Tips on how to like my body again?

Question

A few weeks ago I posted my birth story, if you read it you know it did not go as planned...long story short I never went into labor and had to have a cesarian.
I’m almost 4 weeks PP struggling to “love” my body. When I was pregnant I was so proud and loved my body for what it was doing. However since my body didn’t even go into labor, I didn’t get the chance to feel any contractions and try to have a natural birth like I wanted, I’m struggling. 
It gets to the point that at night I’m crying because I know I SHOULD love my body, it gave me my beautiful baby boy, it produces more than enough food for him. BUT it couldn’t even do what it was designed to do, I feel so betrayed.
Any suggestions on how to be okay (not even necessarily in love) with my body after an unexpected cesarian?

Answer

Know you are not alone! My baby was due March 18th... I never even got 1 cm dilated or went into labor at all! Had to do a csection so planned it for March 23rd. Even then i still had. A positive look on it all but i ended up having a panic attack during the operation because of not being able to feel after the epidural (even though i knee what to expect, still panicked) so i ended up getting heavily medicated... I had imagined during pregnancy this beautiful natural birth which i obviously did not get. And now, it's really hard seeing my body with the csection pooch while others who birthed vaginally already look so tiny... Trust me it's hard even 4 months pp... But really just want you to feel you are not alone, it's normal and it's ok. Im here with you and a csection was THE BEST and SAFEST way for our babies to be born! It was how their birth story was supposed to go 💪🏻

Answer

I didn’t read your story but it sounds just like mine!! I honestly was 6 months pp before I started to love my body and let me tell you I have never loved my body, but I can say now that I do. Stretch marks cellulite, belly wrinkles, scar and all!!! I was suffering from depression as well but didn’t realize until the fog lifted. Buy yourself some new clothes if you can. That helped me feel better about myself initially. I was hiding in baggy shirts and gym shorts - but I tried to make an effort each day to get ready, even if the baby puked on me before anyone saw. Just know it does get better. My little man is starting to get the cutest little personality and sometimes I just look at him and go I freaking made him!! 🥰🥰 Be proud of that girl!! You just grew a human - it doesn’t matter how that baby came out of you - the fact is: they came out of you!!!

Answer

Ive had two sections and both were emergencies. I was induced both times and did not dilate even 1cm after 12hrs on the hormone drip. I was so tired from the forced contractions and it was extremely disheartening to find out after 10hrs of intense pain that it was all for nothing. Eventually babys heart beats slowed too much as they were tired from the contractions and I had to have sections. My 1st was extremely scary as babys heartbeat dropped and they couldn't find it again until they pulled her out during the section. The stress of not knowing if my baby would be alive was intense.
My 2nd was a bit more relaxed as after 12hrs of induction and no dilation, babys heart rate dropped. They stopped the induction and babys heartrate went back to normal. I didn't want to go through what I did with my daughter so I said no more and opted for a section. Drs tried to get me to continue for a VBAC but I refused to risk my baby especially as I hadnt dilated in 12hrs after intense contractions. 2 hrs later I was in surgery and my son was born safely.
For my 1st baby I planned a beautiful water birth with no drugs, lovely music etc the total opposite happened but I was just so relieved my daughter was born healthy that I didn't want to focus on how things didnt go to plan. I also talked to anyone and everyone who asked how my birth went. I found talking about how traumatic it was helped me to deal with it.
The recovery was hard as I didnt want to push my body too much but once I started exercising again at 8 weeks, I did feel alot better.
Also the more I spoke about my sections and what I went through the more people told me about their horror vaginal births. My sister had a 5lb baby but she still ripped from vagina to anus and only had the stitches removed 4 months pp. One of my mates also split from vagina to clitorus and she was so traumatised that she'll never have anymore kids as she's never felt pain like it.
So these stories kinda made me feel better as even vaginal births can go wrong.
Hopefully you start feeling better soon but I do think talking about your experience and starting to exercise again will help you both physically and mentally

Answer

Aww, hun! If this was a couple of hundred years ago you wouldn’t have had a “due date”, you would have just known what season baby would be born in and the rest would be left up to your body! If you were left to 43w your body might have just done it’s natural thing! I understand there are lots of legitimate reasons why they don’t let us go past 42w, but that’s not your fault!

Answer

I had an unplanned c section it took about a year for the scar to heal but once it did I never noticed it. It’s small and barely visible. I don’t have a shelf or stretch marks. I lost weight too. It took about a year though. It’s traumatic for those who don’t want it but the more we talk about it the more we can grieve and heal. I wish you healing ❤️

Tips on how to like my body again?

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