BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

This 30-Second Video Shows Why C-Section Recovery Is Crucial for New Moms

Listen up, warrior mamas.
save article
profile picture of Stephanie Grassullo
By Stephanie Grassullo, Contributing Writer
Updated March 6, 2019
new mom holding her newborn baby after delivery
Image: Kristen Prahl

C-sections are never the easy way out.

The next time someone tries to convince you otherwise, don’t waste your time explaining how they’re seriously mistaken. Just show them this video from Channel Mum instead.

The 30-second clip manages to capture what happens during the procedure and why moms need time to heal. Far from a “quick cut,” a c-section is a major abdominal surgery where doctors cut through many layers and in multiple directions.

Channel Mum illustrates all this in a way that’s not scary or gruesome to watch, but still gets the point across. The video shows someone flipping through a felt booklet where each piece of fabric represents a different layer of a women’s body. They work their way through:

  1. Skin
  2. Fat
  3. Fascia, the dense covering on muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, veins and internal organs
  4. Abdominal muscles
  5. Peritoneum, a membrane which lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs
  6. Bladder
  7. Uterus
  8. Amniotic sac
  9. Baby!

The good news is thanks to the help of the epidural or spinal block, there usually isn’t much pain during the actual surgery. It’s the recovery, however, that can be tough. Moms feel sore, have cramping and bleed, but it’s all normal because it means the uterus is shrinking and healing. Most patients spend two to three nights in the hospital before they can go home. But once new moms are discharged, they have to adapt to a new normal with baby, and manage the pain in their c-section incision, cramping and continued bleeding.

When it comes to childbirth, there’s no easy way to have a baby. But if you have a c-section, the postpartum period may be even more of a challenge. Not only are you caring for your baby, but you’re also recovering from a major surgery. Learn what happens during the healing phase, and try to lean on those around you for help.

Remember, you will feel like your old self soon.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

woman holding her baby's hand after undergoing c section procedure
What to Know About C-Section Procedures
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
mom showing c section scar while holding baby
What to Expect During Your C-Section Recovery
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant meghan trainor and son riley smiling
Meghan Trainor on Learning to Love Her Body Again Post C-Section
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
First-Time C-Section Rates Are at an All-Time High, New Report Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
frida mom c section recovery products gif
Frida Mom Is Launching New Products to Help With C-Section Recovery
By Nehal Aggarwal
Peaceful new baby sleeping with mom holding its hands.
Study Says Beneficial Bacteria Can Be Restored to Baby After C-Section
By Nehal Aggarwal
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
Q&A: Is a C-section More Difficult if I'm Overweight?
By Colleen Canney
ADVERTISEMENT
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
11 Things No One Tells You About C-sections
By Erin Walters
shawn johnson in labor for 22 hours.
Shawn Johnson Reveals She “Felt Guilty” for Delivering via C-Section
By Nehal Aggarwal
pregnant reality star amy duggar
Amy Duggar Had a Planned C-Section and She Isn't Here for Any Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
ADVERTISEMENT
actress gemma atkins responds to c-section shamers
Actress Gemma Atkinson Defends Herself Against C-Section Shaming
By Ashley Edwards Walker
actress kata mara opens up about emergency c-section
Kate Mara Shares ‘Devastation’ Over Emergency C-Section but Wouldn’t Change a Thing
By Stephanie Grassullo
husband calls his wife badass for delivering their child via c-section
How Your Partner Really Sees Your C-Section Scar: 'Strong, Powerful, Dedicated and Bad*ss'
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
person holding newborn baby's hand in the hospital
C-Section Births Have Nearly Doubled Worldwide Since 2000, Study Finds
By Stephanie Grassullo
new mom sweetly kissing her newborn baby in bed
New Mom Reflects on Her Emergency C-Section: 'at That Moment, I Couldn’t Be More Proud'
By Stephanie Grassullo
mom delivering baby through c-section
This Mom Has One Thing to Say About C-Sections: They Are ‘Never the Easy Way Out’
By Stephanie Grassullo
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
What No One Tells You About C-Section Guilt
By Gina Bazer
ADVERTISEMENT
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
A Microbe Wipe Could Bridge the Gap Between Vaginal and C-Section Deliveries—But Is It Safe?
By Anisa Arsenault
mom's c-section photo expressing c-section birth is not the easy way out
Mom's Candid List of Reasons Why a C-Section Is Not the 'Easy Way Out' Is a Must-Read
By Ashley Edwards Walker
mom's son laying on her belly, with her c-section exposed
A New Way to Destigmatize C-Sections? Changing What We Call Them
By Anisa Arsenault
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.