Birth - what didn't you know about that you think someone should have mentioned?

[i-need-a-martini]

I read this interesting article about this woman who is complaining about the things never told to her about her natural delivery. http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/the-unspoken-consequences-of-natural-birth-20131029-2wdca....

I think it is quite interesting because the lack of information that abounds about 'natural' births as opposed to c-sections is astounding. Yes there is lots and lots about what will happen at the birth but it's like the rest is secret womens business that can't be mentioned. Or if it is mentioned it is mentioned in such a fake positive way that it should be laughable.

A good example is a pamphlet I got given about taking care of my stitches. The pamphlet suggested that the cut will heal best if exposed to air and asunshaine. Really? Do I 'expose' myself in the backyard?

And on the other hand, the horror stories about c-sections are so exaggerated it is incredible.

A little balance would be nice.

And real information would be even better.

What weirdness did you not expect after you gave birth?

[*crikey*mate*]

I didn't find out about Indicid until my 2nd c section....

I really would have liked to have known about that for the first.....

[lurker17260]

Same az.  I didn't know I was supposed to check out my modesty at the door of the hospital.  I sure didn't expect about 12-15 people to troop into the delivery room to witness a forceps delivery as part of their training.  To this day I really resent not being asked first if that was ok.

I didn't expect the day 3 blues.  In fact just recently I was speaking to a pregnant woman who had no idea still what I was talking about.

I didn't expect to fall in love with the baby the moment I first saw him

[azureline**]

---

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I read this interesting article about this woman who is complaining about the things never told to her about her natural delivery. http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/the-unspoken-consequences-of-natural-birth-20131029-2wdca....

I think it is quite interesting because the lack of information that abounds about 'natural' births as opposed to c-sections is astounding. Yes there is lots and lots about what will happen at the birth but it's like the rest is secret womens business that can't be mentioned. Or if it is mentioned it is mentioned in such a fake positive way that it should be laughable.

A good example is a pamphlet I got given about taking care of my stitches. The pamphlet suggested that the cut will heal best if exposed to air and asunshaine. Really? Do I 'expose' myself in the backyard?

And on the other hand, the horror stories about c-sections are so exaggerated it is incredible.

A little balance would be nice.

And real information would be even better.

What weirdness did you not expect after you gave birth?

---

hahha, just had a flashback........ we had those little infra red lamps!!!!

[i-need-a-martini]

---

@azureline** wrote:

---

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

A good example is a pamphlet I got given about taking care of my stitches. The pamphlet suggested that the cut will heal best if exposed to air and asunshaine. Really? Do I 'expose' myself in the backyard?

---

hahha, just had a flashback........ we had those little infra red lamps!!!!

___________________________________________________________

That pamphlet was the final straw for me. I had almost been convinced and was on the edge of changing my mind about an elective c-section. But when I read that I knew that I had done enough research and read enough garbage to know what was best for my body.

[**meep**]

I cant  think of anything......My antenatal classes covered everything...

[katymatey*]

I didn't expect to spend some time in the toilets sitting in a saline bath. 😞

[j*oono]

Someone should have told me to say yes to everything at the pre-admission appointment.

[*pepe]

---

@azureline** wrote:

---

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I read this interesting article about this woman who is complaining about the things never told to her about her natural delivery. http://www.dailylife.com.au/life-and-love/the-unspoken-consequences-of-natural-birth-20131029-2wdca....

I think it is quite interesting because the lack of information that abounds about 'natural' births as opposed to c-sections is astounding. Yes there is lots and lots about what will happen at the birth but it's like the rest is secret womens business that can't be mentioned. Or if it is mentioned it is mentioned in such a fake positive way that it should be laughable.

A good example is a pamphlet I got given about taking care of my stitches. The pamphlet suggested that the cut will heal best if exposed to air and asunshaine. Really? Do I 'expose' myself in the backyard?

And on the other hand, the horror stories about c-sections are so exaggerated it is incredible.

A little balance would be nice.

And real information would be even better.

What weirdness did you not expect after you gave birth?

---

hahha, just had a flashback........ we had those little infra red lamps!!!!

---

i worked in a hospital on the domestic staff when i was 18/19 - I loved working on the maternity floor but boy i saw some sights involving those lamps drying wet stitches that haunted me for a very long time.... 

[meh_too]

no one told me that I would be in so much pain after a natural birth - until I was diagnosed with acute apendicitis three days later