In the U.S., postpartum complications are the leading cause of maternal death.
Not pregnancy. Not birth.
But what happens after.
And for moms who had a C section?
Let’s call it what it is:
Major abdominal surgery.
Muscles cut. Organs moved. Nerves severed.
And they’re sent home in 2-3 days… with a newborn.
No nurse. No real recovery plan.
Just “see you in six weeks.”
Then they’re expected to smile. Function. Breastfeed. Entertain visitors.
While healing. While bleeding. While breaking.
And if they struggle?
They’re told it was “the easy way out.”
Easy?
There is nothing easy about being stitched back together and left to survive.
There is nothing easy about healing while keeping another human alive with no rest and no help.
We don’t talk about it enough.
We don’t support mothers enough.
We don’t respect C-sections, or birth trauma, or the postpartum period like we should.
And it’s killing mothers.
This isn’t okay.
We deserve better.
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This is why I became a doula !!! Mothers need more support and love and understanding!!! It’s insane the ignorance that is normal when talking about this ! Good for you for advocating !

I’ve never once said it’s the easy way out but as someone who’s had 2 vaginal births, I’ve never understood what C section mamas go through as I’ve never been there. So Thankyou for posting this and educating me. 😭🤍

I’m a 2 time C-section mama. I had one at 22 then 32 and they healing was rough even with knowing what to expect and planning the second one ☹️ It’s beyond crazy how they literally take some of your organs and place them on a table out side your body to get to baby. People really should be educated more on it in general. And there should absolutely be more support in the hospital and when first home. For mothers who just gave birth !!!

Totally with you on this one. The lack of care in the hospital setting for patients recovering from surgery is astonishing. And it’s only because of the nature of the surgery that they are so nonchalant about recovery

I had a c section 4 weeks ago and had 'rare' complications that landed me in intensive care and separated from my baby unable to hold her or feed her...I might be healing okay physically but that period of separation is really effecting me mentally

I've had natural birth, emergency C-section and elective C-section and I'd have willingly cut my toes off with a rusty pair of scissors to never have had to have a C-section.

It’s quite horrible how it’s still perceived to be the easy option by so many people… I definitely didn’t find my emergency C-section easy in any way. Recovery takes long and is difficult and happens when you can’t rest as you’re figuring out how to be a mum. I also needed therapy as I was so scared of loosing my baby since he was in immediate danger. My elective was a lot calmer, but still a bit scary as I had cholestasis again, hence I wanted her out before she’d be in danger potentially again… so often C-sections happen because there are some other issues…. and healing with a baby and toddler… well, I haven’t had the time to do the right exercises/massages, etc often enough. So no, definitely not easy.

Oh I’m so glad you trusted your gut !!! And you && are still here with us and your babies !!! Hope your healing journey is going better now mama bears !