No matter how you choose to do it, there’s one thing that no-one will debate you on: Childbirth is hard. After all, it is called labor for a reason. That being said, there are some people out there who criticize women who have c-sections, saying that these ladies “took the easy way out”. This Australian mommy-blogger decided enough was enough and shared her story on Instagram to prove once and for all that c-sections are by no means easy.
C-Sections on Not the Easy Way Out
Olivia White, who operates the mom blog House of White, had a c-section, and you know what? It was extremely painful. Tired of hearing women shame others for how “easy” having a cesarean instead of a vaginal birth, she posted some photos to her Instagram to share her story. The picture was taken just a few hours post-delivery, and it really sheds light on how difficult that process is.
Along with the image of the 6-inch incision made in her lower abdomen, she wrote a caption to try to uncover some of the misconceptions that people have about this process. (1) In classic Aussie fashion, she used an analogy of a surfer:
“To anyone who thinks it’s the easy way out, we’ll try having a 6-inch gash in your abdomen like a gutted shark who had the body parts of the surfer it ate retrieved! That’s then sewn back together with fishing wire while it feels like your vital organs are trying to escape! ” (1)
She hadn’t intended to share the photo, she felt she had to after a friend told her how shamed she felt by other women about her own c-section. She knew she needed to use her platform to remind people of how difficult a cesarean is, not just during the procedure, but also afterward. (1)
C-Sections & Body Image Issues
In her caption, Olivia highlights the body challenges that c-section mommies have to face that those who were able to give birth naturally don’t. (1)
“Anyone who’s ever had C-section knows that you’ll forever be dependant on your friends Nancy, Dr 90210 and Spanx because you cannot for the life of you get rise of the ditch that is left by the scar” she wrote. (1)
Since the post went viral, Olivia has shared with other news outlets how she had a cesarean for both of her daughters, as she had no contractions and was unable to go into labor properly. Despite her struggles and how immensely painful having a c-section is, she, too, was informed by other women that she had “the easy way out”. (1)
A Post That Resonates With Many
Many other moms have commented on the post thanking her for sharing. As it turns out, man c-section moms feel shamed by those who haven’t shared the experience. (1)
One commenter, who had to have two c-sections as well, was even told by another mom that she was not a “real” mom because she did not give birth naturally. According to this mom, she didn’t have the same bond with her children because she did not go through the act of pushing them out herself. (1)
Other moms have highlighted that many of the women who have c-sections first go through long hours of labor before the doctors decide that they will have to have a cesarean. For days and weeks afterward, simple movement can be excruciating, and many moms are unable to do basic tasks or even pick up their child due to pain and fear of tearing. (1)
No-Shame Zone
The bottom line is that pregnancy, giving birth, and motherhood is hard, no matter how each mom chooses to do it. Women and mothers need to support each other, instead of making other moms feel bad because their story is different from what you may deem as “normal” or “proper”.
Thank you, Olivia, for breaking through the stigma that surrounds c-sections. Let’s all take a lesson from her post and send nothing but love and support to other mammas from now on.
