Why I had a Caesarean section.
Insisting on a vaginal delivery when a Caesarean section is medically recommended can turn what should be a safe birthing experience into a traumatic one.
In Nigeria, the stigma around Caesarean sections still influences how some women approach childbirth. Some women fear being judged as less capable, while others keep their Caesarean delivery private to avoid criticism from family and friends.
Today, we sit down with Osariemen, a 24-year-old first-time mother, who shares her experience of having an emergency Caesarean section after hours of labour with no progress. Her story is a reminder that sometimes, letting go of expectations and listening to medical advice can make the difference between a traumatic experience and a safe delivery.
[US]:
Hello Osariemen, we have been trying to schedule your meeting for ages now. Thank you for finally giving us a slice of your day; we are grateful. We know your story will encourage tons of women across Nigeria. Your birthing story is one that you have described as traumatic. Why would you say that?
[Osariemen]:
I’m happy to be here. My birthing experience was traumatic because my vagina was swollen. I had laboured for hours with no progress. The gynaecologist had already advised me to have a Caesarean section, but I refused because no woman in my family had done one. I didn’t want to be tagged the ‘lazy one’, so I kept trying.
I mean, the staff had no choice but to comply, although most of the nurses on duty kept encouraging me to have the CS because they were very worried about my life. It was terrible, my vagina was swollen like it had been stung by a bee. Definitely won’t wish that on even my enemy.
[US]:
Wow. Did you feel any pressure from your husband to carry this mantle?
[Osariemen]:
Not at all. My husband wanted the baby out ASAP so I could rest. He didn’t mind how. His family is also traditional like mine, but he didn’t care about the mode of delivery. Just mother and baby alive.
[US]:
Thank God for that.
[Osariemen]:
Absolutely. My husband made the final call to have the emergency Caesarean section, which I’m eternally grateful for. I would have died.
My eyes were bloodshot, and my baby’s heartbeat was already high. In fact, when they brought my baby out, she had already passed meconium. So imagine if I had eventually pushed her out; my child could have had meconium enter her lungs.
Birthing a baby with the right team by your side makes the process alot 10x better.
[US]:
Why did you need a Caesarean section
[Osariemen]:
The doctor told me that my cervix wasn’t fully dilated, but since my baby was already in distress, she needed to come out as soon as possible. That was why my attempts to push weren’t working.
I won’t lie, thinking about it again makes me teary because I almost put myself and my child in danger because of useless expectations.
[US]:
Did you tell your family you had a CS? If we remember correctly, your family shared refreshments for everyone in the hospital that day.
[Osariemen]:
[Laughs], oh yes. They shared refreshements.
My family love celebrations, so any reason to felicitate, we will take it.
Also I didn’t tell them immediately. In fact, I informed them about my delivery two days after because I didn’t want any bad energy.
At the time, nobody in either families knew I had CS, Just me and my husband.
When they came, I was already strong enough to interact, but we spent little time together. I told the staff at COHIG to help me bounce out them legally, [Laughs].
All the staff at COHIG told them I had a vaginal delivery when they asked. You know how family members can be. I almost lost my life during delivery and wasn’t ready for any lecture from naysayers.
It’s been two years now, and I just told my mom and mother-in-law that I had surgery. They were so surprised, a bit disappointed, but I am more mature now to handle their big feelings.
I have kept a human being alive for two years. There’s nothing I can’t surmount.
[US]:
Exactly. Bearing and raising a child is not easy.
Before we let you go, do you have final words for new expectant mothers?
[Osariemen]:
Oh yes.
Please, first-time mothers, give yourself grace. Release yourself from myths and ancestral expectations. Collaborate with your gynaecologist. Yes, advocate for yourself, but remember that your knowledge is limited, so when presented with enough evidence, listen.
A Caesarean delivery is a NORMAL DELIVERY!
[US]:
We love it! Thank you once again for your time. Have a good day.
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