As a freelancer, I’m used to always being on the go; simply because if I don’t work, I don’t eat. During my pregnancy and with this in mind, I was adamant about getting right back to work because I knew I had to. Not only did I have to feed myself, but I now had an extra mouth to feed. I predicted I would only need about 2 weeks off before going back to my routine. They say if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. I know He got a good chuckle out of mine.
I have what doctors call a bicornuate uterus. This means that my uterus is split and somewhat heart-shaped. A woman with my condition has a high chance of miscarriage and going into preterm labor. By the grace of God, I was able to go full term. A woman with a bicornuate uterus is also more likely to deliver via C-section, which turned out to be my only option. My little one remained breached the entire pregnancy, so I mentally prepared to have major surgery. Three years prior to that, I had to have my left ovary removed. Because my recovery was a speedy one, I believed the C-section recovery would be similar.
Fast forward to 4 weeks post-surgery, I’ve come up with a few tips for Black millennial women who are preparing for a C-section or who may have an unplanned one. After extensive research during my recovery time, I realized there isn’t much information that helps us understand this process. While there are platforms that cater to women in general, but I wanted to be able to speak directly to us.
Childbirth is beautiful, but it isn’t easy. Having a major surgery in the process doesn’t make the adjustment any easier, but with the tips provided below, you’ll do just fine. Take your time and use the 6 weeks suggested to recover. If you need any longer, that’s ok too. Making a full recovery is a lot better for your newborn and overall long term health.
You’re doing great mommy, keep going!
