Many women experience post partum depression. For some women, the post partum depression may be directly related to the sudden need for a cesarean section. As a woman who will experience, or has experienced, a c-section birth, it is important to understand how this surgical birth of your infant will impact your overall health.
Emotions fluctuate extensively during pregnancy. For women who expect to give birth by vaginal delivery, the sudden news of a c-section is often met with a variety of emotions. What may have been anticipated as an exciting experience has now turned into an experience in which you feel anxious, fearful and frustrated. As an expectant mother, or a mother who recently gave birth by c-section, it is important to understand these emotions are a normal part of the birthing process.
While you may feel cheated by the need for a c-section, it is healthy to approach the process as a birth option. In fact, statistically, one in four women, today, is choosing to give birth by cesarean section so, you are not alone. While some degree of depression and anxiety are normal following a c-section, it is the emotions that seem to linger and impair your ability to adequately focus on being a mother that may indicate a complication in terms of post partum depression.
After your c-section, it is important to allow yourself to feel the raw and negative emotions associated with the birth option. Feelings of anger, resentment, sadness and even just simple pain are all permissible. Allow yourself to feel those post partum emotions. But, in addition to feeling those emotions, reach out to other women you may know who have experienced a c-section as they can provide insight into not only the emotional and psychological issues but can also assist you with general questions regarding you physical recovery.
In your town, there may also be local support groups that offer guidance, support and counsel for women who may be experiencing post-partum depression after their cesarean section. Seek out those support groups and attend at least two meetings to get a feel for what type of support they may offer.
Because women are unique and different, the healing process, both physically and emotionally, after a c-section will vary. Assess your true emotions and ascertain if these feelings and emotions are appropriate for your personality type. If you feel you have suffered from the emotions of post-partum depression longer than you would have expected, especially after a cesarean section, consult with a mental healthcare professional for additional guidance and support.
As with any complication of birth, many women struggle with the decision to undergo a c-section. Whether given this birth option as a voluntary procedure, or a procedure that must be pursued, the emotions of despair, sadness and anxiety are quite normal. As a women who is experiencing these emotions, it is important to reach out to other women who have also experienced a c-section in an effort to obtain the support you may need. When this support does not seem to provide the healing you require, consult a healthcare professional to resolve any emotional complications associated with c-section and post-partum depression as it is important to not only your health but also the health of your baby.
