My C-section Story – Adedoyin Omodayo

Hello everyone,

My name is Adedoyin Omodayo and I am a first-time mom. The 8th of April makes it exactly a month that I gave birth to my daughter and this is my experience.

I went for my usual ante-natal clinic on the 7th of March, 2020. After the routine checkup, the doctor informed me that my baby was quite big and that I may likely give birth through a C-section. I went back home.

I felt a bit scared because I have not been operated on before and after all the prayers, declarations and confessions, I asked myself that, ‘so this was it for me.’

By 4pm that same day, I began spotting and labor pains started. I went to the hospital but the doctor who attended to me earlier, told me that it was nothing serious and that I should go back home and come back when my water breaks.

As a first time mom-to-be with no prior experience, I quickly called my mum and explained the situation to her. She said that I should sit in the hospital and wait till I am admitted.

I went back to the doctor and he still insisted that he was not going to admit me. Luckily for me, I met one of the nurses who spoke to us during the ante-natal clinic in the morning and explained to her how I was feeling.

She understood what was going on and asked me to go and get my hospital bag. I was admitted that night.

My hubby and my sister were with me at that time, but after settling down, my hubby went home while my sister remained with me.

By 11:45pm, while gisting with my sister, my water broke and it was so much it got me scared. Prior to that time I was diagnosed with Polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid in the womb).

Polyhydramnios is a medical condition describing an excess of amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac.

My sister called the nurse who came into the room and told me to go to the labour ward. As I walked out of the room, the excess fluid was still dripping from my body. It left a trail on the ground from the room to the labour ward.

The doctor came in to check me almost immediately. The foetal heart-beat was checked, but my blood pressure was high and I was only 2cm dilated.

He explained the situation to the head consultant who then said that I should be induced. Hmmmmm……the pain was out of this world. I was screaming and shouting in the ward, praying and making declarations.

It got to a point that I could not stand the pain any longer. I pleaded with the nurse to stop the inducement at some minutes past 3am on Sunday morning. She heeded and I was a bit relieved.

Around 7:00am, I had my bath and ate breakfast and the inducement continued. My hubby was allowed in to check on me. He prayed with me and encouraged me.

The doctor came in to check on me as well, but I was just 4cm dilated. I was given some injections and drugs to speed up the labour process. The pain was unbearable.

I kept on praying for strength, while calling out my hubby’s name and making confessions. The nurses kept encouraging me as well. I became cranky and tired.

By 2:00pm that day, I was 8cm dilated but my cervix was hard instead of getting soft. The nurses and doctors were dipping their hands into my vagina to check the level of dilation and that was another painful experience entirely.

My hubby still came in occasionally to check on me. He prayed and encouraged me each time he came in. I appreciated his support.

Around 4:00pm, it was obvious that my baby was getting tired from the prolonged labour. At this point, I was given oxygen to help my baby breathe well, but when my hubby saw this, he asked the nurse to see the doctor for an alternative solution. The doctor immediately called for an emergency C-section.

“Prolonged labor is the inability of a woman to proceed with childbirth upon going into labor. It typically lasts over 20 hours for first time mothers, and over 14 hours for women that have already had children.”

My hubby was told to sign for an emergency C-section. I was prepped up for the operation. When I got to the theatre, I was injected and covered up and as the doctor was cleaning my stomach, I slept off. That is all I can remember until I woke up at 11:50pm in the ward when the nurse came to check on me.

I saw my sister sitted beside me and I asked for my baby. I was so overjoyed when I saw her. I am so thankful to God that the C-Section was a success.

I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw my daughter. I said to myself, ‘so this is what I’ve been carrying in my womb for 9-months’. I just could not take my eyes off her.

Looking back and with all sincerity, there was no fear and anxiety in me, because I was already exhausted from the long labour. I just wanted the whole process to be over.

The benefits of having a C-section are many. But for me, I got to carry my baby in my arms alive after the inducement and prolonged labour that I went through.

Anything could have gone wrong during that time, but there was no loss or mishap. Mother and child came out alive and well after 9-months.

I am hale and hearty and my daughter is doing fine today. All thanks to God and my hubby for being quick to make the decision to go for a C-section.

My final word on C-section is this, especially if you are a first-time mother. It is not a crime to be operated on to bring your baby into the world. The scar is something to be proud of and a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

And sometimes, a C-section is a life saver and the best solution to keep both mother and baby alive. If you have to, go for it and tell the story to encourage others who are afraid to walk the C-section path.

Thank you.