregnancy was absolutely perfect. I was hardly sick, I was sleeping great, and I wasn’t in an unbearable amount of pain. Outside of ligament pains, there was nothing that made pregnancy overwhelmingly hard for me.  What would cause me to think that labor would go any less smooth? That all changed as they wheeled me into the operating room and I realized I had no idea what was coming for me. Into the big double doors I went and immediately the most overwhelming feeling swept over me. I felt like I was in a scene from one of those shows on TV. The big bright light hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room, Doctors everywhere in scrubs and masks, and me getting wheeled in to this big sterile room. To be honest, it was frightening. I wasn’t prepared for a C-Section. I had no idea what to expect when having a C-Section and I was completely overwhelmed.

I am sure a C-Section isn’t the first choice of any mom to be, but being prepared and knowing what to expect just in case you have an unplanned C-Section can make a huge difference in your experience. So, I wanted to share a list of things to expect when having a C-Section in case you ever find yourself in the situation. Knowing what to expect and being prepared can make all the difference in an unplanned C-Section.

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What to expect when having a C-Section:

The epidural will be your best friend. They will give you an epidural times ten. They increase the dosage so that it numbs you pretty much from your arms down. You won’t feel a thing, and that’s a good thing. But, when they do this it’s normal for your blood pressure to drop so they will counter that with some medication. Don’t be alarmed when things beep at you, and if your head starts spinning, all of that is normal.

You’ll be wheeled into a room with a lot of Doctors and a very bright light. Remember the hospital shows on TV? Well, you’ll feel like you’re in one. There is a dozen doctors in there all with a different job. If you were expecting just your Doctor, that won’t be the case. These Doctors are necessary, and all play an important role, but there are a lot.

There will be a lot of tugging. You will feel pulling and sometimes nausea. It’s normal to throw up or start gagging through the process. I didn’t with my first, but I did with my second. Don’t feel embarrassed or try to hold it back, it makes it worse. Just communicate with the nurses and they’ll help you. They can even give you Zofran in your IV so be sure to tell them!

You will still shake. Hormones are crazy! It very normal for you to start shaking with all the hormones and all the medicine. Don’t fight it. You will regret it later. You’ll be really sore and muscles will be really tight. Just try to relax and don’t worry about the Doctors, your shaking won’t bother them.

C-Section babies don’t cry right away. It’s normal for C-Section babies not to cry right away, so don’t worry if yours doesn’t.

It takes forever to sew you back up. It never takes as long to get the baby out as it does to put you back together. It kind of feels like you’re going to be there forever, but don’t worry, you won’t be.

They still come in and push on your belly. After having a baby, they massage your belly to help your uterus shrink. This is not so fun after a C-Section. Just take deep breaths and it won’t last too long.

The first time you get out of bed will be the worst. The first time they make you come in wrong is probably the most painful thing you will experience. You have to move, and the sooner you do it the better. They will help you stand up, and if you cry don’t feel bad. Just move slowly and try to keep your tummy tight. Ask for a support belt and it can really help! After the first time it will still be hard to get up, but it won’t be as painful. The first time I find myself saying your worth it, the baby is worth it, very worth it over and over just to remind myself. No joke.

Pillows will be your best friend. Sleeping elevated is very helpful, therefore so are pillows. Putting a pillow on your incision when you cough or laugh can offer some relief from pain as well. Who knew?!

You’re still a rock star. Just because you birthed your baby on an operating table doesn’t make you any less of a woman. There are a lot of emotions that come with an unexpected C-Section, but most importantly you have to remember you did what you needed to do. You made sure that what happened was best for your baby, and because of that you’re a rock star mom. Don’t for once think a C-Section makes you less of a mom. Be proud of that scar.

Now hopefully if you have an unplanned C-Section, you’ll know what to expect.

It isn’t the worst thing that can happen, but knowing what to expect helps a lot. The process can go much smoother when you’re more comfortable. As with everything, if there is time, be sure to share some expectations with your Doctor beforehand so they can help make the process the best for you.

Did you have a C-Section? If so, what would you add to this list?