There are so many things mums are afraid to talk about. There’s such pressure to put on a front and act like we’ve all got our shit together, but there are times when we feel helpless and lost, because we may be mums, but we’re also humans.
Gemma Atkinson has penned a beautifully open note about having a C-section and her honesty is so reassuring.
The actress had no choice but to have a C-section when she went into labour in July.
Alongside a photo of herself and daughter Mia, Gemma stressed that mums need to give themselves a break because recovery takes time.
“This morning I stood and examined my C section scar. A neat 8cm scar on my lower abdomen. When I was told a section was our only option and that panic button was pressed my only thought was about Mia and her safety.”
“It was only at home afterwards when I felt the numbness, saw the swelling, stitches and bruising that saddened, I thought “what a mess my tummy is”. Throw in walking like a T.Rex, being unable to even sit up from bed unassisted & a load of new parent hormones I felt anything but myself. I was a new mum, yet I still had to be mothered myself,” she explained.
22 weeks have passed since Gemma welcomed her daughter Mia into the world and she’s finally starting to feel like herself.
“Seeing Mia thrive and play and respond to her name and smile away all the time makes me realise I’d go through it all again in a heartbeat. Mentally strong again and physically back to my training I feel amazing!”
“Because of my Scar I have a constant reminder of the day she was born and every single day when getting dressed I run my fingers over it and smile. The day Mia points and ask me “what’s that mum?” I’ll be able to say it’s where you lived and where you came from,” Gemma gushed.
“I’ll probably liken it to a kangaroo carrying her joey with its head popping out. I get a lot of msgs from C section mums who feel like I felt and are unable to do simple daily chores and are crippled with the fear of forever feeling that way,” she shared.
Gemma continued, “I can tell you, you won’t. It takes time, it’s a slow process and usually it’s 2 steps forward one step back (in my case having to ring my mum in tears to come and pick me up from my walk that I couldn’t finish) the process of labour doesn’t define you as a mum.”
She stressed, “It’s the love & sacrifices you have & make for your baby that count. To any new mums or dads currently feeling a little blurry, not like you and like its just all going wrong, Don’t worry. It will all pass and you will slowly begin to get your shit back together and be the multitasking, superheroes you were meant to be!”
“Even when our shits not together, which it often won’t be (I used dry shampoo on my armpits last week) Your baby still thinks you are the best thing IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!” Gemma added.
