CAESARIAN AWARENESS MONTH
The caesarian awareness month falls in April of every year. This is a month dedicated to educate and raise awareness about caesarian. Its a month to encourage women to opt for natural/vaginal delivery rather than Cs because of the risk involved in Caesarian section.
A cesarean section or (CS) for short, is a surgical operation in which a baby is delivered through a cut in the front wall of the abdomen and womb.
We are not saying women should not have caesarian section but only as the last option if the lives of mother and child are in danger, or baby is feet down instead of head,or prolonged labour. CS is not without its risk, its good to be aware of every choices or options we decide to go with.
Amanda shares her experience during her delivery, she is a mother of two lovely children all through the caesarian section. We asked her why she choose to have her baby through caesarian section instead of vaginal birth?
Here is Amanda's Account of her Caesarian section birth story
Amanda: I got married to my husband and I took in during our honeymoon, my husband works in another state while I was at my station. I was not ready to quit my job and he didn't urge me to either, we had an understanding. I would always travel to be with him every other weekend I was less busy. Now back to work after the honeymoon, I had to face my work squarely as I had taken my annual leave for that year, before I knew it I was now approaching the end of my second trimester and could count the number of times I had been with my husband.
When I go for ante-natal at the health care, the nurses always remind us spend more time with our husbands because of its benefit even though that's the worst time to feel in the mood, on my own part I just wonder, what about me that I barely see the man? That was a question I threw only to my self without any answer.
The D day came for me, as I started experiencing cramps in my lower abdomen, which came at intervals. I just knew that was sighns that I was in labour. So I carried my already pack suitcase and called on my landlady who was, thank God available, she drove me to the hospital where I was to have my baby.
I was checked in by the nurse attendant at the counter, the midewife came to check how long I was dilated.
I was just 4cm, she told me I had a long way to go but that everything was alright. The contractions came harder, she came back to me, after checking me she still said, its still the same gal, you better save your strength for latter.
I kept having contractions that were very close in between but hadn't dilated enough to start the push. From one hour to four till almost twelve hours having contractions and not dilated more than 4cm. The doctor decided to induce me which was the worst thing that could happen to me, still no way and I think the inducement did something because my baby was ready to be born but the passage was not ready, so the doctor decided instead of waiting any longer which might hurt me and my baby we should take that route.
They had to call up my husband for his consent before the procedure. My husband was reluctant to give his consent for almost 1hour, while I was groaning in pains waiting for just the "yes" which would relieve me of the pain I was experiencing.
Finally, it came. He said the word. And before I knew what was happening, I was wheeled on a stretcher to the theatre. I was first give anastesic to numb any feeling in my lower body, seriously all the contractions vanished. I felt so peaceful, all I could hear were voices of the doctor and the widwife with the attendant present, it wasn't up to 10minutes when the doctor held up my baby for me to see and placed him in the midwife's arms as she started cleaning him up. The doctor was now working on me so fast, that I kept wondering what he was doing with such speed. I kept muttering prayers under my breath for God to direct him, there should be no mistake as I have heard of horrid stories.I refused to dwell on those stories, the Doctor was talking to me all this while and asking me questions, some I couldn't answer, I guess that was so that I wouldn't sleep off.
Minutes later, or should I say hours later, I didn't check the time so I can't actually say how long the operation took, but I was wheeled out to the post partum ward while the midwife followed with my baby.
I was given specific instructions not to lift my head for any reason, I was too weak to even ask the reason. That's how I laid on my back for 3days at a stretch. I couldn't breastfeed my baby because my milk hadn't come in. The attendant cleaned me daily and kept checking my back, I asked her why, she said she was checking in case I developed bedsores.OMG. The things we go through, on the fourth day, I could lift my head and I was encouraged to try and walk.
It was so painful, I was bent over because of the pain that didn't allow me walk erect.And this past 3days I was not eating anything except the drip which according to them gave me all the nutrients I needed.
Almost five days in the hospital, though it was worth it, my baby hail and hearty gave me the consolation even though I couldn't care for him. My family helped me my baby, from diapering, to helping me breastfeed him, to bathing him. I really wished I could but the stitches on me didn't let me.
I could go on and on with my experience during the caesarian section but my last thought is that mothers should embrace vaginal or natural childbirth, because its easier, less painful, less exposure to infection and complication,less expensive and more or else gives you the chance to bond with your baby during the first hours of his birth.
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