I’ll be using the A – Z challenge to document my pregnancy, birth and beyond, just in case I decide to go through this madness again. I probably will, because we’re getting a bit broody here and I hope that this would help refresh my memory of why we shouldn’t be going down this road again so soon. For expectant moms, aunts, grans, friends, family members and dear readers, I hope my journey inspires and educates as well as allows you to get to know me. The pregnancy and birth of my son was kept very private, because I chose to honour Mr’s cultural beliefs. Women or parents-to-be are not meant to over share information during the pregnancy, but are allowed to do so after the child is born.
So anyway, back to A, the Abdomend Deluxe C-section Recovery Kit. I was suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum, which is the same extreme type of morning sickness Kate Middleton had (I’ll get back to that at H). It resulted in constant low amniotic fluid levels and steroid injections throughout my pregnancy (Ouch!). I decided that a C-section was going to be the best option for me and the baby.
I did my research on belly bands and ordered the Abdomend Deluxe C-section Recovery Kit off Amazon.co.uk (.com doesn’t deliver to South Africa) and I don’t know how I would have recovered from my C-section without it.
What makes it special is that it is more than just a belt or belly binder. The extra bits in the kit help the incision heal by stimulating the skin and the muscle. The kit comes with a belt, which is quite comfortable to wear for most of the day, a skin brush and massage DVD.
I had the nurse wrap the band around my waist as soon as I was out of the recovery room. She found it strange, but I’m happy with the results. It reduced the pain from my incision, with help from my friend morphine and allowed extra support to assist in healing the muscles as quickly as possible. It was a great help for me especially in those first few days after the C-section. I was able to get out of bed and take a walk around the ward on the second day. It also helped reduce the pain when picking the little one up out of the hospital basinet. I wore my belt for three months after my son was born, but the duration of wear depends on you.
I know lots of moms complain that they have completely lost feeling near the C-section incision after delivery, but I don’t have that problem. I got Mr to brush my scar gently and massage it according to the directions on the DVD. It made such a difference! You can hardly see my scar now (two years later). I also found that the brushing moved around the excess fluid I had around the scar.
My Abdomend kit still looks brand new and I will definitely use it after my next pregnancy.
The Abdomend can be used for more than C-section recovery. It can be used after Hysterectomy, Appendectomy, Myomectomy, Tummy Tuck, Keyhole & Open Abdominal Surgery. It gives you the freedom you need to sit up, laugh and even cough, because all these simple things become so difficult after an invasive surgery.
For more information about the Abdomend and the Abdomend range, visit their website
You can order an Abdomend here
Thanks so much for reading my first A – Z challenge blog post.
Don’t be scared to drop a comment in the box below.
Join me tomorrow for a post about breastfeeding.
Love and Blessings,
What an interesting post! Great A!
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Thanks so much! 🙂
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An interesting theme for the challenge Lindsay. Enjoy!
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Thanks Miriam. It’s been a really interesting way to adress topics that don’t necessarily fit into my blog’s frame.
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Great idea Lindsay. And it should bring you a whole heap of new readers too, which will be nice.
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How is your day going so far?
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It’s been good thanks Lindsay. It’s Friday night here, nearly 11pm, went and saw mum today, had pizza tonight and just chilled out with the family. Nice and relaxing. And now I’m looking forward to the weekend. And you?
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I just finished making the dough for a pizza (great minds?). How is your mum doing today? Sounds like you had a great Friday. Sam went into heat so I’ll be looking after her for most of the day. She is really under the weather. 😦
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Mum was pretty out of it today so I just sat with her for awhile. Nothing new unfortunately, it happens a lot but at least she saw not only me but Daniel as well (it’s school holidays here). Good luck with Sam. And enjoy your pizza! 🙂
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I’m so sorry to hear that, at least you went to see her. I’m sure she felt your presence. Thanks. I hope you have a lovely weekend. Are you travelling this weekend or having a staycation?
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We’re home. We have a big party on tomorrow night. An Argentinian dance party that the whole family has been invited to. I’m really looking forward to it.
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Sounds so exciting. Please blog about it. I’d love to know how it went. 🙂
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That’s my plan. Hopefully.
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Enjoy it! I hope you have lots of fun. 🙂
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Thanks Lindsay!
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❤ Hugs and goodnight 🙂
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Oh, I wish they had something like this with my C-section a few years ago. So glad you found something to help aid healing.
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It was such a great help. 🙂 I was so worried about recovering after the opperation. I was prepared for the worst, but it wasn’t half as bad as I anticipated or heard about.
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I had waited and tried so long to get pregnant that I was totally enthralled with my daughter and hardly noticed the C-section pain, but it would have been nice to have something like this to heal better. What a great idea.
