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Last week I was talking to someone about my c-section scar. This was our throwaway exchange:
”But isn’t that awesome?! A human came out of there?!”
”But It’s just a scar.”
Nope. You’re Wrong. Here’s why;
It’s not just a scar – it’s a a motherfucking war wound.
I, along with 26% of UK Women each year, put their lives at risk to ensure the safe delivery of their child.
Let’s not forget that a scar is also the result of MAJOR surgery. Alongside risks like Deep Vein Thrombosis, Infection, Bladder and Kidney Damage – there’s also
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the risk of a little thing known as death and a huge recovery period. (Where you don’t actually get chance to rest – because, y’know, there’s another human reliant on you.)
But if you’ve decided to weigh all that up and think; ”Yep: still going for a section.” It definitely ain’t just a scar – It’s a badge of honour.
As well as the physical risks that come with a section, there are also the mental health risks. They’re particularly prevalent where an emergency section was necessary, but something I had no clue was even an issue until I
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experienced it first hand.
It’s estimated by the Birth Trauma Association that 20,000 WOMEN in the U.K develop Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) from a traumatic labour, with an additional 200,000 women developing some symptoms of PTSD after a bad delivery.
Let’s crunch those numbers a second. 20,000 – That’s one third of the crowd on Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham Festival – suffering with full blown PTSD.
200,000 – Double the weekend attendance of the UK’s biggest rock festival; Download. Imagine all those people dealing with some kind of
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PTSD symptoms from giving birth – something that’s supposed to be the most natural thing in the world!
Makes it seem ridiculous we don’t discuss it more, right?
Perhaps more positively – having a section scar is the reason everything else down there is still damn awesome. So hey, its not all bad!
But most importantly, that scar is the reason my Son is alive. It represents more than any tattoo ever could.
So no. It’s not just a scar.
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More of my ramblings here and here.
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Melissa Hamblett - 13 Jun 17
Last week I was talking to someone about my c-section scar. This was our throwaway exchange:
“But isn’t that awesome?! A human came out of there?!”
“But It’s just a scar.”
Nope. You’re Wrong. Here’s why;
It’s not just a scar – it’s a a motherfucking war wound.
I, along with 26% of UK Women each year, put their lives at risk to ensure the safe delivery of their child.
Let’s not forget that a scar is also the result of MAJOR surgery. Alongside risks like Deep Vein Thrombosis, Infection, Bladder and Kidney Damage – there’s also the risk of a little thing known as death and a huge recovery period. (Where you don’t actually get chance to rest – because, y’know, there’s another human reliant on you.)
But if you’ve decided to weigh all that up and think; “Yep: still going for a section.” It definitely ain’t just a scar – It’s a badge of honour.
As well as the physical risks that come with a section, there are also the mental health risks. They’re particularly prevalent where an emergency section was necessary, but something I had no clue was even an issue until I experienced it first hand.
It’s estimated by the Birth Trauma Association that 20,000 WOMEN in the U.K develop Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) from a traumatic labour, with an additional 200,000 women developing some symptoms of PTSD after a bad delivery.
Let’s crunch those numbers a second. 20,000 – That’s one third of the crowd on Gold Cup Day at Cheltenham Festival – suffering with full blown PTSD.
200,000 – Double the weekend attendance of the UK’s biggest rock festival; Download. Imagine all those people dealing with some kind of PTSD symptoms from giving birth – something that’s supposed to be the most natural thing in the world!
Makes it seem ridiculous we don’t discuss it more, right?
Perhaps more positively – having a section scar is the reason everything else down there is still damn awesome. So hey, its not all bad!
But most importantly, that scar is the reason my Son is alive. It represents more than any tattoo ever could.
So no. It’s not just a scar.
=========
More of my ramblings here and here.
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Mum to Max, Wife, Journalist, DJ, Crazy Cat Lady, Mermaid Enthusiast and Make-Up Junkie.
More of my ramblings here:
https://maximummel.wordpress.com/
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