A Positive C-section Recovery

A client's positive C-section success story, written in their own words

HLP Therapy is one of the two reasons we decided to have baby number two, and I’m so grateful ❤️

The first reason was when the legal rules changed and it meant you could opt for a C-section without needing a medical reason. I still remember when my husband sent me the article, I thought, hmm, maybe he’s opening up to baby number two if we don’t have to go through the same trauma as last time and can finally have the C-section we wanted all along.

Then came reason number two: finding HLP Therapy! 

Client Photograph - meeting baby number 2.

My first labour...

I wish I’d known about HLP Therapy earlier. My first labour was traumatic, a forceps delivery with a long recovery, followed by an infection that put me back in hospital, away from my week old baby.  After all we went through, my husband and I said we couldn’t do it again. I’d asked for a C-section at every midwife appointment but was always told no. Then, during labour, everything seemed to go wrong. I was induced due to gestational diabetes; the pessary induction failed and caused a massive bleed, I was immediately put on the drip, and my waters were broken.

My husband kept asking if I could have a C-section...

A new midwife told me I was fully dilated, so we started pushing, only to be told later she was wrong and I was actually only 7cm. I eventually had an epidural, which helped massively as I was having back-to-back contractions. When it was finally time to push, the machine stopped picking up my contractions, and the midwife couldn’t tell me when to push. The senior midwife kept popping in to help, but obviously she had other patients too, but I just wanted her to stay. My husband kept asking if I could have a C-section, but we were still told no. After pushing well past the recommended time, the room filled with people, and my beautiful baby was delivered by forceps.

Endometriosis diagnosis

I remember holding him, in awe, however I had to pass him straight to my husband because I felt awful, physically and mentally. I overheard them questioning the placenta; someone said “yes,” but I could tell by the tone they weren’t sure. Looking back, they weren’t. A week later, I was back in hospital very unwell, and it turned out to be retained placenta. I had to fight for a scan on the NHS because I wanted proof it had all gone. That was one small relief, but the scan also found a cyst, and I was referred to a NHS gynaecologist, which I was so thankful for. When my first period came, I was in agony. I diagnosed myself with endometriosis and, thankfully, the consultant listened. Just before COVID, I had surgery to confirm it and remove as much as possible. I’m now 90% symptom-free, so that was a blessing in disguise.

I’d always wanted two children, but we knew we couldn’t go through that again. The law changing was huge, but I also had to think about my body, I just couldn’t face another experience like before. I couldn’t even look at my pictures with my baby afterwards because they brought everything back.

Finding the right aftercare and advice....

Then I came across HLP Therapy. I remember watching videos on their page thinking, Wow, I can have a nice scar afterward, a C-section doesn’t have to be horrendous. So we tried, knowing I’d invest in proper preparation if we were lucky enough to fall pregnant. At six months pregnant, I ordered the Scarban C-section recovery kit recommended by HLP Therapy, and my amazing sisters and friends gifted me two HLP Therapy vouchers at my baby shower so I’d be in good hands postnatally.

The Scarban C-section recovery kit avalaible in the shop to buy online or at our clinic.

My Mummy MOT at HLP Therapy helped my scar.

Having a planned C-section was the best decision ever, it actually helped me mentally heal from my first birth (as much as I can). I love my scar, it’s nothing like I imagined, and I think that’s because I saw Hannah early, at six weeks, for my Mummy MOT, and used the silicone consistently.

I still have a really weak pelvic floor from my forceps delivery, but I’m now seeing one of the Women’s Health Physios at HLP Therapy to work on it.

A youtube video with Hannah Poulton - relaxing your pelvic floor is important too

Whenever someone’s having a baby, I tell them about HLP Therapy, if they don’t already know and about my positive C-section experience and recovery ❤️

Thank you to our wonderful client for sharing her positive C-section story and personal journey and photograph. If you have a planned C-section booked or are recovering from a C-section birth and would like more information on the services we provide, please head to our book now page or call 01162166088

or email: hannah@hlp-therapy.co.uk we are here for you.