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I think it’s more of a passed down knowledge. Both my grandmothers believed in ‘binding’ the stomach after giving birth to help you recover. This is the same principle for a modern woman :). I’m so happy that you were able to have a child. She must be such a blessing.
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Hi Lindsay! I love how you are opening up and showing another side of yourself with this post and challenge in general. I found this interesting as I had 2 non c-section births (one medicated and the other natural) and didn’t know about the loss of feeling at the c-section scar site etc. Can’t wait to read more about your story!
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Thanks Niki! There’s so much that people don’t tell you about C-sections. I thought it was going to be pain and nothing else. I’m looking forward to revealing more about myself and my journey. I can’t wait to join you at your Meet and Greet. 🙂
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There’s just so much about pregnancy and childbirth in general! Even with my 2 full term pregnancies, I’m the same person but the pregnancies, deliveries and then the babies were so different!
It’s so funny, I was on the A-Z signup sheet and decided to visit random blogs. I closed my eyes, scrolled and wherever the page landed I’d click, and it landed right on your blog!
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That is so funny! Pregnancy has so many factors that make every pregnancy and birth a special and unique story. 🙂 We’ll see how it goes for me next time (hopefully less morning sickness and heartburn)
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Especially if you have severe morning sickness like you described. I had it pretty badly with both of my girls but with my second every sign of pregnancy was a good one.
Speaking of heartburn, did your son have a lot of hair when he was born? I know it’s an old wive’s tale but I always like to ask as that is supposed to be a sign of a full head of hair 😉
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His whole body was covered in hair, he even had a moustache!
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I have yet to ask someone with heartburn during pregnancy if their baby had a head-full and them say no… not that my sample is very broad but still interesting 😉
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Lol. You should make a poll on your blog and see if it’s true. He still has a bit of a hairy back so if it’s true then it really was the hair. 🙂
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hahahaha yeah I had little fur balls too! 😉
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Hehe! My mom laughed, because she knew it came from her side of the family. 🙂 Loving your Meet and Greet. It’s going great.
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Hahaha genes 🙂
Thank you, I’m very excited about the participation and the connections that are made. 🙂
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She won out in that regard and nothing else. That kid just looks like his dad 😦
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I always feel bad for moms that have kids that are spitting images of their dads. Not that it’s bad but I mean at least have something to show for the 9 months of pregnancy. My friend has 3 boys and not 1 of them looks anything like her…at all…
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All I hear is “He looks just like his dad, but with your skin colour”, thanks guys. How about keeping your mouth closed next time. His dad is handsome, but his genes got ahead of themselves this time. 😦
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My girls look just like me but every now and then I hear they look just like their dad…ummm excuse me? Are you saying my husband and I look like siblings because they clearly look like me… hahahaha
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Hahaha! That is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. I’m praying that if I should have a daughter, she would look like me. It would be a waste if she doesn’t. Hehehe 🙂
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Hahahhaha
Yes, may she look like you! 😉
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Please God. Hehe 🙂
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Hehehe
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🙂
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This kit looks awesome! I’m glad it was able to help you heal.
All the best- Lucy
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It was awesome. I am so glad I put it back in the packaging for possible future use 🙂
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What a unique theme! I did not have a c-section, but there is so much we are not told about postpartum recovery for any method of birth. This is an interesting and very important topic! Thank you!
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Thank you so much. We are always told lots while we are pregnant, but we are alone after the baby is born. C-section stories here are pretty much you get cut, the baby comes out, you are going to be in pain for the rest of your life. I didn’t want to live like that.
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I understand. I have diastasis recti. I had no idea until a trainer pointed it out to me. Thus, my training career began!
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That just shows how all things happen for a reason. 🙂
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Yes. Training led me back to writing. 🙂
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Sounds like everything worked out as it should. I love writing too. I’m glad I could bring my love for children and writing together.
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You do it so well!
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Thank you so much! Your blog is so inspirational. I loved your B post today. 🙂
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Thank you. I sobbed at my computer after I wrote it!
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It is so well written. Brooke sounds like such a sweet and vivacious girl 🙂
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She is!
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🙂
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You don’t know how I wish I had known about this after my c-sections. I had three..each one with a more difficult healing process than the one before, which the nurses told me was par for the course. The only thing I used to aid in my recovery was one of the awful velcro waist band things that the hospital sent me home with…. and it was so uncomfortable that I ended up not really using it much. Great info and best wishes to you and your family and new baby. xoxo
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I’ve heard that every C-section is worse than the next. The hospitals don’t give us anything here. I was so glad that I did my own research. Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful day with your family 🙂
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