Nurse Jennifer

In my blooming era

Swagger lomo

Ask me any health related questions and I'll try my best to answer

Let's talk about something nobody really wants to talk about after having a C-section.

Passing stool. 😭

Because after surgery, the LAST thing you want to do is strain.

You already have an incision on your abdomen, you're sore, you're trying to move carefully…

Facebook is one app I know that rewards consistency.

One thing I quickly realized after my C-section was that giving birth wasn't the end of the work.

I now had a baby to care for…

AND a surgical wound to care for.

And honestly, I was very conscious of that incision.

I didn't want to do anything that would interfere with healing.

So one thing I paid attention to was keeping the area clean and following the instructions I was given by my healthcare team.

I also became very careful about the things I was doing physically.

Because sometimes you're feeling better and you start thinking:

“Okay, I'm fine now.”

But your body is still healing.

Your incision needs time.

So I tried not to strain myself, I was careful with my movements, and I paid attention to the wound instead of assuming everything was okay because I wasn't in severe pain.

And please, don't start applying random things to your incision because someone told you it helped them.

Your C-section wound is a surgical wound.

Follow the wound-care instructions given to you by your healthcare provider.

And pay attention to changes such as increasing redness, swelling, worsening pain, unusual discharge, opening of the wound, or fever.

Those aren't things to ignore, you should contact your healthcare provider.

One thing my experience taught me is this:

Having the baby is one part of the journey. Healing properly afterwards is another.

And nobody should feel guilty about taking their recovery seriously.

Your body just went through major surgery.

Give it the care it deserves.

STORY.

If I were scheduling an elective C-section again, I wouldn't just ask:

“Doctor, what date are we doing the surgery?”

Nope. 😂

I would come with a whole list of questions.

Because once you have a date, things suddenly become very real.

So these are some of the questions I'd want answered:

1. Why is a C-section recommended in my particular situation?

2. What tests do I need before surgery?

3. Are there medications, supplements or foods I need to avoid before surgery?

4. When should I stop eating and drinking?

5. What happens if labour starts before my scheduled date?

6. What type of anaesthesia will I receive?

7. How long should I expect the surgery to take?

8. How long will I likely stay in the hospital?

9. What should I expect during the first few hours after surgery?

10. What should I know about recovery once I get home?

And here's something I really want women to hear:

You don't have to pretend you understand everything just because you're sitting in front of a doctor.

If you don't understand something, ask.

If you're confused, ask.

If you're scared, say it.

If you've heard something from another woman and you're wondering whether it applies to you, ask.

Your childbirth experience is personal.

Your medical instructions should also be personalized.

I had my own experience with a C-section, and there are things I know now that I definitely didn't think about beforehand.

So I'm going to share the real stuff with you—not just the textbook stuff.

Because sometimes the thing you wish someone had told you is the thing nobody thinks to mention.

Next: What nobody prepared me for immediately AFTER my C-section.

Let me tell you something nobody really emphasizes when you're preparing for a C-section.

You're not only preparing for the SURGERY.

You're preparing for what happens AFTER the surgery.

Before mine, I was mostly thinking about the procedure itself.

The theatre.

The baby.

The anaesthesia.

Getting through the surgery.

But then reality hit me…

I was going to have a newborn AND recover from abdominal surgery at the same time. 😭

And that's when I realized that preparation matters.

If you're having an elective C-section, think beyond your hospital bag.

Think about what you're going to need when you get home.

Who is going to help you?

Who is going to help with the baby?

How will you get around the house?

Where will you sleep?

Do you have comfortable clothes that won't irritate your incision?

Have you arranged your meals?

Do you have the basic things you'll need for yourself and the baby?

And most importantly, have you actually discussed your recovery expectations with your healthcare provider?

Because you don't want to come home and THEN start figuring everything out.

I learned this from experience:

The more you prepare before surgery, the less overwhelmed you may feel afterwards.

And please, don't copy somebody else's medication, fasting instructions or surgical preparation.

Your own doctor or hospital should give you specific instructions because your situation may be different.

But ask questions.

Write them down.

Get your answers.

And prepare your support system too.

Because you're not just preparing to give birth.

You're preparing to recover.

Part 3 is about the questions I would ask my doctor BEFORE agreeing on a C-section date.

“I Didn't Know I Needed to Ask These Questions Before My C-Section”

When I decided to have an elective C-section, I thought the hardest part was going to be choosing the date.

I was wrong. 😂

There were actually so many things I didn't know I needed to ask or prepare for BEFORE the day of surgery.

And honestly, some of these things are not the kind of information you naturally think about when you're pregnant.

For example:

What tests do I need to do before surgery?

Are there medications or supplements I should stop taking?

When exactly should I stop eating and drinking?

What happens if I go into labour before my scheduled date?

How long will I likely stay in the hospital?

What should I bring to the hospital?

What should I expect immediately after the surgery?

And one thing I think every woman should understand:

Don't just choose a C-section date and wait for the day to arrive.

You need to know what your preparation involves.

I learned some of these things through my own experience, and if I were preparing for an elective C-section again, I would make sure I had these conversations with my doctor beforehand.

So if you're planning an elective C-section, don't be afraid to ask questions.

You are not “disturbing” your doctor.

You're preparing for surgery.

And trust me, there are things I wish I had known BEFORE my own C-section.

I'll tell you about them in this series.